Kentucky Secretary of State office — contact & fees
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
The Kentucky Secretary of State's Business Filings Division registers entities, processes annual reports, and maintains public filing records. Most filing types are available online; the office also links out to the Department of Revenue and the Education and Labor Cabinet's registration flows for new businesses through the Kentucky One Stop Business Portal.
Open Official Kentucky Secretary of State Portal ↗Office contact
- Address
- 1025 Capital Center Drive, Suite 201, Frankfort, KY 40601
- Mailing address
- Office of the Secretary of State, Business Filings, P.O. Box 718, Frankfort, KY 40602
- Phone
- (502) 564-3490
- Fax
- (502) 564-5687
- Office hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Online filing portal
- onestop.ky.gov — Kentucky One Stop Business Portal
- Business Filings homepage
- sos.ky.gov — Business Filings
Entity formation and filing fees
Kentucky's formation fees are among the lowest in the region. The same $40 rate applies to LLCs and for-profit corporations; nonprofits pay just $8. Annual reports are a flat $15 for all entity types. Fees below are from the Secretary of State's official published fee schedule. Verify current amounts at the Secretary of State's website before filing.
LLC — Articles of Organization
- Fee
- $40
LLC — Annual Report (due June 30)
- Fee
- $15
Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $40
Profit Corporation — Annual Report (due June 30)
- Fee
- $15
Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $8
Nonprofit Corporation — Annual Report (due June 30)
- Fee
- $15
Foreign LLC or Corporation — Application for Certificate of Authority
- Fee
- $90
Name Reservation
- Fee
- $15
Certificate of Existence / Good Standing
- Fee
- $10
Certified Copies (first 5 pages)
- Fee
- $10
Kentucky's nonprofit formation fee of $8 is one of the lowest in the country. The $15 flat annual report fee applies regardless of entity type — a straightforward structure compared to states that differentiate by size or revenue. Foreign entities (out-of-state LLCs and corporations registering to transact business in Kentucky) pay a higher $90 Certificate of Authority fee.
UCC filing, notary, and apostille services
The Secretary of State also handles UCC filings, notary commissions, and document authentication:
- UCC search and filing — free, uncertified index search online; a certified copy costs $5 per certificate plus $0.50 per page.
- Notary public commissions — a $10 application fee.
- Apostilles and authentications — $5 per document.
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State UCC, notary, and apostille pages (sos.ky.gov).
Key Kentucky state licensing agencies
Kentucky Department of Revenue
- What it covers
- State tax registration, sales and use tax, income tax withholding, business tax accounts
- Website
- revenue.ky.gov
Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet
- What it covers
- Unemployment insurance registration, workers' compensation, wage and hour compliance (formerly the standalone Labor Cabinet)
- Website
- elc.ky.gov
Kentucky Board of Licensure for Engineers and Land Surveyors
- What it covers
- Engineering and land surveying professional licenses
- Website
- pels.ky.gov
Kentucky One Stop Business Portal
- What it covers
- Integrated hub for SOS registration, DOR tax accounts, and Education and Labor Cabinet employer setup
- Website
- onestop.ky.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form a nonprofit corporation in Kentucky?
Just $8 — one of the lowest nonprofit formation fees in the country. For comparison, LLCs and for-profit corporations both pay $40 to form.
How much more do out-of-state businesses pay to register in Kentucky?
Foreign LLCs and corporations pay $90 for a Certificate of Authority, more than double the $40 domestic formation fee for LLCs and for-profit corporations.
How much does a Kentucky Certificate of Existence cost?
A Certificate of Existence (also called Certificate of Good Standing) costs $10. Certified copies of documents cost $10 for the first five pages.