How much does it actually cost to form an LLC?

The total cost has two parts: a service fee (which can be $0 on starter plans) and a mandatory state filing fee. State fees vary widely. Delaware charges $110, Wyoming charges $100, and California charges $70, but some states cost more. California also has an $800/yr minimum franchise tax regardless of income. New York also requires publication in two newspapers, at rates the newspapers set, plus a $50 Certificate of Publication. When you add a registered agent ($125 to $249/yr depending on the service), the realistic first-year cost for most people is $150 to $500 all in. The 'free' plans are legitimately free for the formation service itself. The state fee is unavoidable.

ZenBusiness vs LegalZoom. Which is better in 2026?

ZenBusiness scores higher on our formula: it has a higher Trustpilot score (4.8 vs 4.6) and a lower registered agent cost. Neither includes a registered agent in any plan: ZenBusiness charges $99 for the first year when you form with them and $199/yr after, while LegalZoom charges $249/yr on top of the plan price. LegalZoom may suit you if you need attorney access: their $299 plan includes unlimited 30-minute consultations with independent attorneys during your first 30 days, each on a new legal topic, which is valuable for complex structures, IP concerns, or multi-member LLCs with unusual terms. After those 30 days LegalZoom charges $49 or $99 a month, depending on the version of its plans you see, until you cancel.

ZenBusiness vs Bizee, what's the real difference?

Both offer a $0 starter plan. The difference is registered agent: Bizee includes it free for year one and renews it at $149/yr, while ZenBusiness includes it in no plan and charges $99 for the first year when you form with them, then $199/yr. That makes Bizee cheaper than ZenBusiness if price is your only concern. However, ZenBusiness holds an A from the BBB against Bizee's C, and offers chat support alongside phone and email. Bizee's Standard package also bundles EIN, IRS Form 2553 and a banking resolution. ZenBusiness includes EIN filing on Pro and above, and our table shows neither Form 2553 nor a banking resolution in its plans. Choose Bizee over ZenBusiness for the lower registered agent cost; choose ZenBusiness for the higher BBB grade and chat support.

Why is Bizee's BBB rating lower than the others here?

Bizee (formerly Incfile) holds a C rating from the Better Business Bureau, and is not BBB accredited. BBB gives two reasons on the profile: 82 complaints filed in the last three years, and that the business has failed to resolve the underlying causes of a pattern of complaints. BBB's alert describes complaints about unexpected charges, difficulty canceling recurring services, and delays in completing filings. Bizee has posted a response to that alert describing changes: advance notice before registered agent renewal charges, self-service cancellation in the dashboard, and a formal escalation process. This doesn't mean the service is fraudulent, and millions of people have formed LLCs through them. If you do use Bizee, read the terms carefully and set a calendar reminder to review renewal charges annually.

How long does LLC formation take?

It depends on your state far more than on the formation service, and many states will not tell you. 23 of 50 states publish no standard non-expedited turnaround, and four more (Arizona, California, Florida and Idaho) post only a rolling queue date, so for those, including Delaware, Texas and New York, nobody can quote you a reliable state figure. The service timelines are their own internal handling, not a state promise: ZenBusiness typically takes 2 to 3 weeks, Bizee is state-dependent, LegalZoom says its standard turnaround is generally 5 to 14 days, and Northwest does not publish one. Rush options exist (LegalZoom says one day; ZenBusiness 4 to 6 business days on Pro and Premium) but they only speed up the service's side unless you also pay the state's own expedite fee, which 31 states offer. Wyoming is genuinely fast: its own portal makes online filings effective immediately.

Do I need a registered agent service?

You need a registered agent in most states, but you do not have to pay for a service. Most states require an LLC to name a registered agent with a physical address in the state where it's formed. Pennsylvania asks for a registered office address instead (or a commercial registered office provider), and Minnesota, New York and West Virginia do not require you to name one when you form. A registered agent receives official legal and government mail on your behalf (lawsuits, tax notices, compliance reminders). You can usually be your own registered agent if you live in the state and are available at a physical address during business hours. A service ($125 to $249/yr) can be worth paying for because its address goes on the public record in place of yours, someone is there during business hours to accept documents, and the services on this page send annual report reminders.

Can I form an LLC myself without a service?

Yes. Every state lets you file Articles of Organization directly with the Secretary of State, typically online, for the same state fee. The DIY route makes sense if you're comfortable with paperwork, don't need a registered agent service, and are forming in a simple single-member structure. What you give up: document storage, annual report reminders, compliance alerts, and the convenience of having formation docs organized in one place. For most first-time founders, paying $0 + state fee for a starter plan from ZenBusiness or Bizee gives you professional filing plus those extras at no additional cost.

What is Worry-Free Compliance and is it worth it?

Worry-Free Compliance is ZenBusiness's annual compliance package. It's included in the Pro and Premium packages, and the Starter plan includes one optional free year of it, after which it auto-renews at $199/yr. It covers two amendment filings per year, annual report reminders and filing assistance, and access to their compliance dashboard. It's worth it if your LLC is active and you want hands-off compliance management. It's not worth it if you're comfortable tracking your own annual report deadlines (each state's deadline is public information) and your LLC structure is unlikely to change. Cancel before the auto-renewal date if you don't want it.

What's the difference between a formation service and a registered agent service?

A formation service files your Articles of Organization with the state, a one-time action. A registered agent service receives official legal and government correspondence on behalf of your LLC on an ongoing annual basis. Most formation companies sell both: they handle the initial filing and then provide registered agent service going forward. The two are separate products bundled together, which is why a service can advertise '$0 + state fee' for formation while charging separately for registered agent service, from the first year at some services and from year two at others.

Does using a formation service make them my registered agent automatically?

