- Business Corner
- LLC Formation Services
Best LLC Formation Services of 2026, Compared on Five-Year Cost
An LLC formation service files your LLC's paperwork with the state and sells the registered agent, EIN and operating agreement most new owners need. BusinessRocket, our own service, is the best LLC formation service by five-year cost, at $543 for a complete LLC before state fees on prices checked October 27, 2026. Northwest Registered Agent costs the least in year one ($89), Bizee starts at $0 with a registered agent, LegalZoom adds attorney help and ZenBusiness includes a year of compliance filing.
On this page
| # | Provider | Best for | Complete LLC, year one | Complete LLC, five years | Registered agent after year one | Fastest stated filing | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BusinessRocket Top pick | The lowest five-year cost (our own service) | $147 | $543 Lowest | $99/yr Lowest | Same business day in most cases | Start my LLC |
| 2 | Northwest Registered Agent | The lowest first-year cost | $89 Lowest | $589 | $125/yr | Not stated | Compare |
| 3 | Bizee | A $0 package with a registered agent included | $169 | $765 | $149/yr | About 4 business days (Premium) | Compare |
| 4 | ZenBusiness | A free first year of compliance filing | $397 | $1,193 | $199/yr | 1 business day (Pro) | Compare |
| 5 | LegalZoom | Attorney help at formation | $427 | $1,423 | $249/yr | Not stated | Compare |
| 6 | Rocket Lawyer | Legal documents after formation | $444 | $1,940 | $125/yr plus membership | Not stated | Compare |
| – | Tailor Brands | Branding at launch | Not ranked | Not ranked | $199/yr | 1 business day (Essential) | Compare |
Before state fees. A complete LLC is the filing, a registered agent, an EIN and an operating agreement at each provider's cheapest published combination. Five years adds four registered agent renewals (and Rocket Lawyer's Plus membership, which its agent requires). Tailor Brands isn't ranked on cost because its plans don't say whether a written operating agreement is included.
- Prices checked Oct 27, 2026
- 7 services compared
- 50-state fees from official sources
- No affiliate commissions
- Published by BusinessRocket
Disclosure: BusinessRocket publishes this comparison and is one of the seven services. The ranking is by five-year cost, which puts our own service first, and Northwest costs less in years one to three. We earn no commission from the other six providers, and every price comes from the companies' own websites so you can check it.
What are the best LLC formation services in 2026?
The best LLC formation services in 2026 depend on what you need: BusinessRocket, our own service, has the lowest five-year cost of a complete LLC ($543 before state fees), Northwest Registered Agent has the lowest first-year cost ($89), and Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer and Tailor Brands each fit one specific need. BusinessRocket led the group on three of the ten criteria we measured (five-year cost, registered agent renewal and stated filing time).
Our verdict
If you expect to close the LLC within three years, Northwest is the cheaper choice. From the fourth year on, BusinessRocket's $99 agent renewal puts it ahead of Northwest's $125, and by year five the gap is $46.
These are the facts behind the picks.
- A complete LLC cost between $89 (Northwest) and $444 (Rocket Lawyer) in its first year, before state fees.
- State charges for the year you form added $300 in Texas and $890 in California, and Nevada and New York add charges at formation that most comparison pages leave out.
- Only BusinessRocket, LegalZoom and Northwest say they'll get the EIN for a founder without a Social Security number.
- Every state lets you file directly for the state fee alone, the IRS issues EINs free, and since FinCEN's August 2026 rule a US-formed LLC files no BOI report.
What do the top LLC formation service providers offer?
Each of the seven LLC services compared here is built around a different business. BusinessRocket, Bizee and ZenBusiness sell formation and compliance filings, Northwest Registered Agent sells registered agent service, LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer sell legal plans and documents, and Tailor Brands sells branding tools. They're listed by five-year cost, with prices as published on October 27, 2026, plus state fees.
1. BusinessRocket, best for the lowest five-year cost
- Top pick by five-year cost
- Year one $147
- Five years $543
- Agent renewal $99/yr
- Filing same business day in most cases
- Trustpilot 4.7 (1,598)
BusinessRocket, our own service, is the top pick here by five-year cost, because a complete LLC costs the least to own with us over five years, $543 before state fees. That covers the Essentials package ($147, including the EIN, an operating agreement and the first registered agent year) and four agent renewals at $99 a year. That's $46 less than Northwest and $222 less than Bizee over the same five years.
We also state the fastest filing turnaround of the seven, the same business day in most cases, and our chat runs 24 hours a day. If you'll get the EIN and operating agreement yourself, the Starter package costs $0 plus the state fee.
What you get
- Packages: Starter $0, Essentials $147, Supreme $249, one-time (Supreme adds annual report filing, then $99 a year)
- Registered agent: optional, first year free, then $99 a year
- EIN and operating agreement: in Essentials and Supreme, not in Starter; owners without an SSN can get the EIN too, which the IRS currently takes 3 to 6 weeks to issue
- Filing: the same business day in most cases, plus the state's own processing time
- Also in every package: a web domain, a business phone line, logo design and a bank account concierge
- Support: chat 24 hours a day, phone Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time at 888-700-8213 (local 310-424-5558)
Where it falls short
- Northwest costs less for the first three years ($89 against our $147 in year one), so it's the cheaper pick for an LLC you'll close quickly.
