Best LLC Services
Starting your business can be both exhilarating and cumbersome, with mountains of paperwork and planning needed to ensure that your business structure and finances are in order before you can begin chasing your dreams.
This is why many new entrepreneurs look to some of the leading LLC services which can help you set up a limited liability company in a matter of minutes, all from the comfort of your home. Our in-depth reviews of these services are meant to showcase the market leaders and save you precious time and money that you can spend better elsewhere.
Best LLC Services for December 2024
A household name with a long track record and thousands of happy customers, ZenBusiness offers a lot of bang for your buck, including a free accounting and tax assessment as well as registered agent services for up to a year with all plans. Read more
- •Registered agent services included
- •Easy-to-use platform
- •Support by phone or chat
- •Business operation services
A reputable name in the business, LegalZoom provides a plethora of legal and accounting services with business formation at the forefront. They offer a well-tiered subscription structure that suits the needs of most people and even have a free tier to get you started with important documentation. Read more
- •Great reputation
- •Unlimited legal and accounting consultations
- •Wide range of services
Bizee offers one of the best deals in the industry with unlimited name availability searches, a free registered agent service, and much more at no cost for a year when first signing up. The company’s services are affordable in general, but they don’t compromise quality. Read more
- •Great prices
- •Registered agent free with every package
- •Easy order placement
Tailor Brands is perhaps best known for its website and logo design services. But this is also a professional LLC creation service that walks a business owner through every step of the process. In fact, more than 500,000 businesses have been launched with Tailor Brands. Read more
- •Fast online preparation and filing
- •Lots of add-ons
- •Dedicated support
While it might not be the most affordable option around, Northwest Registered Agent offers top-tier service at reasonable prices, customizable plans, and the very popular same-day application processing service. Read more
- •Registered agent included
- •One-day processing
- •Customizable plans
A well-respected company with more than 30 years of industry experience, Inc Authority is a very popular choice due to its fantastic basic plan that includes free registered agent services for up to a year. Read more
- •Free basic plan
- •Fast and easy setup
- •Free 1st year of registered agent support
MyCompanyWorks is a good solution for people in a hurry. While its plans are by no means the most affordable ones on our list, it’s very rare for a company to offer same-day processing starting at just $79 per application. Read more
- •Three pricing tiers with a long list of services
- •Fast processing and relatively quick turnaround
- •Multiple avenues of customer support
As the name implies, Swyft Filings is a company that prides itself on some of the swiftest LLC filing services on the market. The company also offers lifetime customer support and plenty of other useful perks at a very reasonable price. Read more
- •Renowned company
- •Top-notch customer service
- •Fast incorporation
Harbor Compliance offers a comprehensive business formation process for all business types and entities. The company’s main selling point for any business owner is its team of compliance specialists that support clients through the entire process of LLC incorporation. Moreover, the high-tier pricing plan offers unlimited online support to ensure efficient business management and worry-free compliance with state regulations. Read more
- •Leading compliance provider
- •Fast online preparation and filing
- •Reliable
1-800Accountant serves as an online accounting consultancy, providing a bundled array of services aimed at assisting those who are in the process of starting an LLC. With competitive pricing structures, it stands as a compelling choice for anyone looking to establish an LLC. Read more
- •Quick and easy application
- •Affordable plans
- •Experienced CPAs
BetterLegal is a Texas-based online business formation service provider. It stands out among other similar companies thanks to its comprehensive offer of additional services. Tax analysis, website creation, and insurance evaluation are all free services you can benefit from as a client of BetterLegal. However, the services of a registered agent are not part of its free bundle. Read more
- •Free additional services
- •Fast processing time
- •Positive customer reviews
This company doesn’t focus solely on preparing and filing articles of organization. MyCorporation also offers services like EIN registration, tax filing, and registered agent support. Read more
- •Positive customers reviews
- •Four pricing plans with lots of add-ons
- •Excellent customer support
As the name suggests, Rocket Lawyer offers you legal services of professionally licensed attorneys who draft up and get your LLC documents processed in record time. Rocket Lawyer also offers one-off payment or subscription options, depending on your needs. Read more
- •Free trial
- •Registered agent available
- •Legal advice from lawyers
In addition to helping you establish an LLC, Nationwide specializes in providing financial advisory and legal services at an affordable price. The company prepares and files your documents quickly and without errors and could be a great service for those who also need online legal assistance. Read more
- •Attorney support
- •A reputable company
- •Wide range of services
InCorp’s portfolio includes more than 150,000 active clients, which says a lot about this company’s reputation. Its application process can take a while, but clients are generally very satisfied with InCorp’s service. Read more
- •Live chat support
- •Registered agent service
- •Available in Spanish
LegalNature specializes in providing legal forms and services to both individuals and businesses. Thanks to its easy-to-use dashboard, fast and reliable customer support, and cost-effective business formation services, LegalNature has hundreds of satisfied clients and many positive reviews on BBB and Trustpilot. Read more
- •Easy to use
- •Rich library of legal forms
- •Affordable
Top 5 LLC Services - Our Picks for 2024:
- ZenBusiness - Wide variety of additional services
Bizee - Registered agent free with every package
Tailor Brands - Best website and logo creator
- Northwest Registered Agent - Customizable plans
- Inc Authority - Free basic plan
How We Evaluate LLC Services
With so many providers to choose from, it’s hard for small business owners not to feel overwhelmed with all of the available options. To narrow them down, we’ve created a list of criteria to look out for when reviewing these services. Below, you’ll find the formula we used in our reviews.
