Best LLC Formation Services (2026)

We’ve tested and reviewed the top LLC formation services to help you find the best option for starting your business. Our top pick is Northwest Registered Agent — $39 + state fee with free registered agent service for year 1, making it the best overall value when you factor in total first-year costs. If you would rather have the whole thing handled at a price that never moves, Mainstay Filing bundles formation, registered agent, and annual report filing into one flat $199/year — and it is our recommended pick in every state.

While several services now advertise “$0 formation,” they typically charge $149–$299/year for registered agent service (which every LLC needs). Northwest’s $39 formation fee includes a year of registered agent service for free — so its total first-year cost is actually lower than most “free” competitors.

The right answer also depends on where you file. A missed annual report costs $25 in Colorado and $500 in Massachusetts, and five states don’t require one at all. Jump to the state-by-state table for filing fees, ongoing obligations, and our pick for each of the 50 states and D.C.

Best LLC Formation Services Compared (2026)

Prices verified February 2026. State filing fees vary by state and are paid in addition to the service fees listed above. See our individual reviews for the most up-to-date pricing.

How to Choose and File in 6 Steps

1. Confirm which state you’re filing in. In almost every case this is the state where you live and actually do business. Filing in Delaware or Wyoming from another state usually means registering as a foreign LLC at home too — two sets of fees, two annual obligations.
2. Look up your state’s real numbers. Pull your formation fee and your ongoing report obligation from the state table below. These two figures drive the total cost far more than the service you pick.
3. Add up year one, then year three. Formation fee + registered agent + any compliance subscription. A $0 formation that renews at $199/year costs more over three years than a $39 formation with $125/year registered agent.
4. Decide who files your annual report. You can file it yourself in every state. If you’d rather not track the deadline, price the service in — most providers charge $99–$199/year on top of registered agent, which is what makes a bundled flat rate worth comparing.
5. Check your name and file the articles. Run a name availability search with your state, then submit articles of organization (or certificate of formation / organization, depending on the state) with your registered agent designated.
6. Finish the post-filing items. Get your EIN from the IRS (free), write an operating agreement, open a business bank account, and calendar your first report deadline the day your LLC is approved.

1. Northwest Registered Agent — Best Overall

Northwest Registered Agent is our top-rated LLC formation service for 2026. Their $39 + state fee package includes preparation and filing of your articles of organization, a free year of registered agent service (a $125 value), digital document storage, mail forwarding, and a privacy guarantee that they will never sell your data to third parties. No other LLC service matches this combination of transparent pricing, strong privacy protections, and attentive customer support.

Where Northwest really stands out is customer service. They employ a team of Corporate Guides — real people (not chatbots) who are available by phone, email, and live chat to walk you through the formation process and answer questions about your LLC. Every customer gets a dedicated account representative who knows their file. This level of personalized attention is rare in an industry full of upsell-driven call centers.

The tradeoff is that Northwest’s $39 formation fee is not $0. But when you compare total first-year costs — formation plus registered agent — Northwest at $39 is significantly cheaper than ZenBusiness at $199, LegalZoom at $249, or Swyft Filings at $198. Even against Bizee’s $0 total, Northwest’s superior support and privacy practices justify the extra $39. After year one, the registered agent service renews at $125/year, which is competitive with industry standards. Note that Northwest does not file your annual report for you at that price — it sends reminders, and you file it yourself.

2. Mainstay Filing — Best for Total Cost Certainty

Mainstay Filing does something no other service on this list does: it tells you the whole price up front and then never changes it. One number, $199 a year, covering your formation filing, a full year of registered agent service, and preparation and filing of your annual report. No tiers, no packages, no add-on menu, no upsell path at checkout. The same $199 covers an LLC, corporation, LP, LLP, or nonprofit, in all 50 states, and state fees are passed through at cost and shown to you before you pay rather than marked up quietly.

The value shows up in year two, which is where this industry actually makes its money. Assemble the same coverage anywhere else and you are buying two products: registered agent at $119–$249/year plus annual report filing at $99–$199/year. That is $218–$448 every year, and the renewal invoice is usually higher than the teaser price that brought you in. Mainstay renews at $199, price-locked, with the annual report included rather than sold back to you. Over three years the gap between “flat $199” and a stack of separately-priced renewals is the difference between knowing your compliance cost and finding out.

It also removes the failure mode that actually hurts small businesses. Annual reports are easy to forget and expensive to miss — Massachusetts and Tennessee charge $300–$500 a year, Nevada wants an annual list plus a business license renewal, and late filings bring penalties and, eventually, loss of good standing. Most services will send you a reminder email and leave the filing to you. Mainstay prepares and files it. That is a genuinely different product, and it is backed by an error-free filing guarantee: if they make a mistake on your paperwork, they fix it free.

