Best LLC services of 2024
Updated 7:37 a.m. UTC April 23, 2024
Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy.
LLC services are designed to help save you time, and — in the world of business — time is money. While you’ll pay a fee to have them take some of the more onerous parts of creating an LLC off your plate, they may ultimately even save you money. The right company will search for ways to reduce filing costs and will also make sure you don’t commit errors that could lead to your filing being rejected.
The best LLC services will also provide you with additional services to make sure creating your LLC goes as smoothly as possible and that you have access to the resources and extras you need, like building a professional website for your company or providing employee identification numbers.
Featured LLC service offers
The best LLC services
- Rocket Lawyer: Best for legal advice.
- Northwest Registered Agent: Best for guided services.
- LegalZoom: Most complete premium packages.
- Bizee: Most transparent pricing.
- Swyft Filings: Easiest filing process.
- MyCorporation: Best educational resources.
- Inc Authority: Best freebies.
- Active Filings: Best for growing your business.
- ZenBusiness: Best for marketing.
- Filenow: Best money-back guarantee.
Why trust our small business experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 12 companies reviewed.
- 408 data points analyzed.
- 100+ hours of research.
Featured LLC service offers
Best LLC services comparison
FREE PLAN | OPERATING AGREEMENT | EIN INCLUDED | |
---|---|---|---|
Rocket Lawyer
| No
| Yes
| No ($59.99 for members, $119.99 for non-members)
|
Northwest Registered Agent
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
LegalZoom
| Yes
| Yes
| Only with Pro and Premium
|
Bizee
| Yes
| Only with Gold and Platinum plans
| Only with Gold and Platinum packages
|
Swyft Filings
| Yes
| Only with Standard and Premium plans
| Only with Standard and Premium packages
|
MyCorporation
| No
| Yes (Additional fee)
| No ($79 extra)
|
Inc Authority
| Yes
| Only with Premium Service Bundles
| Yes
|
Active Filings
| Yes
| Yes
| Only with Sprinter and Finisher packages
|
ZenBusiness
| Yes
| Only with Pro and Premium packages
| Only with Pro and Premium packages
|
Filenow
| No
| Only with Premium package
| Only with Premium package
|
Methodology
We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.
We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. We use the same rubric to assess companies within a particular space so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the [name of best list] of 2024.
Expert score (10%): We thoroughly research each company to determine what features and services a company offers versus each plan’s price to determine whether they represent solid value for small business owners. We test customer service for responsiveness to customer concerns and explore customer review aggregators and other online databases of consumer reviews to get a sense of a company’s reputation with users.
Value (19%): We consider a company’s value with small businesses in mind. Key factors include whether a company offers a free plan or trial, and what’s included with it, what features are available at which plan level and how those plans are priced compared to competitors, as well as how upfront and transparent each company is with its pricing structure.
Features (49%): We carefully consider what features are included in a company’s core plans, which features are only available as add-ons, and how comprehensive the overall feature set is, all through the lens of those features’ usefulness to small and medium-sized business owners.
Service and support (22%): We evaluate customer service and support features for responsiveness, with consideration to availability, what support channels are available (email, phone, online chat, etc.) and the online resources available without needing to reach out to the company directly.
What is an LLC service and how does it work?
An LLC service provider helps business owners form limited liability companies. To do so, they collect the information required to file the articles of organization with the secretary of state. They also fill out the forms, send them to the proper address, track the status and inform customers when the LLC is formed.
An LLC service primarily helps individuals to establish new LLCs. Typically, one of these services will:
- Collect the information about the LLC and its owners, which is required by the state.
- Collect filing service fees.
- File the forms with the secretary of state.
- Receive a response that the company has been successfully formed (or not).
- Inform the business owner of the successful formation and deliver their articles of organization, or the other official document provided by a state to LLCs.
- If the LLC wasn’t formed, they can help to try and resolve the issue.
In addition to helping LLCs get established, service providers often offer a variety of packages with multiple other services and other ancillary services such as access to registered agents, help with legal documents and contracts, and establishing EINs.
Benefits of LLC services
As the name implies, one of the primary advantages of creating a limited liability company is how the structure shields most of its members’ personal assets; only resources directly invested in the company are vulnerable in most cases. There are also a number of advantages that an LLC provides, including:
- Pass-through taxation in which a single-member LLC shares the same tax structure as a sole proprietorship. This means losses and gains are paid through the owner’s income tax, and early losses can offset tax paid on other income.
- Limited ownership restrictions so that foreign nationals, corporations or even other LLCs can be listed as owners.
- Minimal compliance requirements compared to other types of business/corporations.
- Flexible profit allocation meaning that LLCs don’t require profits to be distributed exactly according to ownership percentage in the way that corporations do.
- Versatile tax designation meaning that while LLCs are taxed as partnerships by default, they can choose to be taxed as an S or C corporation.
Who needs an LLC service?
While it’s entirely possible to create an LLC without any external assistance, an LLC service can be a tremendous help, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the process of creating an LLC or need specific help.
