Cheapest LLC Formation Services
In 2026 several reputable services will file your Articles of Organization for nothing beyond the mandatory state fee. The catch is that "cheapest" is rarely about the formation line item alone—the number that matters is your true cost over the first year and beyond.
Looking past the $0 headline means weighing what you actually pay for a registered agent, an operating agreement, an EIN, and ongoing compliance help. For startups especially, the right service also does something a bare filing never will: it tells you when your state annual report is due, how much it costs, and what happens if you miss it. The picks below are weighed on upfront price, what's bundled in, the strength of their compliance tooling, ease of use, and support.
ZenBusiness — the service to beat
For most new founders, ZenBusiness is the service to beat. It files your LLC for $0 plus your state fee, pairs that with one of the cleanest dashboards in the category, and includes a compliance system that maps your annual report deadlines and state fees so nothing slips. That combination of a free entry point and genuinely useful ongoing guidance is why it leads this list.
Get Started with ZenBusinessAt a Glance (Pricing as of 2026)
| Service | Formation (starting) | Registered agent | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $0 + state fee | $199/yr (add-on) | Free filing plus a guided compliance dashboard |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 + state fee | Free year 1, then $125/yr | Privacy and zero upsells |
| Bizee | $0 + state fee | Free year 1, then $119/yr | Lowest long-term agent cost |
| LegalZoom | $0 + state fee | $249/yr | Attorney access and broad legal needs |
| Rocket Lawyer | Free with membership + state fee | ~$125/yr | Ongoing legal documents and consults |
| Tailor Brands | $0 + state fee | $199/yr (add-on) | Formation bundled with branding |
ZenBusiness
Best overall for cheap formation + complianceZenBusiness files your LLC for $0 plus the state fee and surrounds that filing with the tools a startup needs to stay in good standing.
Key features
A $0 Starter formation tier; a modern dashboard with document storage and deadline alerts; Worry-Free Compliance, which includes an annual report filing service; an in-platform breakdown of your state’s filing requirements and renewal fees; and add-on access to registered agent service, EIN filing, and operating agreements.
Best for: First-time founders who want the lowest possible entry cost without losing the hand-holding around annual reports and renewals.
Pricing tier: Starter is $0 plus state fee, Pro runs around $199 per year (adding faster filing, an operating agreement template, EIN, and a logo tool), and Premium is roughly $299, all as of 2026.
Pros
- ✓The cheapest way to get filed
- ✓A compliance dashboard that spells out annual report deadlines and fees state by state
- ✓An interface that’s easier to navigate than most rivals
- ✓Support that consistently rates among the best; over 500,000 businesses formed
Cons
- ✕The registered agent service is a paid add-on at about $199/year rather than bundled free
- ✕Worry-Free Compliance is free year one, then auto-renews around $199 annually—budget for that or turn it off
Northwest Registered Agent
Best for privacy and transparent pricingNorthwest charges $39 plus the state fee and includes a full year of registered agent service, with no upsell gauntlet at checkout.
Key features
$39 formation with one year of registered agent included; a "Privacy by Default" policy under which the company uses its own address on public filings and doesn’t sell your data; a dedicated Corporate Guide for support; mail forwarding and scanning; and annual report reminders.
Best for: Founders who prize privacy and a clean, no-pressure buying experience, and who plan to keep the same provider for years.
Pricing tier: $39 plus state fee in year one, then $125 per year for registered agent renewal, as of 2026.
Pros
- ✓The lowest total multi-year cost of any full-service provider once you account for the included agent
- ✓Best-in-class privacy practices
- ✓Phone support staffed by real people; 25+ years in business
Cons
- ✕The dashboard feels dated next to ZenBusiness
- ✕No live chat
- ✕Fewer bundled startup extras like branding or website tools
Bizee
Lowest ongoing registered agent costFormerly Incfile, Bizee files your LLC for $0 plus the state fee and throws in the first year of registered agent service free.
