City · Middlesex County
Start an LLC in Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell businesses form an LLC with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division for $500, not with the city. Lowell had 120,418 residents in 2024, the fifth largest city in Massachusetts. If you trade under a name other than your registered name, the business certificate is filed with the Lowell City Clerk: $100 (includes one certified copy). Our Starter package is $149 plus the state fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Massachusetts sources.
Population (2024)
120,418
County
Middlesex County
Business certificate
$100 (includes one certified copy)
City Clerk
978-674-4161
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Doing business in Lowell
Lowell, with about 120,000 residents in 2024, is the fifth largest city in Massachusetts and a former textile center on the Merrimack River. It has large Cambodian American and Latino business communities and a steady stream of new restaurants, markets and service companies.
Lowell's business certificate is $100 at the City Clerk, City Hall Room 31, and includes one certified copy. The clerk asks for a workers' compensation affidavit, and home-based businesses also need a $25 home occupation permit.
Deeds record at the Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds on Jackson Street in Lowell.
Official sourceLowell City Clerk: business certificates
Under chapter 110, § 5, anyone doing business in Lowell under a name other than their own real or registered name files a business certificate with the City Clerk, signed under oath. Lowell asks for a workers' compensation affidavit with the application, charges $40 for changes and $25 for extra copies, and requires a $25 home occupation permit for businesses run from a residence.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Lowell City Clerk |
| Address | City Hall, Room 31, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852 |
| Phone | 978-674-4161 |
| Business certificate fee | $100 (includes one certified copy) |
| Term | 4 years, then renew (c. 110, § 5) |
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Land records for Lowell property
Deeds and mortgages for property in Lowell are recorded at the Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds. The registry does not form companies.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds |
| Address | 370 Jackson Street, Lowell, MA 01852 |
| Phone | 978-322-9000 |
Sales tax in Lowell
Lowell businesses collect the statewide 6.25 percent sales and use tax (c. 64H, § 2); Massachusetts has no separate city sales tax rate for general goods. Register with the Department of Revenue after you have your EIN.
Official sourceForming the company, step by step
- Search the name on the Corporations Division's records and pick an LLC or corporate ending.
- File the Certificate of Organization ($500 for an LLC) or Articles of Organization ($275 for a corporation with up to 275,000 shares) with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- Name a resident or registered agent with a Massachusetts street address. Ours is $199 a year.
- Get an EIN from the IRS, then open a business bank account in the exact registered name.
- File a business certificate with your city or town clerk if you will trade under a different name.
- File the annual report each year: $500 for an LLC on its anniversary, $100 online for a corporation.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Lowell's business certificate $100?
The city sets its own fee, and Lowell's includes one certified copy.
I run my business from home in Lowell. What else do I need?
A $25 home occupation permit, according to the city.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Lowell?
$500 to the Corporations Division plus our package: Starter $149, Pro $299 or Complete $399. A business certificate with the City Clerk is extra only if you use a trade name.
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.