There are a lot of documents involved in creating an LLC, a number of required filings and various other technical and legal requirements to navigate that can be difficult to manage to newcomers or anyone not intimately familiar with founding a business. The best LLC services will additionally provide advice, guidance and services designed to ensure your LLC operates smoothly and you have the tools on hand to efficiently manage after launch, as well.
How to choose the best LLC service
Which LLC service will be best for you will come down to the type of business you’re founding and how much assistance you’ll require throughout the process. However, anyone looking to create an LLC should seek a service that will at bare minimum cover all of the legal necessities and filings required to launch an LLC — things like filing your application with the secretary of your state and providing registered agent service.
Key features to look for
Beyond filing your application paperwork, there are a number of key features that make the best LLC service companies stand out from mediocre providers.
- Registered agent service: All 50 states require an LLC to have a registered agent to receive legal documents and other correspondence, and whether a company offers this service, and how much it costs, is a key differentiator. In most states you can act as your own registered agent, but there may be reasons you do not wish to do so.
- Processing time: Another key way an LLC service provider can distinguish itself is through processing time. Starting an LLC can take anywhere from one day to several weeks, so if launching quickly is a priority, look for a company that offers expedited processing.
- Tax ID/EIN: An employer identification number is a number the IRS uses to identify your business and is crucial for reporting taxes. The best LLC service companies will take care of applying for and acquiring one for your business and will do so cheaply, as it’s a free service available through the IRS if you do it yourself.
Add-ons and extras
Some important add-ons to look for include a company’s document library. Ideally, they’ll provide templates or help drafting the legal and business documents your LLC will need to function.
Web tools can also be a huge boon for marketing your business or selling products online, so a company that provides a free domain name, website builder, business emails or even a consultation with a web designer can be a massive value add. Some LLC service providers additionally offer useful extras like free legal and business advice, help with business funding/financing or tax planning and filing assistance.
Customer service
Given some of the complexities involved with launching and running an LLC, being able to reach knowledgeable, professional customer service can be vital to operating your business (or getting it established in the first place). Consider a company’s support reputation and what channels are available to directly contact a company, as well as whether they’ll be available when you’re doing business.
How much does an LLC service cost?
BASE PLAN | MID-TIER PLAN | HIGH-TIER PLAN | ANNUAL REGISTERED AGENT SERVICE* | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rocket Lawyer
| LLC creation available with RocketLegal+ membership ($479.76 per year)
| N/A
| N/A
| $249.99
|
Northwest Registered Agent
| $0 plus state filing fees
| $39 plus state filing fees
| N/A
| $125
|
LegalZoom
| $0 plus state filing fees
| $249 plus state filing fees
| $299 plus state filing fees
| $249
|
Bizee
| $0 plus state filing fees
| $199 plus state filing fees
| $299 plus state filing fees
| $119
|
Swyft Filings
| $0 plus state filing fees
| $199 plus state filing fees
| $299 plus state filing fees
| $199
|
MyCorporation
| $99 plus state filing fees
| $124 plus state filing fees
| $324 plus state filing fees
| $179
|
Inc Authority
| $0 plus state filing fees
| Varies
| Varies
| $179
|
Active Filings
| $0 plus state filing fees
| $100 plus state filing fees
| $250
| $99
|
ZenBusiness
| $0 plus state filing fees
| $199 plus state filing fees
| $349 plus state filing fees
| $199
|
Filenow
| $49 plus state filing fees
| $199 plus state filing fees
| N/A
| $119
|
*The registered agent is an annual recurring fee. In some cases, companies waive it for the first year or for another specified period of time. It’s also included in some companies’ plans.
While pricing varies across the providers, the base plans typically range from $0 to $99, the mid-tier plans from $39 to $249 and the high-tier plans from $299 up to $349. Inc Authority has the best free plan offerings and is likely the best LLC service if you’re on a budget. However, most companies aren’t too far apart from each other.
To find the best deal, it’s important to look at what you get for the price. All of these plans include LLC filing but vary beyond that. The most common add-ons are registered agent services, EINs, operating agreements, bank resolutions, business bank accounts and tax consulting. The incentive on premium plans is often expedited filing to speed up the turnaround time. A few also offer customizable business contract templates, notably Rocket Lawyer, which specializes in that service.
If you opt for an LLC filing plan that doesn’t come with a lineup of services, chances are, the company is going to try to sell them to you as you check out. If you don’t need them, just click no and nothing should be added to your bill.
No matter which service provider you choose, you’ll have to pay the filing fee in your state, which should be shown to you during the quoting and checkout processes.
Here are some other ongoing costs many LLCs have to pay to keep the business active and in good standing:
- Registered agent fees: An LLC must have a registered agent to receive legal correspondence on the LLC’s behalf. Because the role requires rigid responsibilities, many companies outsource this role to a registered agent service provider. To do so costs $0 to $300 per year.
- Annual report filing fees: Most states require LLCs to file an annual or periodic report to update the state on key business information, such as the LLC’s contact information. Fees for filing these reports range from $0 to $500 depending on the state.
- Business license filing and maintenance fees: While many states do not require a business to obtain a business license at the state level, many businesses must still obtain licenses related to their industries, location or business activities. Costs to obtain and maintain a business license vary widely from state to state and even county to county.
