We are blessed with cheap and high quality options for LLC formation services these days, but we’ve found there are three that stand head and shoulders above the others.
If you want to form an LLC (Limited Liability Company) quickly, cheaply and easily without hassle, you can’t go past these three operators.
- Incfile (FREE!): With free registered agent service for one year [get the best deal here]
- Northwest: $39 with free registered agent service for one year [get the best deal here]
- ZenBusiness $49 with free registered agent service for one year [get the best deal here]
These LLC services offer the best value and the best reputations and customer support in the industry (for full reviews of these services and the other six we looked at, see the table below).
What to Look for In an Online LLC Formation Service
Before reading the reviews below, we’ve included some brief details on what you should look for when choosing the best LLC service for your business.
These also formed the main criteria in which we ranked the nine LLC formation services that we looked at for this article.
Price
We all want to get our LLC formed as cheaply as possible when we are starting out in business. That leaves more money to get the business rolling.
You can expect to spend between $0 (yes, our recommendation Incfile offers a zero cost LLC formation service!) and $300 to form an LLC (with state fees coming on top of this).
Our view is you don’t need to spend big money as our three preferred companies offer a wide range of features for minimal cost and are reputable operators.
Features
The basic feature that an LLC formation service offers is creating and filing the paperwork (the articles of organisation). To do this, the customer needs to have a registered agent service, which the recommended operators all provide free of charge for one year.
Other extras that some operators include are:
- A EIN (federal tax ID)
- Expedited filing (within 24 hours)
- A LLC operating agreement, banking introduction or other optional documents
Generally these aren’t offered free with the best-value companies’ basic plans, but you can arrange your own EIN (or do it cheaply through our recommended LLC formation services) and the other things they offer aren’t mandatory.
Other features that firms compete on are the simplicity of the process and interface, and the extent of customer support provided (Northwest and Swyft Filings, for example, promise a single dedicated staff member will be assigned to each customer).
Reputation and Customer Support
All of the LLC formation services in our review have a great reputation and have had many years of successful operation. The main operators all offer decent customer support, although first timers may be swayed towards Northwest or Swyft Filings on account of their policy of having a directly assigned a staff member to each client for a seamless LLC formation experience.
Registered Agent Service Thrown In?
Finally, it’s very much preferable in our view to keep the LLC formation and the registered agent (a necessary component of forming an LLC) with the same operator. That’s why the services we recommend all have one year of registered agent thrown in. (For full reviews of their registered agent services, please see this article on our sister site registeredagentsreviewed.com).
Comparison Table of the Best Nine Online LLC Services
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best value  | Form an LLC with Incfile for FREE ($0)
| 9.6 | Get the best deal |
Best customer service  | Northwest Registered Agent LLC Formation Form an LLC online with Northwest for $39
| 9.5 | Get the best deal |
Industry leader  | Form your LLC online with ZenBusiness for $49
| 9.4 | Get the best deal |
Money back guarantee  | Form your LLC with FileNow for $49'
| 9.2 | Get the best deal |
Bank account included  | Form your LLC online now with MyCompanyWorks for $59
| 9.1 | Get the best deal |
Dedicated support person  | Create your LLC online now with Swyft Filings for $49
| 8.8 | Get the best deal |
Industry veteran  | Form your LLC online with LegalZoom for $79
| 8.2 | Get the best deal |
No frills service  | Form your LLC online with Incorp for $99
| 8.1 | Get the best deal |
Legal pioneer  | Create your LLC online now with Rocket Lawyer for $99
| 8 | Get the best deal |
Full Reviews of the Nine Best LLC Formation Services
Read on for a more detailed discussion of the LLC formation services we’ve included in this review taking in pricing, features, the history of these LLC formation services, their levels of customer support and more.
Incfile
Form an LLC with Incfile for FREE ($0)
- Best price (free)
- Includes one year of registered agent service free
- Highly rated
Incfile has been around several decades and has really vaulted to the top of the table with this free LLC formation deal. No one in the industry can match that price and you are dealing with a reputable company.
Pricing
It doesn’t get better than free when it comes to LLC formation. And Incfile throws in a year of registered agent service at this same “price” without any hidden extras.
Features
Incfile’s Silver package includes the basics of LLC formation – preparing and filing the Articles of Organization – along with the free registered agent service. Incfile’s platform is easy to use. Their Gold and Platinum packages include extras such as EIN numbers, a bank account, business tax consultation and more.
History
Incfile has been around since 2004 and has so far helped more than 250,000 businesses set themselves up correctly.