- Our refunds are narrow. Our terms of service (updated September 2, 2026) refund the service fee only before we start processing, and the registered agent renews automatically each year until you cancel.
Skip it if you expect to close the LLC within three years and want the lowest total for that period. If BusinessRocket fits, you can register a limited liability company (LLC) online.
2. Northwest Registered Agent, best for the lowest first-year cost
- Year one $89
- Five years $589
- Agent renewal $125/yr
- Privacy by Default
- Trustpilot 4.1 (308)
Northwest Registered Agent is the pick for the lowest first-year cost, because $39 covers the filing and the first year of registered agent service, and the EIN adds $50, for $89 before state fees. Northwest also offers a free operating agreement template, to anyone and outside the package. Northwest also lists its own address on public filings wherever a state allows, a policy it calls Privacy by Default, so your home address appears on fewer records.
Its agent renews at $125 a year, so BusinessRocket's $99 renewal overtakes it from year four. Without an SSN or ITIN, Northwest charges $200 for the EIN, which brings the first-year cost to $239.
What you get
- Package: $39, one-time, with the first registered agent year
- Registered agent: $125 a year after year one
- Operating agreement: a free template, not part of the package
- EIN: $50, or $200 without an SSN or ITIN
- Annual report filing: $100 plus the state fee, per report
Where it falls short
- Northwest doesn't publish a processing time, a rush price or support hours.
- Registered agent customers are enrolled in its compliance service automatically, and its terms make purchases final after 90 days.
Skip it if you want a stated turnaround or rush option before you buy.
3. Bizee, best for a $0 package with a registered agent included
- Year one $169
- Five years $765
- Agent renewal $149/yr
- $0 Basic package
- Trustpilot 4.8 (26,274)
Bizee is the pick for a $0 package with a registered agent included, because its Basic package costs $0 plus the state fee and comes with the first year of registered agent service. Add Bizee's EIN filing ($70) and operating agreement ($99) and a complete LLC costs $169 before state fees, the third-lowest of the seven in year one.
The trade-off is time. Bizee quotes 4 to 6 weeks for Basic, about 2 weeks for Standard ($199) and about 4 business days for Premium ($299), so the free tier suits founders with no deadline.
What you get
- Packages: Basic $0, Standard $199, Premium $299, one-time
- Registered agent: first year included, then $149 a year
- EIN and operating agreement: in Standard and Premium, or $70 and $99 on Basic
- Refunds: possible until Bizee pays the state, usually within 24 hours of the order
Where it falls short
- Bizee is testing a version of its site that gives 3 to 12 months of free registered agent service depending on the package, so check the term shown at checkout.
- Support runs Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central, with no weekend hours published.
Skip it if you need the LLC approved within days and don't want to pay for Premium.
4. ZenBusiness, best for a free first year of compliance filing
- Year one $397
- Five years $1,193
- Agent renewal $199/yr
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Trustpilot 4.8 (32,925)
ZenBusiness is the pick for a free first year of compliance filing, because even its $0 Starter package includes a year of Worry-Free Compliance, the service that files your annual report and as many as two amendments a year ($199 a year after that). It also has the clearest refund promise of the seven, a 60-day money-back guarantee on formation plans, and phone support on weekends.
The registered agent is extra on every package ($199 a year), which puts a complete LLC at $397 before state fees on Starter plus add-ons, or $398 on Pro.
What you get
- Packages: Starter $0, Pro $199 a year, Premium $299 a year
- Processing: 7 to 10 business days on Starter ($79 to rush), 1 business day on Pro and Premium
- EIN and operating agreement: in Pro and Premium, or $99 each
- Registered agent: $199 a year (its registered agent page lists $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness)
- New York publication: $200 plus state and newspaper fees
Where it falls short
- Pro and Premium renew every year, and Starter's free compliance year renews at $199 unless you cancel.
- A website-builder trial is preselected at checkout and costs $15 a month after 30 days if you keep it.
Skip it if you want the registered agent included in the package price.
5. LegalZoom, best for attorney help at formation
- Year one $427
- Five years $1,423
- Agent renewal $249/yr
- 30 days of attorney access ($299 tier)
- Trustpilot 4.6 (33,501)
LegalZoom is the pick for attorney help at formation, because its $299 tier includes 30 days of attorney access in both versions of the pricing page it showed visitors on October 14, 2026. Basic costs $0 but files only the Articles of Organization, and the registered agent isn't part of any package, so a complete LLC costs $427 before state fees, made up of Basic, the EIN ($79), an operating agreement ($99) and the agent ($249 a year).
