Setting up an LLC (Limited Liability Company) comes with many advantages that set it apart from ordinary corporations. An LLC lets you limit your business’ liability to its assets, it does not have to pay for a separate LLC tax and is generally more flexible management-wise and profits-wise.
However:
Forming an LLC can be time-consuming, confusing, costly, and frustrating — especially if it’s your first time.
So: How do you form an LLC while avoiding all the difficulties? You get help from an LLC formation service.
The best LLC services make the whole formation process quick, easy, without the guesswork — all at a fraction of what you’d have to pay an attorney.
But: How do you choose the best LLC formation service from the hundreds that are out there?
That’s why we’re here for you.
Below we’ve listed and reviewed our top 11 picks for the best LLC services so you can start your LLC today.
1. ZenBusiness – Best “Value” LLC Creation Service.
At the top of our list is ZenBusiness.
This LLC formation service comes with great business features by default and couples them with an affordable price tag. If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck value, look no further than ZenBusiness.
Their starting package only costs $49 making them one of the cheapest among all the incorporation services we’ve reviewed up to date. This starter package gets you their standard filing service as well as a one-year free registered agent service to represent and receive correspondence for your business in your chosen state. You’re also getting an operating agreement template so you can start running your LLC sooner.
That said:
While their starter package is great if you’re just looking to form your LLC, you may want to upgrade to their Pro and Premium packages for even more value. One thing you’re getting from these packages is their “Worry-free Compliance Guarantee”.
Through this feature, ZenBusiness guarantees to take care of your business’s ongoing compliance, state requirements, and annual report deadlines so you can keep your business compliant while still focusing on running and managing it.
No other incorporation service offers the same value as ZenBusiness and that’s why we rated it so highly. ZenBusiness’s clients seem to think so as well as over 6000+ customers gave it an excellent review on Trustpilot. It’s definitely one of the cheapest LLC formation services out there.
ZenBusiness Starter Plan, $49 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Standard Filing
- Operating Agreement Template
- Free 1 Year of Registered Agent Service ($99/year after)
- Phones and real-time chat support
- Personalized account dashboard
- LLC or Corporation formed in about 1 to 3 weeks
Check out the Starter plan here.
ZenBusiness Pro Plan, $199 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Expedited Filing
- Operating Agreement Template
- Free 1 Year of Registered Agent Service ($99/year after)
- Phones and real-time chat support
- Personalized account dashboard
- LLC or Corporation formed in about 1 to 3 weeks
- Employer ID Number
- Banking Resolution Template
- Worry-Free Compliance
- 100% Accuracy Guarantee
Check out the Pro plan here.
ZenBusiness Premium Plan, $299 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Rush Filing
- Operating Agreement Template
- Free 1 Year of Registered Agent Service ($99/year after)
- Phones and real-time chat support
- Personalized account dashboard
- LLC or Corporation formed in about 1 to 3 weeks
- Employer ID Number
- Banking Resolution Template
- Worry-Free Compliance
- Business Domain Name
- Business Website
- Business Email Address
- 100% Accuracy Guarantee
Check out the Premium plan here.
ZenBusiness PROs
- Best value in the market: ZenBusiness offers a lot of great features compared to other LLC creation services with similar or more expensive pricing packages.
- Great customer support: You’re getting ZenBusiness’s excellent customer support through calls or real-time chat.
- Customer feedback is great all around the web: Thousands of clients give ZenBusiness excellent ratings across various customer review sites such as Trustpilot.
- High-quality registered agent services: Its highly qualified registered agent will manage your correspondence with your chosen state and alert you privately when they receive it.
ZenBusiness CONs
- Fairly new company: Being founded on March 12, 2015, ZenBusiness is a fairly new company and doesn’t enjoy the decades of experience possessed by its predecessors.
Despite being a fairly new company, ZenBusiness enjoys the top rank in our list for its having the best value of all the Business formation services on the market, great customer support, excellent client feedback, and high-quality registered agent.
Check out our full ZenBusiness review.
2. IncFile
IncFile comes second in our recommendations.
They are one of the 2 cheapest incorporation services out there (the other being Inc Authority) with their silver package starting at $0 + state fees. This package includes a one-year free registered agent service to represent and receive correspondence for your business in your chosen state. It also includes an unlimited number of name searches to help you make sure that your chosen LLC name is available in your chosen state.
However:
Their Silver package doesn’t include an EIN or an Operating Agreement. If you want to get these features and more, you’ll have to upgrade to their Gold or Platinum package.
They started business in 2004 and have been around for 15+ years, helping over 500,000 clients since then.
IncFile usually receives great customer reviews on Trustpilot, however, they seem to have fallen from grace as of late. Presently, they have a poor rating of 2.8 stars out of 5.
