Key Takeaways
- LLC processing times vary by state, from immediate online approval to several weeks.
- Some states offer same-day or hourly processing for an additional fee.
- Expedited LLC filing fees are separate from standard state filing fees.
- Filing errors, missed cutoffs, and holidays can delay your LLC processing.
- Paying for expedited filing is most useful when you have an urgent business deadline.
How fast can your LLC actually be approved? Some states respond in minutes, others take weeks. Here is what expedited filing costs in every state, and when paying for speed is worth it.
Want to form an LLC quickly? Depending on the state, your business could be approved within the same day, or after several weeks. Many states offer expedited LLC filing for an additional fee, allowing you to receive a faster decision on your Articles of Organization.
However, expedited filing fees, processing times, and same-day options vary by state. Some states process online applications quickly without an extra charge, while others offer paid same-day or even one-hour processing services. Faster processing also does not guarantee approval if your application contains errors.
This guide compares LLC filing fees, standard processing times, expedited options, and submission deadlines across all 50 states, using official state government sources to help you understand your options and decide whether paying for faster filing is worthwhile.
Expedited LLC Filing Fees and Processing Times by State
State | Standard filing fee | Standard turnaround | Expedite fee | Cutoff | Same-day available? |
Alabama | $200 | Immediate to 3 business days (online) / 1 to 2 weeks (mail) | +$100 (Paper/mail filings only) | N/A | No |
Alaska | $250 | Immediate/same-day (online) / 10 to 15+ business days (mail) | Not offered | N/A | Yes (Online only) |
Arizona | $50 | 14 to 16 business days | +$35 (Standard) / +$100 (Next-day) / +$200 (Same-day) / +$400 (2-hour) | 10:00 AM MST (Same-day) / 3:00 PM MST (2-hour)/5:00 PM MST next-day cutoff | Yes (online, fax or walk-in + $200 fee before 10:00 AM MST) |
Arkansas | $45 online / $50 paper | 2 to 4 business days (online) / 1 to 2 weeks (mail) | None published | N/A | No |
California | $70 | 1 to 5 business days (online) / 1 to 2 business days (in-person drop-off) | +$350 (24-hour) / +$500 (4-hour) / +$750 (Same-day) | 9:30 AM PST (Same-day) | Yes (In-person or online + $750 fee before 9:30 AM PST) |
Colorado | $50 | Immediate online | None needed | N/A | Yes (Online is immediate) |
Connecticut | $120 | 1 to 2 business days (online) / 3 to 4 weeks (mail) | +$50 per transaction | N/A | No |
Delaware | $110 | Varies based on backlog | +$50 (Next-day) / +$100 (Same-day) / +$500 (2-hour) / +$1,000 (1-hour) | 2:00 PM EST (Same-day) / 7:00 PM EST (2-hour) / 9:00 PM EST (1-hour) | Yes (+$100 fee before 2:00 PM EST) |
Florida | $125 ($100 + a mandatory $25 registered agent designation) | 1 to 5 business days (online) / 8 to 17 days (mail) | None published for formations | N/A | No |
Georgia | $110 | 5 to 12 business days | +$120 (2-day) / +$275 (Same-day) / +$1,200 (1-hour) | 12:00 PM (Same-day; business days only) | Yes (Before noon cutoff) |
Hawaii | $51 | 3 to 5 business days (online) / 7 to 14 business days (mail) | $25 expedite listed but currently suspended | N/A | No |
Idaho | $100 ($120 mail) | 3 to 5 business days (online)/7 to 10 business days (paper/mail) | +$40 (expedited) / +$100 (same day) | N/A | Yes (+$100) |
Illinois | $150 ($400 Series) | 7 to 10 business days (online) / 3 to 4 weeks (mail) | +$100 (Reduces to ~24 hours) | N/A | No |
Indiana | $95 online ($75 + $20) / $100 mail | ~15 minutes (online) / 5 to 7 business days (mail) | None needed online | N/A | Yes (Online is near-immediate) |
Iowa | $50 | 1 to 2 business days | None published | N/A | No |
Kansas | $85 online / $90 paper | Immediate (online) / 2 to 3 business days (paper) | None needed online | N/A | Yes (Online is immediate)
|
Kentucky | $40 | 3 to 5 business days | Included if filed in person | Office hours | Yes (While you wait in person) |