Price and Value
The best things in life may be free, but LLC services usually aren’t. While there is a state filing fee to consider, registered filing agents will also charge you for the services that they provide. Given that a single product can hardly suit each customer, most business formation services offer tiered pricing plans.
Any company worth its salt will have clearly explained plans and let their customers know what exactly they are getting for their money. Some may even offer basic LLC filing services for free, but don’t expect too much.
At the end of the day, it’s all about the relative value of what the company offers compared to the competitors, even those that may have a free package.
Main Features
Picking an LLC service comes down to more than price. Many companies provide a variety of services, but there are two basic elements that most of them offer: assistance with LLC formation and registered agent support. In addition, most offer help with creating the Articles of Organization and the Operating Agreement.
Setting up an LLC is usually the most stressful part of running your own business. Unless you’re well-versed in legal matters or one of your buddies is a lawyer, the vast amount of legal paperwork needed to form an LLC will probably scare you off. Online services can take care of all the necessary corporate filings for your LLC while adhering to state-specific laws and regulations.
The leading companies will also provide you with registered agents that shoulder the burden of dealing with legal documents for you. Some may even offer the first year of registered agent support for free.
Every business needs a local representative, so if you operate in multiple states, you can incur substantial legal fees. This is where registered agent services come in handy, especially considering that most LLC service providers offer this feature at no additional cost for anywhere between six months to a year.
Additional Services
In addition to helping you form an LLC and handling legal documents, these services may provide other forms of assistance to help you run your business.
Companies in this sector can offer supplementary features such as annual report filing, amendments, LLC publication services, EIN, trademark registration, foreign qualification, business licenses, seller’s permits, office supplies, virtual offices, legal services, business advisory plans, and dissolution filing.
Just because you’ve taken care of the basic LLC setup doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty more potentially complex legal matters affecting companies of all sizes, including small businesses.
Turnaround Time
Turnaround time is a big factor, especially for people who need to have their organization operational as soon as possible. While it’s not something that depends solely on your LLC company, and various state-specific regulations can slow things down to a crawl, it’s still an important factor to consider when picking your provider.
Company Reputation
Considering that this market is becoming more competitive each day, it’s important to take the time to explore your options before making a final decision.
A good business reputation is hard to build. It’s even harder to maintain, but it’s really easy to destroy. While online customer reviews speak volumes about how the general public sees the company, these can also be misleading due to practices like review bombing.
To get a more accurate picture, we also took a look at each company’s Better Business Bureau rating if applicable, as these typically provide a much more balanced way of gauging a company’s reputation.
The BBB considers not only customer reviews, but the length of time a provider has been in business, the transparency of its business practices, and many other relevant factors.
Customer Support
Even a fantastic service may give you headaches at some point. Or maybe you’re just an inquisitive type and want to know more about the company’s offer before signing up, and the platform just isn’t providing the information you need.
High-quality customer support is an essential part of any business model. The leading sites should always have a reputable customer care team. If a service doesn’t provide a dedicated phone line and an email support platform, it will make its job as a mediator between your company and the state much more difficult.
Detailed Reviews of LLC Formation Services
ZenBusiness
- • Registered agent services included
- • Easy-to-use platform
- • Business operation services
With an A- rating on the Better Business Bureau and overwhelmingly positive online reviews, the company’s reputation really does precede it.
ZenBusiness tries to accommodate different budgets. The three main plans on offer are the $0 + state fees Starter plan, the $199 Pro option, and the $349 Premium package. These prices don’t include state filing fees.
Every package comes with preparation and filing of the formation documents, name availability search, a free accounting and tax assessment for your company, an LLC agreement, and, most importantly, registered agent services.
These are free for all packages within the first 12 months, after which the cost is $119 per year.
The Pro package adds banking resolution, EIN filing assistance, faster document filing, and a so-called worry-free guarantee. It’s a good service for people who want to pay a lump sum each year and forget all about document filing.
This plan includes automated annual report filing plus two amendments per year, complete with an alert system that notifies you about important filing dates for taxes, and other government paperwork.
Finally, if you want the fastest possible turnaround rates and to promote your business online, you should take a look at the Premium plan. In addition to rush filing, you’ll also get your own business website, complete with a domain name and business email address.
Features such as worry-free compliance and registered agent services can also be purchased separately, along with certificates of publication that some states still require from new LLCs. However, worry-free compliance comes free for the first year and if accepted it renews at $199 per year.
Everything about the user experience at ZenBusiness is stellar. The signup process is straightforward. Simply select your business type and state, pick the plan you want and any add-ons, and the site will show you a list of your selected services along with the cost.
The company's customer support is available through live chat and phone from Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
ZenBusiness’s support agents are also available on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition to working on weekends, the staff is also reachable through social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
The company may not be the most affordable provider, but it’s hard to beat its list of fantastic services and great customer support.
LegalZoom
- • Great reputation
- • Unlimited legal and accounting consultations
- • Wide range of services
With a long and reputable history, LegalZoom has been one of the leading services since 2001. Its competitive edge comes from the wide plethora of services it offers which pair well with the formation of a new business to provide a one-stop shop for all legal and accounting needs.
They offer three tiers for business formation, starting at $0 + state filing fees for their BASIC service which offers only the rudimentary information you need to set up and register your business.