IncFile Silver Plan, $0 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Preparing & Filing the Articles of Organization
- Unlimited Name Searches
- FREE Registered Agent Service for a year ($199/year after)
IncFile Silver Plan, $149 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Personalized account dashboard
- Preparing & Filing the Articles of Organization
- Unlimited Name Searches
- FREE Registered Agent Service for a year ($199/year after)
- EIN Business Tax Number
- IRS Form 2553
- Operating Agreement
- Banking Resolution
- Lifetime Company Alerts
- Online Access Dashboard
- Unlimited Phone & Email Support
- Business Banking Account
- Business Tax Consultation
IncFile Silver Plan, $299 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Personalized account dashboard
- Preparing & Filing the Articles of Organization
- Unlimited Name Searches
- FREE Registered Agent Service for a year ($199/year after)
- EIN Business Tax Number
- IRS Form 2553
- Operating Agreement
- Banking Resolution
- Lifetime Company Alerts
- Online Access Dashboard
- Unlimited Phone & Email Support
- Business Banking Account
- Business Tax Consultation
- Business Contract Templates
- Expedited Filing
- Domain Name + Business Email
IncFile PROs
- One of the 2 cheapest in the market when it comes to forming your LLC: You only pay state fees with their Silver package which comes at $0 + state fees.
- Ease of use is very good: Their sign-up and business information forms are easy to understand and fill up.
IncFile CONs
- Have to pay extra for important features (EIN, Operating agreement): You get just the bare minimum of features from their starting package
- Poor customer feedback: Unfortunately, clients have given them a poor 2.8 out of 5 stars as of writing this list.
IncFile has one of the cheapest starting packages you can find and their sign-up process is easy, however, you need to sign up for their Gold or Platinum packages if you’re looking for more features.
Check out our full IncFile review.
3. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is one of the most well-known LLC formation services today. Their service covers a wide range across the United States. They’ve formed over 2 million businesses making their experience in the industry second to none.
Their starting package comes at just $79. This comes with a certificate of organization and Financial Account Authorization Letter so you won’t have to make them yourself. While this starting package offers several more features that you’ll find useful, you will notice the absence of a free registered agent service which LegalZoom’s competitors usually include.
LegalZoom’s Standard ($329) and Express Gold ($349) packages offer more helpful business features. While none of these packages offer a registered agent service, you may still want to get either one of them for the LegalZoom VIP processing, rush processing with the secretary of state, and express shipping. All these features result in your LLC getting formed sooner than usual.
That said:
You may find their $329 and $349 price tags a bit too pricy, especially when they don’t offer as many features as some of LegalZoom’s competitors like ZenBusiness. Their customer support is also not as good as that of Northwest’s.
However:
These don’t seem to affect how customers see LegalZoom as the company is still quite popular. Clients still give the company great reviews with 4.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
LegalZoom Economy Plan, $79 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Name Check and Business Filing
- Articles of Organization
- LLC Next Steps Guide
- Peace of Mind Review
- Lifetime Customer Support
- Financial Account Authorization Letter
LegalZoom Standard Plan, $329 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Name Check and Business Filing
- Articles of Organization
- LLC Next Steps Guide
- Peace of Mind Review
- Lifetime Customer Support
- Financial Account Authorization Letter
- Deluxe Organizer
- Official Certificates and Seal
- LegalZoom VIP Processing
LegalZoom Express Gold Plan, $349 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Name Check and Business Filing
- Articles of Organization
- LLC Next Steps Guide
- Peace of Mind Review
- Lifetime Customer Support
- Financial Account Authorization Letter
- Deluxe Organizer
- Official Certificates and Seal
- LegalZoom VIP Processing
- Rush Processing With Secretary of State
- Express shipping
LegalZoom PROs
- Has helped over 2 million businesses since 2001 which adds to their credibility: LegalZoom’s popularity comes from its many years of serving entrepreneurs.
- They have extended customer service hours: Their customer service is available 7 days a week to answer your formation-related questions.
LegalZoom CONs
- They have higher pricing with fewer features than other service providers: LegalZoom’s packages are substantially pricier and offer fewer features than their competitors like ZenBusiness.
- They have a lot of upsells even before you get to the packages you want to purchase: You may find your experience a bit tedious as they try to sell you more services before you even finish filling in your business information.
LegalZoom has been around since 2001 and has helped over 2 million business owners despite being more expensive than their competitors.
Check out our full LegalZoom review.
4. Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent (Northwest) is one of the costlier options when it comes to Business formation services. Their prices are substantially higher than that of ZenBusiness and IncFile.
That said:
Having been around since 1998 (that’s 23 years ago), they’ve become one of the best LLC services on the market today. Their excellent customer service is extremely helpful and knowledgeable and is one of the best in the business. Their customers seem to agree as the company is currently rated 4.3 out of 5 stars from client reviews at Better Business Bureau.
