Kentucky Filing Fees: RIA, IAR, Broker-Dealer & Form D (2026)
What it actually costs to register and renew in Kentucky. Fees are paid to the KY Dept. of Financial Institutions.
RIA firm registration
$300
$100 above the national median
Per IAR
$50
$10 below the national median
Broker-dealer firm
$250
at the national median
Per BD agent
$50
at the national median
Form D / Blue Sky notice
$250
at the national median
Renewal
$300
Same as initial registration
Year-one cost scenarios in Kentucky
Solo state-registered RIA (1 IAR) in Kentucky
$300 firm + $50 IAR + $150 IARD system + $45 IAR system
$545
RIA with 3 investment adviser representatives
$300 firm + 3 × $50 IAR + IARD system fees
$735
Broker-dealer with 5 registered agents
$250 firm + 5 × $50 agent (excludes FINRA/CRD fees)
$500
Private fund Form D notice filing (Kentucky investors)
State Blue Sky notice fee, due within 15 days of first sale
$250
Filing fees only. Excludes compliance-manual drafting, Form ADV preparation, consulting, legal, E&O, and FINRA membership costs. Verify amounts with the KY Dept. of Financial Institutions before filing.
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Our registration calculator adds filing fees, Form ADV drafting, policies and procedures, and ongoing consulting into one budget for Kentucky and any other jurisdictions you need.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register as an investment adviser in Kentucky?
Kentucky charges $300 for investment adviser firm registration and $50 per investment adviser representative. Adding FINRA IARD system fees ($150 firm, $45 per IAR), a solo RIA should budget roughly $545 in year-one filing fees, excluding legal, consulting, and compliance-manual costs.
What is the Kentucky IAR registration fee?
$50 per investment adviser representative, paid through IARD to the KY Dept. of Financial Institutions. That is $10 below the national median.
What does a broker-dealer pay to register in Kentucky?
$250 for the broker-dealer firm and $50 per registered agent, paid through CRD to the KY Dept. of Financial Institutions. FINRA membership and CRD fees are separate.
What is the Kentucky Form D / Blue Sky notice filing fee?
$250 per offering for a Regulation D 506(b) or 506(c) notice filing when Kentucky residents invest. The notice is generally due within 15 days of the first sale in the state.
Does Kentucky charge the same fee to renew?
Yes — Kentucky charges the same amounts at annual renewal, so a solo RIA should plan on roughly $545 per year in recurring state and IARD fees.