LegalZoom is testing two package lineups at the same address, named either Pro and Premium or Managed Service and Expert Service. Both $249 tiers include the EIN and operating agreement.
What you get
- Packages: Basic $0, then $249 and $299 tiers
- Registered agent: $249 a year, sold separately, renews automatically
- EIN and operating agreement: in the $249 and $299 tiers, or $79 and $99 separately
- Refunds: within 60 days, if the order hasn't been sent to the state
- Support: phone and chat, including weekends
Where it falls short
- The attorney or advisor plan in the paid tiers renews monthly after 30 days ($49 or $99 a month) unless you cancel.
- Its registered agent is the most expensive of the seven.
Skip it if you don't need a lawyer at formation, because the same state filing costs far less elsewhere.
6. Rocket Lawyer, best for legal documents after formation
- Year one $444
- Five years $1,940
- Membership from $149/yr
- Attorney Q&A included
- Trustpilot 4.5 (9,838)
Rocket Lawyer is the pick for legal documents after formation, because its membership ($149 to $349 a year) bundles a legal document library and written answers from attorneys, with live attorney calls on the Plus and Pro plans, and members pay $0 plus state fees for their first LLC filing. The registered agent ($125 a year) and EIN filing ($70) both require Plus or Pro, so a complete LLC on the annual Plus plan costs $444 before state fees.
That makes Rocket Lawyer the most expensive way to form an LLC here, and the best value only if you'll keep using the membership for contracts, notices and legal questions.
What you get
- Membership: Standard $149, Plus $249, Pro $349 a year, or $34.99 to $64.99 a month
- LLC filing: $0 for the first one with a membership, $99 for each one after
- Registered agent: $125 a year, Plus or Pro only
- EIN: $70, Plus or Pro only
- Operating agreement: a template you fill in yourself, included
Where it falls short
- Its terms rule out refunds on incorporation-related payments, including the registered agent.
- There's no published formation price without a membership, and the $149 Standard plan files your first LLC but doesn't include the registered agent or EIN.
Skip it if you only need the LLC formed and don't expect regular legal paperwork.
7. Tailor Brands, best for branding at launch
- Lite $0
- Essential $199/yr
- Agent $199/yr
- EIN $99
- 8 logos and website builder (Elite)
- Trustpilot 4.8 (17,862)
Tailor Brands is the pick for branding at launch, because its Elite plan ($249 a year) bundles more branding tools than any other formation plan here, including a website builder, a one-year domain, eight logos and a social post maker. Its Lite plan costs $0 but takes up to 14 business days, and the Essential plan ($199 a year) adds 1-business-day processing, an operating agreement and annual compliance filing.
Tailor Brands now publishes its registered agent ($199 a year) and EIN filing ($99), so the Lite plan with both costs $298 before state fees. We still don't rank it on cost, because its plans list "Establish operating agreement" without saying whether a written agreement is included.
What you get
- Plans: Lite $0, Essential $199 a year, Elite $249 a year (8 logos and a website builder)
- Processing: within 14 business days on Lite ($99 to rush), 1 business day on Essential and Elite
- Operating agreement and annual compliance: in Essential and Elite
- Registered agent: $199 a year; EIN filing: $99 (both add-ons)
Where it falls short
- Its terms make fees non-refundable, and any refund it does issue carries a $29 charge.
- Essential and Elite renew every year, charged as early as 30 days before the renewal date.
- It doesn't take on New York's newspaper publication requirement.
Skip it if you already have a logo and website and want the lowest complete price.
How do the leading LLC formation services compare side by side?
The seven LLC formation services differ most on whether the registered agent is free in year one (free at BusinessRocket, Bizee and Northwest, charged from the start at LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, Tailor Brands and ZenBusiness), what the agent costs after year one ($99 to $249 a year), and what the cheapest package leaves out (none of the seven includes the EIN, Rocket Lawyer's membership includes an operating agreement template, and Northwest offers a free template to anyone).
| Provider | Lowest package | Registered agent | EIN | Operating agreement | Stated processing | Refunds | Support hours | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BusinessRocket | $0 | Optional; year one free, then $99/yr | In Essentials ($147) | In Essentials | Same business day in most cases | Only before processing starts | Chat 24 hours; phone Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT | 4.7 (1,598) |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 | Year one included, then $125/yr | $50 ($200 without SSN or ITIN) | Free template, not part of the package | Not stated | State fees not refunded; purchases final after 90 days | Not published | 4.1 (308) |
| Bizee | $0 | Year one included, then $149/yr | In Standard ($199) or $70 | In Standard or $99 | Basic 4 to 6 weeks; Premium about 4 business days | Until Bizee pays the state, usually within 24 hours | Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT | 4.8 (26,274) |
| ZenBusiness | $0 | $199/yr, not included | In Pro ($199) or $99 | In Pro or $99 | Starter 7 to 10 business days; Pro 1 business day | 60-day money-back guarantee on formation plans | Mon to Fri 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT; weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT | 4.8 (32,925) |
| LegalZoom | $0 | $249/yr, not included | In $249 tier or $79 | In $249 tier or $99 | Not stated | Within 60 days if not yet sent to the state | Weekdays 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT; weekends 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT | 4.6 (33,501) |
| Rocket Lawyer | Membership from $149/yr | $125/yr, Plus or Pro plan | $70, Plus or Pro plan | Template included | Not stated | Within 30 days, but none on formation or agent fees | Mon to Fri, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT | 4.5 (9,838) |
| Tailor Brands | $0 | Add-on, $199/yr | Add-on, $99 | In Essential ($199/yr) | Lite within 14 business days; Essential 1 business day | Fees non-refundable; $29 charge on any refund | Not published | 4.8 (17,862) |
Published prices, October 27, 2026; terms, support hours and Trustpilot scores as shown October 14, 2026. State fees are extra.
