Northwest Registered Agent is the best LLC formation service for most small-business owners. It charges $39 plus state filing fees, includes the first year of registered agent service, provides an operating agreement, and lists a $125 annual registered-agent renewal price. Its main strengths are clear pricing, privacy-focused business address services, and access to human "Corporate Guides."
Bizee has the lowest advertised first-year service fee. ZenBusiness is a better fit for founders who want dashboard-based compliance tools, while LegalZoom suits business owners who expect to use other legal services after forming an LLC.
State filing fees are separate from each provider's service fee and vary by state. LLCs also generally need a registered agent located in the formation state.
Best LLC Formation Services at a Glance
| LLC service | Best for | Formation price | Registered agent cost | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | Best overall and privacy | $39 + state fee | Free first year, then $125/year | Fewer legal and bookkeeping extras |
| Bizee | Lowest first-year cost | $0 + state fee | Free first year, then $149/year | Basic package is limited |
| ZenBusiness | Compliance tools and guided setup | $0 + state fee | $199/year add-on | Renewals and add-ons can become expensive |
| LegalZoom | Legal services and attorney access | $0 + state fee | $249/year | Higher ongoing registered-agent cost |
Prices and included services can change. Review the checkout page before purchasing. The comparison excludes state filing fees, annual reports, taxes, licenses, and optional add-ons.
Prices checked 29 Oct 2026. The links in this article go straight to each provider; we don't earn a commission on them. To compare every formation service we track, including options for founders outside the US, see the LLC formation directory.
1. Northwest Registered Agent: Best Overall LLC Formation Service
Northwest Registered Agent is the strongest choice for most solo founders, consultants, freelancers, and small businesses that want straightforward formation, privacy, and human support.
Its formation package includes:
- LLC formation for $39 plus state fees
- First year of registered agent service
- An operating agreement
- A business address
- Annual report reminders
- Support from Northwest's Corporate Guides
Northwest lists registered agent renewal at $125 per year after the first year. Its business address can also help keep a founder's personal address off certain public business filings where state rules allow it.
Why Northwest Wins
The $39 package includes documents and services that other providers may charge for separately. That makes the pricing easier to understand from the start.
Using the listed prices, the two-year service cost would be approximately:
- Year one: $39
- Year two registered agent renewal: $125
- Two-year service total: $164, excluding state fees
Northwest is a good fit if you:
- Work from home
- Want to limit the exposure of your personal address
- Prefer speaking with a person instead of using a self-service dashboard
- Want an operating agreement included
- Expect to use the same registered agent for several years
When Northwest May Not Be the Best Choice
Northwest may not suit you if you want a large legal-services marketplace, attorney consultations, bookkeeping, trademark services, or extensive business-management software from the same provider.
Visit Northwest Registered Agent
2. Bizee: Best Budget LLC Formation Service
Bizee is the best fit when keeping the first-year formation cost as low as possible is your main concern.
Bizee's Basic package costs $0 plus state filing fees. Each Bizee formation package includes the first year of registered agent service at no extra charge. Bizee lists standalone registered agent service at $149 per year.
Bizee offers three main formation tiers:
- Basic: $0 plus state fees
- Standard: $199 plus state fees
- Premium: $299 plus state fees
The Basic plan works for founders who only need the state filing and registered agent service. Other documents and services may require an upgrade or add-on.
Why Choose Bizee
Bizee works well for:
- Simple single-member LLCs
- Founders looking for the lowest advertised service fee
- Businesses that do not need attorney access
- Owners who are comfortable handling some setup tasks themselves
If you continue using Bizee as your registered agent after the free first year, the listed two-year service cost is approximately $149, excluding state fees and other services.
Bizee's Main Limitation
The free formation package may not be the cheapest way to get every document your business needs. Before choosing a paid tier, compare the prices for an operating agreement, EIN filing, expedited processing, and compliance services.
3. ZenBusiness: Best for Compliance Tools and Guided Setup
ZenBusiness is a good fit for first-time founders who want an online dashboard, automated reminders, and business-management tools.
ZenBusiness offers:
- Starter: $0 plus state fees
- Pro: $199 plus state fees for the first year
- Premium: $299 plus state fees for the first year
The Starter plan includes formation filing, electronic document access, compliance alerts, a dashboard, and Velo AI guidance. ZenBusiness says standard processing usually takes 7 to 10 business days, while Pro includes one-day processing by ZenBusiness.