Louisiana | $125 | ~1 week | +$35 (24-hour) / +$60 (priority expedite fee) | Office hours | Yes (Via geauxBIZ or in person) |
Maine | $175 | ~14 business days | +$50 (24-hour) / +$100 (Immediate) | N/A | Yes |
Maryland | $100 | 4 to 8 weeks or longer | +$50 (expedited, paper and online) / +$325 (online same-day) / +$425 (paper same-day, drop-box or in person) | 2:30 PM ET (online same-day) / 10:00 AM ET (drop-box same-day) | Yes (online +$325, or drop-box/in person +$425) |
Massachusetts | $500 ($520 online/fax) | 2 to 3 business days | +$20, scaling at 4.5% of subtotal above $500. | N/A | No |
Michigan | $50 | 5 to 7 business days | +$50 (24-hour) / +$100 (Same-day) / +$500 (2-hour) / +$1,000 (1-hour) | 1:00 PM ET (Same-day) / 3:00 PM (2-hour) / 4:00 PM (1-hour) | Yes |
Minnesota | $135 mail / $155 online | 5 to 7 business days (mail) / ~24 hours (online) | Built into online/in-person fee | N/A | Yes (In person)
|
Mississippi | $50 | 2 to 3 business days | None published | N/A | No |
Missouri | $50 online / $105 mail | ~1 business day online | None published | N/A | No |
Montana | $35 | ~10 business days (online only; Montana no longer accepts paper) | +$20 (24-hour) / +$100 (1-hour) | N/A | Yes |
Nebraska | $100 online / $110 paper | Not published | None published | N/A | No |
Nevada | $75 | Same-day online via SilverFlume / ~1 week (mail) | +$125 (24-hour) / +$500 (2-hour) / +$1,000 (1-hour) | N/A (Hourly tiers apply to submission date) | Yes (Standard online is same-day) |
New Hampshire | $100 | ~6 weeks | None published | N/A | No |
New Jersey | $100 | 1 to 3 business days online | +$25 (8.5 business hours) / +$50 (Same-day) / +$500 (2-hour) / +$1,000 (1-hour) | 2:15 PM ET (2-hour) / 3:15 PM ET (1-hour) | Yes |
New Mexico | $50 (+ $1.95) | 1 to 2 weeks | None published | N/A | No |
New York | $200 (+ $50 pub fee) | ~7 business days (paper) | +$25 (24-hour) / +$75 (Same-day) / +$150 (2-hour) | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM ET (24-hour) / 12:00 PM ET (same-day) / 2:30 PM ET (2-hour) | Yes |
North Carolina | $125 | 5 to 7 business days | +$100 (24-hour) / +$200 (Same-day) | 12:00 PM ET (Same-day returns by 4:00 PM) | Yes |
North Dakota | $135 | ~30 days | None available | N/A | No |
Ohio | $99 | 3 to 7 business days | +$100 (2-day) / +$200 (1-day) / +$300 (4-hour) | 1:00 PM ET(For 4-hour in-person tier) | Yes (4-hour walk-in is fastest) |
Oklahoma | $100 | 7 to 10 business days (mail) / ~1 business day (online) | N/A | Office hours | Not published |
Oregon | $100 | ~1 business day online
| None published | N/A | Yes, free, in person by 4:00 PM |
Pennsylvania | $125 | 7 to 15 business days | +$100 (Same-day) / +$300 (3-hour) / +$1,000 (1-hour) | 10:00 AM (Same-day) / 2:00 PM (3-hour) / 4:00 PM (1-hour) | Yes (In-person drop-off only; no mail expedite) |
Rhode Island | $150 for paper filing/ $156 for online filing | ~7 business days | Included for in-person filings | Office hours | Yes (In person) |
South Carolina | $110 | 1 to 2 business days online
| None published | N/A | No |
South Dakota | $150 online/$165 paper | 3 to 5 business days | $50 expedited fee listed, no stated scope or turnaround | N/A | Yes, free, by filing online |
Tennessee | $50/member ($300 min/$3,000 max) | ~2 days online / Immediate in person | Built into in-person filing | Office hours | Yes (In person) |
Texas | $300 | 3 to 7 business days (online) / Weeks (mail) | +$50 (Standard Expedited) / +$500 (Next-Day) / +$750 (Same-Day) | 12:00 PM (For Next-Day & Same-Day Express) | Yes (+$750 Texas Express Same-Day tier) |
Utah | $59 | 1 to 2 business days | +$75 (1-2 business days) | N/A | No |
Vermont | $155 | ~2 business days | None published | N/A | No |
Virginia | $100 | 3 to 5 business days / Immediate online confirmation | Amounts not published by the SCC | 12:00 PM ET (same-day) / 4:00 PM ET (expedited) | Yes |
Washington | $180 by mail, $200 online | ~2 months by paper | +$100 (expedited, ~3 business days) | 3:30 PM for front-counter drop-offs | Yes (front counter before 3:30 PM, currently charged at the $100 rate) |
