Quick answer
- Cheapest overall: file it yourself on your state’s website. You pay only the state fee.
- Best low-cost service with an agent included: Northwest Registered Agent, about $39 plus state fee with a free first year of registered agent service.
- Best $0 package: Bizee or ZenBusiness Starter. Watch the add-ons and renewals.
- Best if you want lawyer access: LegalZoom Pro or Premium.
- Best for branding tools: Tailor Brands, which bundles logo and website tools.
The formation fee is rarely the real cost. Compare year-two costs: registered agent renewals and subscription plans.
Comparison table
Prices are approximate starting prices as of September 2026 and change often. Check each provider’s site before you buy. State fees are extra in every case.
| Option | Starting price | Registered agent | Recurring costs to watch | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (state website) | $0 service fee | You or a service you choose | None beyond state fees | Freelancers comfortable with forms |
| Northwest Registered Agent | About $39 | Free first year, then about $125/yr | Agent renewal | Privacy and a simple flat package |
| Bizee | $0 Basic; about $199 Standard; about $299 Premium | Free first year, renewal about $119/yr | Agent renewal, upsells | Lowest upfront cost with an agent |
| ZenBusiness | $0 Starter; about $199/yr Pro; about $299/yr Premium | About $199/yr | Pro and Premium renew yearly; compliance plan after year one | Dashboard and compliance reminders |
| LegalZoom | $0 Basic; about $249 Pro; about $299 Premium | About $249/yr | Attorney plan trial can renew at about $49/mo | Access to attorney consultations |
| Tailor Brands | $0 Lite; about $199/yr Essential; about $249/yr Elite | Add-on | Paid tiers are annual subscriptions | Logo, website and branding bundle |
What every service actually does
A formation service does the same core task you can do yourself: it checks your name and files your articles of organization with the state. The differences are speed, extras and ongoing services.
Common extras include:
- Registered agent service (receives legal mail, keeps your address private)
- EIN filing (free if you apply yourself on IRS.gov)
- Operating agreement template
- Compliance reminders for annual reports
- Expedited filing, domain names and business email
Paying $99 for an EIN is paying for about 10 minutes of form filling. See Do I Need an EIN as a Sole Proprietor? for the free process.
Short reviews
DIY on your state website
Filing yourself usually takes 15 to 45 minutes. You need your LLC name, a registered agent address and a card to pay the state fee. You can act as your own registered agent if you have an in-state street address and are available during business hours. Our article How to Start an LLC as a Freelancer: Step-by-Step walks through each step.
Northwest Registered Agent
A single package at about $39 plus state fee. It includes a year of registered agent service, an operating agreement template and use of Northwest’s address on filings for privacy. After year one, the agent service is about $125 a year. There are no tiers to decode, which suits freelancers who want simplicity.
Bizee (formerly Incfile)
The Basic plan is $0 plus state fee and includes a free first year of registered agent service. Standard and Premium add items like an EIN, operating agreement and faster processing. The agent renews at about $119 a year. Expect upsell offers during checkout.
ZenBusiness
Starter costs $0 plus state fee, with a free first year of its Worry-Free Compliance plan, then about $199 a year if you keep it. Pro (about $199 a year) adds an EIN and operating agreement. Premium (about $299 a year) adds domain and email tools. Registered agent service is about $199 a year on any plan.
LegalZoom
Basic is $0 plus state fee. Pro (about $249) and Premium (about $299) add an operating agreement, EIN help and attorney consultations. The registered agent costs about $249 a year, the highest in this group. If you take an attorney plan trial, check the renewal price before it starts billing.
Tailor Brands
Tailor Brands started as a logo maker. Its LLC packages bundle formation with branding: logo, website and compliance tools on paid tiers. Essential and Elite are annual subscriptions, not one-time fees. It suits freelancers who want branding and formation in one place.
Worked example: two-year cost in Florida
Florida charges $125 to form an LLC and $138.75 for each annual report. This example assumes each option includes a registered agent and skips optional add-ons.
| Option | Year 1 | Year 2 | 2-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY, own registered agent | $125 | $138.75 | $263.75 |
| Bizee Basic | $125 | $257.75 | $382.75 |
| Northwest | $164 | $263.75 | $427.75 |
| ZenBusiness Starter plus agent | $324 | $337.75 | $661.75 |
| LegalZoom Basic plus agent | $374 | $387.75 | $761.75 |
The spread is about $500 over two years, mostly from registered agent pricing. Fees in your state will differ. See our article How Much Does It Cost to Form an LLC? Fees by State.
How to choose
- Want the lowest cost and have a stable in-state address? DIY.
- Want privacy for your home address? Pick a service with a reasonably priced agent and a business address.
- Don’t want reminders to slip? A compliance plan can help, but a calendar reminder does the same for free.
- Need custom legal work for partners or investors? A lawyer, not a template.
Formation service fees and registered agent fees are deductible business expenses.
BOI reporting: don’t pay for it
Some services still sell “BOI filing” add-ons. US-formed LLCs owned by US persons no longer file BOI reports. FinCEN’s March 2025 interim final rule exempted domestic companies, and an August 2026 final rule made it permanent.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth using an LLC formation service?
It can be if you value speed, privacy or reminders. The filing itself is simple enough that many freelancers do it themselves.
Which service is cheapest?
DIY is cheapest. Among services, $0 packages from Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom and Tailor Brands charge only the state fee upfront. Year-two agent fees decide the real cost.
Can I switch registered agents later?
Yes. You file a change of registered agent form with your state, often for a small fee.
Do formation services file my taxes?
No. They handle state paperwork. Your taxes still go on Schedule C unless you elect S-corp status.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Prices are approximate and change often.
Related guides
- S-Corp Election: How to File Form 2553
- Reasonable Salary for S-Corp Owners: How to Set It
- Single-Member LLC Taxes Explained
- Cheapest States to Form an LLC (and Why It May Not Matter)
About this guide
Written by the Freelancer Tax HQ editorial team, based on our professional experience, official US government sources (IRS, SSA and other agencies) and reputable informational articles listed in the sources below. Last reviewed on . Tax rules change often, and we update this guide when they do. Read our editorial policy or report an error.
Sources
Northwest Registered Agent: Business formation services; ZenBusiness: Formation plans; Rho: The best LLC formation services in 2026; Ecommerce Paradise: LegalZoom pricing 2026; SmallBizStatistics: Best LLC formation services 2026; FinCEN: BOI reporting. Example figures are FreelancerTaxHQ illustrations.
Official resources linked in this guide: IRS: Get an EIN.