Alaska LLCs are relatively inexpensive — especially when you consider that an LLC can protect your personal assets and help grow your business. That’s why forming an LLC is the best choice for most small businesses.
The cost to form an LLC in Alaska is $250. This covers the primary cost of officially registering your LLC with the state.
Read our LLC Cost in Alaska guide below to learn more about LLC costs and other fees associated with all Alaska businesses.
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Northwest ($29 plus state fees)
How Much Is an LLC in Alaska?
Alaska LLC Filing Fee: $250
To form an LLC in Alaska, you'll need to file the Articles of Organization of a Domestic Limited Liability Company with the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
The Articles of Organization may be filed online, by mail, by fax, or in person by downloading and completing Form 08-484. The fee to file Articles of Organization of a Domestic Limited Liability Company is $250.
You can complete this process yourself with our How to Start an LLC guide or use an LLC formation service.
Registered Agent Fee
Every Alaska LLC must appoint a registered agent. Your Alaska registered agent must be a resident of Alaska and must be available to receive service of process during normal business hours at a designated street address.
You can be your own registered agent in Alaska, or you can use a registered agent service for a minimal cost.
Recommended: Get free registered agent services for one year when you form an LLC with Northwest ($29 plus state fees).
Alaska Biennial Report Fee: $100
Alaska requires LLCs to file a biennial report with the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development every two years. An initial report is due within six months after the LLC has been organized.
Both the initial report and the biennial report can be completed online. They can also be filed by mail or by fax by entering your state entity number on the online Biennial Report application and selecting “Print Form.”
For a domestic LLC, the fee for filing a Biennial Report is $100.There is no fee for filing the Initial Report.
Cost to Register a Foreign LLC in Alaska: $350
LLCs registered in another state that want to expand into the state of Alaska must register as a foreign LLC in Alaska.
The cost for registering a foreign LLC in Alaska is $350. You can register a foreign LLC in Alaska by filing a Certificate of Registration for a Foreign Limited Liability Company.
Business Licenses and Permits
Your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in Alaska, depending on your industry and geographical location. This is true whether you form an LLC or any other type of business structure.
A general business license is required for the privilege of engaging in business in the state of Alaska. You can purchase a Business License by filing Form 08-4181. A business license can also be applied for online using the Online Business License Application.
Business license fees are $50 per year and may be purchased for one year ($50) or two years ($100). All business licenses expire on December 31, regardless of the date of purchase.
Learn more about state and local licensing in our Alaska business license guide.
Other Alaska Business Filing Fees
There are fees associated with other, optional business filings in Alaska.
‘Doing Business As’ (DBA) Name
When an LLC is registered with the state, the LLC’s name is also officially registered.
Some business owners choose to also file for a DBA name. To conduct business using a DBA name, the business must obtain a license for that DBA name. A separate business license is required for each different name a business will be operating and advertising under.
A business may obtain exclusive rights to a business name by filing a Business Name Reservation, which protects a name for 120 days, or a Business Name Registration, which bestows exclusive rights for five years. You can file a Business Name Registration online or by mail by printing and completing Form 08-557 with the Department of Commerce and pay the $25 filing fee to create a name other than your legal LLC business name.
Learn more in our Alaska DBA guide.
Certified Document Copies
You can get certified copies of your Alaska business documents by ordering through the Alaska Department of Commerce. You must complete Copy Request Form: Corporations Section Only (Form 08-562). Fees vary based on the type of copies requested.
Certificate of Compliance
Also known as an Alaska Certificate of Good Standing, you can obtain this document by ordering through the Department of Commerce on Form 08-4535. The fee for a Certificate of Compliance copy is $10.
A Certificate of Compliance is often required by banks and lenders.
Recommended: Learn more about LLC formation services in our Best LLC Services review.
How to Start an LLC in Alaska
Forming an LLC yourself is easy; just follow the five steps below.
Five Basic Steps to Start an LLC in Alaska
Step 1: Name Your Alaska LLC
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
Step 5: Get an EIN
Step 1: Name Your Alaska LLC
When you name your Alaska LLC, you’ll need to choose a name that:
- Is available for use in the state of Alaska
- Meets Alaska naming requirements
- Is available as a web domain
Check web domain (URL) availability with GoDaddy:
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our free LLC name generator.
