LLC formation services compared: prices, registered agent fees and renewals (2026)
Edited by Moe Ameen · Published
On November 2, 2026, most LLC formation packages cost $0 to $299 on the services' own pricing pages, and every one adds your state's filing fee on top. Registered agent service ran $125 to $249 a year. Bizee and Northwest include the first year; the others charge for it from the start. You can also file with your state yourself and pay only the state fee.
Key takeaways
- Every service we checked charges your state's filing fee on top of its own price.
- Registered agent service costs $125 to $249 a year; only Bizee and Northwest include the first year.
- Several packages renew yearly or start a monthly plan after a trial, so read the fine print before checkout.
- An EIN is free from the IRS. A service that charges for one is charging to fill in the form.
How much do LLC formation services cost?
Package prices ran from $0 to $299 plus state fees. Northwest charges $39, and Rocket Lawyer's free first filing needs a paid membership.
- Bizee: Basic $0, Standard $199, Premium $299, each a one-time payment plus the state fee [1].
- LegalZoom: Basic $0, Managed Service $249, Expert Service $299, plus state filing fees [4].
- Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus state fees [7].
- Rocket Lawyer: your first LLC registration is free and later ones are $99 plus state fees, but it comes with a membership that costs $149, $249 or $349 a year after a 7-day free trial [11].
- Tailor Brands: Lite $0, Essential $199 a year, Elite $249 a year, plus state fees [12].
- ZenBusiness: Starter $0, Pro $199, Premium $299, plus state fees. Pro and Premium renew at the same price every year [13].
Are state filing fees included in the package price?
No. Every service we checked lists its price plus state fees. The state fee is set by your state and paid on top, whoever files.
All six services price their packages "plus state fees" [1][4][7][11][12][13], and NerdWallet's comparison of Bizee and LegalZoom describes their plans the same way [17]. The state fee is what your state charges to file Articles of Organization. We list it for all 50 states and DC on LLC cost by state.
Faster filing can cost extra too. Bizee charges $50 for expedited state processing [2], and ZenBusiness charges $79 to move Starter from standard to rush filing [13].
How much does a registered agent service cost after the first year?
$125 to $249 a year at the services we checked. Bizee and Northwest include the first year with formation; the rest bill from day one.
- Bizee: free for the first year with any package [1]; its standalone service is $149 a year [3].
- LegalZoom: $249 a year, renewing automatically [5].
- Northwest Registered Agent: one year included with its $39 formation [9], then $125 a year, or $100 a year per state for five or more states [8].
- Rocket Lawyer: $125 a year on the Plus and Pro memberships; not included on Standard [11].
- Tailor Brands: $199 a year as an add-on [12].
- ZenBusiness: not included in any package; $199 a year as an add-on [13].
The SBA says your LLC needs a registered agent in its state before you file, and that many owners pay a service rather than do it themselves [15]. Many states let you serve as your own agent. The rules are in what a registered agent is.
Which LLC packages include an EIN and an operating agreement?
Mid-tier packages at Bizee, LegalZoom and ZenBusiness include both. Elsewhere the EIN is a $50 to $99 add-on, and the IRS issues one free.
- Bizee: Standard includes an EIN and an operating agreement template [2].
- LegalZoom: the $249 and $299 packages include both; Basic includes neither [4].
- Northwest Registered Agent: an EIN is $50, or $200 if you don't have an SSN [10]. Its LLC page doesn't list an operating agreement in the $39 bundle [7].
- Rocket Lawyer: an EIN is $70 on Plus and Pro [11]. Its pricing page doesn't mention an operating agreement.
- Tailor Brands: Essential and Elite include an operating agreement, Lite doesn't; an EIN is a $99 add-on [12].
- ZenBusiness: Pro and Premium include an EIN and an operating agreement template [13]. On Starter, each is $99 [14].
The IRS says you never have to pay a fee for an EIN, and its online application issues the number right away if it's accepted [16]. Our EIN guide walks through it.
What renewal and upsell charges should I watch for?
Yearly renewals, monthly plans that start after a free trial, and compliance services that auto-enroll you. Each service lists its own.
- Bizee: an optional annual report service for $129 a year [2].
- LegalZoom: the $249 package's advisor plan auto-renews at $49 a month after 30 days, and the $299 package's plan at $99 a month [4]. Its annual report filing is $99, or $199 a year for its compliance plan [6].
- Northwest Registered Agent: its Florida page says forming with it enrolls you in a renewal filings service at $100 plus the state fee, which you can cancel in your client portal [9].
- Rocket Lawyer: the membership renews yearly, or runs $34.99 to $64.99 a month [11].
- Tailor Brands: Essential and Elite are priced per year, and the bookkeeping trial becomes $39 a month after 30 days [12].