Not automatically. They're two separate products. Bizee and Northwest include a year of registered agent service with formation; ZenBusiness and LegalZoom sell it separately on every plan. When a year is included, you'll receive renewal notices before it ends. You can continue with the same service, switch to a different registered agent, or appoint yourself as registered agent if you live in the state and have a physical address available during business hours.

What happens if I don't renew my registered agent?

If your registered agent service lapses and you don't replace it, your LLC risks administrative dissolution in most states. The state can revoke your LLC's good standing for failing to maintain a registered agent. In practice there's usually a notice period and cure window. Registered agent services send renewal reminders starting 60 to 90 days before expiration. If you plan to discontinue a professional service, file a Change of Registered Agent form with the Secretary of State before your current subscription expires.

Does it matter which state I form my LLC in?

For most small business owners: form in your home state. The popular advice to use Delaware or Wyoming applies mainly to venture-backed startups and specific situations. Delaware is the standard for companies planning to raise VC funding or go public. Wyoming offers strong asset protection for multi-state portfolios or complex multi-member structures. The catch: if you form in Wyoming but operate in California, you still need to register as a foreign LLC in California and pay California's $800/yr minimum franchise tax. The foreign registration costs typically exceed any savings for a single-state small business.

Do I need to pay a formation service to get my EIN?

No. An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is obtained directly from the IRS at irs.gov/EIN. It's free and takes about 10 minutes online. There is no reason to pay a formation service to file it for you. Every major service upsells EIN filing as an add-on or includes it on their paid tiers. If a service charges $50 to $70 for EIN filing, skip it and file directly with the IRS. The only exception is if you're a non-U.S. citizen without a Social Security Number, which requires the SS-4 paper form. Formation services can handle that complexity.

Can I switch registered agents after my LLC is formed?

Yes. Switching registered agents is straightforward: file a Change of Registered Agent form with your Secretary of State (typically a $10 to $25 state fee), appoint the new agent, and cancel your old service. The new registered agent takes effect upon state acceptance, usually within 1 to 2 business days. Northwest Registered Agent at $125/yr is the lowest renewal of the services listed here if you're switching away from a more expensive service at renewal time. The formation service relationship itself is a one-time transaction. Once your LLC is filed, you can switch any ongoing subscriptions independently.

What is an operating agreement and do I need one?

An operating agreement is an internal document that defines how your LLC is governed, who owns what percentage, how profits are distributed, how decisions are made, and what happens if a member wants to leave. Most states do not legally require an operating agreement, but you should have one anyway. Without it, your state's default LLC rules apply, which may not match your intentions. Banks and investors often require an operating agreement before opening business accounts or extending credit. For a single-member LLC, a basic operating agreement is a one-page document; for multi-member LLCs with different ownership percentages, it becomes more important to get right. ZenBusiness includes an operating agreement template on Pro plans; LegalZoom provides attorney-drafted versions on Premium; Northwest includes one with its formation service. Single-member owners can find template operating agreements online for free, or use LegalZoom's standalone operating agreement service if you need a state-specific version.

What are annual reports and when are they due for an LLC?

Annual reports (also called Statements of Information or Biennial Reports depending on the state) are periodic filings that update your state on your LLC's current registered agent, members, and contact information. They're not tax filings. They're an administrative requirement to keep your LLC in good standing. The deadline and frequency vary by state: California requires a Statement of Information within 90 days of formation, then every two years ($20 fee). Wyoming's annual report is due the first day of your anniversary month ($60 minimum). Delaware LLCs file no annual report but owe a flat annual tax, due by June 1 each year. Missing an annual report deadline can result in late fees, administrative dissolution, or loss of LLC good standing. All four formation services on this page provide annual report reminders; ZenBusiness's Worry-Free Compliance ($199/yr after year one) includes filing assistance. If you don't use a compliance service, calendar your state's deadline immediately after formation.

What's the difference between an LLC and a sole proprietorship?

The most important difference is liability protection. A sole proprietorship offers no legal separation between you and your business: if your business is sued or can't pay its debts, your personal assets (savings, home, car) are at risk. An LLC creates a separate legal entity, so business liabilities generally stay within the LLC. Your personal assets are shielded in most circumstances. The second difference is credibility: an LLC signals you're running a legitimate business, which matters when opening a bank account, applying for contracts, or bringing on clients. The tradeoff is cost: a sole proprietorship costs nothing to start and has no ongoing compliance requirements, while an LLC requires a state filing fee ($35 to $520) and annual maintenance. For any business with real revenue, clients, or liability exposure, the cost of an LLC is almost always worth the protection.

Can a non-US citizen or non-US resident form an LLC?

Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to form an LLC. Non-US residents can form LLCs in any state. Wyoming and Delaware are popular choices for international founders because of strong asset protection laws and minimal reporting requirements. The main complications are EIN acquisition and banking. Non-US residents without a Social Security Number cannot apply for an EIN online. They must submit IRS Form SS-4 by fax or mail, which takes 4 to 8 weeks. Some formation services, ZenBusiness among them, offer EIN application assistance for non-residents. Opening a US business bank account is also more complex for non-residents; most major banks require in-person visits. Newer fintech alternatives like Mercury, Relay, and Bluevine have opened US business banking to international founders with varying degrees of success depending on country of residence.

What's the difference between a single-member LLC and a multi-member LLC?

A single-member LLC has one owner (the member), while a multi-member LLC has two or more. The core structure and liability protections are identical. The differences show up in taxation and governance. A single-member LLC is treated as a disregarded entity by default: you report business income on your personal tax return (Schedule C) with no separate LLC tax return required. A multi-member LLC is treated as a partnership by default, requiring a partnership tax return (Form 1065) in addition to each member's personal return. Both types can elect S-Corp or C-Corp tax status. For governance, multi-member LLCs need an operating agreement that specifies ownership percentages, voting rights, and profit distribution, these aren't needed for solo operators but become critical when co-founders disagree. If you're forming with a partner, draft a detailed operating agreement before anything else.

