10+ Best LLC Formation Services (Jan 2022 Reviews)
Starting your own business is not an easy thing. You have to go through piles of paperwork, sort out your finances, and figure out what business structure you need to form your company. Fortunately, there are many LLC provider firms available that provide turnkey company formation services.
These online business formation services know each state’s requirements, and they have streamlined the process in a quick and orderly way. They will do the paperwork, take care of the required documents, and get your business started today!
Following is a handpicked list of Top LLC Companies with their key features and website links.
Top Rated Online LLC Formation Services
| Ranking | #1 | #2 | #3 |
| Company | ZenBusiness | Incfile | Northwest |
| Foundation year | 2015 | 2004 | 1998 |
| Starting Plan | $49 + State Fees | $0 + State Fees | $49 (Plus state fees) |
| Order Processing Time | Same day processing | Nextbusinessday | Six-day processing |
| Operating Agreement | Yes | $40 extra | $149.00 |
| Registered Agent | LLC formation package, then $119 per year | Free for one year, then $119per year | One-year free registered agent service ($125 after that) |
| Operating Agreement | Yes | $40 extra | $149.00 |
| EIN Registration | $70 extra | $70 extra | $149.00 |
| Annual Compliance | Yes | Yes | $100 |
| Link | https://www.zenbusiness.com/file/llc/ | https://www.incfile.com/ | https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/business-formation-service |
1) ZenBusiness
The ZenBusiness is an LLC service provider that offers everything you need to get your business up and running. The company formation service includes article filing, operating agreement, a registered agent for service, and even a free CPA assessment.
ZenBusiness is one of the well-known LLC formation services available. Even though this company is very new and established in 2015, it already has a good reputation as a company formation service provider.
Features:
- Registered agent services
- Free operating agreement
- Business operation services
- Wide variety of additional services available
- Worry-Free CPA Assessment
- Cost-effective plans for small business
- Simple and fast online application process
- Worry-Free Compliance Guarantee
- Domain name registration
- Home of Annual Compliance
Key Statistics:
- Starting Plan: $49 + State Fees
- Order Processing Time: Same day processing
- Star Reviews on Trustpilot: 3000+
- Business Formed in 2020: 100000+
- Registered Agent: LLC formation package, then $119 per year
- Free Operating Agreement Template: Yes
- EIN Registration: $70 extra
- Annual Compliance: “Worry-Free Compliance” priced at $119 yearly
- Advisory Services: Free CPA Assessment
- USP: Cheapest LLC & Registered Agent Service.
Pros
- Great prices and features
- Outstanding customer reviews
- Registered agent included
- Straightforward and affordable LLC formation packages
- Responsive customer support
Cons
- Fairly new company
Plan details:
As is the case with some of the best LLC formation companies, ZenBusiness provides a plan for every budget. The three main plans on offer are the $49 Starter plan, the $199 Pro option, and $299 for Premium. These prices do not-covers state filing charge.
Link: https://www.zenbusiness.com/file/llc/
2) Incfile
Incfile is a good option for forming LLC. The company has been established to provide high-quality service. This firm also helps you to incorporate your business as an LLC, S corporation, C corporation, or non-profit.
This nationwide incorporator offers free basic business formation and just charges for state fees. It also provides email reminders about your LLC’s ongoing compliance requirements. Your formation documents are also saved securely online.
Features:
- Worry-Free Compliance
- Publication Service
- Federal Tax ID Number
- Preparation & Filing of Articles
- Lifetime Company Alerts
- Online Access to Incorporation Documents
- A+ BBB rating
- Easy order placement
- A great number of additional services available
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 2004
- Starting Plan: $0 + State Charge
- Order Processing Time: Next business day
- Registered Agent: Free for one year then $119 per year
- Operating Agreement: Depends on the chosen package
- EIN Registration: $70 extra
- Annual Compliance: Yes
- Advisory Services: Tax: Free 1-hour consultation
- USP: Best Free & Fast Formation In NYC.
