Northwest Registered Agent is the best place to open an LLC for most readers, because its $39 formation fee includes a free first year of registered agent service, and the agent renews at $125 per year. Bizee is the lowest cost start for a simple LLC, because its Basic plan is $0 plus the state fee and also includes a free first year of registered agent service, with renewal at $149 per year. A $0 formation fee does not mean a $0 LLC, because state filing fees are always extra, and registered agent service is a separate yearly cost at most services.
The best place to open an LLC depends on what you will pay in year two, not only on the headline formation fee. Five services on this list start at $0 plus the state fee, yet their registered agent renewals range from $125 to $596 per year. One detail most roundups skip is the Swyft Filings agent price: it is listed as $149 per quarter, which totals $596 per year, while other services quote a single annual figure. Compare the agent renewal, the EIN and operating agreement, and the filing speed before you choose.
On this page
Best place to open an llc: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Registered Agent | Privacy and low ongoing cost | $39 | Not applicable | Visit |
| 2 | Bizee | Lowest true first year cost | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 3 | ZenBusiness | Guided filing and compliance alerts | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 4 | LegalZoom | Attorney access with formation | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 5 | Tailor Brands | Formation plus branding tools | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 6 | Swyft Filings | Fast filing with a simple dashboard | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | Inc Authority | Free formation with a free agent year | $0 | Yes | Visit |
The 7 best best place to open an llcs, in detail
Northwest Registered Agent
Best for: Privacy and low ongoing cost
Northwest Registered Agent charges $39 plus the state filing fee for LLC formation, and the official page opened on 2026-11-12 shows the same $39 figure with registered agent service at $125 per year. The formation package includes preparation and filing of the articles of organization, an operating agreement, a business address, and a full year of registered agent service. The identity bundle adds a domain, a website, a professional email address, and a phone line.
- The trade-off is that an EIN is not included in the $39 package, and it costs $50 as an add-on for United States residents.
- Same-day processing is also held for a higher package, so readers who need a same-day filing should check the $199 Premium option before they order.
- Northwest suits a founder who wants a private address on state filings, a stable agent price, and a simple one-package purchase.
- It does not suit a founder who wants a $0 formation fee or a service that files the annual report for them.
Pros
- Registered agent service free for the first year
- flat $125 per year agent renewal
- business address, domain, website, email, and phone line included with formation
Cons
- EIN filing is a $50 add-on for United States residents
- no $0 formation tier
- annual report filing is not included
Bizee
Best for: Lowest true first year cost
Bizee, formerly Incfile, offers a Basic plan at $0 plus the state filing fee, and every plan includes one free year of registered agent service. The Standard plan is $199 plus the state fee and adds an EIN, an operating agreement, and faster processing, while the Premium plan is $299 plus the state fee and adds expedited filing, business contract templates, a domain, and a business email address. The registered agent renews at $149 per year after the free first year.
- The Basic plan is a genuine $0 service fee, yet it files only the articles of organization and leaves the EIN and operating agreement for later.
- A founder who needs those two documents on day one should price the $199 Standard plan, not the $0 headline.
- Bizee suits a budget-first founder who can wait for standard processing and who wants the agent included in year one.
- It does not suit a founder who wants the fastest filing.
Pros
- Basic plan is $0 plus the state fee
- registered agent service free for the first year
- Standard plan adds EIN and operating agreement for $199
Cons
- Basic plan excludes EIN and operating agreement
- Standard and Premium renew each year
- expedited filing is held for the Premium plan
ZenBusiness
Best for: Guided filing and compliance alerts
ZenBusiness lists three LLC formation packages on its official pricing page, opened on 2026-11-12. The Starter package is $0 plus state fees and includes a name search, filing of the articles of organization, and Worry-Free Compliance free for the first year, which renews at $199 per year. The Pro package is $199 per year plus state fees and adds 1-day processing, an EIN, and an operating agreement template.
- The Premium package is $299 per year plus state fees and adds a domain with privacy, a business email address, and Advanced Compliance Protection.
- The main limit is the registered agent.
- It is not included in any plan and costs $199 per year as an add-on, so a Starter founder who needs ZenBusiness as agent will pay $199 in year one plu
- The EIN and operating agreement are also $99 each as separate add-ons on Starter.