ZenBusiness registered agent service costs $199 per year as an add-on. Its website-builder trial is preselected at checkout and renews at $15 per month unless you remove or cancel it.
ZenBusiness Is Best For
- First-time LLC owners
- People who want guided online setup
- Owners who value mobile access and compliance reminders
- Businesses that want formation, branding, websites, and finance tools in one platform
ZenBusiness's Main Limitation
The $0 Starter price does not include every item many businesses need. Registered agent service, an operating agreement, EIN filing, and other tools may cost extra.
ZenBusiness can be a good fit when you want its wider platform. It is not automatically the cheapest option after add-ons and renewals.
4. LegalZoom: Best for a Broader Legal-Services Platform
LegalZoom is best for business owners who may want legal documents, trademark services, attorney access, or other legal products after forming the LLC.
LegalZoom's Basic LLC formation package starts at $0 plus state filing fees. It primarily covers filing the Articles of Organization and checking the business name.
LegalZoom also offers:
- Operating agreements
- EIN filing
- Business licenses
- Legal document services
- Registered agent service
- Attorney advice subscriptions
- Trademark and other business services
LegalZoom's registered agent service costs $249 per year. It receives official state mail and legal notices, uploads documents to the customer account, and sends alerts when documents arrive.
Choose LegalZoom If You:
- Want one provider for several legal needs
- Expect to need trademark or contract services
- Prefer a large, established legal-services brand
- Want the option to add attorney consultations
LegalZoom's Main Limitation
LegalZoom is usually more expensive for a basic LLC. Its $0 formation offer is competitive, but registered-agent service and legal subscriptions can make the long-term cost much higher than Northwest Registered Agent or Bizee.
Which LLC Formation Service Is Cheapest Over Time?
Bizee has the lowest approximate two-year service cost in this comparison, followed by Northwest Registered Agent. The calculation assumes that you use each provider's registered agent service and excludes state fees.
| Provider | Formation fee | First-year registered agent | Second-year registered agent | Approximate two-year service cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 | Included | $125 | $164 |
| Bizee | $0 | Included | $149 | $149 |
| ZenBusiness | $0 | $199 | $199 | $398 |
| LegalZoom | $0 | $249 | $249 | $498 |
This is not a complete ownership-cost calculation. State annual reports, franchise taxes, business licenses, tax preparation, and other compliance obligations are separate. The SBA notes that annual filing requirements and fees vary by state.
What Should You Compare Before Choosing an LLC Service?
Look past the advertised formation price. Check these costs and services before you buy:
Registered-agent renewal price The renewal fee may matter more than the initial formation fee.
Operating agreement inclusion Northwest includes one in its formation package. Other providers may include it only in a paid tier or sell it separately.
EIN cost An EIN may help with banking, taxes, and hiring. It is separate from forming the LLC.
Privacy features A registered agent's address may keep your home address off some public filings, subject to state rules.
Annual compliance support Forming an LLC does not automatically keep it in good standing. Annual reports, franchise taxes, and licenses may still apply.
Automatic renewals Check for subscriptions covering registered agent service, compliance plans, websites, domains, or legal advice.
State-specific requirements The right provider can depend on your state's filing fee, processing time, annual report rules, and privacy laws.
Is an LLC Formation Service Worth Paying For?
An LLC formation service is worth paying for if you want help preparing and submitting the state filing, providing a registered agent, or organizing the initial documents.
You can usually form an LLC directly through your state government for less than the cost of a commercial service. The tradeoff is that you will manage the paperwork yourself.
A formation service does not replace a lawyer or tax professional. It generally cannot determine whether an LLC, corporation, or tax election is right for your situation. The SBA recommends considering professional advice when choosing a business structure because liability, tax, ownership, and filing rules vary.
Final Recommendation
Choose Northwest Registered Agent if you want a clear price, privacy features, an included operating agreement, first-year registered agent service, and human support.
Choose Bizee if keeping the first-year cost low matters most.
Choose ZenBusiness if you want a guided dashboard and compliance reminders.
Choose LegalZoom if you expect to use legal services beyond LLC formation.