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Alaska LLCs are required to appoint a registered agent to receive service of process. Business owners can hire a registered agent service or appoint any Alaska resident that is 18 years or older and is available during normal business hours at a specified address to receive service of process.
Recommended: Northwest offers one full year of registered agent services with their $29 (plus state fees) LLC formation package.
Step 3: File the Alaska Articles of Organization of a Limited Liability Company
To form a domestic LLC in Alaska, you must file Articles of Organization of a Domestic Limited Liability Company with the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. This can be done online or by filing Form 08-484 by mail, by fax, or in person. The fee to file Articles of Organization of a Domestic Limited Liability Company is $250.
For a closer look at the filing process, check out our Alaska LLC Articles of Organization guide.
Step 4: Create an LLC Operating Agreement
Operating agreements are not required for Alaska LLCs, but it’s a good practice to have one.
An operating agreement outlines the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC, ensuring that all members are on the same page, which reduces the risk of conflict down the line.
Learn more in our Alaska LLC Operating Agreement guide.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify businesses for tax purposes. Think of an EIN as a Social Security number for your LLC.
To learn how to get an EIN for free, visit our How to Get an EIN Number guide.
LLC Cost in Alaska FAQ
What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in Alaska?
The cheapest way to start an LLC in Alaska is to handle the registration process individually. In order to do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Name your LLC
- Choose a registered agent: This can be a registered agent service or an individual.
- File the Alaska Articles of Organization of a Domestic Limited Liability Company: The filing fee for this is $250 and can be done online, by mail, by fax, or in person.
- Create an LLC operating agreement: This is usually not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended.
- Get an EIN: This is basically your business’s Social Security number (SSN).
How much does an LLC cost per year in Alaska?
Alaska requires LLCs to file a Biennial Report with the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development every two years.
An Initial Report is due within six months after the LLC has been organized. Then, the Biennial Report is due on January 2 of alternate years. For a domestic LLC, the fee for filing a Biennial Report is $100. There is no fee for filing the Initial Report.
For a more in-depth analysis, see our How Much Does an LLC Cost? article.
How much does an LLC license cost in Alaska?
An LLC is not a business license, but a business entity. Forming an LLC in Alaska includes a filing fee of $250.
You may be required to pay additional fees if you choose to pay for a registered agent service, an LLC formation service, or an LLC attorney.
See our How to Start an LLC in Alaska for more information on registering your business as an LLC.
Do LLCs pay taxes in Alaska?
LLCs are a “pass-through” tax entity. This means that the LLCs profits are “passed through” directly to its owner(s), who then pay income taxes independently.
This is advantageous compared to a corporation’s tax structure because it means that LLC members are not taxed twice.
However, Alaska is one of the few states without income taxes. Thus, in Alaska, neither an LLC nor its members are subject to income tax.
Having said that, readers should keep in mind that LLCs are very flexible when it comes to how they can be taxed, and — depending on the specifics — they can choose to be taxed as a pass-through entity, a C corp, and an S corp.
For more information, see our How Is an LLC Taxed guide.
What are the tax benefits of an LLC?
The tax benefits of an LLC will depend on how you choose to be taxed, as well as on whether you are operating as a single or multi-member LLC.
Generally speaking, LLCs can choose to be taxed in several different ways, including:
- As a sole proprietorship or general partnership
- As a C corporation
- As an S corporation
See our Single-Member LLC Taxes guide for a detailed overview of the tax benefits of having an LLC as a small business.
Do I need to open a business bank account for my LLC?
Even though you do not necessarily “need” to open a bank account for your LLC, this is generally highly recommended for several reasons.
For one, having a separate bank account can allow you to maintain your LLC’s corporate veil — meaning that you will not risk losing your limited personal liability under the law. A business bank account also offers financial benefits, including the ability to build business credit more quickly and access to larger business loans.
Interested in opening a business bank account? See our review of the best banks for startups in 2024.