We Compared 4 LLC Formation Services for 2026

We compared 4 services (Northwest Registered Agent, Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom) on 3-year service cost, BBB rating and Trustpilot score. The ranking is arithmetic you can redo yourself from the tables below.

Services compared4

Data points per service17

Last updatedOctober 2026

Affiliate disclosure: ZenBusiness, Bizee, LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent pay us a commission if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you. This page lists the formation services we have an affiliate relationship with, so it is not a survey of the whole market. Among the services listed, the order is computed from 3-year service cost, BBB rating and Trustpilot score, and the code that computes it never reads which of them pays us.

Ranked on 3-year cost (55%), BBB rating (25%) and Trustpilot score (20%). The formula and the full arithmetic are in the methodology below.

Find your best fit:

Full Feature Comparison

Columns are in ranked order, highest score first. The first three rows are the only three figures the ranking is computed from. Scroll horizontally on mobile.

Feature	Northwest Registered Agent#1, score 94.3	Bizee#2, score 83	ZenBusiness#3, score 74.1	LegalZoom#4, score 64.7
3-year total (excl. state fee)Scoring input	$289	$298	$497	$747
BBB ratingScoring input	A (unaccredited)	C (unaccredited)	A	A+
Trustpilot scoreScoring input	4.1/5 (297)	4.8/5 (26,100+)	4.8/5 (32,500+)	4.6/5 (32,900+)
Formation fee	$39 + state	$0 + state	$0 + state	$0 + state
Articles of Organization	✓	✓ all plans	✓ all plans	✓ all plans
Registered agent, year 1	✓ included	✓ free	✗ ($99 extra)	✗ ($249 extra)
Registered agent, renewal	$125/yr	$149/yr	$199/yr	$249/yr
Operating agreement	✓ included	Standard+	Pro+	$249 plan and up
EIN filing	$50 add-on	Standard+	Pro+	$249 plan and up
IRS Form 2553	Sold separately	Standard+	✗	✗
Banking resolution	✗	Standard+	✗	✗
Attorney access	✗	✗	✗	✓ $299 plan (30 days)
Annual report reminders	✓	✓ lifetime	✓ all plans	✓
No data sharing / spam	Says it does not sell data; uses Meta Pixel	✗	Partial	Partial
Standard turnaround	State-dependent	State-dependent	2 to 3 weeks	5 to 14 days (LegalZoom's figure, plus the state's time)
Rush processing	Not stated	A few days	4 to 6 business days	One day (LegalZoom's figure, plus the state's time)
Customer support	Phone / email	Phone / email	Phone / email / chat	Phone / email / chat

BBB and Trustpilot figures as recorded September 15, 2026 to September 15, 2026. We have not re-checked them since, and both sources update continuously. Northwest Registered Agent's figures were re-checked on September 15, 2026, when we joined its affiliate programme, and that check moved our record down, from A+ to A and from 4.7 to 4.1.

Our Rankings

Ordered by the score in the methodology below, which is 55% three-year cost, 25% BBB rating and 20% Trustpilot score. Every card shows its own arithmetic.

Northwest Registered Agent files your LLC for $39 plus the state fee, and that price includes a year of registered agent service. After year one, registered agent service is $125/yr, which puts the 3-year total at $289. Northwest says it does not sell your information and runs its own servers. The $39 package does not include EIN filing (a $50 add-on) or IRS Form 2553. One thing to know before you sign up: registered agent customers are enrolled by default in Northwest's report filing service, charged at $100 plus state fees when it files your report, and you can cancel that service at any time.

#1, score 94.3 / 100Lowest 3-year cost

Northwest Registered Agent

$39 + state fee

starting price

⭐ 4.1/5 Trustpilot (297 reviews)BBB: A, not BBB accreditedBoth figures as recorded September 15, 2026, not re-checked since

Pros

Registered agent included for year one, then a flat $125/yr
States in its privacy policy that it does not sell your information
Runs its own servers

Cons

EIN filing is a $50 add-on, and S-corp election is sold as a separate service
$39 formation fee vs $0 on starter plans elsewhere
Enrolls registered agent customers in report filing ($100 + state fees) by default

Pricing tiers

Formation

$39 + state

Reg. Agent

$125/yr

Registered agent: Included yr 1, then $125/yr

Score: 0.55 × 100 (cost) + 0.25 × 91.7 (BBB) + 0.2 × 82 (Trustpilot) = 94.3

Visit Northwest Registered Agent →

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no cost to you

Bizee (formerly Incfile) suits founders for whom registered agent renewal cost is the priority. Its registered agent renews at $149/yr once year-one promotions expire, $50/yr less than ZenBusiness and $100/yr less than LegalZoom. Their Standard package bundles IRS Form 2553 (S-Corp election filing), EIN application, and a banking resolution document. Its C rating from the BBB is the main drag on Bizee's score. BBB gives two reasons for that grade: 82 complaints filed in three years, and, in BBB's words, that the business "has failed to resolve underlying cause(s) of a pattern of complaints". BBB's pattern-of-complaint alert on the profile is still live, and Bizee has posted a response to it describing changes to renewal notices, cancellation and refunds. If you choose Bizee for the price, read every auto-renewal term before completing checkout.

#2, score 83 / 100Registered agent renews at $149/yr

Bizee

$0 + state fee

starting price

⭐ 4.8/5 Trustpilot (26,100+ reviews)BBB: C, unaccredited, with a live BBB pattern-of-complaint alertBoth figures as recorded September 15, 2026, not re-checked since

⚠️ Bizee holds a C rating from the BBB, which is not accredited and carries a live pattern-of-complaint alert. We're flagging this so you can make an informed choice.

