How to Form an LLC in Alabama (2026)
We prepare and file your Alabama Articles of Organization for $199 plus the state filing fee. A registered agent — required for every Alabama LLC — is billed separately at $99/year.
An Alabama LLC begins with one document, the Certificate of Formation, filed with the Alabama Secretary of State for an official state fee of $200. From there the ongoing obligations are lighter than most states: a registered agent must stay on file for the life of the company, and there is no annual report at all. Here is the whole process, fee by fee and step by step.
Launch Your Alabama LLC — $199
Pay $199 once and we handle everything: prep, review, submission to Alabama Secretary of State.
The Alabama LLC, Briefly Explained
A limited liability company is a flexible business form that limits owner liability while keeping tax filing relatively simple. Within Alabama, consultants, real estate holders, solo operators, and small partnerships all favor the LLC for its blend of low overhead and real protection.
Alabama LLC Filing Fee: $200
The official Alabama filing fee for a Certificate of Formation is $200, set by Ala. Code § 10A-1-4.31. One detail worth knowing: the Secretary of State keeps $100 of that and remits the other $100 to the treasurer of the county where your registered agent's office sits. That split happens inside the state's books; you pay one $200 fee and owe nothing extra to the county.
You can file online through the Secretary of State or send the paper form by mail. Online submissions are generally the quicker path.
The Certificate of Formation (Alabama's Articles of Organization)
Where most states call the founding document Articles of Organization, Alabama's version is the Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) Certificate of Formation. The state does not assign it a form number; the official PDF identifies itself by name and a 10/2022 revision date. Formation is governed by Ala. Code § 10A-5A-2.01, which requires that "one or more organizers must execute a certificate of formation and deliver it for filing," with the Secretary of State as the filing office.
The form records:
- The LLC's name, including a required designator (Limited Liability Company, LLC, or L.L.C.)
- The principal business address
- The registered agent's name and Alabama street address
- The management structure (member-managed or manager-managed)
- Organizer names and signatures
The official form is on the Secretary of State's site.
Alabama LLC Pricing
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| Official state filing fee (Certificate of Formation) | $200 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Alabama LLC) | $99/year |
| Annual report | None. Alabama has no LLC annual report |
$199 is our filing service. The state fee is collected by the Alabama Secretary of State. Registered agent service is a separate $99 per year line.
Alabama-specific notes: there is no Secretary of State annual report for LLCs. The only recurring state filing that can apply is the Business Privilege Tax return with the Department of Revenue, and it is required only when the calculated tax exceeds $100; the minimum tax is $0. See our annual report page for the full picture.
Alabama LLC Formation Steps
- Choose a compliant name. Include an LLC designator (Limited Liability Company, LLC, or L.L.C.) and make sure the name is distinguishable from entities already on record. The Secretary of State's online entity search settles that question before you file. Names suggesting banking, insurance, or government ties face restrictions unless separately cleared.
- Designate a registered agent. Every Alabama LLC needs an agent with an in-state street address, available during business hours. Whatever agent information you list becomes public record. Our service puts our address there instead of yours.
- File the Certificate of Formation. Submit it to the Alabama Secretary of State online or by mail with the official $200 fee. Approval is what makes the LLC a legal entity.
- Adopt an operating agreement. Alabama does not ask for one at filing, but it is the document that sets ownership shares, profit flow, decision rights, and exit terms. Without one, the state's default LLC rules fill the gaps, and they are rarely what members would have chosen.
- Get an EIN from the IRS. The federal tax ID takes about ten minutes at IRS.gov and is free. Banks and payroll providers will ask for it. Never pay a third party for one.
- Keep up the ongoing obligations. Maintain a registered agent at all times, keep business and personal finances separated, file federal and state taxes on schedule, and file the Business Privilege Tax return in any year the calculated tax exceeds $100.
Falling out of compliance puts the LLC's good standing and liability shield at risk. If you would rather not manage the filing, we prepare and submit the Alabama Certificate of Formation on your behalf.
The Alabama Registered Agent Rule
Alabama's registered agent requirement, set by Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.31, applies to every LLC from day one and continues for the company's entire life. The agent must:
- Maintain a street address in Alabama (a PO box or bare mail service does not qualify)
- Be available during normal business hours to accept service of process
- Pass along state mail and lawsuits promptly so deadlines are not missed
Whatever name and address go in the agent section of your Certificate of Formation become part of the Secretary of State's public, searchable record. With our service, the public listing shows our Alabama address rather than yours.
FAQs
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Alabama?
The official state filing fee for the Certificate of Formation is $200. There is no annual report after that; the recurring Business Privilege Tax return applies only when the calculated tax exceeds $100, so many small LLCs pay the state nothing in a typical year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Alabama?
The state does not publish a guaranteed timeline. Online filings generally process faster than mailed paperwork.
Does Alabama require an annual report?
No. LLCs file no annual report with the Alabama Secretary of State. The Business Privilege Tax return, filed with the Department of Revenue, applies only in years when the calculated tax exceeds $100.
Do I need a registered agent for my Alabama LLC?
Yes. The requirement is unconditional: an agent with an Alabama street address, on file for as long as the LLC exists.
Can I form an LLC in Alabama if I live in another state?
Yes. Out-of-state owners form Alabama LLCs freely. The in-state piece is the registered agent, and our service covers exactly that.
File Your Alabama LLC With Our Help
Filing on your own through the Alabama Secretary of State works fine; the $200 official fee goes to the state either way, and a registered agent must still be on file. If you would rather hand it off, we prepare and file the Certificate of Formation, list our Alabama address in the agent section, scan your documents the day they arrive, and remind you ahead of every compliance date.
Looking for the registered agent on its own? The registered agent option is $99/year.
Questions about Alabama LLC formation or the registered agent piece? See the FAQ or contact us within the normal workday.
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