For this tier they provide articles of organization, the document needed to officially register your LLC with the state, a name check service to confirm that your preferred business name is valid and available to be reserved, a digital welcome packet which includes a step-by-step checklist to follow after your LLC is officially registered and they help you set up a customizable website which is powered by WIX.
Their second PRO tier and first paid tier comes at $249 + state filing fees and it includes everything from the BASIC tier plus An operating agreement, which is required for you to set entity guidelines and settle disputes, an EIN used to file taxes, open bank accounts and build your team, a guide to business licenses tailored for your location and industry, initial consultations via phone with a specialist regarding business insurance and taxes.
If you’re in need of dedicated support and an experienced attorney that will help you run your business right, LegalZoom offers their PREMIUM tier for $299 + state filing fees.
This tier comes with everything from the PRO package plus dedicated guidance from an experienced business attorney that you can choose depending on your state and years of experience in running a business. Unlimited number of 30-minute consultations about legal topics related to your business during the first 30 days as well as any changes you may require to your LLC formation documents within the first 30 days.
Forming a business with LegalZoom is very simple. They offer an easy to follow questionnaire that will get you started as well as a dedicated support team that’s available Monday-Friday 5:00-19:00 PT and on the weekends 5:00-16:00 PT.
Bizee
- • Affordable
- • Registered agent free with every package
- • Easy order placement
Founded back in 2004 in Houston, Texas, the company has surged in popularity over the last decade, helping more than 250,000 companies with business compliance and other legal issues.
The formula for Bizee’s success includes exceptional business filing and registered agent services, completely free for your first year. All you’ll have to pay are the state filing fees.
There are three packages available: Basic, Standard, and Premium. They cost $119, $149, and $299, respectively (plus state fees, of course). The best part is that the starting Basic package is completely free during the first year, and no one is forcing you to renew your subscription.
So what exactly does zero dollars get you? The Basic package comes with unlimited name availability searches, a completely free registered agent, a business banking account, a Standard corporate kit, online order status tracking, next-day business processing, lifetime alerts from the company notifying you about compliance changes, and even a business website.
We could go on listing features, but it’s best to mention what’s missing. To get an EIN/tax ID, an operating agreement, a banking resolution document, and the ability to list your LLC as either S-Corp or C-Corp for tax purposes, you’ll need to move up to the $149 Standard plan.
Finally, the Premium package includes everything in the previous two plans as well as expedited filing, business contract templates, and a domain name with a business email for one year. It also includes a platinum version of the corporate kit from the Standard package, adding a company seal to the already luxurious offer.
You can also invest any extra cash you may have on individually payable services such as annual reports ($99 per year), a virtual mailbox for $29 per month, a letter of good standing for $49, or a foreign qualification for $149. You can combine the individual services with the preset packages - just remember that most filing-related ones come with filing fees.
The signup process is very quick, and you’ll always have a clear idea of what you are paying for. But we must note that some customers do complain about customer service. While it may not be the quickest company around when it comes to response times, the customer support agents will do their best to help you via phone or email on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST.
Overall, Bizee is a fantastic service. A cheap setup is great, but a completely free one is even better. And despite the low price, these guys don’t skimp out on features. If you can deal with slightly slower customer service, this is one of the better choices on the market today.
Tailor Brands
- • Affordable basic LLC service
- • Great customer support
- • Website and logo maker
Tailor Brands was founded in 2014 and offers a range of services to help customers kick start their business. It enables clients to do everything from building a unique online brand identity to form an LLC.
For starters, Tailor Brands delivers an extremely fast and easy filling process. Tailor Brands allows you to create your application online and submit all the documents without visiting a physical address.
Tailor Brands offer a beginner-friendly application process that starts with choosing a name for your LLC and the state you want to be registered in. While Tailor Brands offers service in all 50 states, it doesn’t offer you the possibility to form any other business entity, like C-corp or S-corp.
The online wizard will lead you through the whole LLC creation process, requiring you to provide your business information and choose the additional service you want to purchase.
When it comes to pricing, Tailor Brands is not the most affordable solution on the market. For name search and basic filing service, you’ll need to pay $49 plus state filing fees.
The plan doesn’t include an operating agreement, EIN registration, or registered agent service. Some companies offer free filing and name search, so the only expense you need to cover is the state filing fees.
Moreover, there are providers with a free registered agent service for one year. For this service, Tailor Brands charges $199 per year.
When it comes to other costs, there are many add-ons that you can either purchase at Tailor Brands or look for somewhere else. For example, an EIN registration will cost you $99, which is a slightly higher price tag than with other providers. An operating agreement costs $29.
If you need a website for your business, Tailor Brands is a good choice. The online builder will help you design both your website and your logo. Plus, there are additional services that you can use, including SEO, business emails, and domain hosting.
If you choose to file your LLC with Tailor Brands, you may have to wait for up to four weeks before you receive EIN in the mail. There is a faster option that delivers your business documents within six to eight business days, but this service costs extra.
Northwest Registered Agent
- • Registered agent included
- • One-day processing
- • Customizable plans
Northwest Registered Agent has been around since 1998. Its BBB rating is A- (not accredited), and the customer review average of 4.4 stars shows that the company has a loyal customer base.
With perks like same-day processing and customizable plans, as well as free services from a registered agent for a year, there’s plenty to like here.
The company has three standard plans - Basic, Deluxe, and Premium. They all come with free agent services in the first year as well as lifetime customer support, but you’ll need to pay state filing fees on top of the standard package costs.