Pros

Registered agent renews at $149/yr after year one
Free registered agent for year one on all plans (Bizee is testing shorter free periods for some visitors, so confirm at checkout)
Standard package bundles EIN + IRS Form 2553 + banking resolution

Cons

C rating from the BBB, which cites a pattern of complaints about charges and cancellation
Phone and email support only, with no chat channel

Pricing tiers

Basic

$0 + state

Standard

$199 + state

Premium

$299 + state

Registered agent: Free yr 1 (confirm at checkout), then $149/yr

Score: 0.55 × 97 (cost) + 0.25 × 41.7 (BBB) + 0.2 × 96 (Trustpilot) = 83

Visit Bizee →

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no cost to you

ZenBusiness holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot score. Their $0 Starter plan covers state filing and a compliance dashboard that tracks your annual report deadlines. Worry-Free Compliance ($199/yr after year one) is useful if you would rather not track state deadlines yourself, and skippable if you will. Registered agent is not included in any plan: it is $99 for the first year when you form your LLC with ZenBusiness, then $199/yr, which is $50/yr more than Bizee. That registered agent cost is what puts the 3-year total at $497.

#3, score 74.1 / 100Compliance dashboard on the $0 Starter plan

ZenBusiness

$0 + state fee

starting price

⭐ 4.8/5 Trustpilot (32,500+ reviews)BBB: ABoth figures as recorded September 15, 2026, not re-checked since

Pros

$0 Starter plan, plus your state's filing fee
4.8/5 Trustpilot score, with phone, email and chat support
Worry-Free Compliance keeps annual filings on track

Cons

Registered agent renews at $199/yr after year one
Registered agent is not included in any plan: $99 for year one when you form with them
Compliance package auto-renews. Read the fine print at checkout
Every plan adds an AI website builder that is free for 30 days, then renews at $15/month unless you remove it at checkout
Pro and Premium renew at $199/yr and $299/yr

Pricing tiers

Starter

$0 + state

Pro

$199/yr

Premium

$299/yr

Registered agent: $99 yr 1 with formation, then $199/yr

Score: 0.55 × 58.1 (cost) + 0.25 × 91.7 (BBB) + 0.2 × 96 (Trustpilot) = 74.1

Visit ZenBusiness →

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no cost to you

LegalZoom says it has handled more than 4 million formations since it was founded in 2001. For a simple single-member LLC, they're overkill: registered agent costs $249/yr and is not included in any plan. That puts their 3-year total at $747, against Bizee's $298. But if your situation involves multiple members with non-equal ownership, IP or trademark concerns, or an operating agreement with unusual terms, attorney access on their $299 plan (shown as Premium or Expert Service) changes the math: it includes 30 days of unlimited 30-minute consultations with independent attorneys, each on a new legal topic, then $49 or $99 a month until you cancel, depending on the version of the plans you see. In one version the $249 plan includes the same consultations; in the other it includes a business advisor, not an attorney. Budget the full first-year cost. RA adds $249 on top of the plan price before you start.

#4, score 64.7 / 100Attorney consultations on its $299 plan

LegalZoom

$0 + state fee

starting price

⭐ 4.6/5 Trustpilot (32,900+ reviews)BBB: A+Both figures as recorded September 15, 2026, not re-checked since

Pros

Attorney access on the $299 plan (Premium or Expert Service): unlimited 30-min consultations with independent attorneys, each on a new legal topic (first 30 days)
LegalZoom says it has handled 4M+ formations since it was founded in 2001
Handles trademarks, wills, and contracts beyond just LLC formation

Cons

Registered agent is $249/yr and NOT included in any plan
The $299 plan's 30 days of attorney access then renews at $49/month or $99/month until you cancel, depending on which version of LegalZoom's plans you are shown
The $249 plan (Pro or Managed Service) includes 30 days of attorney consultations in one version of LegalZoom's plans and a business advisor, not an attorney, in the other, then renews at $49/month until you cancel
In one version of its plans, Premium also adds bookkeeping tools that renew at $9.99/month after 6 months

Pricing tiers

Basic

$0 + state

Pro or Managed Service

$249 + state

Premium or Expert Service

$299 + state

Registered agent: $249/yr (not included, purchased separately)

Score: 0.55 × 38.7 (cost) + 0.25 × 100 (BBB) + 0.2 × 92 (Trustpilot) = 64.7

Visit LegalZoom →

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no cost to you

Total Cost Over 3 Years

A registered agent is a legal requirement in nearly every state, not an optional add-on. That makes registered agent renewal cost the most important variable in this comparison, not the formation fee, which is why the 3-year total below carries 55% of the score. Cheapest first, excluding the state filing fee (which is identical regardless of which service you use):

Service	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	3-Year Total	Note
Northwest Registered Agent	$39	$125	$125	$289	Includes RA yr 1
Bizee	$0	$149	$149	$298	C BBB rating
ZenBusiness	$99	$199	$199	$497	RA $99 yr 1 with formation
LegalZoom	$249	$249	$249	$747	RA not included in plans

Excludes state filing fees ($35 to $520 depending on state) and any optional add-ons. Assumes registered agent only, no compliance packages or premium tiers.

How We Rank These Services

This is desk research, not hands-on testing. We have not formed a test LLC with any of these companies. The ranking is computed from three figures, all printed in the comparison table above: each service's 3-year service cost, which is our total of the plan and registered agent prices the company publishes for a customer forming a new LLC with it, and its BBB rating and Trustpilot score, which those two third parties publish. You can recompute the order yourself and disagree with it on the arithmetic.

Cost, 55%

Three-year service cost excluding the state fee, which is the same whichever service you use. Scored as 100 × 289 ÷ (that service's 3-year total), so the cheapest scores 100 and a service that costs twice as much scores 50. Nearly every state requires a registered agent or a registered office, and its renewal is the one line you pay every year.