Who should look elsewhere: if you only want the cheapest possible way to get an LLC on the books and you are confident you will handle your own annual report every year, Northwest at $39 or Bizee at $0 will cost you less in year one. Mainstay’s single-tier model is deliberate — there is no stripped-down $0 option to buy — so it suits owners who want the compliance handled rather than owners optimizing purely for the lowest sticker price.

3. ZenBusiness — Best Free Formation

ZenBusiness offers a genuinely free LLC formation option with its Starter plan at $0 + state fee. This plan includes name availability search, preparation and filing of articles of organization, and access to their online dashboard with unlimited document storage. ZenBusiness also provides a Worry-Free Compliance subscription free for the first year (renews at $199/year), which covers registered agent service, annual report reminders, and compliance alerts.

ZenBusiness has built an impressive technology platform. Their dashboard is clean and intuitive, the filing process can be completed in under 15 minutes, and their AI-powered Velo assistant can answer basic formation questions. They also offer Pro ($199/year) and Premium ($349/year) plans that add rush processing, operating agreement templates, and website tools. For entrepreneurs who want a polished digital experience and don’t mind managing renewal costs, ZenBusiness is an excellent choice.

The main drawback is the renewal pricing. After year one, the Worry-Free Compliance plan (which includes registered agent service) auto-renews at $199/year. That makes ZenBusiness more expensive long-term than Northwest ($125/year for RA only) or Bizee ($119/year), and it matches Mainstay’s $199 without including the annual report filing itself. You can cancel the Worry-Free Compliance subscription, but then you’ll need to find a separate registered agent — which somewhat defeats the convenience factor.

4. Bizee — Best Budget Option

Bizee (formerly Incfile) offers the lowest total first-year cost of any service on this list: $0 + state fee. Their free Basic plan includes LLC formation, a year of registered agent service, and basic compliance tools — all at no cost beyond your state filing fee. This makes Bizee the clear winner for business owners focused purely on minimizing startup costs.

Bizee’s platform is straightforward and functional. The filing process walks you through each step, and their dashboard provides access to your formation documents, compliance calendar, and registered agent notifications. They also offer paid Standard ($199) and Premium ($299) packages that add faster processing, operating agreement templates, EIN filing, and business document templates. Expedited filing is available for an additional $170 on the Basic and Standard plans.

The reason Bizee ranks fourth despite having the lowest price is the overall experience. Customer support is more limited than Northwest’s — you’ll mostly interact through email and chat rather than a dedicated representative. Some users report aggressive upselling during the checkout process, and the free plan’s processing speed is slower than paid options. After year one, registered agent service renews at $119/year, which is among the lowest renewal rates in the industry.

5. LegalZoom — Most Recognized Brand

LegalZoom is the most well-known name in online legal services, and they now offer a $0 + state fee Basic formation plan. This makes their entry-level offering competitive on price, though the total cost picture is more nuanced. LegalZoom’s registered agent service is a separate $249/year subscription — the most expensive on this list — which pushes total first-year costs to $249 + state fee.

LegalZoom’s main advantage is its breadth of legal services. Beyond LLC formation, they offer trademark registration, contract drafting, business license research, tax advisory, and access to an attorney network. If you anticipate needing ongoing legal support as your business grows, LegalZoom’s ecosystem can be convenient. Their Pro plan ($249 + state fee) adds a 90-day QuickBooks bookkeeping trial, and the Premium plan ($299 + state fee) includes attorney consultations.

The downsides are cost and complexity. LegalZoom is consistently the most expensive option for basic LLC formation when you factor in registered agent service. The checkout process includes numerous add-on offers, and some customers find the pricing structure confusing. Processing times are also slower than competitors — standard filing can take 20–30 business days without paying for expedited processing. For straightforward LLC formation, there are better values available.

6. Swyft Filings — Best for Speed

Swyft Filings is a solid mid-range option that emphasizes fast processing. Their Basic plan starts at $49 + state fee, with Standard ($149) and Premium ($299) tiers available. What sets Swyft apart is processing speed: the Premium plan promises one-business-day processing, and even the Standard plan offers three-business-day turnaround. They also offer a unique installment payment option, letting you split your costs into two payments.

Swyft’s main limitation is that registered agent service is not included in any formation package. It costs $149/year as a separate add-on, bringing the total first-year cost to $198 + state fee for their Basic plan. While the platform is user-friendly and the processing is genuinely fast, the overall value doesn’t quite match Northwest (lower total cost) or Bizee (free formation with RA included). Swyft Filings is best suited for entrepreneurs who need their LLC filed quickly and are willing to pay a premium for speed.

