Best LLC Formation Services (2026)
We dug into pricing, filing speeds, privacy policies, and real customer support quality across the six biggest formation services — so you can pick with confidence.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links — at no extra cost to you.
| Provider | Rating | Starting price | Formation speed | Registered agent included? | Best for | |
|---|
| Registered Agents Inc 🏆 Our pick | ★★★★★ 4.8 | Free formation (state fees only) | 1–3 business days | Free 1st year ($200/yr after) | Best overall value for new LLCs | Visit Site → |
| Northwest Registered Agent | ★★★★★ 4.7 | From $39 + state fees | 1–5 business days | 1 year included ($125/yr after) | Best privacy & customer support | Visit Site → |
| ZenBusiness | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Free starter plan + state fees | 2–4 weeks (free plan) | Not included ($199/yr) | Best guided experience for beginners | Visit Site → |
| Bizee | ★★★★★ 4.5 | Free basic package + state fees | 1–3 business days | Free 1st year ($119/yr after) | Best free package with fast filing | Visit Site → |
| Swyft Filings | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | Free basic package + state fees | 1–3 business days | Not included ($149/yr) | Best budget speed | Visit Site → |
| LegalZoom | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | From $0 + state fees (plus upsells) | 1–3 weeks | Not included ($249/yr) | Best-known brand for legal extras | Visit Site → |
🏆 Our Verdict: Registered Agents Inc wins for 2026
Registered Agents Inc is our top overall pick: nobody else combines genuinely free formation with a free year of registered agent service at this scale. Just decline the paid add-ons you can do yourself for free.
Visit Registered Agents Inc →We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links — at no extra cost to you.
Detailed mini-reviews
Registered Agents Inc — ★★★★★ 4.8
The largest registered agent service in the US, bundling genuinely free LLC formation with a free first year of registered agent service.
✅ Pros
- Free LLC formation — you pay only state filing fees
- Free first year of registered agent service
- Largest provider in the US with real scale
- Privacy-first: their address goes on public filings
- Solid add-ons: domains, websites, virtual office
❌ Cons
- Registered agent renews at $200/year after year one
- Upsell flow during checkout — decline what you don’t need
- $49 EIN filing upsell (the IRS gives EINs free)
Northwest Registered Agent — ★★★★★ 4.7
The privacy champion: in-house staff, no data selling, and their address on your filings from day one.
✅ Pros
- Best-in-class privacy — never sells your data
- Everything in-house, no outsourcing
- Knowledgeable US-based support
- Free year of registered agent service
- Same-day document scanning
❌ Cons
- Formation starts at $39 (not free)
- Registered agent renews at $125/year
- Fewer bundled extras than competitors
ZenBusiness — ★★★★★ 4.6
A polished, beginner-friendly platform with a free starter tier and genuinely useful ongoing compliance tools.
✅ Pros
- Free starter formation plan
- Excellent guided dashboard for first-timers
- Worry-Free Compliance add-on is genuinely useful
- Good banking and website add-ons
- Strong customer reviews
❌ Cons
- Free plan is slow (2–4 weeks)
- Registered agent costs $199/year extra
- Faster filing speeds cost more
- Upsells throughout checkout
Bizee — ★★★★★ 4.5
Formerly Incfile: a free basic formation package with surprisingly fast processing and a free year of registered agent service.
✅ Pros
- Free basic package with fast filing
- Free first year of registered agent service
- Lifetime company alerts included
- Simple, transparent pricing tiers
- Good for budget founders
❌ Cons
- Registered agent renews at $119/year
- Higher tiers add cost quickly
- Support can be slow at peak times
Swyft Filings — ★★★★☆ 4.3
A long-running budget option with fast turnaround and a straightforward free basic package.
✅ Pros
- Free basic package
- Fast filing turnaround
- Simple checkout
- Decent customer support
❌ Cons
- Registered agent $149/year extra
- Fewer extras than competitors
- Mixed reviews on upsells
LegalZoom — ★★★★☆ 4.2
The household name in online legal services — best if you also want attorney consultations and ongoing legal products.
✅ Pros
- Most recognized brand in the space
- Attorney consultations available
- Wide range of legal products beyond formation
- Decent free formation tier
❌ Cons
- Expensive registered agent ($249/year)
- Heavy upsell pressure at checkout
- Slower than specialists
- Premium pricing across the board
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to form an LLC?
File directly with your state and act as your own registered agent — you pay only the state filing fee. Among services, several offer $0 formation packages where you pay just state fees, though registered agent renewals ($100–$200/year) kick in after year one.
Are free LLC formation services legit?
Yes — the well-known ones make money on upsells and registered agent renewals rather than the formation itself. Read the checkout carefully and decline add-ons you can do yourself, like the EIN (free from the IRS).
How we pick our winner
We score each provider on true first-year cost, formation speed, privacy practices, quality of support, and the fine print on renewals. Providers cannot pay for placement.