District of Columbia business formation and filing fees
Compare the costs of creating an LLC or corporation in District of Columbia, or registering a company formed elsewhere. The filing office is District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division.
Starting a company in District of Columbia
Domestic LLC filing fee
$99.00 for domestic LLC Articles of Organization through CorpOnline, with the current fee schedule controlling. The District's public business checklist gives corporate-registration costs as approximately $80–$220 depending on entity and filing; same-day walk-in service adds $100 and three-day service adds $50. The LLC must designate a DC registered agent and then register for District taxes/licenses separately.
Domestic corporation filing fee
$99.00 for a standard domestic for-profit corporation with up to $100,000 authorized capital; higher authorized-capital tiers can increase the fee, including a publicly listed $550 tier for $100,001–$500,000. Nonprofit formation is separately listed at $80. The filing is through CorpOnline and may be subject to the $50 three-day or $100 same-day expedite fee.
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 District of Columbia entity.
Foreign LLC qualification
Foreign LLC registration is handled through CorpOnline; the current DLCP fee schedule must be selected by entity type and filing. The public business portal gives a broad $80–$220 registration range and the foreign-entity fee pages provide the exact category. The foreign LLC must provide a DC registered agent, home-jurisdiction information, and any certificate of good standing required by the form.
Foreign corporation qualification
Foreign corporation registration is handled by the DLCP Corporations Division through CorpOnline and the applicable foreign-entity fee schedule. The exact fee depends on entity type, authorized capital, and filing category; confirm the 2026 schedule before payment. The corporation must appoint a DC registered agent and register for District tax and business-license accounts.
District of Columbia processing times
The DC Business Portal states corporate registration generally takes 1–15 business days, depending on filing type and review. CorpOnline provides instant receipts and 24/7 access, but an instant receipt is not the same as acceptance. Mail and walk-in filings can be slower, while web-eligible expedited filings can use the published three-day or same-day service.
Expedited filing options
DC offers three-day expedited service for an additional $50.00 and same-day expedited service for an additional $100.00, in addition to the statutory filing fee. Walk-in customers receiving service at the Business License Center are generally charged the expedited fee; availability for mail and particular CorpOnline filings may be limited. During the August 2026 BOSS transition, service interruptions or altered cutoff times may apply.
Choose your next District of Columbia guide
Business entity search →
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Check recurring deadlines, report fees, and reinstatement rules.
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Registered agent →
Check agent qualifications, changes, and resignations.