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How we make money.Links marked "sponsored" pay us a commission if you buy. That keeps the site free. It doesn't change the order we rank providers in, which follows our published scoring method.
Key takeaways
- Northwest is our top pick: $39 to form, a free first year of registered agent, then $125 a year.
- Bizee and ZenBusiness both start at $0. Bizee includes a year of registered agent; ZenBusiness files your annual reports on its paid plans.
- Compare the year-two bill. That's where the subscriptions and agent renewals show up.
Our picks
1Northwest Registered Agent
Best overallOur top pick
People who want privacy and a fair renewal price.
- To form an LLC
- $39
- plus state fee
- Registered agent
- $125/yr
- after a free first year
- Uses its own address on filings, so yours stays off the public record where the state allows it
- Operating agreement and a year of registered agent included at $39
- The registered agent renews automatically at $125/yr after the free first year.
Visit Northwest(sponsored link, opens in a new tab)Sponsored · on northwestregisteredagent.comRead our reviewPrices from Northwest's pricing page, checked November 8, 2026.
2Bizee
Best $0 start
Owners who want a $0 filing and a free first year of registered agent service.
- To form an LLC
- $0
- plus state fee
- Registered agent
- $149/yr
- after a free first year
- $0 formation with a year of registered agent included
- Long track record (formerly Incfile)
- The free agent year turns into a $149/yr subscription unless you cancel.
Prices from Bizee's pricing page, checked November 8, 2026.
3ZenBusiness
Best for hands-off compliance
First-time owners who want annual report filing handled for them.
- To form an LLC
- $0
- plus state fee
- Registered agent
- $199/yr
- add-on
- $0 Starter plan with a free first year of compliance filing
- Pro files your annual report for you while it renews
- Pro ($199) and Premium ($299) are yearly subscriptions, not one-time fees.
Prices from ZenBusiness's pricing page, checked November 8, 2026.
4LegalZoom
Best for legal help
Owners who want attorney and tax help in the same account.
- To form an LLC
- $0
- plus state fee
- Registered agent
- $249/yr
- add-on
- Well-known brand
- Expert Service includes attorney review and unlimited consults
- Highest registered agent price of the four.
Visit LegalZoom(sponsored link, opens in a new tab)Sponsored · on legalzoom.comPrices from LegalZoom's pricing page, checked November 8, 2026.
Compare LLC services side by side
Prices checked November 8, 2026| Service | Price to form | What renews | Registered agent | EIN | Operating agreement | Speed | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Northwest Registered Agent | $39 + state fee | Registered agent is free for the first year, then $125/yr. | Yes, first year free | Optional, $50 ($200 without a US Social Security number) | Included | Same-day processing, then the state's own time | Visit(sponsored link, opens in a new tab)Pricing page |
| 2Bizee | $0 + state fee | Registered agent is free the first year, then $149/yr. | Yes, first year free | Included in Standard and Premium; $70 on Basic | Included in Standard and Premium; $99 on Basic | Basic 4 to 6 weeks; Standard about 2 weeks; Premium about 4 business days | Visit(sponsored link, opens in a new tab)Pricing page |
| 3ZenBusiness | $0 + state fee | Pro renews at $199/yr and Premium at $299/yr. Registered agent is a $199/yr add-on on every plan. | No, $199/yr add-on | Included in Pro and Premium; $99 on Starter | Included in Pro and Premium; $99 on Starter | Starter 7 to 10 business days (+$79 rush); Pro and Premium 1 business day | Visit(sponsored link, opens in a new tab)Pricing page |
| 4LegalZoom | $0 + state fee | Registered agent renews at $249/yr. Managed Service advisor renews at $49/month and Expert Service at $99/month after 30 days. | No, $249/yr add-on | Included in Managed Service and Expert Service; $79 on its own | Included in Managed Service and Expert Service | Not published on the pricing page | Visit(sponsored link, opens in a new tab)Pricing page |
Published list prices before the state fee. "Visit" links are sponsored; the order comes from our scoring, not from who pays us.