They only offer one $225 package that includes everything you need to form and start your LLC including a one-year registered agent service. If you’re looking for more services, you will have to sign up for their stand-alone services.
Northwest follows a business practice called “Privacy by Default” which they say is the core of their business. This practice means their service automatically minimizes the exposure of and access to their client’s personal data. You don’t have to opt into or pay for this practice as they already do it by default.
Northwest Free Account, $0, pay state fees when you file
- Online client account
- Northwest Registered Agent Customer Support
Northwest Pay in Full, $225 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Online client account
- Northwest Registered Agent Customer Support
- Registered Agent Service
- Limited Mail Forwarding
Northwest VIP, Filing fees depend on state + state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Online client account
- Northwest Registered Agent Customer Support
- Registered Agent Service
- Limited Mail Forwarding
- Initial Shouldering of State Filing Fees
- Business Formation
- Free Business Address
- EIN Filing
- Annual, Biennial, or Periodic State Filings
- Premium-level Services
Northwest PROs
- Best customer support in the industry: Their Corporate Guides have been lauded as being the best in the industry for being extremely helpful and knowledgeable specialists.
- Full-year of registered agent included: Their $225 package fee comes with one-year registered agent service.
- They run their own servers so security/privacy is their strong point: Northwest has no investors or partners so they treat your personal data with the utmost respect.
- Great customer reviews: Clients gave Northwest 4.3 out of 5 stars on Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Northwest CONs
- High prices: $225 is high especially when compared to ZenBusiness and IncFile.
While Northwest is quite costly, you are getting a lot of features plus the best customer support in the industry and a full year of registered agent service from a company that respects your privacy and is loved by most of its clients.
Check out our full Northwest Registered Agent review.
5. Inc Authority
Inc Authority has been around since 1989 (that’s 32 years ago) and does not show any signs of slowing down. They’re the second LLC formation service that offers a starting price of $0 + state fees to form your LLC. This starting price includes a free one-year registered agent service to represent and receive correspondence for your business in your chosen state.
That said:
Despite offering one of the two cheapest starting prices out there, their first paid pricing package jumps up to $399 and goes as high as $799. These packages do come chocked full with the convenient business features you’d come to expect from such high price points.
You get features like a Complete Operating Agreement/Bylaws so you can hit the ground running once your LLC is formed. You also get an IRS Tax ID Number/Employer Identification Number (EIN) which lets you open a separate business account without the hassle.
Signing up for their Executive and Tycoon packages gets you a Website Domain to get your business online as well as Express Processing for a faster turnaround time and BizCredit Express to start building your LLC’s credit.
These are just the tip of the iceberg, though. Each business bundle offers several more useful features that every entrepreneur can appreciate.
This is probably why, despite having such high price points, clients still give Inc Authority an excellent rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 (just like ZenBusiness) on Trustpilot.
Inc Authority Starter Business, $399 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Verify Business Name Availability
- Custom State Filed Articles
- Complete Operating Agreement/Bylaws
- Record Book & Company Seal
- Initial Meeting Minutes & Resolutions
- Ownership Certificates
- IRS Tax ID Number (EIN)
- Business Credit & Funding Evaluation
- Tax Consultation
- 1 Year Inc Success Advisor
Inc Authority Executive Business, $499 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Verify Business Name Availability
- Custom State Filed Articles
- Complete Operating Agreement/Bylaws
- Record Book & Company Seal
- Initial Meeting Minutes & Resolutions
- Ownership Certificates
- IRS Tax ID Number (EIN)
- Business Credit & Funding Evaluation
- Tax Consultation
- 1 Year Inc Success Advisor
- Business License Report
- Website Domain
Inc Authority Tycoon Business, $799 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Verify Business Name Availability
- Custom State Filed Articles
- Complete Operating Agreement/Bylaws
- Record Book & Company Seal
- Initial Meeting Minutes & Resolutions
- Ownership Certificates
- IRS Tax ID Number (EIN)
- Business Credit & Funding Evaluation
- Tax Consultation
- 1 Year Inc Success Advisor
- Business License Report
- Website Domain
- Express Processing
- BizCredit Express
- Business Credit Coach
- Multi-Tiered Credit Building System
- Business Credit LaunchPad
- D&B Credit Bureau Registration
Inc Authority PROs
- One of the two cheapest in the industry starting price: There’s nothing cheaper than a starting price of $0 + state filing fees.
- Includes 1 year of registered agent: You get a free one-year registered agent service to represent and receive correspondence for your business in your chosen state.
- Excellent customer feedback: Clients give them an excellent 4.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
Inc Authority CONs
- Expensive paid business bundles: Their starting paid business bundle jumps to $399 and gets as high as $799.
- The platform isn’t the most user-friendly: Their website and software take some getting used to.
- They offer no refunds whatsoever: If you’re not 100% fully satisfied with their service, there’s no taking back what you paid.
