Best LLC Formation Services

LLC Formation Services Reviews

We gathered a list of LLC formation services with a significant online presence and good reputation. From there, we narrowed our list down to the best six based on their features, customer experience, support, and pricing transparency. To learn more about how we select these providers, take a look at our methodology section.

LegalZoom – Best for Comprehensive Legal Support

LegalZoom is a robust online legal services platform that can help you start your LLC in three easy steps. It offers step-by-step guidance to help you launch and protect your new business. Additionally, LegalZoom has a network of experienced professionals who assist you throughout your business launch and help you grow.

On top of their LLC formation services, LegalZoom can help you with various legal issues business owners face. This includes business management, helping with compliance coverage, annual reports, operating agreements, LZ virtual mail, and lots more. You can even get help protecting your business with LegalZoom, as it offers various trademark services, patent help, and copyright registration.

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LegalZoom features

• LLC Formation – LegalZoom makes starting an LLC simple. You give them basic details of your business, choose the services you need, and let them handle paperwork to make it official.
• EIN / Tax ID – An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is required by the IRS. LegalZoom helps you apply for an EIN and file it directly with the IRS when you choose that service.
• Business License – Helps you find the right licenses and permits to legally operate and effortlessly manage ongoing licensing requirements.
• Registered Agent – If you don’t want to be your own registered agent, you can designate LegalZoom as one. They’ll send alerts when you receive official mail, reminders when annual report deadlines are near, and list their address on public record, preserving your privacy.
• Compliance Support – LegalZoom offers complete compliance coverage plans, so whether it’s filing annual reports or managing licenses, they will ensure you remain compliant.

How LegalZoom pricing works

LegalZoom’s pricing varies depending on the service you choose. For LLC formation, it has three plans: Basic, Pro, and Premium.

The Basic plan is $0, plus state filing fees. It offers business formation basics and small business & insurance guidance. The Pro plan is $249, plus state filing fees. This includes everything in the Basic package plus compliance essentials, bookkeeping tools, access to over 150 customizable legal documents, unlimited eSignatures to send and sign agreements online, and more. The Premium is $299, plus state filing fees. It includes everything from the other plans plus hands-on guidance from an experienced business attorney, consultations, and more.

What markets does LegalZoom serve?

LegalZoom serves businesses, individuals, and attorneys. They have an extensive range of legal services for each market, making complicated legal issues simpler. Whether you’re looking to start an LLC, get trademark protection, register for an EIN, or simply need legal advice, LegalZoom could be a great place to start.

Read our full LegalZoom review

ZenBusiness – Best for LLC Website Service

ZenBusiness helps you set up and grow your business, offering worry-free compliance and expert advice. Additionally, it provides tools to establish an online presence for your business, including streamlined marketing tools such as a website builder, domain name registration, a business email address, and a logo kit.

ZenBusiness makes creating an LLC simple by breaking down the steps and ensuring you have all the necessary tools for success. It also offers services to help you stay compliant, including registered agent services, BOI filing, EIN registration, business license reports, and business document templates.

ZenBusiness features

• LLC Formation – ZenBusiness offers three different plans for forming an LLC, covering all your filings with the state, guaranteeing accuracy on their end.
• EIN / Tax ID – Works to secure your EIN so you can hire employees, set up a business bank account, and file taxes.
• Business License – ZenBusiness offers a business license report service, which helps businesses determine the licenses and permits required to operate legally within their state.
• Registered Agent – As an add-on, ZenBusiness gets you a registered agent for your LLC or corporation.
• Compliance Support – As an add-on, you can use ZenBusiness’s worry-free compliance service, which sends alerts for upcoming compliance and filing events.

How ZenBusiness pricing works

There are a few different pricing options when you use ZenBusiness, depending on the services you use. For their LLC formation service specifically, you have three plans to choose from: Starter, Pro, and Premium.

The Starter plan is $0 plus state fees. It covers all required filings with the state. The Pro plan is $199/year plus state fees. It ensures you have everything needed to start and remain compliant all year round. Finally, the Premium plan is $299/year plus state fees. It offers additional tools and expert support, helping your business grow.

What markets does ZenBusiness serve?