For a first-time founder, the registered agent and refund columns deserve the most attention. They decide what you pay in year two and what happens if you change your mind after ordering.
How did we compare LLC formation services?
We compared seven LLC formation services on ten criteria, using the prices and terms each company published on its own website (terms checked October 14, 2026, every price re-checked October 27, 2026) and state fees from each state's official fee schedule or statute. We order the services by five-year cost, the criterion that decides what an LLC costs to own, which puts BusinessRocket, our own service, first; Northwest costs less in years one to three. The other labels name the need each service fits best, backed by the facts in its profile.
| Criterion | What we checked | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Five-year cost | A complete LLC in year one plus four years of registered agent renewals | Provider pricing pages |
| First-year cost | Cheapest published way to get the filing, a registered agent for year one, an EIN and an operating agreement, then the state's charges in five states | Provider pricing pages, state fee schedules |
| Registered agent | Whether year one is included and the yearly price after | Provider pricing and terms pages |
| What the lowest package includes | EIN, operating agreement, registered agent | Provider package pages |
| Processing time | The time the provider states for its own filing, plus rush prices | Provider package pages |
| Refund terms | The refund window and what it excludes | Provider terms of service |
| Support | Channels and published hours | Provider contact pages |
| Annual report service | Price and what it files | Provider compliance pages |
| Extras with formation | Attorney access, legal document libraries and branding tools included in a package | Provider package pages |
| Customer rating | Trustpilot score and review count, shown for context | Trustpilot profiles |
We capped the list at seven services so each one got the same depth of checking. Other services you'll see in comparisons include Inc Authority, Swyft Filings, MyCompanyWorks and CorpNet.
Sources we checked on October 14, 2026, with every price re-checked on October 27, 2026. Each provider's own pricing, terms and contact pages; each provider's Trustpilot profile; the Secretary of State (or equivalent) fee schedule, forms or statute for all 50 states; FinCEN's beneficial ownership alert (updated August 11, 2026); the IRS pages on getting an EIN (updated August 19, 2026) and on single-member LLCs; and the California Franchise Tax Board's LLC page.
How does BusinessRocket handle its conflict of interest when comparing LLC formation services?
Our conflict of interest
BusinessRocket handles the conflict by showing the math behind its own ranking, taking no commission from the other six providers, and naming where they beat us. Every price in our tables comes from the provider's own website on a stated date. Northwest costs $58 less than BusinessRocket in the first year and stays cheaper until year four. ZenBusiness has a 60-day money-back guarantee we don't match, and LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer include attorney access that isn't part of our packages.
What did this LLC formation service comparison not test?
This comparison didn't test anything that requires placing an order, so a few things stay unmeasured.
- We didn't place test orders with the seven LLC formation services, so checkout prices, discount codes and add-ons shown at checkout can differ from the published prices here.
- We didn't time real state approvals; the processing times are what each provider states.
- We didn't time support responses; the support column lists published channels and hours only.
How much does an LLC formation service cost in total?
An LLC formation service costs its package price plus the state filing fee, plus whatever the provider charges for the registered agent, EIN and operating agreement you'll need. On October 27, 2026, those provider charges came to between $89 and $444 for a complete LLC in year one and between $543 and $1,940 over five years, and state charges for the year you form were $300 in Texas, $425 in Nevada, $510 in Delaware and $890 in California, with New York at $250 plus newspaper costs. State filing fees alone run between $35 (Montana) and $500 (Massachusetts).
Package + state fee + registered agent + EIN + operating agreement = the cost of a complete LLC.
The registered agent renewal and the state's yearly report or tax keep coming back after that.
What does each LLC formation service charge for a complete LLC in the first year?
A complete LLC costs between $389 (Northwest, Texas) and $1,334 (Rocket Lawyer, California) in its first year across the five states we priced, counting the provider's filing service, a registered agent for year one, an EIN, an operating agreement and the state's charges for the year you form. Northwest is the cheapest in every state in year one, BusinessRocket is second and Bizee third.