Key features
$0 formation; a free first year of registered agent on all plans; a simple formation wizard; lifetime company alerts for compliance reminders; and optional EIN and operating agreement add-ons.
Best for: Budget-focused founders who are comfortable handling a few add-on decisions themselves and want to minimize what they pay every year afterward.
Pricing tier: $0 plus state fee, with registered agent renewing at about $119 per year after the first year, the lowest ongoing rate among the major services as of 2026.
Pros
- ✓A strong free entry point
- ✓A long track record of over a million businesses formed
- ✓The cheapest long-run agent fee here
Cons
- ✕The checkout process pushes several paid add-ons
- ✕Standard processing tends to run three to four weeks
- ✕Lighter compliance tooling than ZenBusiness’s state-by-state detail
LegalZoom
Broader legal needsLegalZoom is the most recognized name in the space and has expanded its formation tier to $0, though it remains a legal-services company first.
Key features
A $0 Basic formation tier; attorney consultations on higher plans; an extensive catalog covering trademarks, contracts, and estate documents; and add-on compliance services.
Best for: Businesses that expect to need ongoing legal work beyond the formation itself.
Pricing tier: Basic is $0 plus state fee, with Pro near $249 and Premium around $299, as of 2026. Registered agent service runs about $249 per year, the highest among major providers.
Pros
- ✓Deep legal resources
- ✓Optional attorney access
- ✓A brand many founders find reassuring
Cons
- ✕The priciest registered agent in this group
- ✕An aggressive upsell flow
- ✕Notably slow standard processing on the entry tier
Rocket Lawyer
Ongoing document and attorney accessRocket Lawyer bundles LLC formation into a legal-services membership, which makes it distinct from the per-filing model everyone else uses.
Key features
Your first LLC formation free (plus state fee) with a paid membership; a large library of customizable legal documents; attorney Q&A and short consultations; and AI-assisted document review.
Best for: Founders who will lean on contracts, agreements, and legal questions regularly, not just at formation.
Pricing tier: A subscription model running roughly $40 per month, or about $240 per year for the Rocket Legal+ plan, with registered agent service around $125 per year, as of 2026.
Pros
- ✓Strong self-serve legal tooling
- ✓Genuine access to legal professionals at a fraction of hourly rates
Cons
- ✕Formation is only "free" while you pay for membership
- ✕Value depends entirely on whether you’ll use the legal library
- ✕Web chat support is limited
Tailor Brands
Formation plus brandingTailor Brands started as an AI branding platform and now bundles LLC formation with logo, website, and marketing tools.
Key features
A $0 Lite formation tier; AI logo and website builders; annual compliance service on its mid-tier plan; and optional EIN and registered agent add-ons.
Best for: Founders launching a consumer-facing brand who want their legal entity and visual identity built in one workflow.
Pricing tier: Lite is $0 plus state fee, Essential is about $199 per year (adding an operating agreement and annual compliance), and Elite runs near $249, as of 2026. Registered agent is an add-on around $199 per year.
Pros
- ✓A real one-stop shop if you need branding and a website alongside the LLC
Cons
- ✕The realistic all-in cost climbs quickly once you add the essentials
- ✕Support rates below the leaders
- ✕The formation experience is secondary to the branding pitch
The Bottom Line
If your goal is the lowest cost to get an LLC formed and the clearest picture of what you'll owe afterward, ZenBusiness is the strongest choice for 2026: free filing, an interface built for people doing this for the first time, and a compliance system that lays out your annual report requirements and fees so you're never caught off guard. Northwest is the better long-term value if privacy and the lowest multi-year cost matter most, and Bizee wins on the cheapest ongoing registered agent—but for the specific blend of a free entry point and genuine startup compliance support, ZenBusiness is the one to start with.
File Free, Stay Compliant
Get the lowest entry cost plus a compliance dashboard that maps every annual report deadline.
Get Started with ZenBusinessCompare more in our best formation services guide.