SOS Business Search

Connecticut Secretary of the State office — contact & fees

Updated August 2026

Quick Answer

Connecticut's business entity filings and records are handled by the Business Services Division of the Office of the Secretary of the State (Connecticut uses "Secretary of the State," not "Secretary of State"). The office maintains walk-in public counter service at its Hartford location, with the last walk-in accepted at 3:45 p.m. daily.

Open Official Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State Portal ↗

Office contact

Street address
State Office Building, 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106
Mailing address
P.O. Box 150470, Hartford, CT 06115-0470
Business Services Division phone
(860) 509-6002
Business Services email
bsd@ct.gov
Office hours
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (last walk-in 3:45 p.m.)
Online portal
business.ct.gov

Entity formation and filing fees

All fees below are from the live Business.CT.gov fee pages, confirmed August 2026. Annual reports must be filed online — paper annual reports are not accepted. Expedited processing is available for online filings only. Verify all current amounts at business.ct.gov — Forms and Fees before filing.

LLC — Certificate of Organization (formation)

Fee
$120

LLC — Annual Report

Fee
$80

LLC — Name Reservation

Fee
$60

LLC — Certificate of Dissolution

Fee
$0

Stock Corporation — Certificate of Incorporation

Fee
$250

Stock Corporation — Organization and First Report

Fee
$150

Stock Corporation — Annual Report

Fee
$150

Non-Stock Corporation (nonprofits) — Certificate of Incorporation

Fee
$50

Non-Stock Corporation — Annual Report

Fee
$50

Name Reservation (corporations)

Fee
$60

Certificate of Legal Existence — Express (LLC or corporation)

Fee
$50

Connecticut's dissolution filing carries no fee for LLCs ($0) or non-stock corporations. Stock corporations also pay $0 for dissolution. Annual report fees are separate from formation fees — for stock corporations, an Organization and First Report ($150) is required shortly after incorporation in addition to the formation fee ($250).

UCC filing, notary, and apostille services

The Office of the Secretary of the State also runs UCC filing, notary licensing, and document authentication:

  • UCC search and filing — free online search; a standard UCC-1 filing costs $50.
  • Notary public commissions — $120 for a new 5-year commission, $60 to renew, through the Business Services Division's eLicense system (plus a separate $20 town fee to record the oath of office).
  • Apostilles and authentications — $40 per document, submitted through the online Apostille Application system.

Source: Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State notary and authentication pages (portal.ct.gov/SOTS).

Key Connecticut state licensing agencies

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)

What it covers
Contractor licenses, food and beverage permits, real estate brokers, pharmacy, gaming, telecommunications — over 850 credential types

Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS)

What it covers
Sales and use tax registration, business tax registration, withholding tax, tobacco licenses

Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL)

What it covers
Unemployment insurance employer registration via ReEmployCT — required for all employers with one or more employees, full or part-time

Business.CT.gov — Licenses and Permits hub

What it covers
Consolidated starting point with a customized checklist and virtual assistant for all CT business licenses and permits

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to dissolve a business in Connecticut?

Nothing. Connecticut charges $0 to file a Certificate of Dissolution for LLCs, stock corporations, and non-stock (nonprofit) corporations — dissolution carries no fee for any of these entity types.

Can I file a Connecticut annual report by paper?

No. Annual reports must be filed online through Business.CT.gov — paper annual reports are not accepted, and expedited processing is also limited to online filings.

What extra filing do Connecticut stock corporations need right after incorporating?

An Organization and First Report, which costs $150 and is required shortly after incorporation, in addition to the $250 Certificate of Incorporation fee itself.

Compare Other States

Entity search rules, fees, and offices are set state by state. These are the states closest to Connecticut — useful if you're comparing how a neighboring state runs the same process.

Helpful Guides

What Is a Registered Agent, and Who Can Be One?

Every LLC and corporation is required to name one — here's what the job actually involves and who's eligible.

Certificate of Good Standing: What It Is and How to Get One

A one-page proof that your LLC or corporation is current with the state — what it's for, what it costs, and how to request one.

How to Dissolve an LLC: The State Filing Process, Step by Step

Closing an LLC the right way means more than just walking away — here's the filing sequence every state expects.

LLC vs. Corporation: Which Structure Fits Your Business?

Both are formed with the same state office — the real differences show up in taxes, ownership, and how much paperwork you're signing up for.

Articles of Incorporation vs. Articles of Organization: What's the Difference?

Both documents create a legal business entity with the state — the difference comes down to which type of entity you're forming.

How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC? Formation Fees by State

State filing fees for forming an LLC range from under $50 to $500 — see the base cost in your state and how it compares to forming a corporation.

LLC Annual Report Fees and Deadlines by State

Every state has its own rules for keeping an LLC in good standing — see your state's report frequency, fee, and due date at a glance.

Business License Search: What It Covers and How to Check

Registering an entity with the state isn't the same as holding a license to operate it — here's where licenses actually come from.

UCC Filing Search: How to Check for Liens on a Business

Uniform Commercial Code filings show which lenders have a claim on a company's assets — here's how to search them and what the results mean.