- ZenBusiness: Starter's free year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199 a year if you keep it. A website builder trial is preselected at checkout and costs $15 a month after 30 days unless you remove it [13].
Can I form an LLC myself without a service?
Yes. You file Articles of Organization with your state, name a registered agent and pay the state fee. A service is optional.
- Look up your state's fee and form Our LLC cost by state page lists the filing fee and recurring report for every state, with a link to each filing office.
- Name a registered agent The SBA says you need one in your state before you file [15]. In many states you can name yourself; see what a registered agent is.
- File with the state The SBA says some states let you register online, while others want paper documents in person or by mail [15].
- Get your EIN from the IRS It's free [16]. The steps are in our EIN guide.
The SBA puts the total cost to register a business at less than $300 in most cases, depending on your state and structure [15].
Glisten check
Six LLC formation services, fee by fee
| Service | Package price | Registered agent price | EIN | Operating agreement | Recurring charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bizee | $0, $199 or $299, one-time [1] | First year free [1]; $149/yr standalone [3] | In Standard [2] | Template in Standard [2] | Optional annual report service, $129/yr [2] |
| LegalZoom | $0, $249 or $299 [4] | $249/yr, auto-renews [5] | In $249 and $299 packages [4] | In $249 and $299 packages [4] | $49 or $99/mo plan after 30 days [4] |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 [7] | First year included [9]; $125/yr [8] | $50 add-on [10] | Not listed [7] | Renewal filings, $100 plus state fee, cancelable [9] |
| Rocket Lawyer | First filing free, then $99; membership $149 to $349/yr [11] | $125/yr on Plus and Pro [11] | $70 on Plus and Pro [11] | Not listed on pricing page | Membership renews [11] |
| Tailor Brands | $0, $199/yr or $249/yr [12] | $199/yr add-on [12] | $99 add-on [12] | Essential and Elite [12] | Paid plans yearly; bookkeeping $39/mo after trial [12] |
| ZenBusiness | $0, $199 or $299 [13] | $199/yr add-on [13] | In Pro and Premium; $99 on Starter [13][14] | Template in Pro and Premium; $99 on Starter [13][14] | Pro and Premium renew yearly; compliance $199/yr after Starter's free year [13] |
Two gaps. Bizee's main LLC page doesn't itemize what each package includes, so Standard's contents come from Bizee's own Standard package page. And Rocket Lawyer's pricing page doesn't say whether an operating agreement comes with its registration, so we left that blank instead of guessing.
Is this right for you?
Best for
- Owners pricing out a formation service against filing with the state themselves.
- Anyone who wants to know what a package costs in year two, not just at checkout.
Not ideal for
- Picking a winner. We list the services alphabetically and don't rank them.
- Legal advice on how to structure your company. Talk to a licensed attorney for that.
Frequently asked questions
Is LLC formation really $0?
The service's fee can be. Bizee, LegalZoom, Tailor Brands and ZenBusiness each list a $0 package, but you still pay your state's filing fee on top [1][4][12][13].
Which LLC services include a free year of registered agent service?
Bizee and Northwest. Bizee includes the first year with any package [1], and Northwest includes a year with its $39 formation [9].
Do I have to pay for an EIN?
No. The IRS says you never have to pay a fee for an EIN [16]. Formation services charge $50 to $99 to apply for you [10][12][14].
Why did ZenBusiness charge me $199?
ZenBusiness says a $199 charge is most likely the yearly renewal of its Pro package [13]. Its registered agent add-on and its compliance service are also $199 a year [13].
Do I need a registered agent service?
You need a registered agent, but it doesn't have to be a paid service. The SBA says many owners use one rather than serve themselves [15]; whether you can serve depends on your state.
How we know this
On November 2, 2026 we read each service's own LLC pricing page, plus its registered agent, EIN, annual report and package pages where the main page left something out. We recorded package prices, registered agent prices, whether an EIN and operating agreement are included, and every renewal or trial charge the pages state. Services are listed alphabetically. We checked general points against NerdWallet and took state-filing and EIN facts from the SBA and IRS.
- Form an LLC, Bizee. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Bizee Standard package, Bizee. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Registered agent service, Bizee. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Create an LLC online, LegalZoom. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Registered agent services, LegalZoom. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Annual reports, LegalZoom. Checked November 2, 2026.
- The Northwest LLC, Northwest Registered Agent. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Registered agent service, Northwest Registered Agent. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Florida LLC, Northwest Registered Agent. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Get your federal EIN, Northwest Registered Agent. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Pricing, Rocket Lawyer. Checked November 2, 2026.
- LLC plans and pricing, Tailor Brands. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Formation plans pricing, ZenBusiness. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Products pricing, ZenBusiness. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Register your business, SBA. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Get an employer identification number, IRS. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Bizee vs. LegalZoom, NerdWallet. Checked November 2, 2026.