The vendor starts things off with its $79 Basic plan, which includes everything you’ll need for the initial business formation process: name search, registration, and filing of all the relevant documents.
The $179 Deluxe package includes everything from the Basic plan while adding useful features aimed at helping existing LLCs expand their business.
Namely, the company processes your Employer Identification Number orders and provides you with an operating agreement, which details the ownership structure of your LLC.
Finally, if you’re willing to pay another $20 ($199 + state fees in total), you can choose the Premium package. In addition to everything we’ve already mentioned, your application will also get priority processing, which means that all of the required paperwork will be filed on the day you apply.
In addition to these packages, Northwest Registered Agent offers plenty of pay-per-use services. Aside from paying your agent $125 per year after the first free year, you can also get annual compliance checks for $100 per year, a certificate of good standing for a one-off payment of $60, or premium mail forwarding for $40 per month.
Other services include international market certification for your business, phone forwarding, FMCSA BOC-3 filing, and FCC 499-A registration.
It takes around 10 minutes to complete an application, and the site guides you throughout the process.
You can also switch between sections with ease, enhance your package with add-ons, and go back to correct any part of the application with a simple click.
The customer support team is also excellent. You can reach out to agents by sending an email, using a web form, or calling the dedicated support line. Support is available from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Monday and Friday.
Overall, we were pretty impressed by Northwest Registered Agent. It’s certainly not the cheapest agency around but bear in mind that you get the services of a registered agent for a whole year without paying a dime.
MyCompanyWorks
- • Three-tier pricing strategy with a long list of services
- • Fast processing and quick turnaround
- • Multiple customer support avenues
MyCompanyWorks is another name on our list with almost two decades of experience. Its journey dates back to 2001, when it started as MyNewCompany, a service designed to help with the formation of new companies.
Like most of its competitors, MyCompanyWorks offers three different LLC packages and an array of bonus features that you can purchase separately.
One great thing about the site is that unlimited customer support and same-day processing are available with all packages at no additional cost.
The Basic package costs $79 plus state filing fees and comes with all the essentials, such as name availability search and articles of organization. You’ll also get an LLC operating agreement, which most other companies leave for their more expensive packages.
The $199 Entrepreneur package adds features that every service needs to have: EIN processing, an LLC kit, company seal, and member certificates. Also, customers get lifetime access to a huge library of company forms, such as contracts, purchase agreements, leases, maintenance, and tax forms.
Finally, paying $279 plus filing fees for the Complete LLC package delivers everything from the previously described plans, plus registered filing agent services.
We should also mention that all plans include free company alerts notifying you of approaching compliance deadlines and educational resources for new businesses and startups.
MyCompanyWorks offers some interesting bonus features as well. For example, you can get the Business License Compliance Package for $99, and the same sum will get you a WordPress website with one year of free hosting.
The company offers a 100% money-back guarantee. You can easily get in touch with the customer service team at any time between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.
Another excellent option offered is the $99 per year Premium subscription, which basically automates compliance and security for your company.
In addition to standard filing services and compliance alerts, you’ll also get an e-ledger and access to e-certificates, 5 GB of cloud storage for documents, and priority customer support.
MyCompanyWorks may be a good choice for people who need to get things done in a hurry. In addition to unmatched one-day filing services across all plans, the site’s interface is very easy to use and intuitive.
Getting your entire application ready should take no more than 10 minutes. All you need is a company name, shipping address, and the name of your registered agent. From there, you can pick a package and any additional services you need, including registered filing agents.
Overall, we were very impressed by MyCompanyWorks. It has competitive prices and a very friendly and helpful customer support team. The only downside is the high cost for the services of a registered filing agent.
Swyft Filings
- • Renowned company
- • Outstanding customer reviews
- • Fast incorporation
Despite being in business for less than a decade, Swyft Filings has quickly made a name for itself as one of the most affordable companies on the market.
Swyft Filings offers three core packages: Basic, Standard, and Premium. The starting Basic plan costs only $0 plus state filing fees. That money gets you basic filing services, including name availability verification, an LLC organizer statement, and articles of organization.
You also get lifetime customer support and access to your incorporation documents online, as well as a free business tax consultation in the form of a 30-minute webinar.
Swyft will also cover the cost of your company’s web domain and alert you about any legal compliance changes through its ComplianceGuard alerts.
While the best value is found in the Basic package, the other two plans have some useful features as well.
For $199 plus filing fees, the Standard plan will get you everything from the Basic package plus EIN filing and an LLC operating agreement, as well as a resolution document if you need to open a bank account for your LLC.
If you want to splurge, the $299-plus-fees Premium plan has everything in the Standard package and adds the immediate electronic delivery of your LLC’s legal documents.
You’ll also get a free website for your company with three months of web hosting and a digital LLC kit with 20 customized stock certificates, a ledger, and a digital company name seal.
While Swyft Filings offers possibly the cheapest service, some features available for free with companies such as Inc Authority have to be paid for here. For example, the services of a registered filing agent will cost you $149 per year.
The company also offers other useful services for a one-time fee, such as amendments or dissolution services for your LLC, business licenses and permits, or annual report filing. These all cost between $99 and $149 per service.
Finally, the company offers a 100% money-back guarantee without any cancellation fees as long as you make a reasonable case for not being satisfied with the service you receive.
In terms of user experience, Swyft Filings is not the finest platform around. The initial process can be needlessly complicated, taking up to half an hour of navigating through various pages and upsell offers.
