Initial Fees and Licenses in Pennsylvania

April 13, 2006

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If you're going to operate your business in Pennsylvania, when you start up you're likely to incur filing fees and licensing fees depending on the type of business you run and your business form (corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership or limited liability company (LLC)). Read on to see what Pennsylvania has in store for you.

Corporations. If you're doing business as a domestic corporation (a corporation incorporated in Pennsylvania) in Pennsylvania, you will be subject to the following initial fees when you start up. You pay these fees to the Corporation Bureau of the Department of State:

Document	Fee
articles of incorporation	$125
articles or instruments of merger, consolidation or division	$70
additional fee for each corporation which is a party to a merger or consolidation	$40
articles of conversion	$70
each ancillary transaction	$70

If you're doing business as a foreign corporation (a corporation that is incorporated somewhere other than in Pennsylvania) in Pennsylvania, you will be subject to the following initial fees when you start up. You pay these fees to the Corporation Bureau of the Department of State:

Document	Fee
certificate of authority to do business	$250
amended certificate of authority	$250
domestication	$125
statement of merger or consolidation (or like instrument) reporting a merger or consolidation not affected by a filing in the Department	$70
additional fee for each corporation in a statement of merger or consolidation	$40
each ancillary transaction	$70

Limited liability company. If your company is either a domestic or foreign limited liability company (LLC), you must file documents as applicable with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State.

The fee for filing articles of organization for a domestic LLC is $125. The fee for filing an application for registration of a foreign LLC is $250. The fee for filing a domestic or foreign LLC's annual report is at least $360.

Licenses and fees. Pennsylvania requires that you obtain a license and pay a fee if you are operating certain types of businesses in the state. Below is a partial list of some of the types of businesses required to obtain a license. Be sure to check with the state to make sure you are complying with the license requirements for your particular profession.

accountants
bakeries
charitable organizations (fund solicitation)
eating and drinking places (public)
employment agencies
farm produce dealers
fishing (boat, net or seine)
insurance agents and brokers
motor vehicle manufacturers, dealers and salespersons, damage appraisers
real estate — brokers, salespersons, corporations, partnerships, and associations