- Taxes: LLCs are pass-through entities, meaning taxes on profits pass through the business and to its members, who are then taxed based on their income levels. However, LLCs may have to pay taxes based on their activities or locations. For example, some businesses must pay for the privilege of doing business in their states (called a franchise tax) and some must pay sales taxes on items or services sold. Other taxes LLCs may have to pay include payroll taxes.
Failing to pay any of these fees as required by your state could result in the dissolution of your LLC.
What we don’t recommend
In most cases, the highest-tier LLC service plans aren’t necessary to get all the services you need to start your LLC. By shopping around, you can find providers that include perks like legal document templates and expedited filing within the $100 to $200 range.
Watch out for bare minimum plans that offer lots of add-ons as your bill can add up quickly when buying services separately. Instead, look for plans that bundle services together at a great value.
Many LLC formation costs are unavoidable, such as fees to file your articles or organization and obtain a business license. However, there are several ways you can reduce your initial costs. Here are a few:
- Don’t pay for free services. Some service providers will offer to complete business formation tasks for a fee that can be completed elsewhere for free. For example, you can obtain an employer identification number (EIN) for free by filling out a simple form on the IRS website. As such, avoid paying a service to complete this task for you.
- Don’t start your LLC in an outside state. Forming an LLC in a state that is not your own (a foreign LLC) often comes with extra fees. For example, fees to file your formation paperwork fees can double if forming a foreign LLC as opposed to a domestic LLC. In addition, you may not be able to take advantage of other cost-saving opportunities, such as serving as your own registered agent since you are not physically present in the state (a registered agent requirement).
- Take advantage of bundled packages. Many LLC formation services not only will file your formation paperwork for free but will also provide registered agent services for free when you file your LLC through them. Some examples are Bizee and Inc Authority.
Warning: Be sure to check each line item carefully at checkout, as some companies sneak in paid subscription services under the guise of free trials.
Featured LLC service offers
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
A limited liability company serves as a shield for your personal assets in terms of business liabilities. Such a company ensures that if your business is found liable in a business-related lawsuit, your personal property, like your home, vehicle or personal wealth, can’t be seized. It’s important to note, however, that your liability may differ depending on your state’s laws and the specific nature of the claim.
You can set up an LLC on your own by filing the required paperwork in your state and paying the required fee. Some companies, like Northwest Registered Agent, will provide you with the forms and instructions you need to do it yourself. However, that puts the responsibility on you to figure out what you need to do and ensure you do it correctly. An LLC service knows the process well and can ensure it’s done right and as quickly as possible.
Each state charges a fee to set up an LLC, so you will be required to pay that amount at the very least. Beyond that, you can get an LLC formed without any additional fees if you file the paperwork yourself or opt for an LLC service provider that offers a free basic plan.
If you need help covering the costs to start an LLC, there are a few places you could turn. You could borrow using a loan or credit card, look at peer-to-peer lending, ask a friend or family member or bring on an LLC partner that can help on the funding front.
LLCs can provide tax flexibility to their owners because you can choose whether you’ll be taxed as a sole proprietor, partnership, C-corporation or S-corporation. While an LLC is a business structure, its sole purpose is to limit the liability of its owners. It doesn’t come with its own tax rules.
The best place to start your LLC is typically in your home state where you’ll be conducting business. If you file in another state, you’ll have to also register in your home state as a foreign LLC which can mean double the paperwork and fees.
However, there are a few states businesses tend to flock to thanks to their business-friendly laws. Delaware is popular because it doesn’t impose income tax on corporations that are registered in the state but not doing business in the state. Shareholders who don’t reside in the state also don’t need to pay tax on shares in the state. Further, Delaware has a Court of Chancery in which judges who are experts in corporate law handle corporation cases.
Wyoming is another popular LLC-filing state because it’s affordable and has business-friendly tax laws. The initial filing fee is $100 and the annual report cost is $60. Further, no corporate or personal income taxes are charged, and the state has strong asset protection laws.
An LLC is a type of business structure that separates owners from their businesses to shield them from business liabilities. It can be established to protect sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations.
A corporation is a type of business structure that establishes a business as a legal entity that is separate and distinct from its owners. Corporations can elect to be C-corps or S-corps which are treated differently under tax law.
While both can offer business owners protection against business liabilities, LLCs can be established to protect several business types while a corporation is a business type that offers protection in and of itself.
Generally yes. The IRS requires single-member LLCs to have EINs when they have employees or are required to file certain excise tax forms. On the other hand, multimember LLCs must have EINs and use them to file taxes.
Even when an EIN is not required, it can be helpful. Many banks will ask for one if you want a bank account, credit card or loan for your business. It can also provide a layer of privacy, enabling sole proprietors to use it instead of their social security numbers.
LLC filing companies often offer registered agent services. In some cases, the service is included in a company’s LLC filing plan, while in others it comes with an additional cost. Further, some providers include it for the first year and then charge an annual fee in the years following.
Editor’s Note: This article contains updated information from previously published stories:
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.