Inc Authority offers one of the cheapest formation prices, one-year registered agent service, and excellent customer reviews despite its platform needing some getting used to and not offering any refunds.
Check out our full Inc Authority review.
6. Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer is a legal service platform that offers various services apart from LLC formation. While Rocket Lawyer’s staff members aren’t attorneys, the company does offer clients access to legal advice and services from their exclusive attorneys as one of their offered services. If you’re looking for a service to form your LLC then provide you with legal advice on a variety of legal and business matters, Rocket Lawyer is definitely for you.
While they offer all their services on a standalone basis with separate payment per service, they do offer a premium membership option where you pay just $39.99 per month. With this subscription, you get to enjoy their services (like legal documents and legal advice from an attorney) without having to pay separate fees for each instance. This membership includes a one-time free incorporation service (+state fees. 25% off thereafter) which you can use to form your LLC.
While Rocket Lawyer offers a registered agent service, they don’t include it for free when you form your LLC with them. Instead, they give you a 25% discount on such a service.
While getting their services on a standalone basis can quickly become expensive and even though their LLC formation service lacks many of the features you’d expect, Rocket Lawyer still enjoys much popularity. Clients give Rocket Lawyer an excellent rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Rocket Lawyer offers a 7-day free trial period for their premium membership.
Rocket Lawyer Premium Membership, $39.99 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Legal Documents
- Document Defense® on Rocket Lawyer documents
- Ask a Lawyer your legal questions
- 30-minute consultation on every new legal matter
- Discounts when you hire a Rocket Lawyer On Call® attorney
- Affordable incorporation filing
- Affordable Registered Agent service
Rocket Lawyer PROs
- They have helped launch over 20 million customers since 2008 and that is saying something: Despite not being the oldest LLC formation service on the market, Rocket Lawyer has helped many business owners form and start their businesses.
- Can help you in a variety of legal matters: Unlike other Business formation services, Rocket Lawyer provides clients with legal advice on a variety of matters.
- 7 day free trial period: The company is so confident in their ability to satisfy your legal needs that they’ll let you try their premium membership for 7 days.
Rocket Lawyer CONs
- Rather expensive and not many features included for that price: Their standalone services can be expensive and their premium membership doesn’t have many business features despite their price point.
Rocket Lawyer offers a pricy LLC formation service that comes with legal help on various other legal and business matters which you can try for 7 days.
Check out our full Rocket Lawyer review.
7. MyCompanyWorks
MyCompanyWorks is an online business formation platform that has been around since 2001. Since then, they’ve helped over 60,000 businesses. This company fits the bill as a mid-size company in the LLC formation industry.
Their $79 basic package has quite a long list of features offered which includes a personalized LLC operating agreement, unlimited phone and email support, and same business day processing. While these features look good and they offer more, you will notice the absence of a registered agent service which you can only get by signing up for their $279 complete package.
Their $199 entrepreneur package likewise does not include a registered agent service, although it is open as an add-on option. However, you do at least get an EIN as part of this package.
MyCompanyWorks Basic package, $79 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Unlimited Name Availability Searches
- Prepare and File Articles of Organization
- Personalized Organizational Minutes
- Personalized LLC Operating Agreement
- Online Order Tracking and Status Updates
- Same Business Day Processing
- Order is Audited for Compliance & Spelling
- Unlimited Phone/Email Support
- The New LLC Handbook
- The Startup Wizard
- Free Company Alerts
- Access to Scanned Documents Online
- Lifetime Access to the My Account Dashboard (MAD)
- Free eBook: Startups Made Simple
- Lifetime Access to the Vendor Network
MyCompanyWorks Entrepreneur package, $199 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Unlimited Name Availability Searches
- Prepare and File Articles of Organization
- Personalized Organizational Minutes
- Personalized LLC Operating Agreement
- Online Order Tracking and Status Updates
- Same Business Day Processing
- Order is Audited for Compliance & Spelling
- Unlimited Phone/Email Support
- The New LLC Handbook
- The Startup Wizard
- Free Company Alerts
- Access to Scanned Documents Online
- Lifetime Access to the My Account Dashboard (MAD)
- Free eBook: Startups Made Simple
- Lifetime Access to the Vendor Network
- OBTAIN Federal Tax ID
- LLC Kit, Seal and Member Certificates
- MyCompanyForms™ Lifetime Business Forms & Tax Guide
MyCompanyWorks Complete package, $279 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Unlimited Name Availability Searches
- Prepare and File Articles of Organization
- Personalized Organizational Minutes
- Personalized LLC Operating Agreement
- Online Order Tracking and Status Updates
- Same Business Day Processing
- Order is Audited for Compliance & Spelling
- Unlimited Phone/Email Support
- The New LLC Handbook
- The Startup Wizard
- Free Company Alerts
- Access to Scanned Documents Online
- Lifetime Access to the My Account Dashboard (MAD)
- Free eBook: Startups Made Simple
- Lifetime Access to the Vendor Network
- OBTAIN Federal Tax ID
- LLC Kit, Seal and Member Certificates
- MyCompanyForms™ Lifetime Business Forms & Tax Guide
- Registered Agent Service
- Business License Compliance Package
- FREE Business Tax Consultation
- Free Domain Name and 1 Year Hosting Offer
- Free Startup Business Funding Consultation
- Up to $500 Bank of America Small Business Banking Offer
- MyCompanyWorks Premium™
MyCompanyWorks PROs
- Their customer service is highly responsive: You usually get an answer in 20 minutes which is very fast in the industry.