Once everything is set up, though, and your LLC is registered, you’ll get access to an excellent user dashboard that enables you to keep track of how your business is doing.
Customer support is also excellent. The friendly and knowledgeable staff can be reached via email, live chat, or phone from Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST.
Overall, Swyft Filings is a great service with very competitive prices, excellent turnaround times (usually three business days, same day with rush service), and fantastic customer support.
Harbor Compliance
- • Leading compliance provider
- • Fast online preparation and filing
- • Reliable
Established in 2012, Harbor Compliance is best known for providing online compliance services to businesses from various industries.
The company has already helped over 25,000 clients apply for and maintain state-specific licenses. Its main selling point is a modern software solution that helps you stay up to date with licensing renewal deadlines.
Harbor Compliance allows you to form any type of business entity you want, including LLCs and corporations. The service is available through the company’s modern website that many online reviews praise for its navigability.
To set up an LLC, you need to provide elementary information about your business. You can do that through a website form or by getting in touch with one of the company’s agents.
Unlike most other providers, Harbor Compliance offers dedicated support for each new client. That means that as soon as you create an account, you’ll get an account manager or a compliance specialist to guide you through the entire process of business formation.
It’s the best way to file an application, especially if you don’t have any experience with preparing and filing legal documents. The company’s agent makes sure that your formation documents don’t have any errors, provides the necessary state-specific forms, and sends them to the right address.
Harbor Compliance is transparent about its services, but for the full pricing list, you’ll need to contact the company. You can choose between two pricing packages: the Formation package and the Compliance package.
Formation includes everything you need for an LLC - business name availability check, articles of organization, operating agreement template, EIN registration, and registered agent.
The formation price is $399, which makes it one of the most expensive providers. However, with this package, you’ll get all the documents and services you need to manage your company.
Harbor Compliance’s packages include a registered agent service, which is billed at $99 per year.
Aside from the LLC setup package, there’s also the Compliance package. It costs $799 and includes all the forms and services from the Formation package plus additional documents that are required in certain states.
For example, some states require businesses to publish a notice of their formation in newspapers. When the ads have run for a required amount of time, Harbor Compliance provides proof to the state in the form of an affidavit.
The package also includes annual report compliance management and filing. This package is beneficial for companies that require long-term support.
One of the reasons why Harbor Compliance is on our list is its excellent customer support team. You’ll get professional support during the entire process of incorporation and, depending on the pricing plan you choose, unlimited support after you are incorporated.
Harbor Compliance holds an A+ rating with BBB and is accredited by the bureau. It has 4.3/5 stars on this site based on 13 customer reviews. Trustpilot rates the site with 3.2/5 stars.
Overall, Harbor Compliance is a reputable company with excellent managers and services in all 50 states. Even though it has expensive pricing options, dozens of positive reviews guarantee that you’ll get the best and the most comprehensive services.
1-800Accountant
- • Quick and easy application
- • Affordable plans
- • Experienced CPAs
1-800Accountant offers three distinct LLC formation packages: Economy, Standard, and Complete. The pricing for these packages commences at $0, exclusive of state fees.
- The Economy package encompasses essential services like customized Articles of Incorporation, verified name availability search, secure online document access, and a complimentary tax savings consultation.
- The Standard package builds upon the Economy package by including a customized Operating Agreement and an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Business Tax Number.
- The Complete package is the most comprehensive, adding priority processing and banking resolution to the mix. It's worth noting that additional services such as EIN, registered agent services, priority processing, and complete compliance can be appended to any package for an incremental fee.
1-800Accountant offers personalized quotes that are contingent on the state in which you intend to form your LLC and your unique business requirements. To get a quote from 1-800Accountant, you'll first need to answer a number of business-related questions, and specify the location of your business.
If your business has footprints in more than one state, the state housing your main office should be your pick. You'll also need to to provide your personal contact details, including your email, phone number, and full name
After this, you’ll be queried about your prior experience in business setup and whether this new venture will serve as your primary source of income.
Based on the data you provide, the platform will recommend the most suitable LLC structure for your business and provide an estimate of your average annual tax savings. Finally, you'll receive three distinct quotes corresponding to each of the packages offered by 1-800Accountant.
These quotes will include both the service fee and the state filing fee pertinent to the state in which your business will be domiciled.
In addition to Limited Liability Corporation formation, 1-800Accountant extends its offerings to other areas such as bookkeeping, tax preparation, and business consulting, making it a great service for those who require a comprehensive accounting solution as well.
BetterLegal
- • Free additional services
- • Fast processing time
- • Excellent user experience
BetterLegal is a Texas-based company that has been offering its services since 2016. It’s a small provider, albeit with a large base of clients across the country.
The well-organized and easily navigable website puts an emphasis on user experience. That’s why the filing process on BetterLegal is straightforward - it doesn’t take more than two minutes to answer all the questions and submit your request.
BetterLegal will ask you to choose the state of formation and the entity type you want to form - a single-member or multimember LLC. How your payroll and tax returns will be calculated depends on the LLC type you choose.
BetterLegal offers only one comprehensive plan. It covers all the necessary documentation you need to properly incorporate and run an LLC: the operating agreement, EIN, banking resolution, and other documents.
The company, however, is definitely not the most affordable one. LLC formation costs $299 plus state filing fees. The registered agent service is not included in the deal, so you’ll need to pay extra for it: $10 per month or $90 per year.
