Alabama business formation and filing fees
Compare the costs of creating an LLC or corporation in Alabama, or registering a company formed elsewhere. The filing office is Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services, Business Entities Division.
Starting a company in Alabama
Domestic LLC filing fee
$200.00 Alabama Secretary of State filing fee. The official page does not publish a separate paper-versus-online base fee; online formation is available and the same statutory filing fee applies, with card or online-service charges, if any, shown at checkout. A name reservation is required before the Certificate of Formation.
Domestic corporation filing fee
$200.00 for a domestic business corporation Certificate of Formation. Alabama requires the legal name to contain Corporation, Incorporated, Corp., or Inc., and the filing must include the name-reservation certificate. The official page does not identify a stock-authorized-share surcharge for the standard filing.
Registering a company formed elsewhere
For state registration, “foreign” can mean a company formed in another U.S. state. These fees are separate from creating a new Alabama entity.
Foreign LLC qualification
$150.00 for a Foreign Limited Liability Company Application for Registration, filed with two original copies and a qualifying name reservation certificate. The foreign LLC name must end in Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., or LLC. The application may be filed online for the same $150.00 filing fee or by mail to Business Entities Division.
Foreign corporation qualification
$150.00 for a Foreign Corporation registration/application for certificate of authority. The applicant should first reserve the name; the paper name reservation is $25.00 and the online reservation is $28.00. Alabama requires the application in duplicate and a name-reservation certificate dated within the permitted period.
Alabama processing times
No fixed statewide service-level time is stated on the reviewed SOS pages. Online submissions can generate or print formation documents through the business-services workflow; paper filings are processed after receipt and may take longer. The entity is not legally formed until the Secretary of State accepts the filing and assigns an Entity ID/status.
Expedited filing options
The reviewed Alabama Business Entities materials do not publish a separate expedited review tier for formation, amendment, or dissolution. The SOS has an expedite fee for certain UCC searches, but that is not a corporate formation service. Treat any online convenience or card fee as distinct from statutory filing fees and confirm availability with Business Entities before relying on same-day treatment.
Choose your next Alabama guide
Business entity search →
Find an existing business and understand its public record.
Annual reports →
Check recurring deadlines, report fees, and reinstatement rules.
Good standing →
Order a certificate, certified copy, or apostille.
Registered agent →
Check agent qualifications, changes, and resignations.