How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Bizee has the lowest two-year total at $149, since its first year of agent service is included and its renewal sits below most of the field.
- Northwest Registered Agent renews for less at $125 per year, so it overtakes Bizee from the third year, with a five-year total of $589 before state fees.
- LegalZoom suits owners who want attorney access and the biggest brand, but it is the priciest ranked option, with a five-year total of $1,423 before state fees.
- ZenBusiness suits compliance after formation, with Worry-Free Compliance handling annual report and amendment filings.
- Not legal advice: this article is general information only, not legal advice. State rules and fees vary widely, so confirm your state's filing fee, annual report fee, publication rule, and tax before forming. California owners pay an $800 tax every year the LLC stays active, Florida charges a $138.75 annual report, and New York requires LLC publication.
Quick comparison
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The best company incorporation services
#1LegalZoom
Best for: Attorney access, biggest brand3.1/5 on
G2 (16 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit legalzoom.com
Starting price$0 plus state fee
Free planNo
LegalZoom is the attorney access pick, with the biggest brand in formation services, attorney access on paid plans, and a 60-day refund window. Its Basic plan costs $0 plus state fee, with Pro and Premium adding an EIN and operating agreement, and its registered agent costs $249 per year as an add-on, with a five-year total of $1,423 before state fees, the highest here.
The trade off is brand and attorney access against long-term cost. LegalZoom offers the most recognized brand and attorney access, but it is the priciest ranked option over five years. LegalZoom fits owners who want attorney access and already use LegalZoom for other legal needs.
What we like- Biggest brand
- Attorney access
- Pro and Premium plans include EIN and operating agreement
- 60-day refund window
- 1 to 14 working days turnaround
Watch out for- Priciest ranked option
- Agent renewal $249 per year
- Five-year total $1,423 before state fees
- Annual report service $99 per report or $199 per year for Compliance Filings
- Support and terms disagree on cancelling in one comparison
Starting price$0 plus state fee
Free planNo
ZenBusiness is the compliance pick, with a 5-star Trustpilot rating, over 2 million users, and a free basic LLC formation plan, plus a publication service that few competitors offer for states like New York that require LLC publication. Its Starter plan costs $0 plus state fees, Pro $199 per year, and Premium $299 per year, with its registered agent at $199 per year as an add-on and a five-year total of $1,193 before state fees.
The trade off is compliance ease against agent cost. ZenBusiness handles compliance after formation well, but its agent costs more than Northwest or Bizee and its price doubles at renewal. ZenBusiness fits owners who want compliance handled after formation.
What we like- 5-star Trustpilot rating and over 2 million users
- Free basic LLC formation plan
- Publication service for states like New York that require it
- Worry-Free Compliance handles annual reports and amendments
- 60-day refund window
Watch out for- Agent renewal $199 per year
- Five-year total $1,193 before state fees
- Agent not included in any plan
- Price doubles at renewal in one comparison
- Cannot cancel online in one comparison
Starting price$0 plus state fee
Free planNo
Bizee, formerly Incfile, is the lowest two-year total pick, with a $0 Basic formation plan plus state fee, first year of agent service included, and renewal at $149 per year, giving a two-year total of $149 and a five-year total of $765 before state fees. It offers 1 working day processing and the lowest first-year cost in the US in one comparison.
The trade off is low early cost against long-term position. Bizee is cheapest over two years, but Northwest overtakes it from the third year thanks to a lower renewal. Bizee fits founders who want the lowest first-year cost.
What we like- Lowest two-year total at $149
- First year of agent service included
- Renewal $149 per year
- Five-year total $765 before state fees
- 1 working day processing
- Lowest first-year cost in the US in one comparison
Watch out for- No published refund window
- Agent provided by partner LegalInc
- Support overstated its $29-a-month address in one comparison
- Annual report filing price shown only in the order flow
Starting price$39 plus state fee
Free planNo
Northwest Registered Agent is the long-term cost pick, with formation at $39 plus state fee including the agent, renewal at $125 per year, a three-year total of $289, and a five-year total of $589 before state fees, the second lowest here. It is widely regarded as the most privacy-focused registered agent service, using its own address, not yours, on formation documents by default, and it has been in business since 1998 with same-day processing.
The trade off is long-term value against add-on costs. Northwest is cheapest over three to five years, but its EIN and operating agreement cost extra. Northwest fits US residents who want privacy and the lowest long-term cost.
What we like- Lowest long-term cost
- Formation $39 plus state fee with agent included
- Renewal $125 per year
- Five-year total $589 before state fees
- Three-year total $289
- Privacy-focused, its address goes on filings
- Same-day processing
- In business since 1998
Watch out for- No published refund window
- EIN is a $50 add-on
- Operating agreement is an add-on
- Only 5 free scans of ordinary mail a year in one comparison
Starting price$149 per year membership
Free planNo
Rocket Lawyer is the ongoing legal documents pick, offering a membership model that covers legal documents, attorney services, and formation, with agent service at $125 per year with membership and annual report filing at $100 per report on Pro. Its membership costs $149 per year, and its five-year total of $1,940 including membership is the highest here, since the agent requires a paid membership.
The trade off is ongoing legal help against formation-only cost. Rocket Lawyer covers many legal needs beyond formation, but it is the most expensive option if you only need an LLC. Rocket Lawyer fits owners who want ongoing legal documents plus formation.
