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
- Managed shutdown services handle far more than the state filing, including payroll tax accounts, investor notices, and contract cancellations.
- Filing tools suit simple LLC or corporation closures with no investors, payroll, or multi-state registrations.
- State filing fees, outstanding taxes, and CPA fees sit outside most service prices, so the quoted fee is rarely the total cost of closing.
- Final tax returns usually stay with your own CPA, even on managed plans, so confirm that scope in writing before you buy.
What does business shutdown software actually handle?
Business shutdown software covers the legal and administrative work of closing a company, and the scope varies widely between tools. At the minimum, a filing tool prepares and submits the dissolution or cancellation paperwork with the state where the company is registered. Managed services go further, handling foreign state withdrawals, payroll tax account closures, contract and subscription cancellations, creditor notices, and investor documents. Some also track deadlines across every state where the company operated, which matters because a missed withdrawal can leave the company liable for franchise tax years after it stopped trading. Before you choose, list everything your company still has open, including bank accounts, leases, licenses, employees, and investors, then match that list against what each service actually includes.
How much does it cost to shut down a business?
The service fee is only one part of the cost of shutting down a business. Published starting prices in this guide run from $99 per filing to $399 for a simple managed shutdown, and several services quote per case instead of publishing a price. State filing fees are charged separately and vary by state, from no fee in some states to $220 in Delaware for an LLC cancellation. On top of that, budget for final tax return preparation, any outstanding taxes or penalties, and legal help if the company has investors, debts, or disputes. A written, itemised quote matters more than a low starting price, because complexity, states, and payroll accounts change the work and the final bill.
Do I still need a lawyer or CPA to close my company?
Most small businesses can close with a filing tool or managed shutdown service plus their own CPA, and do not need a lawyer for the whole process. A CPA is still needed for final federal and state tax returns, and for confirming that payroll tax accounts are closed correctly, because the shutdown services in this guide arrange tax returns separately or leave them with your adviser. A lawyer becomes worth the cost when the company has investors, outstanding debts, pending lawsuits, disputed contracts, or a complex cap table, since those issues need advice that a filing service cannot give. If any of those apply, get the legal review before you file the dissolution, not after.
How long does a business shutdown take?
A simple single-state LLC closure can be filed in days once the paperwork is ready, but a full shutdown usually takes weeks to months. State processing times vary, and some states require tax clearance before they accept the dissolution. Payroll tax accounts, vendor contracts, leases, and investor distributions each add their own timeline, and final tax returns cannot be filed until the tax year closes. Managed services typically deliver a custom shutdown plan within one or two days of onboarding, then work through the checklist in sequence. Start the process before you stop trading, and keep at least one bank account open until every final payment has cleared.
We compared shutdown services and filing tools on scope beyond the state filing, published pricing, support for multi-state and investor-backed companies, and how clearly each vendor states what tax work stays outside its service. We read each vendor homepage and pricing page, or a recent comparison that quoted the vendor pricing page, and we favoured tools with a published price or a clear quoting process. Last verified: 15 November 2026. Prices in this guide were checked on 15 November 2026, and state filing fees are always separate. Where a price comes from a third-party comparison of the vendor pricing page rather than the vendor page itself, we say so in the entry.
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
| Starcycle | Founder-led companies needing a dedicated shutdown plan | $399 one-time | No |
| SimpleClosure | Startups closing payroll and investor work | quote | No |
| LegalZoom | Simple LLC and corporation filings | $299 one-time | No |
| CorpNet | Filing in all 50 states with live support | $299 one-time | No |
| Inkle | Delaware companies needing tax account closure | $350 per dissolution | No |
| InCorp | Low-cost single filing with compliance tracking | $99 per filing | No |
| ZenBusiness | Low-cost filing for simple closures | quote | No |
| Bizee | Low-cost filing for simple closures | quote | No |
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Starcycle | Founder-led companies that want a dedicated shutdown plan and one upfront quote | $399 one-time for simple cases, plus state filing fees | No |
 SimpleClosure | Startups closing payroll accounts and handling investor work | quote | No |
 LegalZoom | Simple LLC and corporation filings with a well-known brand | $299 one-time for Standard Dissolution, plus state filing fees | No |
 CorpNet | Filing in all 50 states with live support from US filing experts | $299 one-time, plus state filing fees | No |
 Inkle | Delaware companies that need IRS tax account closure with the dissolution | $350 per dissolution | No |
 InCorp | Low-cost single dissolution filings with compliance tracking | $99 per filing, plus the state fee | No |
 ZenBusiness | Low-cost guided filing for simple closures | quote | No |
 Bizee | Low-cost filing for simple closures, with registered agent included | quote | No |
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These eight tools cover the full range of shutdowns, from a single-state LLC with no loose ends to a venture-backed company with payroll, investors, and registrations in several states. Managed services sit at the top for complex closures, while filing tools suit simple cases where the only job is the state paperwork.