However, BetterLegal service comes with many useful add-ons that won’t cost you a cent. If you need a website for your new company, BetterLegal can help.
Included in its filing plan is the option to create your website and get helpful inventory management tools. Free tax analysis is also available, as well as insurance evaluation.
Most customer reviews on the internet are favorable. The provider has several positive reviews on BBB that praise its services. Compared to many other similar providers, BetterLegal has much faster processing times.
The company says it takes two days to complete and send you documentation. Other clients praise the company’s wide range of additional services and knowledgeable and polite customer support. BetterLegal’s overall score on Trustpilot is 4.8/5.
MyCorporation
- • Excellent customer support
- • Lots of positive reviews
- • Available in all 50 states
Founded in 1998, MyCorporation has so far provided support to more than a million businesses. The company offers business-formation services for LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits.
Aside from providing filing and setting up LLCs, MyCorporation supports business owners during the entire lifecycle of their companies. Whether you need an EIN service or an agent to help you file taxes, MyCorporation is a good choice.
We checked the company’s reputation on Trustpilot. Refreshingly, there were no complaints but only affirmative reviews.
Clients like MyCorporation’s polite and talented agents, who patiently answer questions. Overall, MyCorporation gets 4.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, which is an excellent score.
MyCorporation offers four pricing plans: Basic, Standard, Deluxe, and Premium. You can order LLC formation by selecting the type of company and the state where you want to incorporate it.
The Basic package costs $99 plus state filing fees. It provides essentials like name search and articles of organization. You will also get online storage for keeping your business documents and sharing them with clients or investors.
The next is the Standard plan, which costs $124. It adds only the filing of your annual report to the Basic plan. Neither of the lower-tier pricing options includes a registered agent.
It comes for free for one year only with the high-tier pricing option. After that, the price renews at $120 per year, which is too expensive.
The Deluxe plan costs $224 plus state fees, and the registered agent service is included for the first year. After that, the service renews at $120 per year. That’s a fair price; the same service costs twice as much at LegalZoom.
The $324 Premium plan is the only one that includes the preparation of an operating agreement. That document is essential for every LLC, but at MyCorporation you have to pay extra unless you sign up for the most expensive plan. The best companies include it in their entry-level packages.
That said, the Premium plan’s MaintainMyBiz service is a package of 16 essential and useful documents, including the operating agreement, annual report, and stock certificates. A year of MaintainMyBiz is included with the Premium plan. The service renews at $250 per year.
EIN registration usually costs $79 at MyCorporation, but you can use the coupon code FREEIN to get it for free.
This review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning its customer service. Live chat, email, and phone support are all available. The company’s social media accounts are active, and representatives answer quickly.
We also appreciate the MyCorporation Learning Center, which is packed with useful articles on how to establish and manage your business.
Rocket Lawyer
- • Free trial
- • Registered agent available
- • Legal advice from lawyers
Unlike the industry giants Inc Authority and Northwest Registered Agent, Charley Moore’s Rocket Lawyer started with smaller plans back in 2008.
Nevertheless, what launched as a small-time platform for helping people compile legal documents and get in touch with lawyers quickly became one of the market's leading services.
The key to the website’s amazing success involves an incredibly intuitive interface, a network of expert lawyers, and a 100% money-back guarantee, which underscores the company’s confidence in its product and services.
While most similar services have several tiered plans, things are simpler at Rocket Lawyer. You can either choose a premium monthly membership or pay per service.
There is a one-time $99 payment for a basic LLC creation package. But don’t expect a highly comprehensive service for under a hundred bucks.
All the company will require from you is to fill out your LLC’s information and pay the state fees. Unlike the best offers in the business, though, you don’t get registered agent services unless you pay extra.
To get your registered filing agent, you’ll have to pay $149 per year, or $111 if you already have the premium membership. Rush filing will set you back another $530 but enable processing and filing in one to two business days. State costs are also covered with this fee.
If you want to take your company branding to the next level, an official seal and a binder engraved with your company name are also available as a bonus service for $99.
Remember, Rocket Lawyer’s primary objective is to get you to subscribe to its premium service.
For $39 per month (with a seven-day free trial), you’ll get to form one LLC completely free, consult a lawyer an unlimited number of times for up to 30 minutes per session, create one premium document or contract, get access to a one-time digital contract signing service, access a library of free document templates, and get unlimited support from Rocket Lawyer’s customer service team.
Your subscription will also give you a discount on certain services, such as the aforementioned assistance from a registered filing agent.
While using the intuitive online app, setting up your LLC can be done in less than 10 minutes. If you face any difficulties, you can consult a wealth of helpful articles or get in touch with customer support from Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PST via email, phone, or live chat.
All things considered, Rocket Lawyer is an ideal fit for people who need to get their LLC off the ground without breaking the bank. Ongoing costs are not as cheap as some of the competition, but you can get things off the ground with just one $39 premium membership payment.
Nationwide Incorporators
- • Experienced team of attorneys and financial advisors
- • Reputable company
- • Numerous services available a la carte
Nationwide Incorporators has been in operation for more than 20 years, offering full support for setting up and running LLCs.
This is a reputable company that stands apart from the competition because of its team of experienced lawyers and financial advisors.
One significant benefit of using Nationwide is that you’ll get complete legal advice on which kind of business entity best fits your business. The company will also support you when it comes to tax laws and financial matters.
Nationwide Incorporators is more than a website; it’s a well-established organization that offers attorney services sufficient to help you start and run your business on solid ground.
