Best overall value
Northwest Registered Agent LLC Formation
Unpack Money score: 92/100
Verified Oct 8, 2026$39 flat with a free year of the cheapest registered agent ($125/yr after). No upsell tiers.
Home / Small Business / Best LLC Formation Services
Small Business · All prices verified 2026-10-08
Best LLC formation services (2026)
Forming an LLC is mostly paperwork: articles of organization filed with your state, plus a registered agent to receive legal documents. The state filing fee — set by your state, typically $50 to $500+ — is unavoidable and is never included in the package prices below. What you're really choosing between is how much hand-holding you get, what's bundled in, and what the ongoing costs look like. Every price on this page was verified against each provider's official site on October 8, 2026.
The headline finding: the cheapest credible option we verified is $39 flat (Northwest), and three providers offer $0 packages (Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom Basic). But the package price is only the first number — the registered agent renewal, which every LLC needs every year, ranges from $125/year to $249/year depending on provider, and two providers include the first year free. We unpack the true first-year and ongoing cost of each service, including the auto-renewing trials buried in the footnotes.
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Our top picks
Best free entry
Bizee LLC Formation
Unpack Money score: 88/100
Verified Oct 8, 2026$0 package with a free first year of registered agent. Watch the $149/yr renewal after year one.
Best guided experience
ZenBusiness LLC Formation
Unpack Money score: 86/100
Verified Oct 8, 2026$0 Starter with a 100% accuracy guarantee and compliance monitoring. Agent is $199/yr extra.
Best for attorney access
LegalZoom LLC Formation
Unpack Money score: 81/100
Verified Oct 23, 2026The only service bundling real attorney consultations — but watch the auto-renewing trials.
Compare all options
| Product | Starting price | Free trial / plan | Best for | Our score | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent LLC Formation Verified Oct 8, 2026 | From $39 + state fees | No trial (one-time service) | Founders who want the lowest honest total cost and strong privacy protections | 92/100 | Check price |
| Bizee LLC Formation Verified Oct 8, 2026 | From $0 + state filing fee | No trial (one-time service) | Budget founders who want to form for $0 and get a free year of registered agent service | 88/100 | Check price |
| ZenBusiness LLC Formation Verified Oct 8, 2026 | From $0 + state fees | No trial (one-time service) | First-time founders who want guided formation with compliance monitoring built in | 86/100 | Check price |
| LegalZoom LLC Formation Verified Oct 23, 2026 | From $0 + state filing fees | No trial (one-time service) | Founders who want attorney access bundled with formation and trust the biggest brand | 81/100 | Check price |
Prices verified from each provider's official site — oldest check 2026-10-08. Prices change — confirm before you buy.
Make your decision
Not just a table — here's how to choose, who should walk away, and our verdict.
At a glance
| Aspect | Northwest Registered Agent LLC Formation Verified Oct 8, 2026 | Bizee LLC Formation Verified Oct 8, 2026 | ZenBusiness LLC Formation Verified Oct 8, 2026 | LegalZoom LLC Formation Verified Oct 23, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Founders who want the lowest honest total cost and strong privacy protections | Budget founders who want to form for $0 and get a free year of registered agent service | First-time founders who want guided formation with compliance monitoring built in | Founders who want attorney access bundled with formation and trust the biggest brand |
| Cost | From $39 + state fees · No trial (one-time service) | From $0 + state filing fee · No trial (one-time service) | From $0 + state fees · No trial (one-time service) | From $0 + state filing fees · No trial (one-time service) |
| Main advantage | Lowest total first-year cost of the four services we verified, with the registered agent included | The only $0 package we verified that still includes a free first year of registered agent service | 100% accuracy guarantee backs every filing | The only service we verified that bundles real attorney consultations into formation packages |
| Biggest drawback | State filing fees are extra on top of the $39, as with every provider | State filing fees are extra on every package, as with all providers | State filing fees are extra on every package | State filing fees are extra on every package |
Choose the right one
Choose Northwest Registered Agent LLC Formation if…
- you want the lowest honest total cost with no upsell maze
- you value privacy protections and the cheapest long-term agent rate ($125/year)
Choose Bizee LLC Formation if…
- you want to form for $0 and get a free first year of registered agent
- you've priced the $149/year agent renewal and it still works for you
Choose ZenBusiness LLC Formation if…
- you want guided formation with a 100% accuracy guarantee
- compliance monitoring handled for you is worth the $199/year agent add-on
Choose LegalZoom LLC Formation if…
- you expect to use the attorney consultations and document library in year one
- you've set a calendar reminder for the $49/month trial auto-renewal
Neither is ideal if…
- you haven't chosen a state yet — form where you'll actually operate, not where fees are lowest
- you need legal advice about structure (LLC vs S-corp) — that's a CPA or attorney conversation
- you're forming in a state with publication requirements — budget that separately
Better alternatives
Unpack Money Verdict
Northwest is the best overall value: $39 flat, a free year of the cheapest registered agent, and no upsell tiers. Bizee's $0 entry is the cheapest start but the agent renewal costs more. ZenBusiness is the most guided experience. LegalZoom only makes sense if you'll actually use the attorney access — otherwise you're paying for the brand. Whatever you pick, remember the EIN is free from the IRS and state fees are extra everywhere.