ZenBusiness focuses on the small business market. It helps entrepreneurs establish their own businesses legally and remain compliant with relevant laws and regulations.

Northwest Registered Agent – Best for Registered Agent Services

Northwest Registered Agent began as an established registered agent and soon began handling state filings, and it now offers free legal forms, business formation services, domains, web hosting, email, and phone services. With Northwest Registered Agent’s LLC guides and free business tools, you can start your LLC easily.

The provider offers plenty of business resources to ensure you can start your business confidently and keep it running. Some resources include legal forms, single-member LLC operating agreements, corporate bylaws, certificate of stock, and more.

Northwest Registered Agent features

• LLC Formation – Northwest Registered Agent helps you file all the documentation, create a business email, register a domain name, and more.
• EIN / Tax ID – Helps both U.S. citizens and non-citizens file for an EIN, dealing with the IRS so you don’t have to.
• Registered Agent – This provider first began as a registered agent service, and it has only continued to grow over the years. It provides you with all the services you might need, from instant notifications to business domains, all in-house.
• Compliance Support – You can choose to file annual reports yourself, following detailed, state-specific guides, or have Northwest Registered Agent file for you for only $100.

How Northwest Registered Agent pricing works

Northwest Registered Agent has a straightforward pricing plan for LLC formation. It costs $39 plus state fees to launch your LLC. This plan includes a business address, free mail forwarding, an LLC operating agreement, an instant domain, website, email, and phone number, and one free year of using them as a registered agent. Additionally, you get its Privacy by Default guarantee.

What markets does Northwest Registered Agent serve?

Northwest Registered Agent serves those seeking a reliable registered agent that can also assist them in launching their LLC or business. It’s also best for those who are seeking a straightforward and affordable option without the extra features found in other providers.

Bizee – Best for Simple Business Formation

Previously known as Incfile, Bizee supports entrepreneurs in starting and managing their businesses confidently. You can form many types of business entities with Bizee, including LLCs, S corporations, C corporations, and nonprofits. Services include setting up a virtual address, obtaining an EIN/Tax ID, registering a DBA (doing business under an assumed business name), filing for trademark protection, and more.

Bizee also offers plenty of guides and other support to ensure you have all the knowledge you need to start your company. It covers all legal aspects an LLC may need, from flexible operations and management structures to tax benefits, compliance needs, liability protection, and funding options.

Bizee features

• LLC Formation – Bizee helps you form your LLC in six steps. They guide you through each step, from helping you choose your LLC name to filing the articles of organization.
• EIN / Tax ID – Bizee helps you apply to get your EIN quickly once you provide all the required information.
• Business License – Bizee simplifies the process of getting a business license by doing the research for you and leading you to the best option.
• Registered Agent – You can either get the registered agent option as a standalone service or as part of an LLC formation plan. It’s free for the first year but will cost additional fees after the free year concludes.
• Compliance Support – Bizee provides support for compliance in various ways, including its annual report service. Filing annual reports is required by the Secretary of State, and Bizee handles this process for you, ensuring your business remains compliant.

How Bizee pricing works

For Bizee’s LLC formation service, small business owners have three plans to choose from: Basic, Standard, and Premium. Each plan is only a one-time fee, rather than an annual subscription.

The Basic starts at $0 plus state fees. It offers the preparation and filing of articles of organization, online dashboard access, tax consultation, and a business banking account offer. The Standard plan is $199 plus state fees. This includes everything in the Basic plan plus an EIN, operating agreement, lifetime compliance alerts, and phone and email support. The Premium costs $299 plus state fees. This includes everything from the other two plans, plus business website support, like domain name and email creation.

What markets does Bizee serve?

Bizee serves business owners who want to start a business or those who are growing their businesses and need expert legal advice. They specialize in business formation on a state-by-state level; however, they also offer legal services to help you manage your business.