Here, "complete" means the four things most new LLCs need, at the cheapest published combination from each provider, with no discount codes.
| Provider (sorted by cost) | California | Delaware | Nevada | New York | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State charges for the year you form | $890 | $510 | $425 | $250 + newspapers | $300 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $979 | $599 | $514 | $339 + newspapers | $389 |
| BusinessRocket | $1,037 | $657 | $572 | $397 + newspapers | $447 |
| Bizee | $1,059 | $679 | $594 | $419 + newspapers | $469 |
| ZenBusiness | $1,287 | $907 | $822 | $647 + newspapers | $697 |
| LegalZoom | $1,317 | $937 | $852 | $677 + newspapers | $727 |
| Rocket Lawyer | $1,334 | $954 | $869 | $694 + newspapers | $744 |
| Tailor Brands | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked | Not ranked |
Provider prices published October 27, 2026; state fees from official state sources, October 14, 2026. California: $70 filing, $20 Statement of Information within 90 days and the $800 annual tax due by the 15th day of the 4th month. Delaware: $110 filing plus the $400 annual tax for the year you form, due by June 1 of the next year. Nevada: $75 Articles, $150 initial list and $200 state business license, filed together. New York: $200 filing and the $50 Certificate of Publication, plus two newspaper notices whose cost depends on the county. Texas: $300 filing. Northwest's figures assume an SSN; without one, add $150 for its EIN service. Tailor Brands isn't ranked: its agent ($199) and EIN ($99) on the $0 Lite plan come to $298 before state fees, but its plans don't say whether a written operating agreement is included.
Pick your state to see the first-year cost with each service
| Provider | Provider cost | State charges | First-year total |
|---|
For LegalZoom and ZenBusiness, most of the gap comes from one line, the registered agent, which costs $249 and $199 in year one while Northwest, BusinessRocket and Bizee include the first year. Rocket Lawyer's gap is the membership.
Are $0 LLC formation services free?
No, $0 LLC formation services aren't free, because every state charges its own filing fee (between $35 in Montana and $500 in Massachusetts) and the $0 packages leave out at least one thing most LLCs need. BusinessRocket, Bizee, LegalZoom, Tailor Brands and ZenBusiness each sell a $0 package.
- BusinessRocket's $0 Starter package files the LLC but leaves out the EIN and operating agreement, which you get yourself.
- Bizee's $0 package includes the first registered agent year but not the EIN or an operating agreement ($70 and $99), and quotes 4 to 6 weeks.
- LegalZoom's $0 package files only the Articles of Organization; the EIN, operating agreement and registered agent cost $427 more.
- Tailor Brands' $0 package takes as long as 14 business days and leaves out the registered agent, EIN and operating agreement.
- ZenBusiness's $0 package leaves out the registered agent, EIN and operating agreement ($397 together) and takes 7 to 10 business days.
A $0 package makes sense if you'll act as your own registered agent and apply for the EIN yourself, which the IRS doesn't charge for.
How much does each state charge on top of LLC formation services?
On top of LLC formation services, states charge between $35 (Montana) and $500 (Massachusetts) to file an LLC, and eight of them (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and West Virginia) add a paid step at or soon after formation. California's $800 annual tax and Massachusetts' $500 annual report are the largest flat yearly state charges.
| State | Filing fee | Required at or after formation | Recurring report | Annual state tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 ($208 online) | Name reservation before filing, $25 | None with the Secretary of State | Business privilege tax return only if the tax exceeds $100 |
| Alaska | $250 | Business license, $50 a year; free initial report within 6 months | Biennial report, $100 | None found |
| Arizona | $50 ($85 online with same-day review) | Newspaper notice within 60 days, except in Maricopa and Pima counties | None | None found |
| Arkansas | $45 online | None | Franchise tax report, due May 1 | $150 franchise tax |
| California | $70 | Statement of Information, $20, within 90 days | Statement of Information, $20, every 2 years | $800, first payment by the 15th day of the 4th month |
| Colorado | $50 | None | Periodic report, $25 | None found |
| Connecticut | $120 | None | Annual report, $80 | None found |
| Delaware | $110 | None | None | $400, due June 1, including for the year you form |
| Florida | $125 | None | Annual report, $138.75 | None found |
| Georgia | $110 | None | Annual registration, $60 | None found |
| Hawaii | $50 | None | Annual report, $15 | None found |
| Idaho | $100 online | None | Annual report, $0 | None found |
| Illinois | $150 | None | Annual report, $75 | None found |
| Indiana | $100 by mail (online fee not confirmed) | None | Business entity report, $31 online, every 2 years | None found |
| Iowa | $50 | None | Biennial report, $30 online | None found |
| Kansas | $85 online | None | Information report, $90 online, every 2 years | None found |
| Kentucky | $40 | None | Annual report, $15 | $175 minimum limited liability entity tax |
