How much does it cost to start an LLC in Kansas?

Starting an LLC in Kansas costs $85 for the Articles of Organization filed online with the Kansas Secretary of State ($90 by mail). Kansas bills its information report every two years rather than annually, at $90, so first-year state cost is the $85 filing fee alone. For example, an LLC formed in August 2026 files its first information report by April 15 of its next reporting year. Additional costs may include registered agent services and business licenses depending on your industry. Unlike New York, Nebraska and parts of Arizona, Kansas requires no newspaper notice of formation, so you avoid the newspaper charges. Exception: professional LLCs in fields such as law, medicine, or engineering must also obtain separate licensing from the relevant Kansas professional licensing board. File online at sos.ks. The Kansas Secretary of State publishes a standard turnaround of within minutes (online).

How long does it take to form an LLC in Kansas?

Kansas publishes this figure, which many states do not: within minutes (online). In the Kansas Secretary of State's own words: Online: "Processing happens within minutes and your certified copy of the Articles of Organization can be printed from the above website without delay.". Treat this as a genuine planning figure rather than a guarantee, and confirm it on the Kansas Secretary of State's own site before committing to a date.

Do I need to publish my Kansas LLC formation?

No, Kansas doesn't require LLC publication in newspapers. Once your Articles of Organization are approved by the Kansas Secretary of State, your LLC is legally formed and fully authorized to conduct business, no newspaper notice, no affidavit, and no publication waiting period required. Unlike New York, Nebraska and parts of Arizona, Kansas requires no newspaper notice of formation, which saves you the newspaper charges and makes Kansas a more straightforward and affordable state for LLC formation. Kansas has never had a publication requirement for LLCs, keeping formation simple, private, and cost-predictable from day one, what you pay to the state is your total state cost, with no hidden fees to budget for afterward. Your formation is complete the moment the Kansas Secretary of State approves your filing. Exception: certain highly regulated business types, such as banks, insurance companies, or investment advisers, may have separate state or federal disclosure requirements beyond the standard LLC formation process. File your Articles of Organization online at sos.ks.gov to complete formation without any publication burden.

Can I be my own registered agent in Kansas?

Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent in Kansas if you've a physical Kansas street address (P.O. boxes aren't permitted) and are consistently available during normal business hours Monday through Friday to receive legal documents and state correspondence. Your registered agent's address is included in the public record filed with the Kansas Secretary of State, which means your home or personal address would appear in state business databases if you act as your own agent. A professional service puts its address, not yours, on the registered agent line of the public filing, and accepts legal papers during business hours, even when you are traveling or otherwise unavailable. Exception: if you relocate outside Kansas or change your address without updating your registered agent information with the Kansas Secretary of State, your LLC risks losing good standing. Designate your agent when filing at sos.ks.gov.

When is my Kansas LLC annual report due?

Kansas LLC information reports are due by April 15 of the LLC's respective odd or even year (every two years, not every year), with a $90 fee paid online through the Kansas Secretary of State website at sos.ks.gov ($110 by mail). The annual report includes basic company information such as your LLC's principal office address, registered agent details, and member or manager names. For example, if you form your LLC in November 2026, your first annual report is due by April 15, 2027, only about five months after formation. Missing the April 15th deadline results in late penalties, and continued non-filing can lead to administrative dissolution of your Kansas LLC. Exception: newly formed LLCs may receive a grace period for their very first report if formed close to the April 15th deadline; confirm your specific first due date with the Kansas Secretary of State. File your annual report online at sos.ks.gov to avoid late fees and maintain good standing.

Does Kansas tax LLC income?

Yes. Kansas taxes LLC members on their share of the profit through its personal income tax. Check the current rate with the state tax agency. Kansas LLCs are pass-through entities, meaning profits and losses flow through to each member's personal Kansas income tax return rather than being taxed at the entity level. Multi-member LLCs must also file a Kansas partnership return (Form K-65) in addition to each member's individual Kansas return. Exception: LLCs electing C corporation status for federal tax purposes face Kansas corporate income tax instead of the pass-through rates, which may affect your overall tax liability. Consult a Kansas tax professional to determine the optimal tax treatment for your LLC.

How to Start an LLC in Kansas: Complete 2026 Guide

Form your Kansas LLC with straightforward requirements and competitive fees.

By Edmond Hui · Last updated: October 2026

Filing an LLC in Kansas costs $85 upfront and has a biennial report due April 15 ($90). Processing time: Within minutes (online). See breakdown below.