Rocket Lawyer – Best for Legal Documentation

Rocket Lawyer helps you register an LLC, Corporation, or nonprofit with its Rocket Legal+ membership. While Rocket Lawyer primarily offers legal document creation, it also allows business owners to start businesses, speak with lawyers, manage taxes, and sign documents. You can use their services to file annual reports, register DBAs, and stay compliant through registered agent support. They also assist with trademark filings, copyright protection, and drafting non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

Rocket Lawyer features

• LLC Formation – With the Rocket Legal+ membership, you can skip the LLC cost and register your business for free, excluding state fees. However, you do have to pay the membership fee, so it’s best to consider what works for your budget.
• Registered Agent – Rocket Lawyer offers a registered agent option for both its membership options, keeping your business legally compliant while protecting your privacy.
• Compliance Support – You can consult legal experts on various business topics, helping you stay compliant.

How Rocket Lawyer pricing works

Rocket Lawyer offers two membership plans: RocketLegal and RocketLegal+, both of which include a 7-day free trial and are billed monthly after the trial period ends. The Basic plan costs $39.99 per month, and the Plus plan costs $19.99 per month, billed annually at $239.88. Both allow you to make unlimited documents, sign documents securely, and ask any legal or tax questions.

The Pro services are what allow for LLC formation. These services cost full price on the Basic plan and half price on the Plus plan. You can consult and work one-on-one with a legal professional, receive tax preparation assistance, business registration support, trademark guidance, and compliance services. Each of these services has its own individual cost, and some may also incur state fees.

What markets does Rocket Lawyer serve?

Rocket Lawyer is best for entrepreneurs seeking ongoing access to legal documentation after forming their LLC. The membership ensures that you can easily manage both personal and business documents and get your legal questions answered quickly.

Tailor Brands – Best for Business Brand Creation

Tailor Brands offers an all-in-one solution for launching and managing your business. It has a “Guidance Engine” that assesses each new business introduced on its platform and devises a tailored plan that lets you manage all your business needs from a single dashboard.

It offers a vast range of business services to ensure your business remains compliant while growing and attracting customers. Some services include business insurance, a logo maker, legal document management, trademark services, business cards, graphic design services, business coaching, and more.

Tailor Brands features

• LLC Formation – Helps you form your LLC in seven simple steps, from naming your LLC to complying with tax requirements.
• EIN / Tax ID – Helps you apply for an EIN online, ensuring you can open business bank accounts and shield your business from potential risks.
• Business License – Tailor Brands helps you identify which licenses and permits you need for your business to operate legally in your state.
• Registered Agent – Have Tailor Brands assign a dedicated registered agent for your LLC, ensuring you receive all legal documents and nothing slips through the cracks, keeping your business on track.
• Compliance Support – Stay compliant with annual filing and updates on every plan offered by Tailor Brands.

How Tailor Brands pricing works

Tailor Brands offers three plans for LLC formation: Lite, Essential, and Elite.

The Lite plan is $0 plus state filing fees. It processes your LLC within 14 business days, offers annual compliance, establishes an operating agreement, and has a 30-day trial for their invoicing and bookkeeping service, which increases to $30/month if you don’t cancel it.

The Essential plan is $199/year, plus state fees. It includes the same features as the Lite plan, but has expedited processing and legal compliance. The Elite plan costs $249/year, plus state fees. It included everything the other plans offer, but includes the online business and branding tools service.

What markets does Tailor Brands serve?

Tailor Brands is best for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and startups looking for straightforward LLC services that include branding solutions.

Compare the best LLC Formation Services side-by-side

What are LLC Formation Services?

LLC formation services are much what they sound like. They’re online platforms that simplify the process of forming limited liability companies. These services handle paperwork, filings, give legal advice, and sometimes act as your registered agent.

Business formation services guide business owners through the process of creating an LLC, ensuring that they meet all state and federal requirements. On top of that, these providers usually offer additional services that are vital for business creation, including business name searches, EIN applications, trademark registration, business website/domain creation, annual reports, and more. Generally, these services are an additional fee and aren’t included in the LLC formation package.

Why Should You Form an LLC?

