County · Dukes County
Start an LLC in Dukes County, Massachusetts
Businesses in Dukes County form an LLC with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division for $500, not with the county. In 2024 Dukes County had 1,434 business establishments, 9,176 jobs and an average annual wage of $71,428. Land records for company property go to the Dukes County Registry of Deeds. Our Starter package is $149 plus the state fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Massachusetts sources.
Establishments (2024)
1,434
Jobs (2024)
9,176
Average annual pay
$71,428
Population (2024)
21,061
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Doing business in Dukes County
Dukes County is Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. It had 1,434 establishments and 9,176 jobs in 2024 for about 21,000 year-round residents, so businesses are small, averaging about six jobs each. Average annual pay was $71,428. Builders, landscapers, rentals and restaurants dominate, and work peaks in the summer.
Land records record at the Dukes County Registry of Deeds at 81 Main Street in Edgartown.
Off-island owners who hire island contractors or hold rental property through an out-of-state LLC should check whether that LLC needs a Massachusetts foreign registration.
Official sourceDukes County Registry of Deeds
Massachusetts registries of deeds record deeds, mortgages and other land documents. If your LLC or corporation buys, sells or finances property in Dukes County, the documents are recorded at the district office for the property's town. The registry does not form companies or issue business certificates.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Dukes County Registry of Deeds |
| Address | 81 Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539 |
| Phone | 508-627-4025 |
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Dukes County business numbers
Establishments, employment and pay are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (private and public, all industries); population is the Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Business establishments, 2024 annual average | 1,434 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 9,176 |
| Average annual pay, 2024 | $71,428 |
| Jobs per establishment | 6.4 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 21,061 |
| Residents per establishment | 15 |
| Rank among the 14 Massachusetts counties by establishments | #13 |
Sales tax and local permits in Dukes County
Massachusetts charges one statewide sales and use tax of 6.25 percent (c. 64H, § 2), so a business in Dukes County collects the same rate as one anywhere else in the Commonwealth. There is no county business license. Trade names are filed as business certificates with the clerk of each city or town where you have an office (c. 110, § 5), and building, zoning and board of health permits come from the town.
Official sourceForming the company, step by step
- Search the name on the Corporations Division's records and pick an LLC or corporate ending.
- File the Certificate of Organization ($500 for an LLC) or Articles of Organization ($275 for a corporation with up to 275,000 shares) with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- Name a resident or registered agent with a Massachusetts street address. Ours is $199 a year.
- Get an EIN from the IRS, then open a business bank account in the exact registered name.
- File a business certificate with your city or town clerk if you will trade under a different name.
- File the annual report each year: $500 for an LLC on its anniversary, $100 online for a corporation.
Frequently asked questions
Does my out-of-state LLC that owns a Vineyard rental need to register?
Owning or leasing real estate in Massachusetts is listed as transacting business for corporations, and foreign LLCs follow the same test, so registration is usually required.
Where is the Dukes County registry?
At 81 Main Street in Edgartown.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Dukes County?
$500 to the Corporations Division plus our package: Starter $149, Pro $299 or Complete $399. Add $199 a year for a resident agent unless you choose Complete.
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.