There are three ways to move an LLC across state lines, and they cost different amounts, preserve different things, and suit different situations. Picking the method first is what makes the cost question answerable.
The three methods
Domestication, sometimes called continuance, moves the LLC itself from one state to another. The LLC keeps its original formation date, its EIN, its contracts, and its history. Only the home state changes. Typical state filing fees run $100 to $400: Wyoming charges a flat $100 for Articles of Domestication, Delaware charges $220 for the certificate of domestication plus $110 for the simultaneous certificate of formation, Nevada charges $350, Iowa $50, New Jersey $100. You will also need a certificate of good standing from your current state, which runs from free (Colorado, online) to $175 (Delaware long form). Not every state allows domestication, and both the old and new state have to permit it.
Foreign registration keeps the LLC where it is and registers it as a foreign entity in the new state. Typical fees: $50 to $300. This is the cheapest move on paper, but it is not a move at all. You now have compliance obligations in two states: annual reports and fees in both, a registered agent in both. For an LLC that will operate in both states anyway, that is fine. For an LLC that is actually relocating, it is the most expensive option over time.
Dissolve and reform closes the old LLC and forms a new one in the new state. Formation fees run $40 to $500 depending on the state, dissolution fees $0 to $100. This is often the cheapest single transaction, but you lose continuity: the new LLC is a new legal entity, you may need a new EIN, and contracts, licenses, and bank accounts have to be transferred or re-established.
A worked comparison
| Line item | Domestication to Wyoming | Dissolve and reform in Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | $100 | $100 formation + $0-$100 dissolution |
| Certificate of good standing | $0-$175 | n/a |
| Registered agent (year 1) | $100-$300 | $100-$300 |
| Rough total | $225-$575 | $200-$500 |
The reform route is slightly cheaper or about even on state fees, but you start over as a legal entity. If the business has client contracts, a business bank account, licenses, or any credit history, the paperwork cost of the fresh start usually exceeds the $100 or so saved on fees.
Decision rules
- You have contracts, licenses, business credit, or assets in the LLC's name: domesticate. Continuity is worth more than the small savings of reforming.
- Both states allow it: check first. Domestication requires the old state to let the LLC leave and the new state to let it in. If either says no, your real options are foreign registration or a new LLC.
- You will keep operating in the old state too: register as a foreign entity instead of moving. One LLC, two states, two sets of annual fees, and no interruption.
- The old state is expensive and the LLC is young with few ties: dissolve and reform. A two-year-old LLC with no contracts loses almost nothing by starting fresh, and you escape the old state's annual fees entirely.
- You are moving to escape annual fees: do the five-year math, not the one-year math. A $300 annual fee you keep paying for five years is $1,500, which dwarfs any filing fee difference.
What people forget
The state filings are the visible cost. The invisible costs are the registered agent in the new state ($100 to $300 a year, every year), updating the operating agreement with the new state, notifying the IRS of the address change (Form 8822-B), and updating bank accounts, licenses, vendor records, and payroll. None of these are expensive individually. Together they are the actual work of the move, and they apply no matter which method you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my EIN when I move my LLC to another state?
Yes, if you domesticate: the LLC keeps its EIN, formation date, and contracts. If you dissolve and form a new LLC, the new entity may need a new EIN from the IRS.
Do I need a new registered agent when I move my LLC?
Yes, in the new state. Every state requires an in-state registered agent, typically $100 to $300 per year. If you keep the old LLC registered anywhere, you need an agent there too.
How long does LLC domestication take?
Days to weeks depending on the state. Wyoming, for example, processes domestication filings in up to 15 business days, with same-day and next-day expedited options available for an additional fee.
Can I just operate in the new state without moving my LLC?
Yes, by registering as a foreign entity in the new state, usually $50 to $300. But you then owe annual reports and fees in both states, so it only makes sense if you genuinely operate in both.
Do I need to notify the IRS when my LLC moves states?
Yes. File Form 8822-B to report the address change to the IRS. You should also update your operating agreement, bank accounts, licenses, vendor records, and payroll with the new state information.
See every state's fees in one table.
LLC Cost by State compares filing fees, annual report fees, and franchise taxes across all 50 states plus DC, with a 5-year total cost calculator.
Not legal advice: Fee schedules change and this summary reflects figures verified in 2026. Always confirm current fees with your Secretary of State before filing.
One LLC cost guide a month: subscribe to the newsletter.