Saved comparisons live on your dashboard — in your browser only.
Northwest Registered Agent LLC Formation
Verified Oct 8, 2026Northwest Registered Agent charges a single $39 package (plus state fees) for LLC formation — no tiered upsells. The package includes your articles filed in all 50 states, an operating agreement, a banking resolution, business address use, and a full year of registered agent service, which renews at $125/year. Northwest's stated policy is 'same price for 20 years' on the registered agent service, with no rate hikes.
Pricing tiers
- LLC Formation: $39 + state fees — Single package: articles filed, operating agreement, banking resolution, business address use, 1 year of registered agent service free, free business identity bundle (domain, website, phone line, professional email)
What we like
- Lowest total first-year cost of the four services we verified, with the registered agent included
- $125/year registered agent renewal is the cheapest we verified, with a stated no-rate-hike policy
- Privacy-by-default approach — your personal data is minimized, not sold
- No tiered packages means no upsell maze at checkout
Watch out for
- State filing fees are extra on top of the $39, as with every provider
- Single package only — no premium tier with extras like bookkeeping or legal-plan bundles
- No EIN service explicitly listed in the package contents we reviewed
- No published turnaround-time commitment; processing speed depends on your state
Bizee LLC Formation
Verified Oct 8, 2026Bizee (formerly Incfile) offers LLC formation starting at $0 plus the state filing fee. Every package — including the free Basic — includes the first year of registered agent service free. Standard ($199) adds an operating agreement and expedited filing; Premium ($299) adds a business domain, business email, and compliance alerts. Bizee's stated policy is 'no required upgrades and no automatic add-ons.'
Pricing tiers
- Basic: $0 + state filing fee — Name search, document preparation and filing, status tracking, approval notification, 1st-year registered agent free
- Standard: $199 + state filing fee — Everything in Basic, plus operating agreement, business contracts, expedited filing
- Premium: $299 + state filing fee — Everything in Standard, plus business domain, business email, business contracts library, compliance alerts
What we like
- The only $0 package we verified that still includes a free first year of registered agent service
- No automatic add-ons or forced upgrades at checkout, per Bizee's stated policy
- Standard's $199 price includes expedited filing and an operating agreement
- Straightforward three-tier structure with clear contents
Watch out for
- State filing fees are extra on every package, as with all providers
- Registered agent renews at $149/year after the free first year — higher than Northwest's $125
- Basic is minimal: no operating agreement and no EIN service listed
- No published turnaround-time commitment on the package page
ZenBusiness LLC Formation
Verified Oct 8, 2026ZenBusiness offers LLC formation from $0 plus state fees on its Starter plan, which includes a name availability search, articles preparation and filing, a 100% accuracy guarantee, and Worry-Free Compliance free for the first year. Pro ($199/year) adds 1-business-day processing, an operating agreement, and an EIN; Premium ($299/year) adds a domain, business email, and a business advisor consultation. The registered agent is a $199/year add-on, not included in any package.
