Business formation
How to choose an LLC formation service
Quick answer
Compare what the service charges over two years, not the headline price. Eleven of the 13 services we rank start at $0 to $109 plus state fees, but several add trials that renew, a required subscription or a registered agent that bills from year two. Then check what the entry package includes, how long the service takes before the state, support hours and when refunds end.
An LLC formation service prepares and files your company's formation document with the state. The state charges its own fee whoever files, so what you are comparing is the service's charges on top. We read the pricing, terms and help pages of 13 services on Sep 25 and Sep 27, 2026. Here is what separates them.
What our ranking weighs, and why
Our LLC formation ranking scores each service's entry package on six things. The methodology gives the formulas.
- First-year cost (35%). The package plus anything the service makes you buy from it in year one, state fees excluded. This is the biggest weight because it is what every buyer pays.
- Cost from year two (15%). What the service bills automatically after the first year. A $0 package can carry $149 to $468 a year afterwards.
- What the entry package includes (20%). A registered agent for the first year, an operating agreement, an EIN application, compliance reminders, and a business address or mail handling.
- Processing time (10%). The service's own time before the state's.
- Support (10%) and refund terms (10%).
The price range you will see
Entry packages run from $0 to $399 plus state fees. Six start at $0: Bizee, LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, Swyft Filings, Tailor Brands and ZenBusiness. Four sit near $100: CorpNet ($99), Harbor Compliance ($99), InCorp Services ($99) and Registered Agents Inc ($100), with MyCorporation at $109. doola's Starter is a $297-a-year plan and Firstbase Start is $399 one time. The middle packages, which usually add the EIN and operating agreement, mostly cost $199 to $299.
The traps we found
Trials that turn into bills. Several packages include something that renews unless you cancel it:
- ZenBusiness: Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and then renews at $199 a year. A website builder trial "is preselected at checkout" and renews at $15 a month.
- Swyft Filings: after a 14-day ComplianceGuard trial, "your card will automatically be charged $199 for a one-year subscription".
- Tailor Brands: Lite's bookkeeping trial becomes $39 a month after 30 days.
- LegalZoom: Pro's attorney plan auto-renews at $49 a month after 30 days.
Required purchases. Some low prices need something else bought with them:
- Rocket Lawyer: the $0 filing "requires a current Rocket Lawyer membership", and the cheapest is $149 a year.
- Firstbase: Start buyers "must purchase Agent™ starting at $299/yr".
- Tailor Brands: its terms say a registered agent you name "cannot be a commercial registered agent".
Pre-ticked extras. Harbor Compliance's order form pre-selects a $99 EIN and a $99 operating agreement.
A short agent. CorpNet's Basic includes a registered agent for 60 days, then its subscription is $149 a year.
Pages that disagree. Where a company's own pages conflict, we use the reading that is worse for you. Bizee says every package includes filing reminders, but its order page lists them as a Premium addition. MyCorporation's LLC page says every package includes an operating agreement, but its order page says Basic doesn't. ZenBusiness advertises a 60-day money-back guarantee, but its terms end refunds once anything in the order goes to the state.
What the entry package includes
Only one entry package includes all five things we check: doola's Starter has the agent, EIN, operating agreement, reminders and a US address, but you pay for it every year. Two others include the first year of registered agent service: Bizee and Registered Agents Inc. Most others leave out the EIN and operating agreement. As add-ons, the EIN costs $69 to $99 and a stand-alone operating agreement is typically $99.
Speed
Only six services publish their own processing time. Bizee says it files within one business day, doola 1–2 business days, CorpNet 2-4. On $0 packages, Swyft and ZenBusiness take 7-10 business days and Tailor Brands up to 14. The state's own time comes on top.
Support and refunds
doola offers chat and email. Harbor Compliance, Registered Agents Inc and Tailor Brands publish no support hours.
CorpNet is the one service that refunds its full fee on request within 60 days. Six others refund only before the filing goes to the state. Harbor Compliance, Tailor Brands and doola say their fees are non-refundable.
Checklist
- Add the package, any required purchase and the registered agent for year one.
- List everything that renews, with its date and price, and diary the trial end dates.
- Untick pre-selected add-ons you don't want.
- Check whether the EIN and operating agreement are included, and their price if not.
- Note the service's own processing time, if it publishes one.
- Check support hours against when you'll need help.
- Read when refunds end: on request, before filing, or never.
If your situation is specific
Founders outside the US: see best for non-US owners. Doctors, dentists and other licensed professionals: best for healthcare practices and our PLLC formation services guide. Contractors: best for construction and trades and our guide to licences, DBAs and EINs. To compare registered agents on their own, see our registered agent ranking.