Kansas publishes its LLC filing turnaround as within minutes (online)

That's the Kansas Secretary of State's own published figure, online filings post immediately.

Source: MyStateLLC 50-state primary-source processing verification, July 2026

Read this guide for another state:

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Quick Facts

State filing fee	$85 online, $90 by mail
Processing time	Within minutes (online)
Annual report due	April 15 (biennial)
Annual report fee	$90
State income tax	Yes. Members pay state income tax on pass-through profits. Check the current rate with the state tax agency.

Source: Kansas Secretary of State (verified July 2026)

Step diagram for forming an LLC in Kansas, showing the 7 required steps, $85 state filing fee, $90 annual report. — The 7 steps to form an LLC in Kansas, with the state's own filing fee and annual report cost. Source: Kansas Secretary of State, verified July 2026.

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

1
Choose Your Kansas LLC Name
Select a unique name ending with 'LLC' or 'Limited Liability Company'. Search the Kansas Secretary of State database to ensure availability. Your name can't be identical or confusingly similar to existing Kansas business entities.
How to search Kansas's business entity records →
Pro tip: Reserve your name for 120 days with Kansas for $20 if you need time to prepare other documents.
2
Appoint a Kansas Registered Agent
Designate someone with a Kansas address to receive legal documents for your LLC. This can be yourself, a trusted contact, or a professional service. The registered agent must be available during business hours and have a physical Kansas address.
Kansas registered agent rules, costs and options →
Pro tip: A professional registered agent service puts its address, not yours, on the registered agent line of the public filing, and accepts legal papers during business hours.
3
File Articles of Organization
Submit your Articles of Organization to the Kansas Secretary of State with the $85 online filing fee ($90 on paper). Kansas states that online processing “happens within minutes” and that you can print your certified copy immediately.
What You File in Kansas
In Kansas, the formation document is the Articles of Organization (Form DL), filed with the Kansas Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The state charges $85 to file online and $90 by mail. Kansas lets you fill in and file the Articles of Organization online. The state's published processing time: Within minutes (online). The form itself requires the LLC's name, the registered agent's name, the registered office address and the organizer's name. Every line of the Articles of Organization, field by field →
Processing Times
- Online: Posts immediately, Processing happens within minutes and your certified copy of the Articles of Organization can be printed from the above website without delay.
- Mail: Not published, Kansas Secretary of State states no standard turnaround for mailed filings, and every state that comments says mail is slower than online
- Expedited: No paid expedite option is published for LLC filings
4
Create an Operating Agreement
Draft an operating agreement outlining ownership percentages, member responsibilities, and management structure. This page has not confirmed whether Kansas law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way: it records who owns what share, who makes decisions and how profits are divided.
Kansas LLC operating agreement: what to include →
5
Obtain an EIN from the IRS
Apply for an Employer Identification Number through the IRS website if you have employees or multiple members. A single-member LLC with a U.S. owner, no employees, no excise tax filings and no corporate tax election can use the owner's SSN or ITIN, but an EIN is recommended for banking and tax purposes.
How to get your LLC's EIN from the IRS, free →
6
Open a Business Bank Account
Establish business banking with your Articles of Organization, EIN, and operating agreement. Keeping business and personal finances separate matters for maintaining your LLC's liability protection in Kansas.
Business bank accounts for Kansas LLCs →
7
Obtain Required Business Licenses
Research industry-specific licenses and permits for your business type. Some businesses may need state licenses from Kansas agencies, local permits, or professional licenses depending on your activities and location.
Does your Kansas LLC need a business license? →

Watch: How to Start an LLC in Kansas (2026): Step-by-Step Guide

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each Secretary of State publishes for forming an LLC, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own filing needs: fees and forms change between our reviews, several occupations cannot use an ordinary LLC at all and must use a professional entity, and your city or county may require a registration of its own. Confirm the current fee and form with the filing office named on this page before you send anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