West Virginia | $100 | 1 to 2 business days | $25 (24 hour)/ +$250 (2-hour) / + $500 (1-hour) | 2:00 PM ET (24-hour tier) | Yes (1-hour and 2-hour tiers get a same-day filing date) |
Wisconsin | $130 online / $170 mail | 4 to 7 business days | +$25 (online, next business day) / +$100 (next-day) / +$250 (4-hour counter) / +$500 (1-hour counter) | N/A | Yes (in person, Madison counter) |
Wyoming | $100 (+ $3.75) | 3 to 5 business days | None- statute does not permit expedited filing | N/A | No |
Costs Beyond the Standard or Expedited State Filing Fee
Some states require additional payments at formation:
- Alabama: A name reservation is required before you can file. $25 by mail, $28 online.
- Nevada: An Initial List of Managers/Members ($150) and a State Business License ($200), both due at formation. Total around $425.
- California: A Statement of Information, $20, due within 90 days.
- Rhode Island: a $6 online filing fee.
- South Carolina: a $15 Electronic Records Access charge on portal filings, making $125.
Three states require newspaper publication after formation:
- New York: six consecutive weeks in two newspapers chosen by the county clerk, plus a $50 Certificate of Publication fee. If this is not completed within 120 days, the LLC’s authority to do business is suspended.
- Nebraska: three successive weeks, with proof filed with the Secretary of State.
- Arizona: three consecutive publications within 60 days. LLCs whose statutory agent address is in Maricopa or Pima County are exempt.
Costs are set by the newspaper and vary widely by county.
Conclusion
Expedited LLC filing can help you get your business approved faster, but the time and cost depend on the state where you file. Before choosing an expedited option, check the state's current processing times, filing fees, submission cutoffs, and any additional formation requirements. Remember that expedited processing speeds up the state's review but does not guarantee approval if your application contains errors.
Paying for expedited processing may be worthwhile when timing matters, but the best option is the one that meets your business needs without adding unnecessary costs. Swyft Filings can simplify the process of forming an LLC by preparing and submitting your Articles of Organization in a timely manner, reducing the time and effort required to file.
FAQs
Not always. Same-day LLC filing means the state aims to process your LLC application on the day you submit it, provided you meet the required cutoff time and filing conditions. Approval may still be delayed if your application contains errors, requires additional review, or is submitted on a holiday or outside business hours.
Usually, no. Most states do not refund expedited filing fees if your LLC application is rejected, because the state has already processed your request. However, refund policies vary by state. Check your state's rules before filing, as some states may allow exceptions in specific circumstances.
Colorado offers immediate online LLC processing without an additional expedited filing fee. If you need a paid same-day service, Delaware charges an extra $100, while Arizona charges $200 and California charges $750. Keep in mind that standard state filing fees apply separately.
Usually not. Expedite is selected at submission because the fee determines which queue your filing enters. Once a filing is in the standard queue, most states will not move it. If you need to change the speed, contact the filing office directly rather than submitting a second filing, which could create a duplicate entity.
Yes, many states allow you to submit LLC applications online on weekends. However, submission does not mean your LLC will be approved immediately. If the state processes filings only on business days, your application may not be reviewed until the next working day. Check your state's online filing system and processing rules to confirm whether weekend submissions qualify for immediate or expedited processing.
