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How to start an LLC in Kansas

By Brent Chudoba, editor Updated

Forming an LLC in Kansas costs $85 to file the Articles of Organization with the Kansas Secretary of State. After that you file a biennial report of $5. Kansas charges no franchise tax on a standard LLC. Effective February 27, 2026, the Kansas Secretary of State standardized entity fees: Articles of Organization for a domestic LLC now cost $85 filed online ($75 statutory application/recording fee + $10 electronic filing fee) or $90 by paper, aligned with the corporation formation fee. LLCs must also file a biennial (every-other-year, not annual) information report, $5 online or $25 by paper, rather than an annual report.

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

Kansas LLC costs (reviewed August 29, 2026)
ItemCost
Filing fee, Articles of Organization$85
Biennial report$5 every 2 years
Franchise or business taxNone
Registered agentRequired

Source: Kansas Secretary of State, fee schedule reviewed August 29, 2026.

What are the steps to form an LLC in Kansas?

  1. Name your LLC. Pick a name that is available and meets Kansas naming rules, then check it against the Secretary of State's business database.
  2. Appoint a registered agent. Kansas requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address to receive legal mail. You can be your own agent, or hire a service.
  3. File the Articles of Organization. Submit it to the Kansas Secretary of State and pay the $85 fee. This is the step that legally creates the LLC.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and takes minutes. Do not pay a service for it. See how to get an EIN free from the IRS.
  5. Calendar your biennial report. Kansas charges $5 to keep the LLC in good standing. Missing it risks penalties or administrative dissolution.
  6. Open a business bank account. Keep business money separate from personal money so your liability protection holds up.

Does Kansas have a franchise tax on an LLC?

No. Kansas does not impose a franchise tax on LLCs (the state's franchise/privilege fee on LLCs and corporations was repealed effective 2011).

How is an LLC taxed in Kansas?

By default, an LLC is a pass-through entity: it pays no income tax itself, and the profits flow to the owners' personal returns. Kansas has a state individual income tax with a top rate of 5.58% (graduated brackets), so those profits are taxed on your Kansas return on top of federal tax. Graduated income tax with 2 brackets, effective tax year 2024 and all years thereafter (2024 Special Session SB 1, signed by Gov. Kelly June 21, 2024): 5.2% on Kansas taxable income up to $23,000 (single/HoH/MFS) or $46,000 (MFJ); 5.58% on the excess above those thresholds. Reduced from the prior 3-bracket structure (3.1% / 5.25% / 5.7%).

An LLC can also elect to be taxed as an S-corp, which changes how owners pay self-employment tax. See LLC vs S-corp vs sole proprietorship and how self-employment tax works.

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