#1
Starcycle
Best for: Founder-led companies that want a dedicated shutdown plan and one upfront quote
Visit starcycle.ai
Starting price$399 one-time for simple cases, plus state filing fees
Free planNo
Starcycle builds a tailored shutdown plan for US LLCs and corporations, from single-member LLCs to investor-backed, multi-state companies. The service maps filings, deadlines, contracts, and records into one plan, prepares the state dissolution paperwork, and tracks key dates so nothing is missed. Simple cases start at $399 with state fees paid at each state rate, and complex cases receive one upfront quote that is locked in once accepted. Final tax returns are coordinated with a partner CPA or your own adviser, which keeps the scope clear. Starcycle fits founders who want a person guiding the shutdown from start to finish rather than a form they fill in alone.
What we like- Published starting price, dedicated support on complex cases, contract and subscription cancellation included, document and deadline tracking in one workspace
Watch out for- Self-serve route only fits single-state companies with no investors and no active contracts, so most funded startups need a white-glove quote instead of the $399 figure
Starting pricequote
Free planNo
SimpleClosure is a purpose-built dissolution platform that combines software with an in-house team of dissolution experts, backed by lawyers and accountants. Beyond the state dissolution filing, it handles foreign state withdrawals, franchise tax work, closing state payroll tax accounts, and investor tax documentation, which are the steps many founders miss when they stop running payroll. A custom shutdown plan is usually delivered within one or two days of onboarding, and progress is tracked in a dashboard. SimpleClosure fits founders who want one team coordinating a complex shutdown, not a buyer who only needs a single state filing.
What we like- Handles payroll tax account closure, foreign state withdrawals, and investor tax documentation, dedicated team of dissolution experts, integrations with Stripe, Carta, and Gusto
Watch out for- No published starting price, so you cannot budget without a call and a custom quote, and final tax returns are arranged separately with your CPA
#3LegalZoom
Best for: Simple LLC and corporation filings with a well-known brand3.1/5 on
G2 (16 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit legalzoom.com
Starting price$299 one-time for Standard Dissolution, plus state filing fees
Free planNo
LegalZoom prepares and files dissolution paperwork for LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits, and its scale makes it a familiar choice for owners closing a simple business. The Standard Dissolution package costs $299 plus state fees, and the Business Dissolution Manager tier at $799 adds a dedicated manager who also handles outstanding annual reports or reinstatements where the state requires them. Pricing was reported by an October 2026 comparison of the vendor pricing page, so confirm the current figures on the LegalZoom site before ordering. LegalZoom fits owners with a straightforward, single-state closure and no investors, payroll, or multi-state registrations.
What we like- Widely known filing service, Standard Dissolution at $299, managed tier adds a dedicated dissolution manager, accurate filing guarantee
Watch out for- The managed tier jumps to $799, and payroll tax account closure and investor documents are outside the standard scope, so complex closures need extra help
#4
CorpNet
Best for: Filing in all 50 states with live support from US filing experts
Visit corpnet.com
Starting price$299 one-time, plus state filing fees
Free planNo
CorpNet is a business filings company that prepares and files dissolution, cancellation, and withdrawal documents in every state, with live support from filing experts. The platform also tracks compliance deadlines, stores official documents, and sends alerts for filings and due dates, which helps owners who are winding down several registrations at once. The $299 starting price was reported by an October 2026 comparison of vendor pricing pages, so check the current price with CorpNet before you order. CorpNet fits owners and their accountants who want reliable filing support across states without a fully managed shutdown service.
What we like- Filing infrastructure in all 50 states, live US-based support, compliance alerts and document storage in one account, trusted by accountants and tax professionals
Watch out for- Dissolution pricing is not shown clearly on the main site, so the $299 figure comes from a third-party comparison, and there is no dedicated shutdown manager on the basic tier
#5
Inkle
Best for: Delaware companies that need IRS tax account closure with the dissolution
Visit inkle.io
Starting price$350 per dissolution
Free planNo
Inkle is a US tax and compliance platform for startups, and its assisted dissolution service is a focused option for Delaware companies. It files the dissolution certificate with the Delaware Secretary of State, prepares the stockholder consent and board resolution, closes the IRS tax account, and supplies a wind-down checklist for the remaining steps. The $350 price was reported by an October 2026 comparison of the vendor pricing page, so confirm it on the Inkle site before ordering. Inkle fits founders closing a Delaware entity who want the tax account closed properly as part of the same engagement.
What we like- Assisted dissolution files the Delaware certificate, prepares board and stockholder consents, closes the IRS tax account, and supplies a wind-down checklist
Watch out for- The assisted service is Delaware-focused, so multi-state withdrawals and payroll closures need separate handling, and support is largely online rather than phone-led
#6
InCorp
Best for: Low-cost single dissolution filings with compliance tracking
Visit incorp.com
Starting price$99 per filing, plus the state fee
Free planNo
InCorp has handled business filings since 1998 and serves more than 300,000 businesses as a registered agent and compliance provider. Its entity dissolution service confirms the company standing, prepares the dissolution, cancellation, or withdrawal document, coordinates any tax clearance the state requires, files it, and delivers the state confirmation. The $99 per filing price was reported by an October 2026 comparison of the vendor pricing page, so confirm the current fee on the InCorp site. InCorp fits owners who know exactly which filing they need and want it done cheaply, with compliance tracking to catch what comes next.