BBB rating, 25%

The Better Business Bureau letter grade. The 13 grades are spread evenly from 100 for A+ down to 0 for F. The grade is BBB's; converting a letter to a number is ours, and this is the whole of that conversion.

Trustpilot score, 20%

The published Trustpilot score, multiplied by 20 to put it on the same 0 to 100 scale. It carries the least weight because the four scores span only 0.7 points. The review counts behind them are very different, and the formula does not weight for that: the counts are printed in the comparison table above.

The arithmetic, in full

#	Service	3-yr cost	Cost score (×0.55)	BBB (×0.25)	Trustpilot (×0.2)	Total
1	Northwest Registered Agent	$289	100	91.7	82	94.3
2	Bizee	$298	97	41.7	96	83
3	ZenBusiness	$497	58.1	91.7	96	74.1
4	LegalZoom	$747	38.7	100	92	64.7

What the weights do to the answer. First place does not depend on the weight on cost. With the BBB and Trustpilot weights kept in their 25 to 20 ratio, Northwest Registered Agent finishes first at every weighting from 40% to 70% on cost. At the 55% we use, Northwest Registered Agent leads Bizee by 11.3 points.

What is not in the formula. Checkout transparency, support responsiveness and processing speed are all things a reader would reasonably want scored, and we have no way to measure any of them that would survive being checked. They stay in the write-ups as description and carry no weight in the number.

No service pays for its position in the order, but only services that pay us a commission are listed. ZenBusiness, Bizee, LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent pay us a commission if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you. Among the services listed, the order is computed from 3-year service cost, BBB rating and Trustpilot score, and the code that computes it never reads which of them pays us.

How to Choose an LLC Formation Service

8 things to understand before you pay, including two where the industry broadly misleads buyers.

1. Optimize for year 2+ cost, not the formation fee

All four services offer $0 or near-zero formation pricing. The real difference shows up in registered agent renewal: $125/yr (Northwest Registered Agent) to $249/yr (LegalZoom). Over five years, the spread between cheapest and most expensive registered agent is $620. Choose based on what you'll pay annually, not what you'll pay once.

2. Formation speed is determined by your state, not the service

Every formation service submits your paperwork to the same state office, so standard turnaround is outside their control. What is easy to miss is that many states never publish one: 23 of 50 state no standard non-expedited processing time at all, and Arizona, California, Florida and Idaho post only a rolling queue of the dates they are currently working through. Delaware is one of the silent ones (it says only that "processing times may vary during our busy season") so a service quoting you a Delaware turnaround is quoting its own handling time, not the state's. Services can pay the state's expedite fee where one exists (31 states), and that is the only lever that actually moves the state's side.

3. Your registered agent address becomes a public record

If you list your home address as your registered agent, it appears in publicly searchable state business records. One of the real benefits of a professional registered agent service is that its address, not yours, appears as your LLC's registered office in the public record. Your state may still publish other addresses, such as a principal office or an organizer's address. All four services above sell this service: Bizee includes it free for year one, Northwest Registered Agent includes it in its $39 formation package, and ZenBusiness and LegalZoom sell it as a separate add-on on every plan.

4. Get your EIN directly from the IRS. Don't pay for it

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is obtained at irs.gov/EIN for free in about 10 minutes. Every formation service upsells EIN filing as an add-on. Skip it. The only exception: non-U.S. residents without an SSN must file the SS-4 paper form, where paying a service to handle the process is worth the time saved.

5. Attorney access is only worth it for complex situations

LegalZoom's attorney consultations (30 days on its $299 plan, then $49 or $99 a month until you cancel) are useful for multi-member LLCs with unusual ownership splits, businesses in regulated industries, founders with IP or trademark concerns, or anyone considering Series LLC structures. For a standard single-member LLC as a freelancer, consultant, or solo founder, you don't need, and shouldn't pay for, attorney access.

6. Watch for pre-checked upsells during checkout

Registered agent, operating agreement, EIN filing, compliance packages, and domain registration are commonly pre-checked by default in formation service checkouts. Uncheck every box and add back only what you've decided you want. We have not walked these checkouts ourselves, so treat this as a general warning about the category rather than a ranking of the services above.

7. Draft an operating agreement even if your state doesn't require one

Most states don't legally mandate an operating agreement for single-member LLCs. But banks often require one before opening a business account, and courts have pierced LLC liability shields in cases where there was no documented separation between personal and business operations. For a solo founder, a one-page operating agreement confirming you're the sole member, 100% owner, and managing member is sufficient and takes 15 minutes to create using a free template.

8. Know your annual report deadline before you close the tab

Most states require an annual or biennial report to keep your LLC in good standing, and seven (Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio and South Carolina) require none. No report does not mean nothing is due: Delaware charges every LLC a flat $400 annual tax due June 1, and other states have taxes or filings that depend on your income or activity. Where a report is required, deadlines vary: some are on a fixed calendar date, others fall on your LLC's anniversary month, and a few states charge a yearly tax on top of the report fee. Missing a deadline can bring late fees and, in many states, can eventually lead the state to dissolve your LLC. Look up your state's deadline on the Secretary of State website, and check the state tax agency for any annual tax, immediately after your LLC is approved. Don't rely on a formation service reminder as your only safeguard.

Our Recommendation

On the three figures we can source, Northwest Registered Agent scores highest of the services listed here, at 94.3 out of 100: $289 over three years and an A from the BBB, against the lowest Trustpilot score on this page (4.1/5 from 297 reviews, where the others carry 4.6 to 4.8). That is a statement about those three figures, not about which product suits you. The rows below are about that, and they do not follow the ranking.

If you need…

You want a compliance dashboard and phone, email and chat support

Use…

ZenBusiness Starter

$0 formation, a 4.8/5 Trustpilot score, and phone, email and chat. $497 over three years.

