Depends what US state you choose. In CA, you pay $800 a year for your LLC.

> An $800 annual tax is generally imposed on limited partnerships (LPs), LLCs, ...

Source: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2020/2020-568-booklet.html

It does depend on the state. I am also including registered agents, physical (mailing address) and digital presence. Depending on the nature of the business, insurance is also included in that cost. I did not include increased accounting costs

It can be much cheaper in other good states. $250 to 400 yearly rings a bell for WY, NV, DL

Only if you live in those states. If you live in and operate out of CA, but incorporate in DE, you end up paying both DE and CA franchise taxes.

WY is even less than that--more like $50. $52 if you pay with a credit card. Though you'll need to pay for the registered agent $25 / year.

https://sos.wyo.gov/Business/docs/BusinessFees.pdf https://www.wyomingagents.com/

But yes--if you live in another state, you'll need a company in that state regardless.

It's going to be more expensive than that to get accounts prepared, right?

For small company accounts in the UK, you can file them yourself. It is not completely easy depending on what you are doing but well within the ability of an engineer, as long as you are keeping the relevant receipts etc.

For me, running a company was never expensive, just hassle like sending your annual update to Companies House and understanding the various overlapping communications from HMRC for tax.

Interesting - I thought all companies had to file electronically with tagged accounts - ie you need some level of an accountant.

You can file them online yourself.

https://www.gov.uk/file-your-company-accounts-and-tax-return

if you're a "micro" enterprise (turnover <£500k and fewer than 10 employees) you don't even need to produce a P&L, just a balance sheet

it can be done entirely for free on the Government's Companies House site, which generates your accounts, the regulatory statements and also does your tax return

takes me about 10 minutes a year, sending the figures to an accountant rather than punching them into the government's website would take longer

Is it even per year? I thought the fee was just upon first registration