Pros
- Outstanding customer feedback.
- Wide variety of other services available
- It is one of the best LLC formation service providers with low prices and excellent alert systems.
- No hidden fees or automatic service renewals
- Files your LLC documents within 1 business day
- Complete your order in under 10 minutes.
- Quick order turnaround
Cons
- A large number of upsells and third-party offers
- You need to make an effort to get a hold of a customer support agent.
Plan details:
There are three packages available: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. They cost $0, $149, and $299 respectively, + state fees, of course. The starting Silver package is completely free, including the full registered agent service charge for one year.
Link: https://www.incfile.com/
3) Northwest
Northwest is one of the best LLC service providers which offers top-notch customer service. This company formation firm makes it easy for anyone to form an LLC. However, their prices are higher than every other company in this guide.
The firm provides some of the best LLC filing services in the United States. This company provides a three-tiered service for the formation of LLC companies in the USA.
Features:
- Business formation documents filed the same day
- Corporate bylaws/operating agreement included
- Lifetime customer support from local experts
- Annual report filing
- Offers virtual office feature
- Corporate bylaws/operating agreement included
- Hassle-free business formation service
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 1998
- Starting Plan: $49 (plus state fees)
- Order Processing Time: Six-day processing
- Registered Agent: One-year free registered agent for service ($125 thereafter)
- Operating Agreement: $149.00
- EIN Registration: $149.00
- Annual Compliance: $100
- Advisory Services: Corporation formation
- USP: Best Rated Customer Support.
Pros
- Included registered agent service in package price.
- Industry-best customer support
- Offers Mail Forwarding services.
- Lifetime Customer Support from Local Experts
- Business Formation Documents Filed Same Day
- Corporate Bylaws/Operating Agreement Included
Cons
- Not many customer reviews
- More expensive than other options.
Plan details:
This company formation firm offers its basic plan at $79, which includes everything you’ll need for the initial business formation process, like name search, registration, and filing of all the legal documents.
The $179 Deluxe package includes all the services from the Basic plan and covers Employer Identification Number. The Operating Agreement details your LLC ownership structure of your LLC.
Link: https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/business-formation-service
4) Inc Authority
Inc Authority offers a free LLC service in addition to paid packages. This LLC filing service has been around since 1989, and they have formed more than 130,000 business entities over the years.
This is one of the best online LLC formation services providers, which offers several features that still make it well worth a look for entrepreneurs on a budget. This website is an ideal option for new business owners seeking basic LLC formation services.
Features:
- Business name check
- Registered agent
- Preparation & filing
- Business funding analysis
- Offers digital storage & delivery
- INC CARE support
- Tax planning consultation
- Registered agent
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 1989
- Starting Plan: $0 + State Fees
- Order Processing Time: 1-3 weeks
- Registered Agent: Included for one year
- Operating Agreement: $89 extra
- EIN Registration: $49 extra
- Annual Compliance: No
- Advisory Services: No
- USP: Best-Rated LLC Service With Free Option
Pros
- Basic company registration is completely free.
- Customizable plans.
- Simple-to-use checkout process.
- Easy sign-up process.
- Great range of extra services.
Cons
- No knowledge base and quite limited information on their website.
Plan details:
The basic package is FREE + State Taxes. This is one of the best online LLC formation firm, that has three paid plans: the $399 Starter. They also offers $499 Executive, and the $799 Tycoon bundle.
Link: https://www.incauthority.com/
5) Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer is an LLC service provider firm that offers legal services subscription plan. Customers enjoy attorney consultation at fraction of standard costs.
They also offer one of the best online LLC formation service and have served more than 20 million clients over the years. They also command strong customer reviews.
