Best LLC Formation Services for 2026, Ranked
Northwest is the pick if privacy matters. It uses its own address on public filings and includes registered agent service. Bizee is cheapest to start. Nobody needs LegalZoom unless they want attorney
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Ruth Ballinger Editor, small business and lendingRuth covers business formation and borrowing, from LLC filing fees to mortgages, auto loans and student debt.
You can form an LLC yourself by filing directly with your Secretary of State and paying only the state fee. A formation service is worth paying for mainly to get a registered agent and compliance reminders. Northwest and Bizee are the two clearest options.
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The short version
- A formation service files paperwork you are legally allowed to file yourself, so the question is whether the time saved is worth the fee.
- The state filing fee is set by your Secretary of State and is charged whichever route you take; check the current amount with your state, because it changes and we do not publish it.
- The first-year price is the wrong comparison: registered agent renewal and annual report costs repeat every year for as long as the company exists.
- Forming a single-member LLC does not by itself change your federal income tax, because the profit still flows onto your personal return and self-employment tax still applies at 15.3% of net earnings.
- A free formation package means the service fee is waived, not that the state fee is waived.
The verdict
Northwest is the pick if privacy matters. It uses its own address on public filings and includes registered agent service. Bizee is cheapest to start. Nobody needs LegalZoom unless they want attorney add-ons.
- Winner
- Best overall
Northwest Registered Agent · Registered agent included, its address on the public filing, and no upsell maze.
- Winner
- Cheapest to start
Bizee · Free formation package. You pay only the state fee in year one.
- Winner
- Best for compliance reminders
ZenBusiness · Chases your annual report deadlines so you do not lose good standing.
- Winner
- Best for legal add-ons
LegalZoom · Worth it only if you want attorney consultations bundled in.
Our picks
1. Northwest Registered Agent, Best overall
Registered agent included, its address on the public filing, and no upsell maze.
2. Bizee, Cheapest to start
Free formation package. You pay only the state fee in year one.
3. ZenBusiness, Best for compliance reminders
Chases your annual report deadlines so you do not lose good standing.
4. LegalZoom, Best for legal add-ons
Worth it only if you want attorney consultations bundled in.
The verdict
Northwest is the pick if privacy matters. It uses its own address on public filings and includes registered agent service. Bizee is cheapest to start. Nobody needs LegalZoom unless they want attorney add-ons.
How we ranked these
We compare the first-year cost including the state filing fee, what the registered agent costs at renewal, and which upsells are opt-in rather than pre-ticked. Renewal pricing is weighted more heavily than the headline first-year price.
How we ranked these
We compare the first-year cost including the state filing fee, what the registered agent costs at renewal, and which upsells are opt-in rather than pre-ticked. Renewal pricing is weighted more heavily than the headline first-year price.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a formation service at all?
No. You can file directly with your Secretary of State and pay only the state fee. Services mainly sell convenience and a registered agent.
What is a registered agent?
A person or company with a physical address in your state who accepts legal documents on the LLC’s behalf. Every state requires one.
Can I be my own registered agent?
In most states, yes, if you have a physical address there. The trade-off is that your address becomes public record.
Which state should I form in?
The one you operate in, almost always. Forming in Delaware or Wyoming while operating elsewhere means registering as a foreign LLC and paying twice.
What are the ongoing costs?
Most states charge an annual or biennial report fee, and some charge a franchise tax. Registered agent service renews yearly if you use one.
Sources
Every figure on this page is attributed to a named source with the date it took effect. Our reviewers check them against the primary source before publication.
About our expert
Editor, small business and lending
Experience
Ruth edits the business, loans and mortgage desks: LLC formation and annual fees by state, payroll and business banking, and the borrowing side from mortgages and auto loans through to student loan repayment.
Filing fees and repayment programmes are set by fifty-one different authorities and change without announcement, so her pages carry the state and the effective date on the figure itself rather than a national average that is true nowhere.
Areas of expertise
- LLC formation
- Business banking
- Mortgages
- Student loans
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