City · Worcester County
Start an LLC in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester businesses form an LLC with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division for $500, not with the city. Worcester had 211,286 residents in 2024, the second largest city in Massachusetts. If you trade under a name other than your registered name, the business certificate is filed with the Worcester City Clerk: $50. Our Starter package is $149 plus the state fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Massachusetts sources.
Population (2024)
211,286
County
Worcester County
Business certificate
$50
City Clerk
508-799-1121
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 Worcester
Worcester is the second largest city in Massachusetts, with about 211,000 residents in 2024, and the hub of central Massachusetts. Its colleges, hospitals and life science companies sit alongside a large base of restaurants, auto shops, cleaning companies and contractors, many owned by immigrant entrepreneurs.
The City Clerk at City Hall, Room 206, 455 Main Street, issues business certificates for $50. Discontinuing a certificate costs $20, and certified copies are $12 to $14. Like every Massachusetts business certificate, it lasts four years.
Deeds for Worcester property record at the Worcester District Registry at 90 Front Street, a short walk from City Hall.
Official sourceWorcester City Clerk: business certificates
Under chapter 110, § 5, anyone doing business in Worcester under a name other than their own real or registered name files a business certificate with the City Clerk, signed under oath. The City of Worcester lists certified copies at $12 to $14 and a $20 fee to discontinue a certificate.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Worcester City Clerk |
| Address | City Hall, Room 206, 455 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608 |
| Phone | 508-799-1121 |
| Business certificate fee | $50 |
| Term | 4 years, then renew (c. 110, § 5) |
Solve this in 5 minutes
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 Worcester property
Deeds and mortgages for property in Worcester are recorded at the Worcester District Registry of Deeds. The registry does not form companies.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Worcester District Registry of Deeds |
| Address | 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA 01608 |
| Phone | 508-368-7000 |
Sales tax in Worcester
Worcester 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
How much is a Worcester business certificate?
$50 at the City Clerk, City Hall Room 206.
What if I close my Worcester business?
File a discontinuance with the City Clerk; the city lists a $20 fee.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Worcester?
$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.
SourceReady when you are
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.