Features:
- LLC Specialists to Answer Your Questions
- Legal Help After Starting Your Company
- Free seven-day trial
- Great customer service available through all channels
- Provide an online education center
- Business formation
- Trademarks and patents
- Seamless user experience
- Iron clad Refund policy
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 2008
- Starting Plan: $349.99 + State Fees
- Order Processing Time: Not more than 5 business days
- Registered Agent: $149.99/year
- Operating Agreement: Templates for $39 extra
- EIN Registration: $60
- Annual Compliance: No
- Advisory Services: Free Ask-a-lawyer via email.
- USP: Best For Startups With Extensive Legal Advice Needs.
Pros
- Offers a monthly subscription plan.
- On-call lawyers are available to resolve your questions.
- Top-quality legal compliance and services.
- 7-day free trial plus company formation.
Cons
- Online incorporation service is overpriced
- Registered Agent Service is not included in the membership.
Link: https://www.rocketlawyer.com/llc.rl
6) MyCompanyWorks
MyCompanyWorks offers a wide variety of company formation services. This is one of the best LLC filing service provider that helps entrepreneur start and develop businesses. It fits the bill as a mid-size company as it is one of the best LLC filing service provider in the LLC services industry. They also offer fast turnaround, even on the basic package.
Features:
- Dedicated features to ensure legal compliance
- Free E-Delivery
- My Account Dashboard
- Lifetime Company Alerts
- Provides free 22-page handbook
- Offers fast turnaround time
- Excellent customer service and reviews
- Interactive wizard is personalized to your company formation needs.
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 1998
- Starting Plan: $79 + State Fee
- Order Processing Time: Same-day processing
- Registered Agent: Depends on the Plan
- Operating Agreement: Included in all plans
- EIN Registration: $45
- Annual Compliance: Included in all plans
- Advisory Services: Federal tax ID, seal, and membership certificate.
- USP: Turnaround Times.
Pros
- Reasonable overall pricing
- It offers affordable, dissolution service packages.
- Same-day filing
- Annual Report Service
- Provide three different options for virtual office service in different states.
- Modern, user-friendly step-by-step Startup Wizard.
- Packages only cost a one-time fee.
Cons
- No registered agent included apart from the most expensive package.
- There are cheaper options available
Link: https://www.mycompanyworks.com/
7) LegalZoom
LegalZoom LLC service firm helps you get your business up and running at minimal cost with its basic company formation package. This firm is one of the leaders in the business formation sector.
You will get 7-day customer support with LegalZoom’s package, plus you will get added benefits like company certificates and professional legal advice.
Features:
- It is one of the best LLC services that offer Annual Reports and Trademark Registration
- Name availability search
- Preparation and filing Articles of Organization
- 30-minute tax consultation
- Long-established and well-trusted company
- Requires fewer formalities
- Widespread name recognition
- High client volume
- Extended customer support hours
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 1999
- Starting Plan: $79 + State Fee.
- Order Processing Time: 30 days
- Registered Agent: $159 extra per year.
- Operating Agreement: $99 extra
- EIN Registration: $79.00
- Annual Compliance: Yes
- Advisory Services: Business Advisory Plan
- USP: Best Choice For Extra Legal Advice
Pros
- They offer professional legal advice and backing.
- Long-established and well-trusted company
- Reasonable pricing model
- 1-year of attorney advice for selected plans
- Lots of additional legal advice options
Cons
- Add-ons make the service expensive.
- Slow order processing time.
Link: https://www.legalzoom.com/business/business-formation/llc-overview.html
8) BizFilings
BizFilings is an experienced LLC formation service, with over 500,000 business filings since 1996. Their entry-level price is low, and all their LLC formation packages include 6 months of registered agent service.
Features:
- 24/7 compliance monitor and guidance tools
- BBB-accredited with an A+ rating
- Easy to use convenient formation with license wizard
- LLC Business Name Verification
- Preparation and Filing of all LLC Documents
- Support from experienced incorporation specialists.
- Free 60 day trial of the professional bookkeeping software
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 1996
- Starting Plan: $99 + State Fee.
