To form a Michigan LLC, you file Articles of Organization with LARA's Corporations Division and pay $50, as of October 2026. After that, you file an annual statement for $25 by 15 February each year. If a majority of the initial membership interests will be held by veterans, the fees can be waived.
Michigan is one of the cheapest states to form and keep an LLC. The fees are low, but the annual statement has a fixed date that's easy to forget. Here's what LARA's own pages and fee schedule say.
Michigan LLC fees at a glance
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (form 700) | $50 |
| Articles of Organization, professional service LLC (form 701) | $50 |
| Application for reservation of name | $25 |
| Certificate of assumed name | $25 |
| Certificate of amendment to the articles | $25 |
| Annual statement | $25 |
| Certificate of restoration of good standing | $50, plus $25 for each missed statement |
| Certificate of authority (LLC formed in another state) | $50 |
All from LARA, as of October 2026.
Paying to go faster
Standard processing comes with the filing fee. If you need the LLC quickly, LARA charges extra for expedited service, on top of the filing fee:
| Speed | Extra fee for a new LLC |
|---|---|
| 24 hours | $50 |
| Same day | $100 |
| 2 hours, same day | $500 |
| 1 hour, same day | $1,000 |
For most new businesses, standard or 24-hour service is plenty. The same-day tiers are for deals that have to close today.
How a Michigan LLC is set up
LARA describes an LLC as a business formed by an organizer, who may but need not be a member. It's separate from its members, and their liability is limited to their financial contribution. The members own it and run it, unless the Articles of Organization say it's managed by managers. Michigan LLCs have all the powers granted to a corporation under the Limited Liability Company Act.
- Check the name is free on LARA's Business Entity Search, and reserve it for $25 if you need to hold it.
- Decide whether members or managers will run the company.
- File the Articles of Organization online or by mail and pay $50.
- If you'll trade under another name, file a certificate of assumed name for $25. My guide to a DBA in Michigan covers that step.
- Diarise the annual statement for 15 February.
The annual statement and what late costs
Each Michigan LLC files an annual statement for $25. LARA's restoration page shows the due date is 15 February, and there's a useful exception: if your LLC is organized after 30 September, there's no statement due on the 15 February that immediately follows. So an LLC formed in October skips its first February.
If an LLC isn't in good standing because it didn't file, it can file a certificate of restoration of good standing. That costs $50, plus $25 for every missing annual statement. If the restoration arrives on or after 15 February, the current year's statement is also needed with another $25. You can use the Business Entity Search to see which statements are missing before you file.
The veteran fee waiver most people miss
This is the detail people miss. LARA can waive fees for LLCs owned by veterans. For the Articles of Organization, the waiver applies if a majority of the initial membership interests will be held by veterans. For later documents, including annual statements, it applies if a majority of the membership interests are held by veterans and the LLC can prove it. Professional service LLCs get the waiver on the $75 annual report filing fee, but not on the $50 late penalty.
Running the LLC after you file
- Keep the registered office and resident agent details current. Changing them is a separate filing on LARA's fee schedule.
- Use the Business Entity Search to check your own record once a year, the same search LARA suggests for spotting missing statements.
- If you change your trading name, file a new certificate of assumed name rather than just updating your website.
- Keep your Articles of Organization and any amendments with your operating agreement, because together they set out who runs the company.
Professional and out-of-state LLCs
- A professional service LLC must have at least one member licensed in each professional service it offers, and if there's more than one member, all must be licensed to provide the company's services.
- An LLC formed elsewhere that's transacting business in Michigan must first get a Certificate of Authority, which costs $50. The Act lists activities that don't count as transacting business on their own.
For the bigger picture before you file, see my guide on how to start an LLC, and for deadlines in other states, the LLC annual report comparison.
My verdict
At $50 to form and $25 a year to keep, as of October 2026, a Michigan LLC is one of the easiest LLCs to run. Put 15 February in your calendar, check whether the veteran waiver applies to you, and you'll never pay a restoration fee.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Michigan?
The Articles of Organization filing fee is $50, as of October 2026. Expedited service costs extra, from $50 for 24 hours.
When is the Michigan LLC annual statement due?
15 February each year. An LLC organized after 30 September doesn't owe a statement on the 15 February that immediately follows.
How much is the Michigan LLC annual statement?
It's $25, as of October 2026.
How do I restore a Michigan LLC that's not in good standing?
File a certificate of restoration of good standing for $50 with every missing annual statement at $25 each, as of October 2026.
Can veterans form a Michigan LLC for free?
LARA can waive the fees if a majority of the initial membership interests will be held by veterans, and later fees if a majority of interests are held by veterans.
Does a Michigan LLC member have to be the organizer?
No. LARA says an LLC is formed by an organizer who may, but need not, be a member.
How fast can I get a Michigan LLC?
Standard processing comes with the $50 filing fee. LARA offers 24-hour service for an extra $50 and same-day service for an extra $100 on a new LLC, as of October 2026.
Does a Michigan professional LLC file differently?
Yes. A professional service LLC files its own version of the articles, and its annual report fee is $75, with a $50 late penalty, as of October 2026.