Forming an LLC has many advantages that small business owners can benefit from. Below, we highlight some of the most common benefits of forming an LLC:

• Limited Liability Protection—Generally, your personal assets (home, business bank account, car, etc.) are protected from business debts, liabilities, and lawsuits.
• Flexible Tax Options—You can choose how your LLC is taxed. LLCs are considered “pass-through entities,” meaning they don’t pay federal income tax. Revenue passes through to individual members of the LLC, who pay the income tax. The IRS has more information about how LLCs can be classified.
• Simplified Paperwork— LLCs generally require less paperwork than corporations, meaning they’re easier to manage.
• Increased Credibility— Consumers are more likely to trust a businesses that look official. The “LLC” designation can enhance your company’s professional image and credibility.
• Ownership Flexibility— No single ownership structure is required for an LLC, meaning you can have a single-member business, partnerships, or a larger entity, depending on your business needs

What does LLC Formation Services do?

LLC formation services do many things, from handling business documents to offering a website builder. However, they focus primarily on ensuring your business becomes official, remains compliant with local laws, and offers online legal services.

Generally, you can expect LLC formation services to:

• Handle paperwork, such as formation documents, articles of organization, LLC filings, and other legal documentation.
• Guide you through the process, ensuring you’re confident every step of the way by providing step-by-step instructions.
• Ensure accuracy by avoiding filing mistakes and ensuring your LLC checks all the legal boxes.
• Provide compliance support, either initially or ongoing, to ensure your business meets state and federal regulations.
• Offer additional services like registered agent services, EIN application, business email creation, annual report filing, professional legal advice, and more.

Benefits of LLC Formation Services

You may wonder how LLC formation services actually help entrepreneurs and what benefits they offer. These services assist primarily in starting an LLC and other types of businesses. Benefits include simplified formation process, guidance with paperwork, and potentially faster turnaround times. They help business owners navigate the legal and administrative processes involved in establishing an LLC, saving time and effort, and reducing the risk of errors.

Some providers may offer legal expertise, helping you choose the right business structure, understand tax implications and requirements, secure an LLC operating agreement, and more.

How much does LLC Formation Services cost?

LLC formation services can cost anywhere from just state fees to $300 in addition to state filing fees. It all depends on what services you need and whether you opt for various add-ons.

For example, LegalZoom has three plans that cost $0, $249, and $299, plus state fees. However, if you want to apply for a registered agent, EIN, or trademark registration, then you can expect to pay up to $900 in addition to the LLC cost. On the other hand, Northwest Registered Agent only has one plan, which costs $39 plus state fees. This includes most of the basic features you could need for starting an LLC, and add-ons are more affordable; however, they might not have all the legal services you might need.

Online Legal Services for Small Businesses FAQ

How do people start an online business?

The first step to starting an online business is to formulate an idea and identify what need it is filling for your consumer base. It’s important to conduct market research, have a good business plan, and design a solid budget. From there, you can seek expert advice and decide what type of business is best: LLC, C-corp, S-corp, nonprofit, or DBA. Once you’re certain this type of business is best for you, you can seek help from business formation services to get started.

What is a registered agent?

A registered agent is either an individual or a company that receives official legal documents and communications on behalf of a business. This might include legal notices, tax notices, and other important documents from the state.

Can you change a sole proprietorship to an LLC?

Yes, it is possible to change a sole proprietorship to a limited liability company; however, it is a lengthy process. In the most simplified terms, first you need to form a new LLC, transfer assets and liabilities, and close the sole proprietorship. The entire process requires filing articles, designating a registered agent, and getting a new EIN.

How we chose the best LLC Formation Services

To find the best LLC formation services, we created a list of 14 software providers with significant online presence. From there, we narrowed our focus to the ten most well-known and chose six that stood out for their features, markets, reputation, and more.

Companies are scored on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) across the following criteria, each worth 25% of our total score:

• Variety of Features: We looked for vendors that offered features vital for forming an LLC. This included tax support, business licenses, legal aid, register agent services, and more.
• Pricing and Transparency: We ensure that the providers on our list make finding pricing information easy to find and easy to understand. We also compare pricing and plans across providers to ensure we recommend those with fair pricing.
• Support System: We look for companies that offer multiple types of ongoing customer support. This includes onboarding support, resources for businesses, guides, and more.
• Brand Reputation: We gathered data on customer reviews and ratings published on trustworthy third-party review sites to get a sense of each vendor’s reputation with its customers.