Customer Reviews
Incfile receives brilliant reviews from users returning an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from more than 37,000 individual reviews. Users note the simplicity of using Incfile’s service as a key advantage.
Our verdict
Incfile’s LLC basic package is incredible value and makes this LLC formation service our top pick, if you just need to get your LLC formed without wasting money on things you don’t need.
Northwest Registered Agent
Form an LLC online with Northwest for $39
- Very good value
- Excellent customer service
- Package includes full year of registered agent service
Northwest is one of the real stalwarts of the LLC formation service game having been around since 1998 and helping hundreds of thousands of companies get off the group. Northwest combines arguably the best customer support in the industry with competitive prices.
Pricing
Northwest’s long running $39 LLC formation and registered agent service bundle is great value. This includes filing the key documents for the LLC, preparation of the Articles of Organization and one full year of their highly regarded registered agent service.
Features
Northwest’s registered agent package is industry leading (that’s what they are chiefly known for) so rather than seeing this as an add on to lure customers, this really is a complete bundle for a fantastic price.
History
Since their beginnings in 1998, Northwest Registered Agent has put customer support to the forefront and their model revolves around giving customers a dedicated support person so their queries don’t shopped around to different people. More than 200 of the firm’s 550 staff work in customer support functions.
Customer Reviews
Northwest Registered Agent rates very highly in customer reviews and the policy of attaching a support person to a customer means that reviewers often mention the support they received from that person by name rather than the company itself. The attention the company pays to customer perception is obvious as it actually replies to many of the reviews it receives on Google and other platforms to thank customers for their contributions.
Our verdict
We recommend Northwest’s LLC formation bundle as a great option. While it is more expensive than Incfile’s offering, a couple of reasons it stands out is the quality of the registered agent service (industry leading) and the dedicated support person, who can steer you through the process of both setting up the registered agent service then the LLC. A great choice for people who haven’t formed an LLC before.
ZenBusiness
Form your LLC online with ZenBusiness for $49
- Bargain price and includes registered agent service
- Great customer service
- Easy to use interface
ZenBusiness is one of a number of new registered agent and LLC formation services and has become an industry leader for the blend of value and service that it offers to simplify the process of starting your business.
Pricing
ZenBusiness LLC formation package is great value at $49 with a free year of registered agent service thrown in. ZenBusiness’ Pro and Premium plans are $199 and $299 respectively.
Features
ZenBusiness’ Starter package (the $49 option) includes the filing of the relevant forms (the articles of organisation, a LLC operating agreement and free registered agent services for a year, using ZenBusiness’ simple and easy to use platform. More comprehensive (and costly) plans include an EIN, compliance guarantees, a business website and email and more.
History
ZenBusiness was formed in 2017 and employs about 250 people and is growing rapidly. The company’s head office is in Texas and the company’s mission statement is about making it easy to start and run a business.
Customer Reviews
ZenBusiness’ customer support is world class. Customer love the simplicity of their offering and the level of help available to resolve any issues or confusion. ZenBusiness received an average rating of 4.7 from more than 300,000 customer reviews. Buyers praised their knowledgeable US-based staff for jumping to help make sure that everything with online LLC services ran smoothly
Our verdict
ZenBusiness is a great choice for forming a limited liability company. Their basic offering includes a little more than Incfile’s free product, so ZenBusiness is a good choice for customers who are OK with paying a little more for a sample operating agreement and to go with a company that has really honed the process of forming an LLC to make it as simple as possible.
Our one criticism about ZenBusiness’ LLC formation service is it is not possible to see the full costs and inclusions in each plan. You need to commence the process of forming an LLC and answer a bunch of questions before this info pops up.
We think it would be much better to have a page explaining pricing.
MyCompanyWorks
Form your LLC with FileNow for $49'
- One year free registered agent service
- Money back guarantee
- Expert support
Pricing
MyCompanyWorks is not the cheapest, but $59 to form an LLC with a really highly rated provider is tremendous value. MyCompanyWorks throws in a lot of ancillary services such as setting up a bank account for the LLC free of charge even in its basic package, although it doesn’t include a free registered agent service.
MyCompanyWorks has an Entrepreneur package ($199) and a Complete package ($299), which add extras such as obtaining a federal tax ID.
Features
MyCompanyWorks Basic package has all that many start up businesses will need, although customer will need to factor in paying for a registered agent service for $99 on this plan to calculate the true cost vs providers that throw in this service for the first year.