Pros
- Starter plan is $0 plus the state fee
- Pro plan adds EIN and operating agreement for $199 per year
- Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year on Starter
Cons
- Registered agent service is a $199 per year add-on on every plan
- Pro and Premium renew each year
- website builder trial renews at $15 per month
LegalZoom
Best for: Attorney access with formation
LegalZoom offers a Basic plan at $0 plus the state filing fee, with articles of organization, a business name check, and a tax consultation. The Pro plan is $249 plus the state fee and adds an operating agreement, an EIN, 30 days of attorney consultations, access to more than 150 legal documents for one year, and eSignatures for one year. The Premium plan is $299 plus the state fee and adds bookkeeping tools for six months.
- The registered agent service costs $249 per year and must be added separately.
- The renewal terms need close reading.
- The attorney access in Pro and Premium is a 30-day trial, then it renews at $49 per month unless cancelled.
- The Premium bookkeeping tools renew at $9.99 per month after six months unless cancelled.
Pros
- Basic plan is $0 plus the state fee
- Pro plan adds operating agreement, EIN, and 30 days of attorney consultations for $249
- Premium plan adds bookkeeping tools for $299
Cons
- Registered agent service is $249 per year and is not included in any plan
- attorney plan renews at $49 per month after 30 days
- bookkeeping tools renew at $9.99 per month after six months
Tailor Brands
Best for: Formation plus branding tools
Tailor Brands offers three LLC plans. The Lite plan is $0 plus state fees and includes LLC formation, business coaching, and free compliance alerts. The Essential plan is $199 per year plus state fees and adds 1-day expedited processing and legal compliance filings.
- The Elite plan is $249 per year plus state fees and adds a domain free for one year, a website, eight logos, and a digital business card.
- Registered agent service is $199 per year, and an EIN is $99 on the Lite plan.
- The branding focus is the reason to choose Tailor Brands, and also its main limit for a founder who only needs a filing.
- Standard processing on Lite takes 14 business days, so a founder in a hurry must move to Essential.
Pros
- Lite plan is $0 plus the state fee
- Essential plan adds 1-day processing and compliance filings for $199 per year
- Elite plan adds domain, website, and logos for $249 per year
Cons
- Registered agent service is $199 per year
- EIN is $99 on the Lite plan
- standard processing on Lite takes 14 business days
Swyft Filings
Best for: Fast filing with a simple dashboard
Swyft Filings lists a Basic plan at $0 plus state fees, with formation documents only and 7 to 10 days of internal processing. The Standard plan is $199 plus state fees and adds a customized operating agreement, EIN filing, and faster handling. The Premium plan is $299 plus state fees and adds same-business-day processing, a free domain, and a digital corporate kit.
- The company offers filing in all 50 states, with phone and chat support on weekdays.
- The registered agent price is the deciding fact here.
- It is billed at $149 per quarter, which totals $596 per year, and it is not included in any formation plan.
- That annual total is higher than the $125 agent at Northwest, the $149 agent at Bizee, the $199 agent at ZenBusiness and Tailor Brands, and the $249 a
Pros
- Basic plan is $0 plus the state fee
- Standard plan adds operating agreement and EIN for $199
- Premium plan adds same-business-day processing for $299
Cons
- Registered agent is billed at $149 per quarter, which totals $596 per year
- agent is not included in any plan
- compliance support is $29 per month on some options
Inc Authority
Best for: Free formation with a free agent year
Inc Authority charges $0 for its LLC formation service, so the founder pays only the state filing fee plus any add-ons chosen at checkout. The free package includes a business name check, preparation and filing of the articles of organization, one free year of registered agent service, and one free premium service of the founder’s choice, such as EIN filing or 24-hour processing. An operating agreement is $89 as an add-on.
- The renewal is the limit to plan for.
- After the free first year, the registered agent renews automatically at $249 per year, which matches LegalZoom as the highest agent renewal on this li
- The checkout also presents many optional services, so a founder should decline each add-on they do not need and check the renewal date for the agent.
- Inc Authority suits a founder who wants the lowest upfront service fee with a free agent year and who will watch the year-two renewal.
