Lesson 1 · Vermont
How to Start an LLC in Vermont (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Before you begin
What you will learn
- The official fee and form in Vermont
- How to meet the registered agent rule
- The yearly upkeep
- How the graded picks compare
Our graded picks for Vermont
1. Mainstay Filing: best for having the annual report done for you
First in the class in Vermont is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year hands off the formation, the registered agent role and the annual report to someone else.
You pay $200 more than at Vermont Registered Agent.co over three years and do less of the paperwork yourself.
The annual report comes with the service, and the $45 state fee is passed along.
What the price covers
- Your formation filing is prepared and submitted
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- State fee added at cost
Marks in its favor
- $199 at renewal
- The EIN application is included
- $199 per year for the whole bundle
Where it loses points
- Renews $100 higher than Vermont Registered Agent.co
2. Vermont Registered Agent.co: best for founders staying in Vermont
For number 2 we picked Vermont Registered Agent.co: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
You file the annual report on your own every year.
What the price covers
- Your Vermont formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Year one of agent service is in the price
- $99 a year after that
- $199 plus the state fee
Where it loses points
- The annual report is left to you
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
3. VT Registered Agent.org: best for a low agent renewal
For number 3 we picked VT Registered Agent.org: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
You file the annual report on your own every year.
Vermont Registered Agent.co and this service charge the same.
What the price covers
- Your Vermont formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Year one of agent service is in the price
- $199 plus the state fee
- $99 a year after that
Where it loses points
- The annual report is left to you
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
Our Vermont picks side by side
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Vermont Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Vermont Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | VT Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit VT Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Forming the LLC in order
-
Step
1Check that the name is available
Look up the name on the Vermont business register at the Vermont Secretary of State first.
Check whether the matching web domain is free while you are at it.
-
Step
2Appoint a registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An individual, or a business registered and active with the Secretary of State other than the company itself, with a street and mailing address in Vermont.
The address has to be a street address in Vermont. P.O. boxes and virtual addresses are not accepted.
All of our picks fill the registered agent role.
Where this comes from: Look it up at legislature.vermont.gov; last checked October 2026
-
Step
3Choose between DIY and a service
Without a service you pay $155. With one of our graded picks you pay $199 more and skip the forms.
-
Step
4Hand in the Articles of Organization
Here is the filing that creates the company: the Articles of Organization, which you deliver to the Vermont Secretary of State with a $155 fee.
Where this comes from: Look it up at legislature.vermont.gov; last checked October 2026
-
Step
5Get your EIN from the IRS
Once approved, the LLC can get a federal tax ID, the EIN, from the IRS. A business bank account will need it. Mainstay Filing covers this step too.
-
Step
6Agree on the ground rules in writing
Even if you are the only owner, a written operating agreement kept with the company records is a good idea for a Vermont LLC.
-
Step
7Keep up with Vermont's recurring filing
Mark the annual report on your calendar: $45, every year, with the deadline within 3 months after the end of the LLC's fiscal year on record.
Where this comes from: Look it up at sos.vermont.gov; last checked October 2026
Vermont costs by step
| Line | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing | State office | $155 |
| Annual report | State office | $45 every year |
| A service, if you use one | The provider | $199 in year one |
| Three-year state total | State office | $245 |
Why Mainstay Filing comes first
Homework the price handles carries 33% of the report card, and that is where pulled ahead in Vermont.
Taking care of the annual report outweighed the lower price on our weights.
Test yourself on Vermont
What is the price of forming a Vermont LLC?
Filing costs $155. If you hire a service, add $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
It is the Articles of Organization, and you hand it to the Vermont Secretary of State.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Vermont require each year?
Vermont asks for the annual report every year. The fee is $45, and the due date is within 3 months after the end of the LLC's fiscal year on record.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
The state takes filings directly from owners, so you can skip the service; expect $155 plus a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Mainstay Filing first, then Vermont Registered Agent.co and VT Registered Agent.org; Mainstay Filing leads on homework the price handles.
Class references
- Homework check for Vermont Secretary of State fee schedule, Annual Report: the facts come from sos.vermont.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Vermont report due date: the facts come from legislature.vermont.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Vermont formation fee: Filing fee, official source: the facts come from legislature.vermont.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Vermont registered agent statute: the facts come from legislature.vermont.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Prices taken from the Vermont service page of Mainstay Filing on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the pricing page of Vermont Registered Agent.co on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the pricing page of VT Registered Agent.org on November 13, 2026