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How to start a business in Alaska

The fees, filing links and deadlines for forming and registering a business in Alaska, with the official page for each step.

Last verified October 24, 2026 General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Each fee shows the date we checked it on the official page. Fees change, so confirm on the official page before you pay.

LLC filing fee: $250
LLC, first year (state fees): $300
Corporation filing fee: $250
Annual report: $100
DBA filed with: State
General state license: Yes
Newspaper notice: No

How much does it cost to form an LLC or corporation in Alaska?

To form an LLC, file Articles of Organization with the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (Corporations Section) for $250 (checked Oct 24, 2026). You can file online. A corporation files Articles of Incorporation for $250 (checked Oct 24, 2026). That filing fee is not the whole bill: see what it costs in the first year.

What does an LLC really cost in its first year in Alaska?

Filing fees are only part of the cost. Here is every state fee and minimum tax we found that a new LLC must pay to form and stay in good standing for its first year. Example: Single-member LLC filed online at standard speed, operating from day one with no employees; licenses every business must hold are counted, sales tax permits are listed separately.

State fee	Cost	When	Checked
Articles of Organization	$250	at filing	Oct 24, 2026
Alaska business license (one year)	$50	before doing business	Oct 24, 2026
Initial report (officers/ownership)	$0	within 6 months of formation	Oct 24, 2026

First-year total: $300 in state fees. Formation $250 plus a $50 one-year state business license; the initial report is free. The first $100 biennial report falls in year two or three. A two-year license ($100) instead makes it $350 up front. Excludes local licenses, local sales tax and registered agent services.

After the first year: The state business license renews at $50 a year (or $100 every two years). The $100 biennial report is due every two years by January 2; $137.50 if filed after February 1.

Fees that apply only in some cases

State fee	Cost	When	Checked
Local sales tax registration If you sell taxable goods or services in a city or borough that levies sales tax; no state sales tax	Note Set by each city or borough.	before making sales	Oct 24, 2026
Remote seller registration (Alaska Remote Seller Sales Tax Commission) If you sell remotely into participating Alaska jurisdictions	$0	before collecting tax	Oct 24, 2026
Tobacco/nicotine endorsement If you sell tobacco, e-cigarette or nicotine products (per location)	$100	before selling	Oct 24, 2026

Not included: city or county licenses, a registered agent service if you hire one, and optional extras such as expedited filing. Fees can change after the date shown; confirm on the official page before you pay.

Do I need to register a DBA in Alaska?

If you do business under a name that isn’t your legal name, register it as an assumed name (DBA) with the state for $50 (checked Oct 24, 2026).

How to file a DBA

Does Alaska require an annual report?

Yes. The fee is $100 (checked Oct 24, 2026). Every two years, by January 2 (even-numbered years if formed in an even year, odd-numbered years if formed in an odd year); filing opens October 2 of the prior year. Filed after February 1, the fee becomes $137.50.

Initial report: Yes. The fee is $0 (checked Oct 24, 2026) The LLC Articles form (rev. May 7, 2026) says the initial report is due within 6 months; the Biennial Report FAQ says it 'may be due'. Recorded as required.. Within 6 months of formation, to report officers and/or ownership.

Does Alaska have a franchise or privilege tax?

None found; Alaska's Department of Revenue describes no franchise tax. C corporations pay a corporate net income tax at graduated rates from 0% to 9.4%. S corporations are exempt but must still file.

How do I register for state taxes in Alaska?

Register with the state revenue agency for sales tax and withholding, and open an unemployment insurance account once you hire your first employee.

Does Alaska require a general business license?

Yes. Alaska issues a general state business license. It costs $50 (checked Oct 24, 2026); Buy one year ($50) or two years ($100). Licenses expire December 31 of the last year purchased; one bought after October 1 also covers the rest of that year..

Alaska requires a state business license for nearly anyone doing business in the state, including LLCs and corporations, with narrow exemptions such as fisheries, mining, insurance and some banks. The license costs $50 a year or $100 for two years. Sole proprietors who are 65 or older or are service-connected disabled veterans pay $25 a year ($50 for two). Selling tobacco or nicotine products needs a $100 endorsement per location. The State of Alaska does not levy a sales tax, but many cities and boroughs do; register with the local government where you sell. Remote sellers may need to register with the Alaska Remote Seller Sales Tax Commission (https://arsstc.munirevs.com/). Employers register for unemployment insurance tax online through the Department of Labor's TaxWeb, which uses a myAlaska login. No statewide local lookup found; the business license pages tell owners to check with their local municipality.

What local licenses will I need in Alaska?

Cities and counties set their own licenses, zoning and permits. Call your city or county clerk with your business type and address before you open.

Anchorage (Municipality of Anchorage) (city)
No general city business license: all businesses need a State of Alaska business license, and the Municipality licenses only certain industries, such as pawnbrokers and tobacco sellers, through the Clerk, Treasury or other departments. The page links to the state's online application; fees are on each license's own page.

When do I need workers’ comp in Alaska?

1 or more employees.

Every employer with one or more employees in Alaska must carry coverage, and there are no exemptions by type of business, including construction. Sole proprietors and partners do not have to cover themselves, and LLC members and for-profit corporate officers with at least 10% ownership are exempt. Commercial fishers, part-time babysitters, non-commercial cleaning persons, and some part-time harvest or transient help are also exempt. Employers can self-insure only with approval from the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board. Uninsured employers can be fined up to $1,000 per employee for each day without coverage.

What else should I know about starting a business in Alaska?

LLCs and corporations both file a $100 biennial report. Filed after February 1, it costs $137.50. A free initial report listing officers or owners is due within six months of formation. Every business also needs a separate Alaska business license ($50 for one year or $100 for two). Online payment requires a myAlaska account. A trade name (DBA) is recorded through the business license, one license per name, and does not give exclusive rights. An optional five-year business name registration with the Corporations Section ($25) does, as long as the matching business license stays active. A 120-day name reservation is optional and costs $25. No newspaper publication step appears on the state's formation pages or forms.

What to double-check for Alaska?

A few details below aren't spelled out on the state's own pages. Confirm them on the official page before you file.

Note The LLC Articles form says an initial report is due within 6 months, but the Biennial Report FAQ says one 'may be due'. We list it as required; it is free either way.
Note No official page states outright that Alaska has no newspaper publication requirement; none appears on the state's formation pages or forms.
Note No official page states outright that Alaska has no franchise tax; the Department of Revenue describes only the corporate income tax.
Note Confirm this on the official page before you rely on it.
Note Confirm this on the official page before you rely on it.

What to do next

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Sources

Official pages checked on October 24, 2026.