County · Franklin County
Start an LLC in Franklin County, Massachusetts
Businesses in Franklin County form an LLC with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division for $500, not with the county. In 2024 Franklin County had 2,581 business establishments, 25,435 jobs and an average annual wage of $54,261. Land records for company property go to the Franklin County Registry of Deeds. Our Starter package is $149 plus the state fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Massachusetts sources.
Establishments (2024)
2,581
Jobs (2024)
25,435
Average annual pay
$54,261
Population (2024)
70,871
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 Franklin County
Franklin County is the most rural county on the mainland, with Greenfield as its hub and about 71,000 residents. It had 2,581 establishments and 25,435 jobs in 2024, and average annual pay of $54,261, the lowest of the 14 counties. Farms, sugarhouses, contractors and small manufacturers are common, and many owners run more than one small venture.
Land records record at the Franklin County Registry of Deeds at 43 Hope Street in Greenfield.
For owners with several small ventures, the $500 annual report per LLC adds up fast. Some keep one LLC and file business certificates for each trade name with the town clerk instead.
Official sourceFranklin County Registry of Deeds
Massachusetts registries of deeds record deeds, mortgages and other land documents. If your LLC or corporation buys, sells or finances property in Franklin County, the documents are recorded at the district office for the property's town. The registry does not form companies or issue business certificates.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Franklin County Registry of Deeds |
| Address | 43 Hope Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 |
| Phone | 413-772-0239 |
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.
Franklin County business numbers
Establishments, employment and pay are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (private and public, all industries); population is the Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Business establishments, 2024 annual average | 2,581 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 25,435 |
| Average annual pay, 2024 | $54,261 |
| Jobs per establishment | 9.9 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 70,871 |
| Residents per establishment | 27 |
| Rank among the 14 Massachusetts counties by establishments | #12 |
Sales tax and local permits in Franklin County
Massachusetts charges one statewide sales and use tax of 6.25 percent (c. 64H, § 2), so a business in Franklin County collects the same rate as one anywhere else in the Commonwealth. There is no county business license. Trade names are filed as business certificates with the clerk of each city or town where you have an office (c. 110, § 5), and building, zoning and board of health permits come from the town.
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
Can one LLC run two businesses under different names?
Yes. File a business certificate for each trade name with the clerk of the town where the office is.
Where is the Franklin County registry?
At 43 Hope Street in Greenfield.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Franklin County?
$500 to the Corporations Division plus our package: Starter $149, Pro $299 or Complete $399. Add $199 a year for a resident agent unless you choose Complete.
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.