History
MyCompanyWorks was founded in 2001 (it was known as MyNewCompany) at the time and the Las Vegas based operation has helped more than 60,000 businesses in that period.
Customer Reviews
MyCompanyWork’s gets an industry-leaded customer support rating of 4.9 out 5 from thousands of reviews.
Our verdict
We like MyCompanyWork’s LLC formation service and platform, as well as their commitment to customer support, but without the free registered agent service, it is difficult to recommend them over our top three picks, which are superior value.
Swyft Filings
Create your LLC online now with Swyft Filings for $49
- Fast service
Great price
Dedicated support person
No registered agent service included
Pricing
Swyft’s basic LLC formation package is $49, which is OK, but note that this doesn’t include a free registered agent service for the first year, which competitors offer. That means if you want the same provider for your LLC formation and registered agent service, then you’ll need to pay $149 for Swyft’s registered agent service. To be really honest, this is a big stumbling block for us.
Features
Swyft Filing has the same policy that Northwest uses of assigning a dedicated support person to each customer to steer them through the process.
We love the fact that Swyft Filing is very up front about its pricing – their packages are laid out clearly on their pages.
The basic package doesn’t include obtaining a federal tax ID (EIN) or operating agreement, which some providers do include in their cheapest plans.
Swyft’s other selling point is speed – they claim to have some of the fastest processing times in the industry.
History
Swyft Filings has been providing LLC formation services since 2015 and has helped more than 250,000 customers create a business during that time.
Customer Reviews
Swyft Filings gets great reviews on Trust Pilot and other review aggregator platforms. Their Trust Pilot rating is 4.5 from 5 based of 4700 reviews with reviewers praising the ability of customer support staff to personally resolve issues.
Our verdict
Swyft Filings is another good choice for people who are forming an LLC for the first time thanks to their customer support model of assigning a single staff member to assist clients.
However, the lack of a free registered agent service is something that’s tough to overlook when choosing between Swyft and other competitors offering a bundled service (LLC formation plus registered agent) such as Northwest, Incfile and ZenBusiness.
FileNow
Form your LLC with FileNow for $49'
- One year free registered agent service
- Money back guarantee
- Expert support
FileNow has only been around a few years, but has made a splash with its competitive pricing and speed of filing and processing. They offer a bundled package for $49.
It’s a worthwhile option if you wanted to look outside of the major players – ZenBusiness, Northwest and Incfile – at a similar price level.
Pricing
The basic service, which is $49, includes a registered agent service.
Features
Along with a really competitive price and free registered agent service, FileNow’s LLC formation service includes a federal tax ID or EIN (which is usually a paid-for extra with LLC services). They also offer 24 hour processing even on the basic package and state that forming an LLC with FileNow is a 20 minute process.
History
FileNow was set up by a team of New York based entrepreneurs, lawyers and businesspeople with the goal of making company formation quick and easy.
Customer Reviews
FileNow gets great ratings from its customers with 96% of customers that reviewed their service returning a four or five star review. Customers like the simplicity of the FileNow portal and the support from FileNow’s customer support team.
Our verdict
FileNow is one of the top picks for forming an LLC in our books with a great combination of features you don’t get with some (the EIN and registered agent service), great customer support and an excellent price.
LegalZoom
Form your LLC online with LegalZoom for $79
- Great track record
Good reviews
Registered agent not included
LegalZoom is arguably the most prominent player in the LLC formation industry. They advertise a lot across a range of channels, they have a lot of articles on their site about forming a business and other legal matters. And they offer LLC formation of course!
Pricing
LegalZoom’s offering is not cheap. It’s LLC formation package is $79 and doesn’t include a free registered agent service. For that you’d have to pay a whopping $299, one of the highest prices we have seen.
Features
The basic LegalZoom package includes the creating and filing of the key documents (articles of organization) and also provides a banking resolution, which can be of assistance in creating a bank account for the LLC.
It’s worth noting that, like Rocket Lawyer, LegalZoom offers some legal consulting services where you can speak to a lawyer through their network of affiliated lawyers. So for people who have more complex legal needs beyond the formation of their LLC, they might be a viable option in spite of their pricing.
LegalZoom offers a huge range of legal documents and standard forms that can also save customers money compared to consulting a lawyer.
History
LegalZoom formed in 1999, and they’ve served more than 5 million clients since then, with more than 2 million businesses formed. Their mission, like many companies in this space, is to reduce the cost of legal services so ordinary people can access them.