If you need…

The lowest possible three-year cost

Use…

Northwest Registered Agent

$289 over three years, the lowest listed here. The tradeoff is a $39 formation fee where the other plans start at $0, and a 4.1/5 Trustpilot score from 297 reviews.

If you need…

Multi-member LLC, IP concerns, or complex structure

Use…

LegalZoom $299 plan

The only one of the four with attorney consultations: unlimited 30-minute consultations for the first 30 days, each on a new legal topic, then $49 or $99 a month until you cancel. Also the most expensive by a wide margin at $747 over three years.

What to Do After Forming Your LLC

Filing your Articles of Organization is step one. These six steps turn your approved LLC into a properly operating, protected business, and most founders skip at least two of them.

Get your EIN from the IRS (free, ~10 minutes)

An Employer Identification Number is your LLC's federal tax identifier. Most banks ask for it to open a business bank account, and the IRS requires one if the LLC hires employees, owes certain employment or excise taxes, or is taxed as a partnership or corporation. Apply directly at IRS.gov/EIN for free. The online process takes about 10 minutes and delivers your EIN instantly. Do not pay a formation service to do this for you. The online application is identical and there is no benefit to using an intermediary.

Open a dedicated business bank account

Keeping business and personal finances separate is the single most important thing you can do to maintain your LLC's liability protection. Courts have pierced the LLC shield specifically when founders mixed personal and business funds, a practice called "piercing the corporate veil." Most major banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) offer free business checking for LLCs. Bring your Articles of Organization, EIN letter, and operating agreement when you apply. Mercury and Relay are popular online alternatives with no monthly fees.

Draft and sign your operating agreement

An operating agreement documents your LLC's internal rules: ownership percentage, how profits and losses are distributed, voting procedures, and what happens when a member wants to exit. For a single-member LLC, a one-page document confirming you're the 100% managing member is sufficient. For multi-member LLCs, this document is critical, especially buyout rights and dispute resolution clauses. File a signed copy in a safe place and provide it whenever a bank or vendor requests proof of membership.

Obtain any required business licenses

Forming an LLC gives you a legal business entity. It doesn't automatically authorize you to operate in a regulated industry or jurisdiction. Depending on your business type and location, you may need: a local business operating license (most cities and counties require one for commercial activity), a professional license (required for contractors, healthcare providers, lawyers, real estate agents, and many other professions), a sales tax permit if you sell physical goods, or federal licenses if you operate in certain industries (firearms, alcohol, broadcasting). Contact your city or county clerk and your state's licensing board for your specific requirements.

Set up your bookkeeping system

Your LLC is a separate tax entity and needs its own books. The IRS requires you to maintain records that clearly separate business income and expenses from personal activity. At minimum, use a dedicated business credit or debit card for all business purchases, and reconcile your accounts monthly. For simple single-member LLCs, free tools like Wave or a basic spreadsheet work fine. As your revenue grows, QuickBooks Self-Employed ($15/mo) or FreshBooks ($17/mo) add invoicing, mileage tracking, and tax estimates. If your LLC earns more than $75,000/yr, consider a bookkeeper. The cost is tax-deductible and typically pays for itself in missed deductions.

Mark your annual report deadline

Most states require LLCs to file a periodic report (annual, biennial, or on a rolling anniversary basis) to maintain active status, though a few require none. Missing a deadline can bring late fees and, in many states, continued non-compliance triggers administrative dissolution, your LLC loses its legal status. Look up your state's specific deadline, fee, and filing method on your Secretary of State's website today, and calendar the reminder at least 60 days before it's due. If you prefer hands-off compliance management, ZenBusiness Worry-Free Compliance ($199/yr after year one) handles reminders and filing for you.

LLC Filing Fees by State (2026)

State filing fees are paid directly to your Secretary of State. They're mandatory regardless of which formation service you use and are not included in any service's advertised pricing. Fees range from $35 (Montana) to $520 (Massachusetts). Some states also levy an entity-level tax on top of the filing fee. California adds $800/yr, Delaware $400/yr, and Rhode Island $400/yr. Always research your specific state's total cost before filing.

State	Filing Fee	Annual Report / Fee	Key Notes
Alabama	$200	None for most LLCs	Business Privilege Tax return only if computed tax exceeds $100
Alaska	$250	$100/2 yrs	Biennial report
Arizona	$50	None	No annual report required
California	$70	$20/2 yrs	$800/yr minimum franchise tax required
Colorado	$50	$25/yr	Periodic report due annually
Delaware	$110	None	Popular for investors; flat $400 annual LLC tax due June 1, no report
Florida	$125	$138.75/yr	Annual report due May 1
Georgia	$110	$60/yr	Annual registration
Illinois	$150	$75/yr	Annual report required
New York	$200	$9/2 yrs	Newspaper publication required, at rates the newspapers set, plus a $50 Certificate of Publication
Nevada	$75	$150/yr	Annual List $150 plus $200 State Business License, so $425 day one and $350/yr after
Texas	$300	$0 (franchise tax may apply)	No franchise tax if annualized total revenue is $2,650,000 or less (reports due in 2026 and 2027)
Washington	$200	$70/yr	Annual renewal required; $180 if filed on paper
Wyoming	$100	$60 min/yr	Strong asset protection laws; popular for privacy

Fees shown are for standard processing. Expedited filing costs extra. Always verify current fees with your Secretary of State. These change periodically.