7. Harvard Business Services — Best for Delaware

Harvard Business Services is a Delaware-only specialist that has been forming businesses in the state since 1981. Their Green Package starts at $179, which includes the $110 Delaware state filing fee, same-day processing, and one free year of registered agent service. If you’re forming a Delaware LLC — whether for privacy benefits, favorable business laws, or holding company purposes — Harvard Business Services is the most experienced and cost-effective choice.

What makes Harvard particularly appealing for Delaware filings is their deep expertise with the Delaware Division of Corporations. They offer same-day filing as standard (not an upcharge), and their registered agent renewal rate of just $50/year is the lowest on this list — which matters in a state with a $300 annual franchise tax. Their Basic ($229) and Standard ($329) packages add physical document delivery, legal templates, and member certificates. The limitation is obvious: if you’re forming an LLC in any state other than Delaware, Harvard Business Services cannot help you.

8. MyCorporation — Most Established Platform

MyCorporation has been in the business formation space since 1998. Their Basic plan starts at $99 + state fee and includes articles of organization and a name availability search. Higher-tier plans add annual report service (Standard, $124), registered agent service (Deluxe, $224), and full compliance management (Premium, $324). MyCorporation is a reliable option backed by a long track record, but the pricing is not competitive with newer services that offer more for less.

MyCorporation’s main drawbacks are its pricing and an unavoidable $34 shipping surcharge on all orders (plus $50 for international customers). With competitors offering free formation and included registered agent service, MyCorporation’s $99 base price and separate add-on costs make it a harder sell in 2026. It may appeal to business owners who value the company’s longevity and prefer working with an established brand, but most entrepreneurs will find better value elsewhere on this list.

Best LLC Formation Service by State

Your formation fee and your ongoing report obligation are set by your state, not by the service you hire — and they vary enormously. Montana charges $35 to form an LLC; Massachusetts charges $500. Five states (Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, and South Carolina) require no annual report at all, while Massachusetts and Tennessee charge $300–$500 every year.

Why the same pick in every state: the column below isn’t a different winner in each row, and it shouldn’t be. Mainstay Filing is our recommendation nationwide for one reason — it is the only service here that includes annual report preparation and filing at a single flat rate that doesn’t change from state to state. Every other provider on this page sells registered agent and annual report filing as separate, separately-priced products, so what you pay to stay compliant swings with your state. Two honest caveats: if you plan to file your own annual report and want the lowest year-one cost, Northwest Registered Agent at $39 beats it everywhere; and in Delaware, Harvard Business Services remains the specialist, with the lowest registered agent renewal of anyone at $50/year.

Formation and report figures above are the same ones published on our individual state guides — follow the guide link for filing steps, deadlines, and processing times for that state. State fees change; confirm the current amount with your Secretary of State before you file.

Costs at a Glance: Formation vs. Renewal vs. Registered Agent

The advertised formation price is the smallest part of what an LLC actually costs. This table separates the three charges people most often confuse, using the service fee only — your state filing fee is on top of every figure here.

3-year service cost = formation fee plus two renewal years of registered agent, at list price, excluding state fees and optional add-ons. Harvard is Delaware-only. Add roughly $99–$199/year to Northwest, Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, or Swyft if you want your annual report filed for you rather than filing it yourself.

How We Evaluated These Services

We tested each LLC formation service by going through their actual filing process, evaluating customer support responsiveness, and analyzing total costs across multiple scenarios. Our evaluation criteria include:

• Total first-year cost: We look beyond the advertised formation fee to calculate the real total cost, including registered agent service, compliance tools, and any required add-ons. A “$0 formation” that requires a $249 registered agent subscription is not cheaper than a $39 service that includes RA for free.
• Ongoing costs: Year-2+ pricing matters. We evaluate registered agent renewal rates, auto-renewal terms, and how easy it is to cancel or switch services.
• Features included: What do you actually get at each price tier? We compare included features like operating agreements, EIN filing, compliance alerts, and document storage.
• Customer support quality: We contact each service’s support team via phone, email, and chat to evaluate response times, helpfulness, and whether they push unnecessary upsells.
• Filing speed: How quickly does each service process and submit your formation documents to the state?
• User experience: Is the website easy to navigate? Is the checkout process transparent, or does it rely on confusing upsell flows?
• Privacy practices: Does the service sell your data to third-party marketers after you file?

What to Look For in an LLC Service

Choosing an LLC formation service comes down to a few key factors. Here’s what to prioritize:

Calculate total cost, not just formation price

The advertised formation price is only part of the equation. Every LLC needs a registered agent, and many services charge $100–$250/year for this separately. Always add up the formation fee plus registered agent cost to get the true first-year price. Also check what the registered agent renewal costs in year two and beyond.