| Louisiana | $125, including the required initial report | Initial report, filed with the articles | Annual report, $35 | None found |
| Maine | $175 | None | Annual report, $85 | None found |
| Maryland | $100 | None | Annual report, $300 | None beyond the report fee |
| Massachusetts | $500 | None | Annual report, $500 | None found |
| Michigan | $50 | None | Annual statement, $25 | None found |
| Minnesota | $155 online | None | Annual renewal, $0 | Minimum fee only for larger multi-member LLCs |
| Mississippi | $50 | None | Annual report, $0 | None found |
| Missouri | $50 online | None | None | None found |
| Montana | $35 | None | Annual report, $20 (waived in 2026 if filed by April 15) | None found |
| Nebraska | $100 online | Newspaper notice for 3 weeks, then $25 proof of publication | Biennial report, $25 online | None found |
| Nevada | $75 | Initial list, $150, and state business license, $200, filed with the articles | Annual list and business license, $350 | None found |
| New Hampshire | $100 | None | Annual report, $100 | None found |
| New Jersey | $100 | None | Annual report, $75 | $150 per owner for partnership-taxed LLCs with 3 or more owners |
| New Mexico | $50 | None | None | None found |
| New York | $200 | Notice in 2 newspapers for 6 weeks within 120 days, then a $50 Certificate of Publication | Biennial statement, $9 | $25 minimum filing fee if the LLC has New York income |
| North Carolina | $125 | None | Annual report, $200 | None found |
| North Dakota | $135 | None | Annual report, $50 | None found |
| Ohio | $99 | None | None | None for most LLCs |
| Oklahoma | $100 | None | Annual certificate, $25 | None found |
| Oregon | $100 | None | Annual report, $100 | None found |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | None | Annual report, $7 | None found |
| Rhode Island | $150 | None | Annual report, $50 | $400 minimum, including for the year you form |
| South Carolina | $110 | None | None | None for LLCs not taxed as corporations |
| South Dakota | $150 online | None | Annual report, $55 online | None found |
| Tennessee | $50 per member, $300 minimum | None | Annual report, $300 minimum | Franchise tax, $100 minimum |
| Texas | $300 | None | Franchise tax report and Public Information Report; no tax below $2.65 million in revenue | None below the threshold |
| Utah | $59 | None | Annual renewal, $18 | None found |
| Vermont | $155 | None | Annual report, $45 | $250 for LLCs taxed as partnerships |
| Virginia | $100 | None | Annual registration fee, $50 | None found |
| Washington | $200 online | Initial report, free when filed with formation | Annual report, $70 | None found |
| West Virginia | $100 | Business registration certificate, $30 | Annual report, $25 | None found |
| Wisconsin | $130 online | None | Annual report, $25 online | None found |
| Wyoming | $100 | None | Annual report with a $60 minimum license tax | $60 minimum, paid with the report |
Each state's Secretary of State (or equivalent) fee schedule, forms or statute, checked October 14, 2026. Where a state site blocked automated access, we used its official pages as archived between April and October 2026. "None found" means the official sources we checked list no such charge. Card or portal fees aren't included. Confirm the current fee with your state before filing.
The cheapest state to file in isn't the cheapest state to keep an LLC. States such as Missouri, New Mexico and Ohio charge no recurring report fee, while Massachusetts charges $500 every year after a $500 filing.
What do LLC formation services cost after the first year?
After the first year, an LLC formed through a service keeps paying the registered agent renewal ($99 to $249 a year across the seven), the state's annual or biennial report fee and any annual state tax, such as California's $800. Over five years, a complete LLC costs the least with BusinessRocket ($543 before state fees), followed by Northwest ($589) and Bizee ($765).
| Provider | Registered agent after year one | Complete LLC over five years | Annual report filing service |
|---|---|---|---|
| BusinessRocket | $99/yr | $543 Lowest | $99/yr (Rocket Compliance) |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/yr | $589 | $100 per report |
| Bizee | $149/yr | $765 | Flat fee, price shown only in the order flow |
| ZenBusiness | $199/yr | $1,193 | $199/yr Worry-Free Compliance, or $100 per report |
| LegalZoom | $249/yr | $1,423 | $99 per report, or $199/yr Compliance Filings |
| Rocket Lawyer | $125/yr, plus membership | $1,940 | $100 per report on Pro |
| Tailor Brands | $199/yr | Not ranked | Included in Essential and Elite |
Provider prices published October 27, 2026, before state fees. Five-year cost is the complete LLC in year one plus four registered agent renewals; Rocket Lawyer adds the Plus membership its agent requires. Optional annual report services aren't included.
In Florida, for example, keeping BusinessRocket as your registered agent and filing the state's $138.75 annual report comes to $237.75 a year from year two, against $387.75 with LegalZoom's agent.
California owners pay the $800 tax every year the LLC stays active, and our answer on whether you need to pay the $800 California FTB fee covers the penalties for paying late.
What types of LLC formation services are there?