Frequently Asked Questions

: The total cost has two parts: a service fee (which can be $0 on starter plans) and a mandatory state filing fee. State fees vary widely. Delaware charges $110, Wyoming charges $100, and California charges $70, but some states cost more. California also has an $800/yr minimum franchise tax regardless of income. New York also requires publication in two newspapers, at rates the newspapers set, plus a $50 Certificate of Publication. When you add a registered agent ($125 to $249/yr depending on the service), the realistic first-year cost for most people is $150 to $500 all in. The 'free' plans are legitimately free for the formation service itself. The state fee is unavoidable.
: ZenBusiness scores higher on our formula: it has a higher Trustpilot score (4.8 vs 4.6) and a lower registered agent cost. Neither includes a registered agent in any plan: ZenBusiness charges $99 for the first year when you form with them and $199/yr after, while LegalZoom charges $249/yr on top of the plan price. LegalZoom may suit you if you need attorney access: their $299 plan includes unlimited 30-minute consultations with independent attorneys during your first 30 days, each on a new legal topic, which is valuable for complex structures, IP concerns, or multi-member LLCs with unusual terms. After those 30 days LegalZoom charges $49 or $99 a month, depending on the version of its plans you see, until you cancel.
: Both offer a $0 starter plan. The difference is registered agent: Bizee includes it free for year one and renews it at $149/yr, while ZenBusiness includes it in no plan and charges $99 for the first year when you form with them, then $199/yr. That makes Bizee cheaper than ZenBusiness if price is your only concern. However, ZenBusiness holds an A from the BBB against Bizee's C, and offers chat support alongside phone and email. Bizee's Standard package also bundles EIN, IRS Form 2553 and a banking resolution. ZenBusiness includes EIN filing on Pro and above, and our table shows neither Form 2553 nor a banking resolution in its plans. Choose Bizee over ZenBusiness for the lower registered agent cost; choose ZenBusiness for the higher BBB grade and chat support.
: Bizee (formerly Incfile) holds a C rating from the Better Business Bureau, and is not BBB accredited. BBB gives two reasons on the profile: 82 complaints filed in the last three years, and that the business has failed to resolve the underlying causes of a pattern of complaints. BBB's alert describes complaints about unexpected charges, difficulty canceling recurring services, and delays in completing filings. Bizee has posted a response to that alert describing changes: advance notice before registered agent renewal charges, self-service cancellation in the dashboard, and a formal escalation process. This doesn't mean the service is fraudulent, and millions of people have formed LLCs through them. If you do use Bizee, read the terms carefully and set a calendar reminder to review renewal charges annually.
: It depends on your state far more than on the formation service, and many states will not tell you. 23 of 50 states publish no standard non-expedited turnaround, and four more (Arizona, California, Florida and Idaho) post only a rolling queue date, so for those, including Delaware, Texas and New York, nobody can quote you a reliable state figure. The service timelines are their own internal handling, not a state promise: ZenBusiness typically takes 2 to 3 weeks, Bizee is state-dependent, LegalZoom says its standard turnaround is generally 5 to 14 days, and Northwest does not publish one. Rush options exist (LegalZoom says one day; ZenBusiness 4 to 6 business days on Pro and Premium) but they only speed up the service's side unless you also pay the state's own expedite fee, which 31 states offer. Wyoming is genuinely fast: its own portal makes online filings effective immediately.
: You need a registered agent in most states, but you do not have to pay for a service. Most states require an LLC to name a registered agent with a physical address in the state where it's formed. Pennsylvania asks for a registered office address instead (or a commercial registered office provider), and Minnesota, New York and West Virginia do not require you to name one when you form. A registered agent receives official legal and government mail on your behalf (lawsuits, tax notices, compliance reminders). You can usually be your own registered agent if you live in the state and are available at a physical address during business hours. A service ($125 to $249/yr) can be worth paying for because its address goes on the public record in place of yours, someone is there during business hours to accept documents, and the services on this page send annual report reminders.
: Yes. Every state lets you file Articles of Organization directly with the Secretary of State, typically online, for the same state fee. The DIY route makes sense if you're comfortable with paperwork, don't need a registered agent service, and are forming in a simple single-member structure. What you give up: document storage, annual report reminders, compliance alerts, and the convenience of having formation docs organized in one place. For most first-time founders, paying $0 + state fee for a starter plan from ZenBusiness or Bizee gives you professional filing plus those extras at no additional cost.
: Worry-Free Compliance is ZenBusiness's annual compliance package. It's included in the Pro and Premium packages, and the Starter plan includes one optional free year of it, after which it auto-renews at $199/yr. It covers two amendment filings per year, annual report reminders and filing assistance, and access to their compliance dashboard. It's worth it if your LLC is active and you want hands-off compliance management. It's not worth it if you're comfortable tracking your own annual report deadlines (each state's deadline is public information) and your LLC structure is unlikely to change. Cancel before the auto-renewal date if you don't want it.
: A formation service files your Articles of Organization with the state, a one-time action. A registered agent service receives official legal and government correspondence on behalf of your LLC on an ongoing annual basis. Most formation companies sell both: they handle the initial filing and then provide registered agent service going forward. The two are separate products bundled together, which is why a service can advertise '$0 + state fee' for formation while charging separately for registered agent service, from the first year at some services and from year two at others.
: Not automatically. They're two separate products. Bizee and Northwest include a year of registered agent service with formation; ZenBusiness and LegalZoom sell it separately on every plan. When a year is included, you'll receive renewal notices before it ends. You can continue with the same service, switch to a different registered agent, or appoint yourself as registered agent if you live in the state and have a physical address available during business hours.
: If your registered agent service lapses and you don't replace it, your LLC risks administrative dissolution in most states. The state can revoke your LLC's good standing for failing to maintain a registered agent. In practice there's usually a notice period and cure window. Registered agent services send renewal reminders starting 60 to 90 days before expiration. If you plan to discontinue a professional service, file a Change of Registered Agent form with the Secretary of State before your current subscription expires.