- Registered Agent: 6 months registered agent included
- Operating Agreement: $39
- EIN Registration: $79
- Annual Compliance: Yes
- Advisory Services: Business license application pack
- USP: Best LLC For Nonprofit
Pros
- It helps you to make a complex process fast and easy.
- They work closely with every state to guarantee accurate service.
- Assistance in Business License, Permits, Zoning Laws
- You can form wide range of business entities LLC, C Corp, S Corp, Non Profit, DBA
- Incorporate in any state
Cons
- Above-average cost for basic LLC formation.
Link: https://www.bizfilings.com/
9) Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings is another firm that offers LLC formation services for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The company provides very cheap basic business formation package with a one-day turnaround time. Some added features include a free tax consultation, compliance alerts, and a free domain name.
Swyft Filings offers good speed of service and high-quality customer support. This LLC service provider offers a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Features:
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Free 30-minutes tax consultation
- Cheap one-day business formation
- Personal Asset Protection
- Management flexibility
- Good customer service and reviews
- Good online reputation
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 2012
- Starting Plan: Basic $49 + state fee
- Registered Agent: $149 / year
- Operating Agreement: $35
- EIN Registration: $79.00
- Advisory Services: Federal Tax ID Number
- USP: Most Affordable One-Day Turnaround LLC Filing
Pros
- Fast turnaround time
- Helps in obtaining Federal and State licenses.
- You can form wide range of business entities LLC, C Corporation, S Corporation, Non Profit.
- Free Business Name Search.
- Helps you to save time and money.
Cons
- Formation packages lack valuable features.
Link: https://www.swyftfilings.com/
10) MyCorporation
MyCorporation offers wide range of legal services for LLC formation. This includes trademark and copyright services as well as nonprofit and corporation filing. They have two decades of experience providing legal formation assistance.
Features:
- Unlimited customer support
- One million businesses served
- Easy, fast, and affordable
- Special offers included
- Vault document storage
- Preparation and filing of articles of formation
- LLC Maintenance like changing an operating agreement, Issue membership certificates, File an annual report, Elect S Corp Status, File state and federal taxes
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 1998
- Starting Plan: $99 + state fee
- Registered Agent: $39
- Operating Agreement: $59.00
- EIN Registration: $79.00
- Annual Compliance: Yes
- Advisory Services: Annual report services for 12 months
- USP: Best LLC Service For Copyright Assistance
Pros
- Established company with a good reputation.
- Feature for simplified document filing.
- 4-tiered packages with expansive options.
- Custom logo design
- Trademark and Copyright Filings
- Corporation and LLC Maintenance Service
Cons
- Does not have information on processing times and refunds.
- Excessive additional fees.
Link: https://www.mycorporation.com/
11) CorpNet
CorpNet is one of the most reputed companies formation service providers. They helped to create over 100,000 businesses in the past 20 years. This organization is rated highly among LLC providers, many independent review sites, with many customers praising the excellent service.
Features:
- Business filings experts
- Offers secure self-service
- Corporate supplies and trademark registrations to registered agent services
- A+ rating, along with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
- Live experts at your service
Key Statistics:
- Foundation: 2000
- Starting Plan: $79 + + State Fee
- Order Processing Time: 24-hour processing
- Registered Agent: Not applicable
- Operating Agreement: $69
- EIN Registration: $69
- Annual Compliance: No
- Advisory Services: No
- USP: Highly Trusted LLC Service Business
Pros
- Alert about Compliance Due Dates and Filing of Annual Reports
- Excellent customer feedback.
- All your LLC forms documents are stored in a Secure Location and available via a mobile device.
- A family-owned company with personalized customer service.
- Free corporate compliance tool.
Cons
- Does not offer low-cost, basic LLC formation service.
Link: https://www.corpnet.com/
How to Register an LLC?
Step 1) Select an LLC formation service provide. The list above will help. Also, they will be able to help/guide/counsel you in the succeeding steps.
Step 2) Decide the who will be members of your LLC and their ownership percentage. As most startups are single member LLC, this step can be ignored
Step 3) Chose a state where you want to register your LLC. Seek legal advice to understand the tax complications if you are registering out of your domicile state.