Nationwide offers three pricing plans: Basic, Priority Deluxe, and Priority Premium. Each package includes standard LLC services: name search and verification plus the preparation and filing of articles of organization.
The main disadvantage of doing business with Nationwide is that it’s expensive. For instance, the Basic plan costs $200 plus state fees, and it doesn’t include the preparation of an operating agreement or acquisition of an EIN.
The Priority Deluxe plan includes these features for a total cost of $425 plus state fees. Nationwide says the plan includes fast filing services, but it doesn’t say how fast is fast.
A good company should provide registered agent services as part of the default contract. Registered agents are required in every US state.
Many of the firms we’ve evaluated offer this service free for six months or a year, after which you need to pay affordable fees in exchange for registered agent service. There’s no free year of service with Nationwide Incorporators. You’ll pay $145 per year starting the first year.
The application process starts out easy. You just select the state and the kind of business entity you’re starting, and away you go.
However, we didn’t care for the website’s user interface. Lots of features, buttons, and text blocks surround the application form, so it is really hard to find it on the home page. The font is too small, and the form was surrounded by lots of interesting, useful, distracting articles.
You can order many services online at Nationwide, but you must contact the company’s sales team and get a quote for some features.
If you need a seller’s permit or sales permit - required if you sell taxable items - you can acquire this document from Nationwide Incorporators.
The company helps you gain permits for your business - including multiple locations - and file all necessary sales tax returns. This $150 service can be purchased a la carte with any pricing model you choose.
InCorp
- • 150,000 active clients
- • Fast document shipping
- • Affordable registered agents
InCorp has been in operation for more than 20 years, offering LLC registration services to entrepreneurs all over the United States.
IncCorp doesn’t focus solely on forming LLCs and corporations; it also offers a wide range of services for helping you manage your business. If you need a registered agent, EIN filing support, or support for entity dissolution, InCorp is the right place for you.
The registered agent receives important legal documents on your company’s behalf. For this reason, the agent must have a physical address in the state where you registered your company.
Like other providers, InCorp has official agents in all 50 states - plus Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The service can be purchased a la carte, and there are several pricing models that depend on the term of your contract.
A five-year contract is very affordable: just $66.56 per year for registered agent services. Discounted two-year and three-year contracts are also available.
InCorp offers a basic package with name search and paperwork filing. The service costs $99 plus state fees. The company also charges an $18 document shipping fee, but at least you’ll have your documents within two business days.
The rest of InCorp’s services can be purchased a la carte. A managed report service, for example, costs $45. It’s a set of tools that will help you prepare and file annual reports effortlessly.
Some tools and services are generally included at no extra charge with other providers. For example, many of the websites we’ve reviewed are loaded with articles, guides, and blogs that explain how to establish and run an LLC, while InCorp charges $24.99 for its guide.
LegalNature
- • Easy to use
- • Rich library of legal forms
- • Affordable
LegalNature, a California-based company that’s been operating for more than 10 years. LegalNature has helped thousands of business owners set up and manage their LLCs, C Corps, S Corps, and nonprofits.
The company’s vast library of state-compliant legal documents and services are also used by individuals for personal affairs.
Customers are especially pleased with the site’s navigational efficiency, the fact that documents are easy to access, and the company’s reliable customer support team.
Perhaps more importantly, the service is affordable. One of the company’s main objectives is to provide legal services for everyone. So whether you want to set up an LLC, transfer property, or write a last will and testament, LegalNature’s library of documents has you covered.
One of the great things about this company is that you can purchase individual legal forms or opt for a more comprehensive legal service and subscribe to some of the company’s pricing packages.
There’s a monthly subscription of $38.95 that provides access to different legal document categories, including business formation, healthcare, estate planning, and landlord forms.
LegalNature helps you set up an LLC in a matter of minutes for just $40 plus the state filing fees. The service includes articles of organization, filing, online document status tracking, and standard GA processing.
LegalNature has an online dashboard where you can track the status of the order, manage your business documents, and get notifications about the next filing date.
In addition, you can use the company’s free tools to decide which state is the best option for your business incorporation. You can compare fees in different states and see how long business formation takes in each state.
This service will cost you less than much of the competition. However, if you want articles of amendment for your LLC, the company charges an additional $75. Articles of dissolution are $99, certificates of good standing are $89, while for certified copies, you need to pay $20.
Also, state law requires every LLC to have a registered agent – a person or service tasked by a business to receive official government correspondence and legal notices. At LegalNature, this service costs $125 per year.
It’s important to note that LegalNature offers its services in all 50 states because a registered agent needs to have a physical address in the state where your company is based.
The cost of starting an LLC may include an Employer Identification Number that needs to be registered with the IRS. LegalNautre charges $70 for this service.
LegalNature’s state-of-the-art dashboard makes it incredibly easy for clients to manage legal documents. It’s also mobile-friendly, so you can access your database from a mobile phone or tablet.
Should you need additional support, you can always contact the company’s customer service agents by phone or email.
Phone support is available from Monday to Friday between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (PST), and on Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (PST). In addition, the company’s site is full of useful guides and articles.
According to numerous customers, LegalNature is an affordable and easy-to-use service. The business is rated with A+ on BBB, and it has 4.3/5 stars on Trustpilot.
Introduction to LLC Services
If you’re an entrepreneur looking for the most efficient way to form a limited liability company, there are three options you should consider.