- Their Startup Wizard LLC formation checklist: Lets you conveniently navigate the whole process of forming an LLC.
MyCompanyWorks CONs
- Too few features for the same price point: While their prices certainly aren’t expensive, they do fall behind in features offered for their price compared to others.
MyCompanyWorks offers a convenient Startup Wizard and responsive customer service but is quite pricy for the features they’re offering.
Check out our full MyCompanyWorks review.
8. MyCorporation
MyCorporation has been around since 1998 and has helped over 1 million clients form and manage their businesses.
They offer four LLC formation packages which start at $99 for their basic package and get up to $324 for their premium package.Their package lets you store your legal documents on their server and includes articles of incorporation and other business documents which helps you save time and move on to running your LLC.
You’ll notice that there’s a distinct lack of a registered agent service in their basic package despite it costing $99 already. If you want to get this service, you’ll have to upgrade to their De Luxe plan which comes at $224.
Their pricing packages aren’t the cheapest and also don’t offer much in the way of features. That said, their $124 standard package does come with annual reports that help your LLC stay compliant which is nice. However, the absence of a registered agent service does hurt its value.
Their $324 premium package does include a convenient feature called MaintainMyBiz. This feature guarantees to maintain your business in good standing every year and includes up to four business filings yearly.
That said:
MyCorporation is still able to leave a good impression on customers. Clients rate it an excellent 4.4 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot.
MyCorporation Basic plan, $99 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Articles of Organization and Business Documents
- MyCorp Vault Document Storage
- Name Check
MyCorporation Standard plan, $124 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Articles of Organization and Business Documents
- MyCorp Vault Document Storage
- Name Check
- Annual Report
MyCorporation De Luxe plan, $224 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Articles of Organization and Business Documents
- MyCorp Vault Document Storage
- Name Check
- Annual Report
- Registered Agent Services
MyCorporation Premium plan, $324 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Articles of Organization and Business Documents
- MyCorp Vault Document Storage
- Name Check
- Annual Report
- Registered Agent Services
- MaintainMyBiz
MyCorporation PROs
- Excellent customer feedback: MyCorporation impresses their clients enough to receive an excellent 4.4 stars out of 5 in Trustpilot.
- Great experience in the industry: Being around since 1998 means the company is one of the more experienced LLC formation services out there.
MyCorporation CONs
- Their prices are not competitive for the features they offer: They offer too few features for too high prices especially when compared to Inc Authority and IncFile.
MyCorporation is popular with clients due to their experience despite offering too few features for too high price points.
Check out our full MyCorporation review.
9. BizFilings
BizFilings is an online incorporation service platform that’s been around since 1996.
They offer three pricing packages which start at $99 and go up to $359 (not including state fees). Their $99 basic package can be described as “bare bones” for its lack of features other than a six-month registered agent service.
Their $229 standard package offers a sample operating agreement and other LLC forms as well as an expedited processing service. These features can help speed up the process from LLC formation to running your business.
You get all these features if you sign up for their $359 complete package plus an EIN, certified copy of state-filed documents, and overnight shipping.
With all that said:
You’ll notice that their price point is quite high but they offer just a few features. They do offer more features but these are all optional add-ons that aren’t part of any of their pricing packages. This is why BizFilings falls behind in our list.
They also don’t have many customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau.
Bizfilings Basic plan, $99 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Six-month registered agent service
Bizfilings Standard plan, $229 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Six-month registered agent service
- LLC Kit and Seal
- Sample Operating Agreement and Other Customizable LLC Forms
- Expedited Processing Service
Bizfilings Complete plan, $359 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- Six-month registered agent service
- LLC Kit and Seal
- Sample Operating Agreement and Other Customizable LLC Forms
- Expedited Processing Service
- EIN
- Compliance DVD: Now That You’re Formed
- Certified Copy of State-Filed Documents (state fees may apply)
- Overnight Shipping
Bizfilings PROs
- Their Basic package includes a registered agent for 6 months: While their basic package seems lacking in features, you at least get a registered agent service for 6 months.