Step 4) Check if the desired name for you LLC is available. Most common names are usually take. Creating 2 or 3 word business name helps.
Step 5) Submit basic information to your LLC formation service. They may require additional information based on your submission.
Step 6) Once formation is done, apply for EIN. You may need to call IRS to authenticate the application. Some LLC formation providers do this on your behalf.
Step 7) After EIN, you can open a bank account in the name for LLC. Apply for credit card if required.
Step 8) Get a virtual mailbox for your LLC if required. Especially useful if you are still employed or are located overseas.
Step 9) Register a domain and get professional email for your business. Do not go overboard with website design if it is not your main source of business. You can always make changes later.
Buying Guide:
💻 How does Online LLC Services Work?
Online LLC service removes lots of hassle from the business formation process. With these LLC services, you just need to provide your basic company detail like the name, location, and industry your company operates in.
You also need to provide information about yourself and your registered agent. The service then creates an organization’s articles and files them with your state to form a new LLC.
🏅 What are the best LLC Filing Services?
- ZenBusiness
- Incfile
- Northwest
- Inc Authority
- Rocket Lawyer
- LegalZoom
❓ Are LLC Formation Websites Legit?
Yes, it is. However, you need to select a reputable company that offers the best rated online LLC formation service and has an established track record.
⚡ Do I Have to Use a Service to Form an LLC?
The DIY (Do It Yourself) is always an option, and quite a few entrepreneurs prefer to form their own LLCs without any assistance of a business incorporation service. However, selecting this method is not as easy.
There are many different steps involved if you’re going to form an LLC on your own. In this process, the most important phase is preparing and filing your organization’s articles, as this document helps you form LLC with the state.
However, this information varies from state to state and could be cumbersome to draft. With an LLC provider, you need to provide them with some basic information about yourself and your business, and they will handle the rest!
You should also select a name you want to use for your LLC. Select a registered agent, obtain a federal tax ID number (EIN), create an operating agreement, etc. A C-corp formation provider smoothly handles all this on your behalf.
🏅 What are the Pros and cons of LLC Formation
Limited liability companies (LLCs) are the simplest and most inexpensive business structure in the United States. LLCs’ advantages include being easy to form, protecting owners from personal liability, and offering flexible tax options.
Here are the pros of LLC formation:
- Profit and loss is reflected on each member’s return, there is no tax return for the business itself
- Double taxation rules do not apply in an LLC
- Legal registration helps LLC to increases the business’s credibility
- Need less administration and paperwork instead of a corporation
- No restrictions on number of Members or Partners
- It is easy to set up and administer LLCs.
Here are the cons of LLC:
- You need to spend large amount for licensing & company filing Fees.
- Self-employment & excise taxes.
- Harder to raise money as compared to a C-corp structure.
👉 Does Using an LLC Service give me more Legal Protection or Privacy?
Working with a legal professional may be expensive. However, that expense comes with more security and better service.
Instead, you would receive the same level of legal expertise from a lower-cost online LLC service solution. However, in this process, your privacy is somewhat compromised.
If privacy is your chief concern, you need to select an attorney to act as your agent, which would be very expensive. It also comes with more inconvenience in the form of time and monetary costs, so you have to consider a tradeoff.
❗ How to choose an LLC Service?
Selecting LLC provider is not an easy thing as you need to consider several factors like cost, services, etc.
Here are a few important things you should consider when choosing the best LLC service for you.
- Overall Value: Low prices attract everyone, but you need to make sure you can list their services and features while choosing the cheapest LLC formation, which you want and compare with its available price.
- Customer Experience It is another important aspect that you need to look at. LLC service custom-tailored to your individual needs. You may end up feeling like you’re just a statistic instead of a valued customer.
- Service Reliability: You need to check its reputation and check out their customer feedback to better feel for their client experience.