How we chose
The full scoring, with weights, is on the methodology page. In short: what you pay in year two (30%), what's included at the base price before add-ons (25%), privacy and how hard the checkout pushes extras (20%), filing speed and support (15%), and track record (10%). First-year price barely counts, because every provider discounts it and nobody keeps an LLC for one year.
We haven't placed test orders with each service yet. Where we mention filing speed, it's the provider's own published figure, and we say so. When we've tested, the date will appear at the top of each review.
1Northwest Registered Agent
Full reviewPeople who want privacy and a fair renewal price.
- Year one
- $39 + state fee
- Year two
- Registered agent is free for the first year, then $125/yr.
What's good
- Uses its own address on filings, so yours stays off the public record where the state allows it
- Operating agreement and a year of registered agent included at $39
- Flat renewal price that it says has not changed in 20 years
Watch for
- The registered agent renews automatically at $125/yr after the free first year.
- Annual report filing is a separate paid service ($100 + state fee).
- Not $0 up front like Bizee, ZenBusiness and LegalZoom
- EIN filing is an add-on
2Bizee
Full reviewOwners who want a $0 filing and a free first year of registered agent service.
- Year one
- $0 + state fee
- Year two
- Registered agent is free the first year, then $149/yr.
What's good
- $0 formation with a year of registered agent included
- Long track record (formerly Incfile)
- Standard plan bundles EIN, operating agreement and faster filing
Watch for
- The free agent year turns into a $149/yr subscription unless you cancel.
- The $0 Basic plan takes 4 to 6 weeks and leaves out phone support and compliance alerts.
- Agent renewal ($149) is higher than Northwest's ($125)
- Checkout offers banking and tax-consultation extras
3ZenBusiness
Full reviewFirst-time owners who want annual report filing handled for them.
- Year one
- $0 + state fee
- Year two
- Pro renews at $199/yr and Premium at $299/yr. Registered agent is a $199/yr add-on on every plan.
What's good
- $0 Starter plan with a free first year of compliance filing
- Pro files your annual report for you while it renews
- Fast 1-business-day processing on paid plans
Watch for
- Pro ($199) and Premium ($299) are yearly subscriptions, not one-time fees.
- A website-builder trial is preselected at checkout and renews at $15/month unless you remove it.
- Registered agent costs extra on every plan
- Year-two cost climbs fast if you keep Pro plus the agent ($398/yr)
4LegalZoom
Owners who want attorney and tax help in the same account.
- Year one
- $0 + state fee
- Year two
- Registered agent renews at $249/yr. Managed Service advisor renews at $49/month and Expert Service at $99/month after 30 days.
What's good
- Well-known brand
- Expert Service includes attorney review and unlimited consults
- Large library of legal documents
Watch for
- Highest registered agent price of the four.
- Paid plans include 30 days of advisor or attorney access that then auto-renews monthly.
- Most expensive renewals
- Monthly subscriptions start after the first 30 days on paid plans
Do you need a service at all?
Probably not. The state form takes about half an hour, the EIN is free from the IRS, and a basic operating agreement template costs nothing. A service earns its fee when you want a registered agent anyway, or when you honestly wouldn't file the annual report without someone reminding you. Both are fine reasons. "The form looks hard" isn't one; it isn't hard.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best LLC service?
For most people, Northwest Registered Agent. Its registered agent renewal ($125 a year) is the lowest of the four we track, it keeps your address off filings where the state allows, and the checkout doesn't push extras. If year-one cost is all that matters, Bizee's $0 filing with a free agent year is hard to beat.
Are the $0 LLC services really free?
The service fee is $0; you still pay the state fee, which is the same whoever files. These companies make their money on registered agent renewals, yearly plans and add-ons like the EIN, which is free from the IRS.
Do I need an LLC service at all?
No. Every state lets you file online yourself, and it takes about half an hour. A service is worth it if you want a registered agent anyway, want your annual report handled, or would rather not deal with the state website. Our formation guide shows how to do it yourself.
How do you make money from this page?
Links marked sponsored pay us a commission if you buy. The order comes from the scoring on our methodology page and wouldn't change if a provider stopped paying.