- Good customer support: Their customer service is ready to answer your questions 5 days a week from 8 a.m to 7 p.m through email or phone.
Bizfilings CONs
- Relatively high prices for the features they offer: They offer just a few features for their price point especially when compared to other LLC formation services like ZenBusiness.
BizFilings offers a basic package with a six-month registered agent service and good customer support but their relatively high price point for just a few features hurts their ranking on our list.
Check out our full Bizfilings review.
10. Nolo
Nolo is an integration of some of the Internet’s first legal sites. Established in 1971, Nolo has been evolving in the legal services industry. They started out as a company providing legal articles and guides to clients and eventually grew into a large company in the legal industry.
They offer three LLC formation packages that start at $49 and go up to $299 (not including state fees).
The $49 basic package is quite affordable and includes articles of organization filing, among others. However, the distinct lack of a registered agent service leaves a bit more to be desired.
In fact:
They don’t offer a registered agent service in any of their packages despite charging $149 and $299 for their standard and express packages, respectively.
You do, however, get an EIN, business forms, and rush filing if you sign up for their $299 express package.
That said:
You won’t be wrong if you think their price points are a bit too high for the features they’re offering.
This is probably the reason why clients give the company a poor 1.4 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Nolo Basic plan, $49 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- LLC Name Validation
- Articles of Organization Filing
- Automated Error Checking
- Customer Service Phone Support
- Guide to Formalizing Your LLC
Nolo Standard plan, $149 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- LLC Name Validation
- Articles of Organization Filing
- Automated Error Checking
- Customer Service Phone Support
- Guide to Formalizing Your LLC
- IRS Application for EIN
- Business Forms
Nolo Express plan, $299 plus state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- LLC Name Validation
- Articles of Organization Filing
- Automated Error Checking
- Customer Service Phone Support
- Guide to Formalizing Your LLC
- IRS Application for EIN
- Business Forms
- Personalized LLC Records Kit & Seal
- Priority Rush Filing
Nolo PROs
- Lots of informational articles on a variety of legal matters: The Nolo provides clients with various materials on legal matters that your business or may.
Nolo CONs
- Their packages don’t offer competitive features based on the industry standards: Nolo’s LLC formation packages lack the features which have become industry standards through the years.
- They outsource their services to other LLC service providers: You may be surprised to find out that they don’t handle your LLC formation in-house but outsource it to other service providers.
While Nolo has been around for decades now, their pricing packages seem to be locked in the past especially when many industry giants offer more features for lower price points.
Check out our full Nolo review.
11. Harvard Business Services
Harvard Business Services, also known as Delaware INC.
When it comes to Business formation services, you could say that Harvard Business Services is ancient. They’ve been around since 1981 (that’s 40 years ago) and have helped over 200,000 LLC and companies get started. If you’re wondering why such an old company has only served over 200,000 clients, it’s because Harvard Business Services only operates in Delaware.
Harvard Business Services offers three pricing packages which start at $179 and go up to $329. Their Green package can deliver your documents in 3 to 5 business days and comes with several useful business features. These include a one-year free registered agent service and compliance coaching to help you keep your business in good standing and compliant with Delaware laws.
Business owners in Delaware seem to love Harvard Business Services as they’ve given the company an excellent 4.9 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot. This rating is higher than even ZenBusiness.
Harvard Business Services Green plan, $179 includes state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- All Delaware Fees
- Registered Agent Fee
- Name Check & Clearance
- Preparation of Documents
- Same-day Electronic Filing
- Certificate of Formation/Incorporation
- Digital Copy of Documents
- Digital Corporate Seal
- One Complete Year (12 Full Months) of Delaware Registered Agent Service
- Lowest Delaware Registered Agent Fee
- Lifetime Customer Support
- FREE Compliance Coaching
Harvard Basic Services Green plan, $229 includes state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- All Delaware Fees
- Registered Agent Fee
- Name Check & Clearance
- Preparation of Documents
- Same-day Electronic Filing
- Certificate of Formation/Incorporation
- Digital Copy of Documents
- Digital Corporate Seal
- One Complete Year (12 Full Months) of Delaware Registered Agent Service
- Lowest Delaware Registered Agent Fee
- Lifetime Customer Support
- FREE Compliance Coaching
- Hard Copy of Documents
- All Shipping Fees (Priority Mailing)
- Operating Agreements/Bylaws
- LLC/Corporation Essential Documents
- Digital Membership/Stock Certificates
- Bank Resolution Form
Harvard Business Services Standard plan, $329 includes state fees, LLC or corporation fees
- All Delaware Fees
- Registered Agent Fee
- Name Check & Clearance
- Preparation of Documents
- Same-day Electronic Filing
- Certificate of Formation/Incorporation
- Digital Copy of Documents
- Digital Corporate Seal
- One Complete Year (12 Full Months) of Delaware Registered Agent Service
- Lowest Delaware Registered Agent Fee
- Lifetime Customer Support
- FREE Compliance Coaching
- Hard Copy of Documents
- All Shipping Fees (Priority Mailing)
- Operating Agreements/Bylaws
- LLC/Corporation Essential Documents
- Digital Membership/Stock Certificates
- Bank Resolution Form
- Gold Embossed Binder
- Company Guidebook
- Operating Agreement/Bylaws
- Meeting Minute Book
- Organizational Resolutions
- 10 Membership/Stock Certificates
- Membership/Stock Ledger
- Corporate Seal
Harvard Business Services pros
- Great experience in Delaware: Harvard Business Services is, bar none, the best LLC formation service in Delaware.
