How much should I set aside before forming an LLC for privacy?

Don't forget the registered agent. In my state it's about $125 a year if you use a commercial service. And if you want a physical address that isn't your home, that can be another $20-50 a month depending on the service.

I would budget at least double the filing fee. Annual report fees vary a lot by state, and some states hit you with a franchise tax or minimum tax even if you make nothing.

Honestly just call the secretary of state office. They'll tell you the exact filing fee and annual report cost. Takes five minutes and you don't have to guess.

Quick question for quiet_cove: does the registered agent fee usually include the address for public records, or is that separate? I've seen some services bundle it and some don't.

pinecone_ridge usually separate.The registered agent service gives you a physical address for legal mail, but if you want that address to show up on the public filing instead of your home, you need to make sure the service allows that. Some charge extra for it.

I'd set aside $500 minimum. That covers filing, first year registered agent, and a mail forwarding address. But check if your state requires a newspaper publication notice for LLC formation, because that can add a few hundred dollars in some places.

Newspaper publication is a good catch. Also some states require an initial report or a biennial report that comes due sooner than you'd expect. Read the formation documents carefully.

You also need to think about the cost of a virtual office or mail scanning service if you don't want your home address on anything. That's the part people forget. It's not just the state fees.

Agreed on the virtual office. I pay $30 a month for a mailbox that scans mail. Worth it for privacy but it adds up over the year.

One more thing, if you're forming in a state different from where you you live, you might need a foreign qualification in your home state. That's another filing fee and another annual report. Double check before you pick the state.