UCC Filing Fee Breakdown - What Should I Expect to Pay?
I'm handling my first UCC-1 filing for a small business loan and trying to budget for all the costs involved. The bank mentioned filing fees but didn't give specifics. I've been looking at different state websites and the fees seem to vary quite a bit. Some show $12 for basic filings, others are $40+. Is there a standard what is a ucc filing fee structure or does every state set their own rates? Also wondering if there are additional fees for things like fixture filings or if you need to amend something later with a UCC-3. The loan amount is around $85k for equipment financing if that matters for fee calculations. Any insight on what I should budget for would be really helpful.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
Filing fees definitely vary by state since each Secretary of State sets their own rates. Most states charge between $12-$40 for a standard UCC-1 filing. The loan amount doesn't affect the fee - it's the same whether you're filing for $10k or $1 million. Fixture filings usually cost extra, typically $20-$30 more than regular filings.
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Jamal Carter
•That's really helpful to know the loan amount doesn't matter. I was worried there might be some percentage-based fee structure.
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Mei Liu
•Yeah the flat fee structure is nice compared to some other business filings that scale with transaction size.
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Liam O'Donnell
I just went through this process last month and was surprised by all the little extras. The basic UCC-1 was $20 in my state, but then I needed to file an amendment (UCC-3) two weeks later when we caught a debtor name error - that was another $15. Some states also charge for expedited processing if you need it filed same-day.
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Amara Nwosu
•Ugh, the amendment fees are annoying. I had to file three UCC-3s last year for different issues and each one was $20 in Ohio.
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AstroExplorer
•This is exactly why I started using Certana.ai's document verification tool before filing. You can upload your loan docs and UCC-1 to check for name mismatches and other issues that would require amendments later. Saved me from having to refile twice.
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Giovanni Moretti
•How does that verification tool work? I'm always paranoid about making mistakes on these filings.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
Budget around $25-$50 total for your initial filing depending on your state. That covers the basic UCC-1 and maybe a small processing fee. If you need to file continuations every 5 years, those are usually the same cost as the original filing. Terminations when you pay off the loan are typically cheaper, maybe $10-$15.
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Dylan Cooper
•Good point about continuations - I always forget about those recurring costs when budgeting long-term financing.
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Sofia Perez
•Wait, continuations are every 5 years? I thought it was 3 years.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•It's 5 years for most states. The UCC-1 is effective for 5 years, then you need to file a UCC-3 continuation to extend it for another 5 years.
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ElectricDreamer
Don't forget about search fees if your lender wants to verify there aren't existing liens. That's usually $5-$15 per debtor name search. Not always required but some banks insist on it for due diligence.
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Ava Johnson
•Yeah, my credit union required a full UCC search before approving the loan. Added another $25 to the total cost.
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Miguel Diaz
•Some online filing services include basic searches in their package deals. Might be worth comparing if you're doing multiple filings.
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Zainab Ahmed
The frustrating part is when you get a filing rejected for minor errors and have to pay the full fee again to refile. I had a UCC-1 rejected because I put 'LLC' instead of 'L.L.C.' in the debtor name - exact punctuation matters apparently. Cost me another $30 to refile correctly.
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Connor Byrne
•That's so annoying! The debtor name rules are ridiculously strict. I've seen filings rejected for missing a comma or having the wrong business suffix.
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Yara Abboud
•This is where tools like Certana.ai really help. You can upload your corporate documents and the proposed UCC-1 and it flags name inconsistencies before you file. Would have caught that LLC vs L.L.C. issue immediately.
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PixelPioneer
•I'm definitely going to check that out. Getting rejections is such a waste of time and money.
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Keisha Williams
Here's a pro tip - if you're filing in multiple states for a multi-state business, some states offer bulk filing discounts. Not common but worth asking about if you're doing 5+ filings.
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Paolo Rizzo
•Interesting, I didn't know about bulk discounts. We have locations in 3 states so that could be useful.
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Amina Sy
•Most states don't advertise it but their filing systems sometimes have volume pricing for law firms and lending institutions.
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Oliver Fischer
Whatever you do, don't let the bank handle the filing and charge you $200+ for 'processing fees.' The actual state filing fee is minimal - it's the service charges that kill you. File it yourself or use a legitimate filing service.
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Natasha Ivanova
•So true! My first lender wanted $150 to handle a $15 filing. I did it myself online in 10 minutes.
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NebulaNomad
•Banks definitely mark up filing services. Though sometimes it's worth it if they guarantee accuracy and handle any corrections needed.
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Javier Garcia
•I'd rather pay $20 for a verification tool like Certana.ai to check my docs beforehand than pay a bank $150 to file a potentially incorrect UCC-1.
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Emma Taylor
Don't forget about certified copies if you need them. Some states charge $5-$10 per certified copy of your filed UCC-1. Not always necessary but good to know the option exists.
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Malik Robinson
•When would you need certified copies? I thought the electronic filing receipt was sufficient proof.
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Isabella Silva
•Some old-school lenders still want paper certified copies for their files. Also useful if you're dealing with courts or other legal proceedings.
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Ravi Choudhury
For equipment financing like yours, make sure you understand if you need a standard filing or a fixture filing. Fixture filings cost more but might be required depending on how the equipment is attached to real property.
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CosmosCaptain
•Good point about fixture filings. The requirements vary a lot by state and type of equipment. Manufacturing equipment bolted to concrete usually needs fixture filing.
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Freya Johansen
•Fixture filings are typically $25-$50 more than regular UCC-1s and have to be filed in the real estate records too, not just with the Secretary of State.
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Omar Fawzi
One last thing - budget for potential expedited processing if you're on a tight timeline. Rush fees can double or triple the basic filing cost, but sometimes necessary for closing deadlines.
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Chloe Wilson
•Rush processing saved me once when we had a same-day closing deadline. Paid $75 instead of $25 but it was worth avoiding the loan delay.
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Diego Mendoza
•Most states offer 24-hour processing for an extra fee. Plan ahead when possible but good to know the option exists.
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Micah Trail
Thanks for all this great info everyone! As a newcomer to UCC filings, this thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm planning to handle the filing myself rather than pay the bank's markup fees. Based on what I'm reading, I should budget around $25-40 for the basic UCC-1 filing in my state, plus maybe another $15-20 as a buffer in case I need to file any amendments. The equipment I'm financing is mobile (delivery trucks), so sounds like I won't need fixture filing. I'm definitely going to look into those document verification tools that were mentioned to avoid costly mistakes. One quick question - is there a reliable website where I can look up the exact filing fees for my specific state, or do I need to call the Secretary of State's office directly?
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Natalia Stone
•Welcome to the community! Most Secretary of State websites have their UCC filing fee schedules posted online - just search for "[your state] UCC filing fees" or look for the business services section. The International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA) also maintains links to all state UCC offices. Since you're doing mobile equipment, you're right that standard filing should be sufficient. Good call on handling it yourself and using verification tools - that combination will save you money and headaches.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Great approach @Micah Trail! You can also check the National Association of Secretaries of State website - they have a directory with direct links to each state's UCC division. For delivery trucks, you're definitely looking at standard UCC-1 filing since they're not attached to real property. Pro tip: when you're on your state's website, look for their UCC search function too - it's helpful to run a quick search on your business name before filing to see if there are any existing liens you weren't aware of. Usually costs under $10 and gives you peace of mind.
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