Local guides · Massachusetts
Massachusetts Counties and Cities for Business Owners
Massachusetts LLCs and corporations are formed statewide with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division, but trade names, permits and land records are local. These pages cover all 14 Massachusetts counties, with their Registry of Deeds offices and 2024 business numbers, and the 7 largest cities, with each City Clerk's business certificate fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Massachusetts sources.
Counties covered
14 of 14
Cities covered
7
Sales tax
6.25% statewide
LLC state fee
$500
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.
Counties
Counties are ranked by 2024 establishments from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
| County | Establishments (2024) | Jobs (2024) | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 58,457 | 926,104 | $113,704 |
| Suffolk County | 33,364 | 713,809 | $131,280 |
| Essex County | 28,628 | 323,694 | $75,548 |
| Worcester County | 27,743 | 351,476 | $71,641 |
| Norfolk County | 26,156 | 346,327 | $84,497 |
| Hampden County | 18,727 | 202,129 | $62,834 |
| Bristol County | 17,906 | 227,971 | $64,669 |
| Plymouth County | 16,845 | 194,985 | $69,858 |
| Barnstable County | 9,789 | 96,280 | $64,707 |
| Berkshire County | 5,475 | 57,946 | $62,257 |
| Hampshire County | 4,928 | 65,786 | $62,006 |
| Franklin County | 2,581 | 25,435 | $54,261 |
| Dukes County | 1,434 | 9,176 | $71,428 |
| Nantucket County | 1,318 | 8,560 | $78,799 |
Largest cities
Cities are ranked by the Census Bureau's 2024 population estimates.
| City | Population (2024) | County | Business certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 673,458 | Suffolk County | $65 (plus $35 for non-resident owners) |
| Worcester | 211,286 | Worcester County | $50 |
| Springfield | 154,888 | Hampden County | $50 |
| Cambridge | 121,186 | Middlesex County | $50 |
| Lowell | 120,418 | Middlesex County | $100 (includes one certified copy) |
| Brockton | 105,788 | Plymouth County | Set by the city; call the City Clerk |
| Lynn | 103,489 | Essex County | Set by the city; call the City Clerk |
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.
What is local in Massachusetts
Formation, annual reports and agent changes are state filings. Business certificates for trade names are filed with the clerk of each city or town where you have an office (c. 110, § 5), and fees vary by city. Deeds for company property are recorded at the Registry of Deeds district for the property's town.
Official sourceYour local stops after the Secretary
Massachusetts has no county business license. After the Corporations Division files your company, the local steps are the city or town clerk (business certificates for trade names), local building, zoning and board of health permits, and the Registry of Deeds if the company buys real estate. Each county page lists its Registry of Deeds district office.
Official sourceWhich page to read
Read your county page for Registry of Deeds districts and 2024 business numbers, and your city page for the City Clerk's business certificate fee and address. If your town is not one of the seven cities, the county page lists the registry and your town clerk handles the business certificate.
Official sourceFrequently asked questions
Do I form my LLC with my county?
No. Every Massachusetts LLC is formed with the Corporations Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
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.