Pros
- Formation service fee is $0 plus the state fee
- registered agent service free for the first year
- one free premium service, such as EIN filing or 24-hour processing
Cons
- Registered agent renews at $249 per year and renews automatically
- operating agreement is $89 as an add-on
- checkout includes many optional add-ons
How we chose
We chose services that form LLCs in all 50 states, show a starting formation price, and offer registered agent service, because every LLC needs an agent with an address in its formation state. Prices and plan limits in this article come from official vendor pricing pages and official LLC pages opened on 2026-11-12. We did not test any service hands-on, and we did not form an LLC with any provider for this article. The ranking favors a low two-year total, a bundled agent year, and clear renewal terms, not a $0 headline alone.
What to check before you buy
Check the registered agent renewal before you check the formation fee, because the agent is a yearly cost and the gap between $125 and $596 per year is larger than any formation saving. Check whether the EIN and operating agreement are included, because the IRS issues an EIN free on its own site. Check the renewal dates for any trial inside a plan, such as the 30-day attorney trial at LegalZoom that renews at $49 per month. Check the filing speed on the plan you will actually buy, because a $0 plan can take 7 to 14 business days.
| Choice | Year one service cost with agent | Year two agent renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39, agent free in year one | $125 per year |
| Bizee | $0, agent free in year one | $149 per year |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $199 for the agent, formation $0 | $199 per year |
| LegalZoom Basic | $249 for the agent, formation $0 | $249 per year |
| Tailor Brands Lite | $199 for the agent, formation $0 | $199 per year |
| Swyft Filings Basic | $596 for the agent, formation $0 | $596 per year |
| Inc Authority | $0, agent free in year one | $249 per year |
The table uses service fees only, before state filing fees, which vary by state and are the same for every provider in a given state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best place to open an LLC for most people?
Northwest Registered Agent is the best place to open an LLC for most readers, because its $39 formation fee includes a free first year of registered agent service, an operating agreement, and a business address. The agent renews at $125 per year, which is the lowest renewal on this list. Bizee is the better choice when the lowest first-year service cost matters most.
How much does it cost to open an LLC?
The state filing fee is always extra and varies by state, from about $35 to $500. The service fee ranges from $0 at Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Tailor Brands, Swyft Filings, and Inc Authority to $39 at Northwest Registered Agent. Add the registered agent cost, which ranges from $0 in year one at Northwest, Bizee, and Inc Authority to $596 per year at Swyft Filings.
Is a $0 LLC formation really free?
A $0 formation fee means the service fee is $0, not that the LLC costs nothing. You still pay the state filing fee, and you still need a registered agent, which is a separate yearly cost at ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Tailor Brands, and Swyft Filings. Bizee and Inc Authority include a free first year of agent service, so their year-one service cost is $0 before the state fee.
Which LLC service has the cheapest registered agent renewal?
Northwest Registered Agent has the cheapest agent renewal on this list at $125 per year. Bizee is next at $149 per year. ZenBusiness and Tailor Brands charge $199 per year, LegalZoom and Inc Authority charge $249 per year, and Swyft Filings totals $596 per year at $149 per quarter.
Should I choose ZenBusiness or Bizee?
Choose Bizee when the lowest true cost matters, because its Basic plan is $0 plus the state fee and includes a free first year of registered agent service. Choose ZenBusiness when you want a polished dashboard, Worry-Free Compliance, and guided filing, and you accept a $199 per year agent add-on. Both start at $0, so the agent renewal and the compliance tools decide the better fit.
Do I need an operating agreement and an EIN to open an LLC?
An EIN is needed to open a business bank account and to hire staff, and the IRS issues it free on its own site, so do not pay $99 for it unless you want the service to file it for you. An operating agreement sets out ownership and decision rules, and it is included at Northwest and in the higher plans at most services.
Sources
- https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/
- https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/125-northwest-ra
- https://www.bizee.com/
- https://bizee.com/llc
- https://www.zenbusiness.com/
- https://www.zenbusiness.com/pricing
- https://www.legalzoom.com/
- https://www.legalzoom.com/business/business-formation/llc-overview.html
- https://www.tailorbrands.com/
- https://www.tailorbrands.com/lp/sem/llc-sem-business
- https://www.swyftfilings.com/
- https://www.swyftfilings.com/llc/
- https://www.incauthority.com/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.