Customer Reviews
LegalZoom gets reasonable reviews from customers returning a 4.5 rating off 1500 reviews with Trust Pilot. Of course there is the odd negative review in there, which the LegalZoom team is good at picking up and responding too in a positive way.
Our verdict
For people just wanting a basic LLC, we can’t recommend LegalZoom on account of the pricing and the lack of a corresponding registered agent service. Unless you anticipate needing further legal services, you can go with one of ZenBusiness, Incfile or Northwest and save more than $300 and receive the same service.
Incorp
Form your LLC online with Incorp for $99
- Industry veteran
- Good support
- Better known for registered agent service
Incorp has been around since 1998 and is a trusted company in the industry. I’ve used them for forming some of my LLCs and have been happy with the service. They offer Spanish speaking customer support too. The downsides to their offering is they aren’t the cheapest and the basic plan doesn’t include a registered agent service.
Pricing
InCorp’s service is reliable and simple, but at $99 it is not the cheapest and it doesn’t include a registered agent service as some of the bundled service providers do. Incorp provides a good registered service, but you’ll have to pay another $99 a year to access a registered agent service, which is a mandatory requirement for LLCs.
Features
InCorp is a no frills offering that includes the basics – preparing and filing the key documents to form your LLC.
History
Incorp, which is based in Las Vegas, has been around since 1998 and has more than 125,000 registered agent customers (that’s their speciality). They were established after a period establishing and organising business entities for a private investment bank and created their EntityWatch platform to monitor compliance requirements of these entities.
Customer Reviews
Incorp has good customer support with phone and live chat support. The company says 95% of its reviews are positive and it has a strong Better Business Bureau rating. However, some reviewers complain that they’ve been billed even after their entity was dissolved. That’s maybe a communication breakdown that can come about where you have different companies or departments in charge of LLC formation and registered agent services.
Our verdict
InCorp is a reliable option that I would consider for LLC formation if I were a Spanish speaker or not that price sensitive. For other people, it is hard to recommend spending the extra money when the top three players on price – Incfile, Northwest and ZenBusiness – are cheaper and have a bundled service.
Rocket Lawyer
Create your LLC online now with Rocket Lawyer for $99
- OK price
- Range of other legal services available
- Good reputation
Rocket Lawyer is a big operation offering a diverse range of legal services. Although they aren’t the cheapest, their price ($99) is reasonable and their customer service is good. But really, we’ve included them in this list for people who are forming LLCs and anticipate requiring other legal services down the track – it’s easy for customers to access Rocket Lawyer’s cost effective on demand legal consultation. I really like to keep everything with the one operator wherever possible, and if you have legal needs that go beyond simple company formation Rocket Lawyer is a good choice. Although, note that Rocket Lawyer doesn’t include a free registered agent service for $99, so you will have to pay for that on top.
Pricing
Rocket Lawyer charges $99 for its LLC formation service and $149 for its registered agent service, so that’s a combined $248 to get up and running, although you can get a 25% discount on the registered agent service if you are a new customer.
Features
Rocket Lawyer does the basics of filing your articles of organization and getting your LLC up and running. They also offer a money back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied with the outcome. Rocket Lawyer’s chat and phone support is very good.
History
Rocket Lawyer has helped more than 20 million clients since it was formed in 2008.
Customer Reviews
Rocket Lawyer’s customer speak very highly of the company. Their Trust Pilot rating is a strong 4.7 based off 5000 reviews with one of the main positives the speed of access to lawyers and the simplicity of working with them.
Our verdict
Rocket Lawyer is considerably more expensive than the leading players and doesn’t have a free registered agent service bundled with its offering. I’d only consider using them if I was setting up a business with significant legal needs: obtaining a trademark, dealing with multiple owners or high prospect of litigation etc.
Final Thoughts on the LLC Services Online
Hopefully this article has helped you identify the best LLC services for your needs. We’ve used this last section of the article to recommend the best LLC services based on the needs of various types of business formation customers
Value Conscious Customers
Go with one of our top three: Incfile, Northwest or Zen Business
People who want to form an LLC for the first time
Northwest Registered Agent stands out here for the combination of price and customer support via a dedicated staff member to shepherd newbies through the whole company formation process (which can be complex the first time you do it).
People who need legal help beyond company formation
LegalZoom might be the best LLC service for people who anticipate needing additional legal services beyond just wanting to form an LLC. While they have a huge range of legal documents and services and a network of lawyers who can assist, they aren’t cheap! Rocket Lawyer is another option with even more options for good value online legal services.