- Great customer reviews: Clients rate it at an excellent 4.9 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot which is higher than even ZenBusiness.
Harvard Business Services cons
- Well certainly not the highest prices in the industry, their prices are relatively high based on the features they offer: Their prices aren’t the highest prices by far but are still quite pricy for the features included.
- They only operate in Delaware: They’re the best in Delaware but they’re not available in any other state.
Harvard Business Services is by far the most popular and best LLC formation service in Delaware but their price-to-feature offering and limited state availability certainly are unfortunate.
Check out our full Harvard Business Services review.
PROs & CONs of LLC Formation Companies
Now that we’ve looked at every LLC service provider in detail, let’s look at their pros and cons in general.
LLC Services PROs:
- Your Legal Knowledge on LLCs doesn’t matter: LLC formation services let you start and form an LLC even if you have no knowledge of the legalities. The company takes care of the whole process for you, saving you time, money, and hassle.
- Avoid the Guesswork: Most online LLC formation services have an online dashboard that informs you of your requirements and notifies you of any deadlines or changes to your LLC’s status.
- Dependable Customer Support: LLC formation companies often have specialist customer support teams ready to answer any and all questions you have regarding your LLC formation. There’s no question too big or too small for them. This saves you from a lot of headaches and frustration down the line.
- Cheaper than an Attorney: While you can say that an attorney can do all these things for you, you can’t say it’s going to be cheaper. LLC formation services often cost a fraction of what you’d pay for hiring a lawyer to form your LLC for you.
LLC Services CONs:
- Only for those with Time, Money, and Experience: Forming an LLC can be done DIY if you already have the experience and enough time and money. Why pay someone else to do it when you can do it yourself?
- Specialized Legal Knowledge: While LLC formation companies are often cheaper than hiring a lawyer, the latter does have specialized legal know-how that only lawyers can provide you.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Online LLC Formation Services Work?
Online LLC formation services form your company while saving you time, money, and hassle. You simply fill up some personal and business information forms, choose some add-on services, go to check out, and they do the rest from filing your documents with the secretary of state to informing you of your LLC’s current status.
Can I Trust LLC Formation Services?
Of course.
The LLC formation industry has boomed in recent years. There are now quite a few reputable companies on the market. All of which we’ve included in our list above.
To ensure a company is legit, we include customer reviews on Trustpilot or BBB. These sites have reviews from a company’s past clients who are more than happy to air out their grievances or praises.
Why Do I Have to Use an LLC Formation Service?
Forming an LLC can be time-consuming, confusing, and costly — especially if you’re just starting a business. A business formation service saves you from all of these problems (for a price) so you can focus more on growing your business.
Does Using an LLC Formation Service Provide More Legal Protection or Privacy?
In a way, yes.
If your LLC formation service provider acts as your registered agent, your business will be using their address as its own, thereby, protecting your privacy. This also saves you from receiving junk mail through your business.
One company (Northwest) even offers “Privacy by Default” where they do everything in their power to keep your personal data from going public.
Will There be Any Risks to Using an LLC Formation Service?
No. LLC formation services have teams of industry experts who’ve made careers out of forming entities for their clients. Most companies have experience forming hundreds and even thousands of LLCs and corporations.
It’s actually riskier if you try to do it yourself without any prior experience.
Do a Company’s Pricing Packages Include My State’s LLC Registration Fee?
No. Your LLC’s state formation fee depends on the particular state you’re filing in. This can range from just $40 to hundreds of dollars depending on the state.
Most LLC formation companies don’t include state fees as part of their formation fees. Although some will initially shoulder the fees, you still need to repay them through your monthly subscription.
How Much Would it Cost to Hire an Attorney to Form My LLC?
That depends on the nature of your LLC, the state you’re filing in, and the level of expertise of your chosen attorney.
You can expect to pay somewhere at the minimum of $1000 to $1500 but it could easily cost up to $3000 or more.
Do I Need to Reserve My LLC Name Before Starting an LLC?
Generally, no.
However, you may want to do this if you’ve already thought of an LLC name but aren’t ready to form an LLC yet. You can reserve your name to ensure its availability when you’re finally ready to commit.
