SOS Business Search

Vermont Secretary of State office — contact & fees

Updated August 2026

Quick Answer

The Vermont Secretary of State's Business Services Division registers all business entities, processes annual and biennial reports, and maintains the BizFilings public portal. Walk-in hours end at 3:30 p.m. — earlier than most state offices. Phone service continues until 4:30 p.m. Vermont does not offer a formal expedited filing tier; the BizFilings online system generally processes formations within 1–3 business days.

Open Official Vermont Secretary of State Portal ↗

Office contact

Address
128 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05633-1104
Phone
(802) 828-2386
Toll-free
888-647-4582
Walk-in hours
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Phone hours
Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
BizFilings portal
bizfilings.vermont.gov
Business Services homepage
sos.vermont.gov/business-services

Entity formation and filing fees

Vermont charges $155 for LLC, for-profit corporation, and nonprofit corporation formations — the same flat fee regardless of entity type. This is higher than most states. Some third-party sources still show the pre-2024 LLC formation rate of $125; the current fee, confirmed against the official fee schedule, is $155. Verify at sos.vermont.gov before filing.

Domestic LLC — Articles of Organization

Fee
$155

Domestic LLC — Annual Report (within 3 months of FY end)

Fee
$45

Domestic LLC — Certificate of Existence

Fee
$35

Domestic LLC — Name Reservation

Fee
$25

Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Fee
$155

Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Annual Report (within 2.5 months of FY end)

Fee
$60

Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Certificate of Good Standing

Fee
$25

Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Name Reservation

Fee
$40

Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Fee
$155

Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Biennial Report (compensated officers/directors)

Fee
$35

Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Biennial Report (no compensated officers/directors)

Fee
$0 (free)

Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Certificate of Good Standing

Fee
$35

Certified copies

Fee
$25

UCC filing, notary, and apostille services

The Secretary of State's office covers UCC filings and apostilles directly, and oversees notary commissions through a licensing division:

  • UCC search and filing — free uncertified search through the online UCC Lien Search; a certified search report costs $35.
  • Notary public commissions — a $30 application fee, administered through the Office of Professional Regulation, a division of the Secretary of State's Office.
  • Apostilles and authentications — $10 per document, issued by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Source: Vermont Secretary of State UCC, notary, and apostille pages (sos.vermont.gov).

Key Vermont state licensing agencies

Vermont Department of Taxes

What it covers
Business tax registration, sales and use tax, withholding tax, meals and rooms tax
Website
tax.vermont.gov

Vermont Department of Labor

What it covers
Unemployment insurance registration, employer accounts, wage and hour compliance

Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)

What it covers
Professional and occupational licensing — contractors, healthcare, real estate, cosmetology

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Vermont?

$155 — the same flat fee Vermont charges for LLC, for-profit corporation, and nonprofit corporation formation. Some third-party sources still list the pre-2024 rate of $125, but $155 is the current confirmed fee.

What are the walk-in hours for the Vermont Secretary of State's business office?

Walk-in service ends at 3:30 p.m., earlier than most state offices, though phone service continues until 4:30 p.m. Vermont doesn't offer a formal expedited filing tier.

Does a Vermont nonprofit have to pay for its biennial report?

Only if it compensated an officer, director, or employee in the prior calendar year — that report costs $35. If none were compensated, the biennial report is free.

Compare Other States

Entity search rules, fees, and offices are set state by state. These are the states closest to Vermont — 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.