: Starting an LLC in Kansas costs $85 for the Articles of Organization filed online with the Kansas Secretary of State ($90 by mail). Kansas bills its information report every two years rather than annually, at $90, so first-year state cost is the $85 filing fee alone. For example, an LLC formed in August 2026 files its first information report by April 15 of its next reporting year. Additional costs may include registered agent services and business licenses depending on your industry. Unlike New York, Nebraska and parts of Arizona, Kansas requires no newspaper notice of formation, so you avoid the newspaper charges. Exception: professional LLCs in fields such as law, medicine, or engineering must also obtain separate licensing from the relevant Kansas professional licensing board. File online at sos.ks. The Kansas Secretary of State publishes a standard turnaround of within minutes (online).
: Kansas publishes this figure, which many states do not: within minutes (online). In the Kansas Secretary of State's own words: Online: "Processing happens within minutes and your certified copy of the Articles of Organization can be printed from the above website without delay.". Treat this as a genuine planning figure rather than a guarantee, and confirm it on the Kansas Secretary of State's own site before committing to a date.
: No, Kansas doesn't require LLC publication in newspapers. Once your Articles of Organization are approved by the Kansas Secretary of State, your LLC is legally formed and fully authorized to conduct business, no newspaper notice, no affidavit, and no publication waiting period required. Unlike New York, Nebraska and parts of Arizona, Kansas requires no newspaper notice of formation, which saves you the newspaper charges and makes Kansas a more straightforward and affordable state for LLC formation. Kansas has never had a publication requirement for LLCs, keeping formation simple, private, and cost-predictable from day one, what you pay to the state is your total state cost, with no hidden fees to budget for afterward. Your formation is complete the moment the Kansas Secretary of State approves your filing. Exception: certain highly regulated business types, such as banks, insurance companies, or investment advisers, may have separate state or federal disclosure requirements beyond the standard LLC formation process. File your Articles of Organization online at sos.ks.gov to complete formation without any publication burden.
: Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent in Kansas if you've a physical Kansas street address (P.O. boxes aren't permitted) and are consistently available during normal business hours Monday through Friday to receive legal documents and state correspondence. Your registered agent's address is included in the public record filed with the Kansas Secretary of State, which means your home or personal address would appear in state business databases if you act as your own agent. A professional service puts its address, not yours, on the registered agent line of the public filing, and accepts legal papers during business hours, even when you are traveling or otherwise unavailable. Exception: if you relocate outside Kansas or change your address without updating your registered agent information with the Kansas Secretary of State, your LLC risks losing good standing. Designate your agent when filing at sos.ks.gov.
: Kansas LLC information reports are due by April 15 of the LLC's respective odd or even year (every two years, not every year), with a $90 fee paid online through the Kansas Secretary of State website at sos.ks.gov ($110 by mail). The annual report includes basic company information such as your LLC's principal office address, registered agent details, and member or manager names. For example, if you form your LLC in November 2026, your first annual report is due by April 15, 2027, only about five months after formation. Missing the April 15th deadline results in late penalties, and continued non-filing can lead to administrative dissolution of your Kansas LLC. Exception: newly formed LLCs may receive a grace period for their very first report if formed close to the April 15th deadline; confirm your specific first due date with the Kansas Secretary of State. File your annual report online at sos.ks.gov to avoid late fees and maintain good standing.
: Yes. Kansas taxes LLC members on their share of the profit through its personal income tax. Check the current rate with the state tax agency. Kansas LLCs are pass-through entities, meaning profits and losses flow through to each member's personal Kansas income tax return rather than being taxed at the entity level. Multi-member LLCs must also file a Kansas partnership return (Form K-65) in addition to each member's individual Kansas return. Exception: LLCs electing C corporation status for federal tax purposes face Kansas corporate income tax instead of the pass-through rates, which may affect your overall tax liability. Consult a Kansas tax professional to determine the optimal tax treatment for your LLC.

Sources

4 documents

Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified Kansas sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.

sos.ks.gov/businesses/register-a-business.htmlKansas Secretary of State: business entity filings
sos.ks.gov/forms/business_services/dl.pdfKansas LLC filing fees
sos.ks.gov/businesses/information-reports.htmlKansas agency guidance: Information Report
sos.ks.gov/businesses/reinstate-a-business.htmlKansas agency guidance: Information Report

More for Kansas LLCs

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Prefer to file directly? File yourself at the Secretary of State → ($85 state fee, no service fee)

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Edmond Hui · Founder, MyStateLLC

Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.

How we check facts

How to Start an LLC in Kansas: Complete 2026 Guide

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose Your Kansas LLC Name

Appoint a Kansas Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Kansas

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an EIN from the IRS

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Required Business Licenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

More for Kansas LLCs

Start and set up

Taxes, money and growth

Stay compliant

Operate in other states

Compare structures

By owner type

By profession

Ready to Form Your Kansas LLC?

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose Your Kansas LLC Name

Appoint a Kansas Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Kansas

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an EIN from the IRS

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Required Business Licenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

More for Kansas LLCs

Start and set up

Taxes, money and growth

Stay compliant

Operate in other states

Compare structures

By owner type

By profession

Ready to Form Your Kansas LLC?

More Kansas LLC Guides

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