Check what’s included vs. what costs extra

Some services include an operating agreement template, EIN filing, and compliance reminders in their base package. Others charge $50–$150 for each of these as add-ons. Make a list of what you need and compare the total cost across services rather than just comparing base prices.

Separate “reminders” from “filing”

Nearly every service advertises compliance alerts. Far fewer actually prepare and submit your annual report. A reminder email is not the same product as a filed report, and the gap between them is usually $99–$199/year. Check which one you’re buying before you assume you’re covered.

Consider long-term costs

Many LLC services offer attractive introductory pricing that increases significantly at renewal. A “$0 first year” plan that renews at $199/year costs more over 3 years ($398) than a $39 formation with a $125/year registered agent ($289 over 3 years). Think about what you’ll pay over the life of your LLC, not just at signup.

Evaluate customer support before you need it

Call or chat with the service’s support team before making a decision. Are they knowledgeable? Do they answer your questions, or do they try to sell you add-ons? When issues arise with your filing — and they sometimes do — responsive, helpful support can save you significant time and stress.

Read the fine print on auto-renewals

Most LLC services auto-enroll you in annual subscription renewals. Understand what will auto-renew, how much it will cost, and how to cancel if needed. Some services make cancellation straightforward; others require phone calls or multi-step processes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to form an LLC?

The cost to form an LLC includes two components: the state filing fee and the service fee charged by your formation provider. State filing fees range from $35 (Montana) to $500 (Massachusetts), with most states falling between $50 and $200. Service fees range from $0 to $199 depending on the provider. Our top pick, Northwest Registered Agent, charges $39 + state fee and includes a free year of registered agent service.

What is the cheapest state to form an LLC in?

Montana has the lowest formation filing fee at $35, followed by Kentucky at $40, Arkansas at $45–$50, and Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, and New Mexico at $50. But the cheapest state to form in is not always the cheapest to maintain: Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, and South Carolina require no annual report at all, while California charges an $800 annual franchise tax on top of a $70 formation fee. In nearly all cases you should form in the state where you actually do business, because filing elsewhere means registering as a foreign LLC at home and paying both.

Do I need a registered agent for my LLC?

Yes. Every state requires LLCs to have a registered agent — a person or company designated to receive legal documents and official correspondence on behalf of your business. You can serve as your own registered agent in most states, but using a professional service provides privacy (your home address stays off public records), reliability (someone is always available during business hours), and convenience (they handle and forward all legal mail).

Can I form an LLC myself without a service?

Yes, you can file your articles of organization directly with your state’s Secretary of State office. This saves you the service fee but requires you to prepare the documents yourself, navigate the state’s filing system, and handle your own registered agent designation. For most people, the $0–$39 cost of a formation service is worth the time savings and reduced risk of filing errors.

What’s the difference between $0 formation and paid formation?

Services that advertise “$0 formation” make their money through registered agent fees, compliance subscriptions, and add-on services. A service like Northwest that charges $39 upfront includes registered agent service for free. When you compare total first-year costs (formation + registered agent), $0 formation services often cost $149–$249 while Northwest costs just $39. The “free” formation is not always the cheapest option overall.

Which LLC service files my annual report for me?

Most services send reminders but do not file the report. Mainstay Filing includes preparation and filing of the annual report in its flat $199/year. Harvard Business Services files the Delaware franchise tax report for its Delaware clients. Northwest, Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, and Swyft Filings all treat annual report filing as a separate paid service, typically $99–$199 per year on top of registered agent. MyCorporation includes it from its Standard plan ($124) up.

How long does it take to form an LLC?

Processing time depends on both the formation service and the state. Most services submit your documents to the state within 1–7 business days of your order. State processing then takes anywhere from 1 day (some states offer same-day online filing) to 4–6 weeks (New York, for example). Expedited state processing is available in most states for an additional fee, typically $50–$200.

Which state should I form my LLC in?

In most cases, you should form your LLC in the state where you live and conduct business. Forming in a different state (like Delaware or Wyoming) sounds appealing but typically requires you to also register as a foreign LLC in your home state — meaning you pay fees in two states instead of one. Delaware and Wyoming LLCs make sense mainly for holding companies, multi-state businesses, or specific privacy and legal structure needs.

Can I switch LLC formation services after filing?

Yes. Your LLC formation service files the initial paperwork, but your LLC is registered with the state — not with the service. You can switch registered agents at any time by filing a simple change-of-agent form with your state (usually $0–$25). You are not locked into any formation service, and you don’t need to use the same company for formation and registered agent service going forward.