The types of LLC formation services are formation services, a registered agent company, legal-document platforms and a branding platform, with an attorney as the alternative to all four. The type tells you what the company will try to sell you after the filing.
| Type | What the company mainly sells | Providers in this comparison | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation service | Filing packages and compliance subscriptions | BusinessRocket, Bizee, ZenBusiness | Founders who want the filing and yearly reports done for them |
| Registered agent company | Registered agent service | Northwest Registered Agent | Founders who care most about privacy and a low first-year total |
| Legal-document platform | Legal plans, documents and attorney access | LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer | Owners who expect contracts and legal questions |
| Branding platform | Logos, websites and marketing tools | Tailor Brands | New brands that need an identity on day one |
| Attorney | Custom documents and legal advice | Not compared | Multi-owner LLCs and regulated businesses |
Is attorney-led LLC formation worth more than an LLC formation service?
Yes, attorney-led LLC formation is worth more than an LLC formation service when the LLC has several owners with unequal stakes, needs a custom buy-sell or voting agreement, or operates in a licensed field such as healthcare or finance. No, for a standard single-owner LLC, because the state receives the same Articles of Organization either way.
LegalZoom's $299 tier and Rocket Lawyer's Plus and Pro plans are a middle path, putting an attorney within reach for questions without hiring one for the whole filing.
How do you choose the right LLC formation service?
To choose an LLC formation service, start with the complete cost for your state over the years you expect to keep the LLC, then check what the cheapest package leaves out, the stated processing time and the refund terms.
- Add up the all-in first-year total for your state, counting the package, registered agent, EIN, operating agreement and the state's own charges.
- Compare registered agent renewals, because that's the LLC formation service fee you'll pay every year after the first.
- Check what the cheapest package leaves out, then price the add-ons you'd need.
- Match the stated processing time to your deadline, and price the rush option if you have one.
- Read the refund terms before paying, above all what happens once the filing reaches the state.
| If you need | Look at |
|---|---|
| The lowest cost to own an LLC for four years or more | BusinessRocket |
| The fastest stated filing and 24-hour chat | BusinessRocket |
| The lowest first-year cost | Northwest Registered Agent |
| A $0 start with a registered agent included | Bizee |
| A lawyer's input at formation | LegalZoom |
| Contracts and legal questions after formation | Rocket Lawyer |
| A logo and website on day one | Tailor Brands |
| Annual reports filed in year one and a long refund window | ZenBusiness |
Which LLC formation services work for non-US residents?
The LLC formation services that state they serve non-US founders are BusinessRocket, LegalZoom, Northwest Registered Agent, Tailor Brands (in some states only) and ZenBusiness, and only BusinessRocket, LegalZoom and Northwest say they'll get the EIN without a Social Security number. A non-US founder needs a US registered agent address and an EIN route that doesn't depend on an SSN, because the IRS online application requires the responsible party's SSN or ITIN.
| Provider | Serves non-US owners | Gets the EIN without an SSN |
|---|---|---|
| BusinessRocket | Yes ("international clients"), US address from $9.99/mo through iPostal1 | Yes; the IRS currently takes 3 to 6 weeks after formation |
| Bizee | Says the LLC can be formed from abroad | No, sends founders to the IRS by mail or fax |
| LegalZoom | Yes, on its country pages | Yes, files Form SS-4 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Yes | Yes, $200 |
| Rocket Lawyer | Not stated | Not stated |
| Tailor Brands | Only in some states, such as Wyoming and Delaware | No, needs an ITIN or existing EIN |
| ZenBusiness | Yes | Sells the service; the IRS decides |
Each provider's own pages, October 14, 2026.
The IRS lets international applicants get an EIN by phone at 267-941-1099, or by faxing Form SS-4 (about 4 business days). The EIN and bank account steps are covered in our guide to forming an LLC for non-US residents.
Does your state change which LLC formation service is best?
Yes, your state changes which LLC formation service is best, because state-mandated extras such as Nevada's initial list and business license or New York's newspaper publication raise the complete total, and not every service files them. ZenBusiness sells New York publication for $200 plus fees, Northwest sells it as an add-on, and Tailor Brands doesn't offer it at all. Arizona and Nebraska also require a newspaper notice after formation.
Most owners should form in the state where they do business. Forming in Delaware or Wyoming while operating in another state usually means registering there too as a foreign LLC, which adds a second set of fees. A Texas LLC, for example, costs $300 to file with no annual tax for most owners, while Delaware charges $110 plus a $400 annual tax, as our comparison of a Texas vs Delaware LLC lays out. You'll find state-by-state comparisons in our state guides.
Is an LLC formation service worth it?
Yes, an LLC formation service is worth it if you want a registered agent, a second check on your filing and reminders for annual reports in one place, and the complete cost ($89 to $444 before state fees in year one here) is small next to your time. No, if you've formed an LLC before, have one owner and can serve as your own registered agent, because the state fee is the only required cost.
Worth it if
You want the registered agent, filing review and annual report reminders handled in one place.
File it yourself if
You've formed an LLC before, have one owner and can be your own registered agent.
Can you form an LLC yourself without an LLC formation service?
