Form an LLC in Alabama
We file your Articles of Organization, register an agent, and deliver your formation documents. Total cost from $361 on Standard.
State filing fee
$236
Typical processing
14 days
Annual report
$50 / yr
Alabama LLCs are filed with the Secretary of State on a Domestic LLC Certificate of Formation. The $200 state filing fee plus a $36 probate office fee makes Alabama one of the pricier southern states to form in, but the trade-off is a recognized business climate and a flat 6.5% corporate tax that pass-through LLCs avoid entirely.
Most Alabama founders are either operating in-state or want a presence near the manufacturing corridor between Birmingham and Huntsville. If you don't have a physical or economic nexus in Alabama, forming in a no-annual-report state like Wyoming usually costs less over five years even after factoring in the foreign qualification you'd need if you ever opened an office in Alabama.
Best for: Founders operating in Alabama or with customers concentrated in the Southeast.
Cost & compliance breakdown
| State filing fee | $236 |
|---|---|
| Typical processing | 14 days |
| Annual report fee | $50 |
| Annual report due | April 15 every year |
- The $236 total at filing already includes the $36 probate office fee that Alabama uniquely bundles into formation.
- Alabama charges an Annual Business Privilege Tax (minimum $50) that is separate from the report; it's owed even on a zero-revenue LLC.
Watch outs
- - The name reservation step adds a few business days before the actual filing can be submitted - factor that in if you need the LLC live by a hard deadline.
How we file your Alabama LLC
- 1
Reserve your LLC name
Alabama requires you to reserve the name before filing. We submit the name reservation through the SoS portal and pay the $25 reservation fee on your behalf as part of the Standard plan.
- 2
File the Certificate of Formation
We prepare and file the Certificate of Formation with the Alabama Secretary of State, listing the registered agent address and the organizers.
- 3
Get the EIN and Business Privilege Tax registration
After approval we obtain the EIN from the IRS and register for the Alabama Business Privilege Tax, which every LLC owes annually regardless of revenue.
- 4
Deliver your operating agreement
A tailored Alabama operating agreement covering members, capital contributions, and dissolution rules lands in your dashboard.
What's included
Articles of Organization
Registered agent
EIN (Federal Tax ID)
Operating Agreement
Frequently asked questions
Does Alabama require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Alabama LLCs file an annual report alongside the Business Privilege Tax return, due by April 15. The combined minimum is $100.
Can a non-resident form an Alabama LLC?
Yes. Alabama does not require members or managers to be US residents, and a registered agent with an Alabama street address (which we provide) satisfies the in-state presence requirement.
Is single-member LLC formation allowed?
Yes. Alabama recognizes single-member LLCs and they default to disregarded-entity tax treatment with the IRS.
How long does Alabama LLC formation take?
Standard processing runs about two weeks through the SoS portal. There is no published expedited tier.
Compare with other states
The states founders most commonly weigh against Alabama.
Ready to form your Alabama LLC?
Total from $361 on Standard. Most founders finish the application in about 15 minutes.