- Option one: Take care of the whole process on your own. Research the state-specific requirements, file the necessary paperwork, and hope that you’ve done everything correctly.
- Option two: Hire an attorney to do most of the work on your behalf, keeping in mind that lawyers may charge you a hefty fee.
- Option three: Use an online service to help you get through the whole process in a quick, convenient, and cost-effective way.
Reasons To Use LLC Services
Most entrepreneurs don’t feel comfortable with the idea of going through the process of registering an LLC on their own, but they also can’t justify the costs of hiring an attorney to do the work for them. If you find yourself in a similar situation, you’ll be happy to hear that LLC formation services can handle all the paperwork for a fraction of an attorney’s fee.
Company incorporation specialists help form numerous business entities every day. Their knowledge and experience eliminate the risk of mistakes and delays that could occur if you decide to do the paperwork yourself. Additionally, some services offer an error-free guarantee, which means that the service won’t charge you for filing any additional documents needed to ensure that your information is correct.
Another good thing is that it can save you lots of time and effort. The company will do the filing in accordance with individual state requirements, take care of all tax-related and legal matters, and update you on relevant government deadlines.
How LLC Services Work
If you’ve decided to organize your business as a limited liability company and wish to get everything filed the first time correctly, using an LLC service is a wise choice.
Setting up an LLC with help from a specialist is simple and easy. All you have to do is provide the company with a name for your business, the state where you’d like to register your LLC, your industry, your personal information, and your registered agent’s details. The firm will take it from there and handle all the paperwork with the state to create your new company.
Here’s a breakdown of everything you can expect these services to help you with:
Take care of legalities for you
One of the best things about using an incorporation service is that it doesn’t matter whether you understand the legal side of forming an LLC or not. Your LLC specialist will research all the state-specific rules and requirements and make sure to file the documents accordingly.
Keep you updated on deadlines and necessary filings
Maintaining an LLC can be as complicated as forming it. That’s why most online services will provide you with a dashboard where you’ll get alerts for any upcoming government deadlines and notifications about documents you need to file.
Work as a mediator between the state and your business
If you decide to go through the process of registering and maintaining an LLC on your own, bear in mind that you’ll need to get in touch with the state directly for any questions or concerns. On the other hand, working with a good service means that you can get your questions answered and issues resolved much quicker.
Six Steps to LLC Formation
Now that you have insight into what to look out for, let’s talk a bit about the process of creating your own LLC.
Forming an LLC is the simplest way of structuring your business while protecting your personal assets in case your company is sued or indebted. The concept of limited liability ensures that you can’t be held liable for the company’s debts and obligations beyond the amount you invest in the business.
Whether owned by one person (single-member LLCs) or co-owned (multi-member LLCs), these business structures are hybrid entities that bring together the characteristics of a partnership or sole proprietorship with those of a corporation. While the limited liability component resembles that of a corporation, greater tax flexibility and fewer corporate formalities are similar to those of partnerships.
Some of the main reasons why entrepreneurs decide to organize their business as an LLC include limited personal liability, minimal requirements for record keeping and reporting, pass-through taxation, ownership flexibility, management flexibility, and flexible profit distribution.
The LLC registration process consists of the following six steps, regardless of whether you decide to handle everything on your own or hire a professional to do it for you.
Here’s what you need to do:
Choose the state where your LLC will be registered
When deciding where to form your LLC, there are a few factors you should consider, including the regulatory burden, taxes, and workforce availability. For most new businesses, forming your LLC in the state where you reside and plan to conduct your company’s activities is usually the best option.
Alternatively, you can also create an LLC in one of the states with more business-friendly regulations, such as Delaware, Nevada, or Wyoming.
Pick the company’s name
Next up, it’s time to pick a name for your LLC and make sure that it meets legal requirements. Considering that rules may differ from state to state, we suggest you look them up on your local Secretary of State's website.
However, there are a few common requirements for most states. Most importantly, the company’s name has to be unique, and it usually has to be followed by LLC. It cannot mention terms such as “corporation,” “bank,” or “insurance.”
Choose a registered agent
In all 50 states, a business registered as an LLC is required to have a registered agent, also known as a statutory agent or agent of process. A registered agent is an entity designated to accept legal notices (federal and state legal documents along with service of process) on behalf of your business, sign for them, and email you a copy.
A registered agent can either be an individual or an agency that has a physical address in your LLC’s state of operation. Keep in mind that registering your company in more than one state will require a registered agent in each state of operation.
File the articles of organization
Your company has to be legally recognized before it can start operating. In other words, to properly register your LLC, you have to file a state-required formation document. While most states refer to this document as “articles of organization,” it can also be called “certificate of formation” or “certificate of organization.”
Through this document, you’ll provide information about the LLC and its owner or owners to the state. This usually includes the company’s name, address, ownership, registered agent, and the LLC’s effective start date.
Create the operating agreement
Unlike the articles of organization, an operating agreement isn’t always required by law. Much like partnership agreements do for corporations, an operating agreement outlines an LLC’s rules of ownership and operation.
This type of document usually includes each member’s ownership percentages, voting powers, rights, and responsibilities, how the company allocates its profits and losses, means of management, and buy-sell provisions.
Get an EIN
Unless you run a single-member LLC and don’t plan on hiring employees, you’ll need to apply for an Employer Identification Number with the IRS. An EIN is essentially your business’s Social Security number, and it’s easy to apply for – all you have to do is fill out a form on the IRS website.