Yes, you can form an LLC yourself by checking that the name is available, filing Articles of Organization with your state's business filing office, paying the state fee and naming a registered agent, who can be you if you live in the state and have a street address there. California, for example, accepts any individual resident with a physical California street address as the agent, and our guide on how to start an LLC in California walks through each filing for that state. Filing yourself skips the service fee but puts the paperwork, deadlines and your home address on you.
Is an EIN included with LLC formation services?
No, an EIN isn't part of the state filing. It's a separate IRS registration that the IRS issues free, and most LLC formation services include it only in mid-tier packages or sell it as an add-on (between $50 and $99 here, and $200 at Northwest without an SSN). The IRS says a single-member LLC with no employees and no excise tax liability doesn't need an EIN for federal tax, although the same IRS page notes that most new single-member LLCs end up needing one, and a US single-member LLC owned by a foreign person needs one to file Form 5472. If you need to find an existing number, our guide to EIN lookup for LLCs covers the IRS recovery options.
Does an operating agreement come with LLC formation services?
Yes, most LLC formation services include an operating agreement in mid-tier packages, and Northwest offers a free template to anyone, but the $0 packages leave it out. New York's LLC law requires a written operating agreement within 90 days after filing, Missouri's requires members to adopt one, and Delaware requires one to exist in some form, written, oral or implied. California's rules are covered in our guide to LLC operating agreements in California.
Do LLC formation services file annual reports for you?
Yes, many LLC formation services file annual reports for a fee, between $99 and $199 a year here, but the state's report fee is charged on top and the due date depends on the state. California, for example, wants a $20 Statement of Information within 90 days of forming and every two years after, and charges a $250 penalty if it's late. The filing steps are in our California annual report guide.
Do LLC formation services still file BOI reports?
No, LLC formation services no longer need to file BOI reports for LLCs created in the United States, because FinCEN's final rule (effective August 14, 2026) exempts US companies from beneficial ownership reporting. Only certain foreign companies registered to do business in a US state report, and only for foreign owners, within 30 days of registration. If a service tries to sell you a BOI filing for a US-formed LLC, you don't need it.
Where can you compare LLC formation services for your state?
You can compare LLC formation services for your state in our 19 state guides, each with that state's filing fee, required extras and the services that file there.
- Arizona LLC formation services
- California LLC formation services
- Delaware LLC formation services
- Florida LLC formation services
- Kentucky LLC formation services
- Maine LLC formation services
- Maryland LLC formation services
- Massachusetts LLC formation services
- Michigan LLC formation services
- Mississippi LLC formation services
- Nebraska LLC formation services
- Nevada LLC formation services
- New York LLC formation services
- North Carolina LLC formation services
- Ohio LLC formation services
- Pennsylvania LLC formation services
- Tennessee LLC formation services
- Texas LLC formation services
- Wyoming LLC formation services
Frequently asked questions about LLC formation services
How long does an LLC formation service take to form an LLC?
An LLC formation service takes its own filing time, anywhere between the same business day and several weeks depending on the provider and package, plus the state's processing time. BusinessRocket says it files the same business day in most cases, ZenBusiness and Tailor Brands quote 1 business day on their paid plans, and Bizee's $0 Basic package quotes 4 to 6 weeks in total. California says online filings take 5 days or less, Pennsylvania reports an average of one business day, and Maryland quotes 6 to 8 weeks for a standard filing, so the state's share varies widely. Each state's figure is in our list of LLC processing times for all 50 states.
Can an LLC formation service be your registered agent?
Yes, an LLC formation service can be your registered agent, as long as it keeps a physical street address in your state, since states such as Washington and Texas don't accept a P.O. box. BusinessRocket, Bizee and Northwest include the first year; the others charge from the start. See what a registered agent fee for an LLC usually covers.
Does an LLC formation service keep your home address off public records?
Yes, partly, because the service's address replaces yours in the registered agent field, although the principal office or a manager's address can show yours in some states. Northwest goes furthest by listing its own address wherever a state allows. The options are compared in our guide to home address for business privacy risks and alternatives.
Do LLC formation services offer refunds?
Yes, most LLC formation services refund their own fee in some cases, but none refunds the state fee once the filing reaches the state. ZenBusiness has a 60-day money-back guarantee on formation plans, LegalZoom refunds within 60 days if the order hasn't been sent, and BusinessRocket and Bizee refund only before the filing starts. Tailor Brands' terms make fees non-refundable, and Rocket Lawyer's exclude formation and registered agent payments.
Can you switch LLC formation services after your LLC is formed?
Yes, you can switch by filing your state's change of registered agent form and moving any compliance subscription, and the LLC itself stays the same. Texas charges $15 for its Form 401 change; Oregon and California charge nothing to update the agent. Cancel the old provider's renewal so you aren't billed twice.
What mistakes do founders make when choosing an LLC formation service?
The mistakes founders make when choosing an LLC formation service are comparing package prices instead of the cost over the years they'll keep the LLC, missing the registered agent renewal, keeping preselected trials, and forming in a state where they don't operate. A $0 package can become a $397 bill once the agent, EIN and operating agreement are added. Check every box at checkout before you pay.