Pricing tiers
- Starter: $0 + state fees — Name search, articles preparation and filing, 100% accuracy guarantee, Worry-Free Compliance free first year, compliance alerts, dashboard, Velo AI guidance (7–10 business day filing)
- Pro: $199/yr + state fees — Everything in Starter, plus 1-business-day processing, operating agreement template, EIN, logo builder kit, Worry-Free Compliance included
- Premium: $299/yr + state fees — Everything in Pro, plus domain name with privacy, business email, business documents library, business advisor consultation
What we like
- 100% accuracy guarantee backs every filing
- Compliance monitoring is built in rather than sold separately
- 1-business-day processing on Pro is the fastest stated turnaround we verified
- No contracts on the formation service itself — Pro and Premium are annual plans you can leave
Watch out for
- State filing fees are extra on every package
- Registered agent ($199/year) is an add-on, not included — unlike Northwest and Bizee's free first year
- Pro and Premium are annual subscriptions ($199/$299 renewals), not one-time fees
- The 30-day website builder trial is preselected at checkout and renews at $15/month if not removed
LegalZoom LLC Formation
Verified Oct 23, 2026LegalZoom offers LLC formation from $0 plus state filing fees on its Basic package, which covers articles of organization, a business name check, and a tax consultation. Pro ($249) adds an operating agreement, EIN, unlimited 30-minute attorney consultations (via a 30-day Business Attorney Plan trial), 150+ legal document templates, and eSignatures. Premium ($299) adds bookkeeping tools. The registered agent service ($249/year) is sold separately and is not included in any package.
Pricing tiers
- Basic: $0 + state filing fees — Articles of organization filed, business name check, tax consultation from 1-800Accountant
- Pro: $249 + state filing fees — Everything in Basic, plus operating agreement, EIN, unlimited 30-minute attorney consultations (30-day trial), 150+ legal documents (1 year), unlimited eSignatures (1 year), customizable website
- Premium: $299 + state filing fees — Everything in Pro, plus bookkeeping tools (6-month subscription)
What we like
- The only service we verified that bundles real attorney consultations into formation packages
- 150+ legal document templates and a year of eSignatures add genuine value on Pro
- Largest brand recognition of the four — useful if name familiarity matters to you
- Basic's $0 filing covers the essentials with a name check and tax consultation
Watch out for
- State filing fees are extra on every package
- The 30-day Business Attorney Plan trial auto-renews at $49/month unless cancelled
- Premium's bookkeeping tools auto-renew at $9.99/month after the included 6 months
- Registered agent ($249/year) is not bundled — the priciest agent rate we verified
- LegalZoom is not a law firm; attorney services come from independent attorneys
How we rate LLC formation services
Our editorial score starts with the true first-year cost — package price plus state fees plus the registered agent situation — then adjusts for what's bundled (operating agreement, EIN, compliance monitoring), pricing transparency (auto-renewing trials and add-ons cost points), and ongoing renewal rates. A $0 package with a $249/year agent renewal scores below a $39 package with a $125/year renewal. Every price is verified against the provider's official site — never review aggregators — and date-stamped. Read our full rating methodology.
FAQs
How much does it really cost to form an LLC?
Two parts: the state filing fee ($50–$500+ depending on your state, paid to the state) plus the service's package ($0–$39 for the cheapest options we verified). Then budget the registered agent: $125–$249/year ongoing, with the first year free at Northwest and Bizee.
Do I need a registered agent?
Yes — every state requires your LLC to maintain one to receive legal and tax documents. You can be your own agent in most states, but your address becomes public record. Paid agent services run $125–$249/year.
What's the catch with $0 LLC formation packages?
Usually the upsells: the registered agent renewal, compliance packages, and add-ons at checkout. Bizee's $0 Basic is the cleanest we verified (no forced add-ons, per its stated policy), but its agent renews at $149/year. Always price the second year, not just the first.
Should I pay extra for an operating agreement and EIN?
An operating agreement is strongly recommended for every LLC (some states effectively require one), and an EIN is free directly from the IRS — never pay a service just for an EIN you can get free at irs.gov. Northwest includes the operating agreement at $39; ZenBusiness and LegalZoom include it from their mid tiers up.
Is LegalZoom worth the premium?
Only if you'll use the attorney consultations and document library — it's the only service we verified that bundles real attorney access into formation. If you just need the filing done, Northwest's $39 package covers more of the essentials for far less.
How does Unpack Money make money?
We may earn compensation when you click certain links or sign up for products through our site — clearly disclosed wherever it appears. Compensation may affect where products appear, but it does not determine our editorial evaluations or scores. Learn more.
Sources
Every price on this page was verified against each provider's official website. Verification dates differ by provider — the oldest is 2026-10-08. We never use aggregator sites as sources.
- Northwest Registered Agent official pricing (verified 2026-10-08)
- Bizee official pricing (verified 2026-10-08)
- ZenBusiness official pricing (verified 2026-10-08)
- LegalZoom official pricing (verified 2026-10-23)