India, April 27 -- HT Syndication

New Delhi [India], April 27: The first number most people Google before forming an LLC is the state filing fee. That number matters for about five minutes - roughly the time it takes to realise the yearly cost is a different question with a very different answer.

Formation is a one-time event. Running an LLC is a subscription. And the subscription price varies more than most founders expect.

A limited liability company in Montana can be set up and kept alive for about $20 a year in state fees. The same structure in California carries at least $800 in annual franchise tax before a single client has paid. In Delaware, the entity that tax guides keep recommending for its "friendly business environment," t...