: For most small business owners: form in your home state. The popular advice to use Delaware or Wyoming applies mainly to venture-backed startups and specific situations. Delaware is the standard for companies planning to raise VC funding or go public. Wyoming offers strong asset protection for multi-state portfolios or complex multi-member structures. The catch: if you form in Wyoming but operate in California, you still need to register as a foreign LLC in California and pay California's $800/yr minimum franchise tax. The foreign registration costs typically exceed any savings for a single-state small business.
: No. An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is obtained directly from the IRS at irs.gov/EIN. It's free and takes about 10 minutes online. There is no reason to pay a formation service to file it for you. Every major service upsells EIN filing as an add-on or includes it on their paid tiers. If a service charges $50 to $70 for EIN filing, skip it and file directly with the IRS. The only exception is if you're a non-U.S. citizen without a Social Security Number, which requires the SS-4 paper form. Formation services can handle that complexity.
: Yes. Switching registered agents is straightforward: file a Change of Registered Agent form with your Secretary of State (typically a $10 to $25 state fee), appoint the new agent, and cancel your old service. The new registered agent takes effect upon state acceptance, usually within 1 to 2 business days. Northwest Registered Agent at $125/yr is the lowest renewal of the services listed here if you're switching away from a more expensive service at renewal time. The formation service relationship itself is a one-time transaction. Once your LLC is filed, you can switch any ongoing subscriptions independently.
: An operating agreement is an internal document that defines how your LLC is governed, who owns what percentage, how profits are distributed, how decisions are made, and what happens if a member wants to leave. Most states do not legally require an operating agreement, but you should have one anyway. Without it, your state's default LLC rules apply, which may not match your intentions. Banks and investors often require an operating agreement before opening business accounts or extending credit. For a single-member LLC, a basic operating agreement is a one-page document; for multi-member LLCs with different ownership percentages, it becomes more important to get right. ZenBusiness includes an operating agreement template on Pro plans; LegalZoom provides attorney-drafted versions on Premium; Northwest includes one with its formation service. Single-member owners can find template operating agreements online for free, or use LegalZoom's standalone operating agreement service if you need a state-specific version.
: Annual reports (also called Statements of Information or Biennial Reports depending on the state) are periodic filings that update your state on your LLC's current registered agent, members, and contact information. They're not tax filings. They're an administrative requirement to keep your LLC in good standing. The deadline and frequency vary by state: California requires a Statement of Information within 90 days of formation, then every two years ($20 fee). Wyoming's annual report is due the first day of your anniversary month ($60 minimum). Delaware LLCs file no annual report but owe a flat annual tax, due by June 1 each year. Missing an annual report deadline can result in late fees, administrative dissolution, or loss of LLC good standing. All four formation services on this page provide annual report reminders; ZenBusiness's Worry-Free Compliance ($199/yr after year one) includes filing assistance. If you don't use a compliance service, calendar your state's deadline immediately after formation.
: The most important difference is liability protection. A sole proprietorship offers no legal separation between you and your business: if your business is sued or can't pay its debts, your personal assets (savings, home, car) are at risk. An LLC creates a separate legal entity, so business liabilities generally stay within the LLC. Your personal assets are shielded in most circumstances. The second difference is credibility: an LLC signals you're running a legitimate business, which matters when opening a bank account, applying for contracts, or bringing on clients. The tradeoff is cost: a sole proprietorship costs nothing to start and has no ongoing compliance requirements, while an LLC requires a state filing fee ($35 to $520) and annual maintenance. For any business with real revenue, clients, or liability exposure, the cost of an LLC is almost always worth the protection.
: Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to form an LLC. Non-US residents can form LLCs in any state. Wyoming and Delaware are popular choices for international founders because of strong asset protection laws and minimal reporting requirements. The main complications are EIN acquisition and banking. Non-US residents without a Social Security Number cannot apply for an EIN online. They must submit IRS Form SS-4 by fax or mail, which takes 4 to 8 weeks. Some formation services, ZenBusiness among them, offer EIN application assistance for non-residents. Opening a US business bank account is also more complex for non-residents; most major banks require in-person visits. Newer fintech alternatives like Mercury, Relay, and Bluevine have opened US business banking to international founders with varying degrees of success depending on country of residence.
: A single-member LLC has one owner (the member), while a multi-member LLC has two or more. The core structure and liability protections are identical. The differences show up in taxation and governance. A single-member LLC is treated as a disregarded entity by default: you report business income on your personal tax return (Schedule C) with no separate LLC tax return required. A multi-member LLC is treated as a partnership by default, requiring a partnership tax return (Form 1065) in addition to each member's personal return. Both types can elect S-Corp or C-Corp tax status. For governance, multi-member LLCs need an operating agreement that specifies ownership percentages, voting rights, and profit distribution, these aren't needed for solo operators but become critical when co-founders disagree. If you're forming with a partner, draft a detailed operating agreement before anything else.

Best LLC services by state

LLC formation rules, fees, and timelines are set at the state level. Pick your state for rankings tuned to its requirements:

Best LLC services by city

Major-metro guides with local business data, county filing details, and publication costs where they apply:

Full Feature Comparison

Our Rankings

Northwest Registered Agent

Bizee

ZenBusiness

LegalZoom

Total Cost Over 3 Years

How We Rank These Services

The arithmetic, in full

How to Choose an LLC Formation Service

1. Optimize for year 2+ cost, not the formation fee

2. Formation speed is determined by your state, not the service

3. Your registered agent address becomes a public record

4. Get your EIN directly from the IRS. Don't pay for it

5. Attorney access is only worth it for complex situations

6. Watch for pre-checked upsells during checkout

7. Draft an operating agreement even if your state doesn't require one

8. Know your annual report deadline before you close the tab

Our Recommendation

What to Do After Forming Your LLC

Get your EIN from the IRS (free, ~10 minutes)

Open a dedicated business bank account

Draft and sign your operating agreement

Obtain any required business licenses

Set up your bookkeeping system

Mark your annual report deadline

LLC Filing Fees by State (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Best LLC services by state

Best LLC services by city

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