What we like- Ongoing legal documents and attorney services
- Membership model covers many legal needs
- Agent $125 per year with membership
- Annual report $100 per report on Pro
- 30-day refund window
Watch out for- Agent requires Plus or Pro membership, so totals are not comparable to standalone formation
- Five-year total $1,940 including membership, the highest here
- Membership cost adds up if you only need formation
Starting price$0 plus state fee
Free planNo
Tailor Brands is the branding pick, bundling formation with branding tools like logo and website creation, which suits founders who want a brand and a business formed in one place. Its formation costs $0 plus state fee, with agent service at $199 per year as an add-on on lower plans and included in Essential and Elite plans, giving a two-year total of $398.
The trade off is branding bundle against formation clarity. Tailor Brands bundles branding well, but its plans do not clearly state whether a written operating agreement is included. Tailor Brands fits founders who want branding plus formation together.
What we like- Branding bundled with formation, including logo and website tools
- Agent included in Essential and Elite plans
- Good for founders who want branding plus formation in one place
Watch out for- Agent $199 per year as an add-on on lower plans
- Two-year total $398
- No published refund window
- Plans do not say whether a written operating agreement is included in one comparison
- Not ranked on five-year cost for that reason
Starting price$0 plus state fee
Free planNo
Inc Authority is the add-on pick, offering free formation plus a free EIN plus a free first year of agent service, with a 60-day refund window, which suits founders who want to pick add-ons individually. Its formation costs $0 plus state fee, but its agent renewal of $249 per year is among the highest here, giving a two-year total of $249.
The trade off is free first year against renewal cost. Inc Authority is free to start, but its $249 renewal pushes long-term costs above Northwest and Bizee. Inc Authority fits founders who want free formation and EIN with individual add-ons.
What we like- Free formation plus free EIN plus free agent year one
- 60-day refund window
- Good for picking add-ons individually
- Two-year total $249
Watch out for- Agent renewal $249 per year, among the highest here
- Two-year total higher than Bizee and Northwest
- Five-year cost higher than Northwest
- Add-on pricing varies
Starting price$79 plus state fee
Free planNo
MyCompanyWorks is the refund window pick, offering the longest refund window at 90 days, formation at $79 plus state fees, and agent service at $119 per year, among the lowest renewals here, with agent service included on higher tiers. Its two-year total of $317 sits between Northwest and ZenBusiness, and it offers 1 working day processing with rush filing.
The trade off is refund safety against headline fee. MyCompanyWorks charges $79 upfront while rivals charge $0, but its 90-day refund window and $119 renewal offer long-term safety. MyCompanyWorks fits founders who want the longest refund window and a low renewal.
What we like- Longest refund window at 90 days
- Formation $79 plus state fees
- Agent $119 per year, among the lowest renewals
- Agent included on higher tiers
- 1 working day processing with rush filing
- Two-year total $317
Watch out for- Formation fee higher than $0 competitors
- EIN and operating agreement are add-ons
- Smaller brand than LegalZoom or ZenBusiness
How we chose
We compared published fee schedules, agent renewals, and multi-year totals from October 2026, favoring services with distinct strengths: the best attorney access, the best compliance, the lowest two-year total, the lowest long-term cost, the best ongoing legal documents, the best branding bundle, the best add-on flexibility, and the longest refund window. We recorded prices as reported and flagged conflicts, since agent fees differ by listing, and we excluded state fees from all totals, since state filing fees range from $35 to $500 depending on state. We favored services with a current offering and an active founder user base, and we stressed state variation, since formation rules, report fees, and taxes differ by state.
How to choose a company incorporation service
Start with your horizon: the lowest two-year cost points to Bizee, the lowest three to five-year cost points to Northwest, and ongoing legal help points to Rocket Lawyer. Next, compare the multi-year total, not the headline fee: a $0 formation with a $249 agent renewal costs more over five years than a $39 formation with a $125 renewal. Then check what is included: EIN, operating agreement, and annual report filing are add-ons at some services and included at others, so confirm before ordering. Finally, check your state's rules: filing fees range from $35 to $500, California charges an $800 annual tax, Florida charges a $138.75 annual report, New York requires publication, and annual report fees recur every year or two for most LLCs, so budget those separately from the service fee.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best company incorporation service?
Bizee has the lowest two-year total, Northwest has the lowest three to five-year cost, LegalZoom suits attorney access, ZenBusiness suits compliance after formation, and Rocket Lawyer suits ongoing legal documents.
How much does it cost to form an LLC?
Formation itself costs $0 to $79 plus state fees, but the true cost includes agent renewals of $119 to $249 per year plus state filing fees of $35 to $500 and annual report fees, so compare five-year totals, not headline fees.
Do I need a registered agent?
Yes. Every LLC and corporation in the US must designate a registered agent authorized to receive legal documents, tax notices, and official state correspondence, and most founders use a service rather than their own address for privacy.
What state fees apply after formation?
It varies by state. California owners pay an $800 tax every year the LLC stays active, Florida charges a $138.75 annual report, and New York requires LLC publication, while other states charge their own report fees annually or biennially.
Is an incorporation service legal advice?
No. Formation services file paperwork and provide agents, but they do not provide legal advice. For entity choice, tax election, or complex ownership, speak with a licensed attorney or tax adviser in your state.
Which service is cheapest over five years?
Northwest Registered Agent totals $589 over five years before state fees, followed by Bizee at $765, while ZenBusiness totals $1,193 and LegalZoom $1,423, so Northwest wins on long-term cost.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
ZenBusiness
Bizee
Northwest Registered Agent
Rocket Lawyer
Tailor Brands
Inc Authority
MyCompanyWorks