Also, there are some states like Alabama that require business owners to reserve their business names before the LLC formation process.
Apart from these two instances, there’s no need to reserve your business name in advance.
Do LLC Formation Services Help With Other Things Too?
Yes. Most LLC formation companies offer various useful business-related services that every entrepreneur will want.
Apart from the usual business name check, you should look for companies that offer a registered agent service, operating agreement, EIN acquisition, annual report service, foreign qualifications, business licensing research, and more.
Are LLCs Free to Create?
If you’re really struggling, IncFile’s most basic package is free, but you’ll still need to pay state filing fees. You may get lucky and only have $40 in-state fees, but other states charge up to $500 to set up an LLC.
As of June 2021, the $500 fee is exclusive to Massachusetts and the $40 to Kentucky, with most states still charging under $200. The most common low fee is $50, a small price to pay for a startup.
The $50 fee is charged in:
Should I Start My Business in a Cheaper State?
You should start your business and register your LLC in whatever state you live in. It’s simpler and more law-abiding than state-outsourcing your setup.
Be wary, as some LLC services may recommend you start your business in a certain state of your choosing. As some states may be friendlier for small businesses, this is well-meaning, but it’s still not a good idea.
Check out our guide here on How to Start an LLC.
How Fast Can I Get My LLC Set Up?
You can form an LLC in a matter of days, but be warned, it’ll be an additional fee. A more budget-friendly option would be to get it down to just a few weeks of setup.
Generally, there’s no need to rush to set up your LLC, but it’s worth it in emergencies.
Operating Agreements: Worth Paying More?
This agreement or service is nothing more than a document for all intents and purposes regarding your business setup. And honestly? You can find a template for free online and alter it to your liking.
Online LLC Service providers will offer this for an extra cost, if you’re not confident in doing it yourself, ask the customer service for some assistance on the matter.
What is an EIN/TIN number?
- EIN – Employer Identification Number
- TIN – Taxpayer Identification Number
They are both different names for the same thing (Federal tax ID Number), the IRS assigns a nine-digit number to organizations. It’s how they identify taxpayers who need to file business tax returns.
TIN/EIN are used by various business entities like: corporations, government agencies, sole proprietors, and many more.
It’s also sometimes referred to as “95 Number”.
Should I Pay Extra for an EIN?
This depends on you.
Acquiring an EIN from the IRS is simple and free. All you need to do is fill out a simple form.
That said, you may lack the time to go and do this yourself. You may want to pay that little extra to your LLC service for convenience since they already have your information ready anyway.
What is a Registered Agent and Why Should I Get One?
A registered agent is a person who represents your company when receiving government alerts and correspondence.
Most states require businesses to have a registered agent before they can file for formation in that state.
While you can act as your own registered agent, we highly recommend you get one because a registered agent service protects your personal privacy, helps you avoid your junk mail, and makes sure you never miss an important delivery.
Most LLC formation companies offer this service either as part of their pricing packages or as a separate service.
Is the LLC the Best Entity for My Business?
This depends on your business needs.
Each business has different needs so there’s really no be-all-end-all answer when it comes to business entities.
An LLC is perfect for small businesses but it may not be advisable for larger companies. Corporations have distinct advantages that LLC can’t match.
When Should I Start an LLC?
In our opinion:
It’s best to start your LLC before conducting any business in any state. This is because an LLC helps you avoid risks that are inherent in sole proprietorships or general partnerships.
LLCs let you limit your business liability to its assets so you don’t have to worry about your company’s debts spilling into your personal assets.
Can You Buy Stock in an LLC?
Unfortunately for large LLC businesses, you can’t buy or sell the business’s stock. This is a luxury left for corporations. After all, if stock is important to you, it can attract investors—then consider registering as a corporation over an LLC.
In this regard, small businesses are better off registering as LLCs than large ones. Your little eCommerce store or similar operation probably won’t become the next Amazon, so you’re safe from this LLC-con.
How Important Is a Refund Policy?
With the companies above, it’s unlikely that you’ll need a refund. It’s difficult to find reasons that warrant a refund in this line of work as it is unless the customer service is terrible and the company isn’t fulfilling promises.
That said, a refund policy shows integrity and confidence in a company’s work. Even though you’ll probably never need it, choosing a company with a refund policy is a smart move as it may indicate a moral code of conduct that companies without a refund may lack.
Summary & Conclusion
At the end of the long business day, you should choose a business route that works for you. When going with an LLC, you’ve narrowed it down but still need to find a suitable provider.
The best LLC service will cater to your needs as a business of any size in any field. Although you need to find one for your needs, ZenBusiness is one to consider. It’s the most reasonably priced here, excluding the two with free packages.
Despite the low price, the quality of the service has thousands of positive reviews. It’s a clear sign that ZenBusiness knows how to keep customers satisfied.