How this works

HowLongToLLC shows processing estimates and filing options for domestic LLC formation. It helps you compare the available options in your state without calculating a personal approval date.

Where the estimates come from

We use the Corporate Tools API catalogue used by Northwest, with permission to use the filing-option data. We select domestic LLC formation methods and keep each method’s estimate and fee together. Other company types, foreign registrations, amendments, and EIN services are excluded.

The options are limited to this provider’s catalogue. They are not an exhaustive list of every filing channel a state may offer. We are an independent informational site, not a government agency or a filing service.

The official state filing link opens the responsible state agency’s website for filing information and requirements. It is separate from the Corporate Tools estimate; it does not mean the agency verified the number shown here.

An optional Northwest referral link appears after a result. We may earn a commission if you purchase through it. The displayed estimates remain from the Corporate Tools catalogue, and provider service fees are separate.

What the time means

The main number is an estimate of state processing for the selected filing method. Preparation, submission arrangements, corrections, and document delivery are separate. We keep business days and hours as separate units; we do not convert a 24-hour estimate into a one-business-day promise.

Standard filing appears first when listed. If only an expedited option is available in the catalogue, we show that option directly. An estimate is not a guarantee of approval or a claim about completed filings’ average turnaround time.

What the fee includes

A displayed state filing fee is the total state fee for that method. For example, an expedited option’s fee is not an additional amount to add to the standard fee. Provider service fees, registered agent renewals, and unrelated services are excluded. Confirm the current price and requirements before filing.

Refresh dates and interruptions

Our system is configured to retrieve the catalogue once a day. “Refreshed” records our last successful data retrieval, not when the provider changed the estimate. Choosing a state uses our saved data and does not trigger a new request to Corporate Tools.

If an update fails, we retain the last valid estimate with its original date. After 48 hours we label the update as delayed. After seven days we stop displaying the old numbers and show a short availability message. Missing data never means instant processing, free filing, or a guaranteed absence of options.