What we like- Lowest published filing price in this guide, compliance calendar and EntityWatch monitoring included, registered agent service available in all 50 states
Watch out for- Dissolution is a filing service rather than a managed shutdown, so you track deadlines, creditor notices, and payroll closures yourself, and the $99 covers one filing only
#7ZenBusiness
Best for: Low-cost guided filing for simple closures2.4/5 on
G2 (4 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit zenbusiness.com
Starting pricequote
Free planNo
ZenBusiness is best known for forming LLCs, starting at $0 plus state filing fees, and it also handles dissolution filings for companies that are closing down. Paid tiers add 1-business-day processing and Worry-Free Compliance, which tracks deadlines and files ongoing reports, though that tooling assumes an operating company rather than one winding down. Because dissolution pricing is quoted per case, ask for the full written quote, including state fees, before you commit. ZenBusiness fits owners closing a simple company who already know the brand and want a low-cost, guided filing rather than a managed shutdown team.
What we like- Formation packages from $0 plus state fees, 100 percent accuracy guarantee, Worry-Free Compliance tracks annual report deadlines, fast 1-business-day filing on paid tiers
Watch out for- Dissolution is priced per case with no published starting figure, and the platform is built around formation, so its shutdown workflow is thinner than a dedicated service
#8Bizee
Best for: Low-cost filing for simple closures, with registered agent included4.8/5 on
Trustpilot (26,282 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit bizee.com
Starting pricequote
Free planNo
Bizee, formerly Incfile, forms LLCs and corporations and helps owners keep them in good standing, and it also handles dissolution filings for companies shutting down. The Basic package costs $0 plus the state fee for formation, with Standard at $199 and Premium at $299, and every package includes a year of registered agent service and lifetime compliance alerts. Dissolution itself is priced per case, so get the quote in writing and check what it includes before you order. Bizee fits owners closing a simple business who want a low-cost filing service with compliance alerts for the wind-down period.
What we like- Formation packages from $0 plus state fees, first year of registered agent service included, lifetime compliance alerts, in business since 2004
Watch out for- Dissolution pricing is quoted per case with no published starting figure, and the $0 headline price covers formation, not closure, which can confuse buyers comparing costs
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to shut down a business?
The cheapest route is usually a single state filing done yourself or through a low-cost filing service, with InCorp at $99 per filing the lowest published price in this guide. That only works for a simple, single-state company with no payroll, investors, or multi-state registrations. Once payroll accounts, contracts, or investor distributions are involved, a managed service costs more upfront but can prevent penalties that dwarf the filing fee.
What happens if I just stop trading without dissolving?
If you stop trading without dissolving, the company stays legally alive and can keep racking up franchise taxes, annual report fees, and penalties. Creditors, landlords, and tax agencies can still pursue the company, and directors can face personal exposure in some cases. Dissolving properly closes the state registration, cancels tax accounts, and creates a paper trail that the business ended on a specific date.
Do I need to close payroll tax accounts separately?
Yes, payroll tax accounts must be closed separately from the state dissolution filing, and this is the step founders most often miss. You need to file final payroll tax returns, pay outstanding amounts, and notify each state tax agency where you had employees. Managed services such as SimpleClosure include payroll account closure in scope, while filing-only tools leave it to you or your CPA.
Can I dissolve a company with outstanding debts?
You can dissolve a company with debts, but the debts do not disappear with the filing. Creditors must be notified, assets are used to settle what is owed, and any remaining shortfall follows the normal insolvency rules for your entity type and state. If debts are significant or disputed, get legal advice before filing, because the order of payments and notices affects directors personally.
How do I choose between a managed service and a filing tool?
Choose a managed service when the company has investors, employees, registrations in more than one state, or active contracts and leases, because those add dozens of steps beyond the state filing. Choose a filing tool when the company is a simple single-state LLC or corporation with no payroll, no investors, and no outstanding obligations. The deciding factor is the number of open items on your closure checklist, not the size of the company.
Sources we checked (12)
- https://starcycle.ai
- https://starcycle.ai/blog/best-business-shutdown-services
- https://simpleclosure.com
- https://simpleclosure.com/blog/guides/top-startup-dissolution-tools-for-founders-2026/
- https://www.legalzoom.com
- https://corpnet.com
- https://inkle.io
- https://incorp.com
- https://www.zenbusiness.com
- https://bizee.com
- https://www.corporatevision-news.com/how-to-choose-a-startup-shutdown-service-5-providers-reviewed/
- https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/closing-a-business
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.