- Customer Support Quality: Quality of customer support is also a very important aspect. You should look for an LLC provider who resolves your query 24/7, easily and effectively by mail, chat or support ticket.
- Refund Policy: Some online LLC service providers offer a full refund if you’re unhappy with their service. You should also find out what kind of refund your service provider offers, just in case if you are not satisfied with their service.
- Turnaround Time:Turnaround time is another important factor while choosing the best LLC services, especially for people that need to have their organization operational ASAP. However, it does not entirely depend on your LLC company, and various state-specific regulations can slow things down. Therefore, it is important to contact your shortlisted LLC service provider for turnaround time before you place an order.
🏅 Are there any risks of using an Online LLC Service?
Not really; in fact, there are many more risks to forming an LLC individually. An LLC formation website assures you that the business is formed correctly. These companies forms thousands of LLCs every day, so they have the expertise to form a compliant business entity.
❓ Can you create a bank account in the name of an LLC?
Any primary applicant can create a bank account in the name of an LLC, but he or she must be an owner (a minimum of 25% ownership in the business) or an authorized officer. Applicants should be U.S. residents to create a bank account in the name of an LLC.
🚀 What is a registered agent for LLC?
A registered agent is needed to form an LLC and is an individual or business entity responsible for receiving important government documents.
For example, if your business files a suit, the state will send the service of process to your registered agent, who alerts you to the delivery and forwards it to you.
You can also serve as your registered agent. It is always ideal to go for a registered service agent because a registered agent service protects your privacy, cuts down on your junk mail, and ensures that you never miss an important delivery.
💥 What is an Article of Incorporation?
Articles of incorporation are formal documents filed with a government body to document a corporation’s creation legally. These documents contain pertinent information, like the firm’s name, street address, agent name for service, and the type and amount of stock issued.
❓ What is an LLC Operating Agreement?
An LLC operating agreement documents the structure of working and financial relationships between the co-owners and (members) of an LLC. In an operating agreement, the co-owners should establish each owner’s ownership percentage share in the LLC. This document includes details like a share of profits, their duties and rights, and how an owner leaving will be handled.
👉 Can you create a PayPal for LLC?
Yes. PayPal suggests using a business account if you want to operate a revenue-generating endeavor under a separate name.
PayPal business accounts allow LLC to integrate your company’s payment systems with their payout system to create a seamless accounting system.
⚡ What are the annual compliances for a LLC?
Here are some important annual compliance for a LLC:
- Annual reports. Most states need corporations and LLCs to file an annual report (sometimes called an annual statement). This helps states to track formed or qualified corporations and LLCs.Other states require a biennial statement. In both cases, states typically need to require that a fee be paid when statements are filed. These range from $10.00 to $300.00 or more.
- Franchise tax. Some states also have a franchise tax. This is typically a fee paid to the state for the privilege of operating as a corporation or LLC in that state. States have different formulas, which may be based on business revenue or number of authorized shares and par value, for calculating this tax
- Other Taxes: LLCs may also be liable for payroll tax, sales, and use taxes, property taxes, or “seller’s permits,” or business license renewals.
🏅 What Tax applies to an LLC member?
LLC members are responsible for paying the full 15.3 percent (12.4 percent for Social Security and 2.9 percent for Medicare). Members also deduct half of the self-employment tax from their adjusted gross income. A limited liability company can elect corporate tax treatment.
⚡ Which is the best state to start LLC?
The best state to incorporate your LLC is the state where you live and plan on conducting all your company’s activities.
However, you can register your business in one of the states with business-friendly regulations and low taxes, like Delaware, Nevada, or Wyoming, as you get the advantage of zero sales tax.
Generally, Delaware is regarded the best state to form LLC with more than 50% of Fortune 500 companies having a business entity incorporated there.
However, Wyoming may be cheaper to set up, but you would have to pay filing fees in both and register as a foreign LLC in your home state. However, if you live in California, taxes also need to be deducted wherever you are earning, so you could end up paying tax in both Wyoming and California.