Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
Tailor Brands
$0 + state fee
Varies By State & Package
3
Formations
$0 + State Fee
Varies By State & Package
4
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
Compare the Best LLC Services of 2025
Methodology
We evaluated 32 LLC formation plans sold by 12 different vendors to identify the best 10 for SMBs. Our initial analysis of the services applied 19 separate metrics for value, features and support, along with an expert score for each service based on their standout attributes, overall value and ease of use. I then took a deeper dive into the capabilities of the 10 highest-scoring LLC services to identify the types of businesses each one was best suited to.
| Decision Factor | Scoring Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
Features | 40% | Of the nine features we rated, those given the greatest weight were name availability search, document access, registered agent add-on, employer identification number and e-signature support. |
Expert Score | 20% | Each LLC service’s overall feature set (8%), value (8%) and ease of use (4%) were applied to its final score. |
Consumer Sentiment | 15% | This category aggregated each service’s ranking on three popular customer review sites. |
Service and Support | 15% | We awarded points for offering live chat, phone support, 24/7 availability and a knowledge base, as well as on the number of states it serves. |
Value | 10% | The LLC service’s setup fee and whether it publishes its prices account for its score in this category. |
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
Tailor Brands
$0 + state fee
Varies By State & Package
3
Formations
$0 + State Fee
Varies By State & Package
4
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
How To Choose the Best LLC Service
The best LLC services for SMBs provide a range of registration options to meet the specific needs of different types of businesses. Startups, single-person LLCs and very small companies are best served by a fee-only LLC service that helps them with the basic state paperwork such as articles of organization and a banking resolution that allows them to open a business bank account.
Slightly larger companies are best served by a midrange plan that adds an EIN for tax filing and an operating agreement for the LLC, which is required in only a handful of states but recommended by most others. Larger SMBs will likely need the features offered in the service’s high-end plans such as access to legal and business document templates, a domain name and website, and tax and legal consultations.
Essential LLC Service Features
The first step in registering an LLC with the state is confirming that your preferred business name is available. All the LLC services we reviewed offer free name availability searches, although some, such as Swyft Filings, go further by suggesting names based on your industry or a description of your company. Other essential LLC formation features are the articles of organization, an EIN and an operating agreement:
- Articles of organization. Every state requires that an LLC file this document that lists the business name and address, along with the name and address of the person who will receive official state and legal documents sent to the company. Most businesses designate a registered agent to serve as their official contact. Some states also require the names of the LLC’s managers or members (owners) and the purpose of the LLC. Note that some states refer to this document as a certificate of formation or similar name.
- EIN. This nine-digit number serves the same purpose as a consumer’s Social Security number for business tax purposes. Single-member LLCs can use the member’s SSN, but many choose to use an EIN to distinguish their personal tax filings from their business tax payments. The EIN is required to open a business checking account and to file your employees’ federal income tax payments.
- Operating agreement. This document serves as a legal contract between LLC members. It identifies the LLC and its ownership, defines the duties of members and explains the LLC’s structure. In addition to providing basic information about the members, the operating agreement states the company’s elected tax treatment and key procedures as a way to reduce the likelihood of disputes in the future.
The most comprehensive LLC services are offered by our top choice, Rocket Lawyer, which combines business formation with tax advice and other legal and business services for a single subscription price. A single LLC or other business formation is included with the company’s Rocket Legal+ plan and costs $99.99 with its Rocket Legal subscription.
Businesses that want only LLC formation assistance are well served by vendors such as Northwest Registered Agent, which includes a year of registered agent service with its LLC service priced at $39 plus state fees, and Bizee, whose $99 Business License Package (plus state fees) comes with the company’s lifetime compliance alerts.
Value
Apart from Rocket Lawyer’s subscription model, the prices of the LLC services we reviewed are similar, which means pricing is less of a determining factor for LLC formation than other business services. For example, most of the LLC services in our best list offer basic formation assistance for only the applicable state fees.
While Northwest Registered Agent and Filenow stand out for their low-cost LLC services ($39 and $49 plus state fees, respectively), several of the vendors we evaluated sell a midrange package priced between $99 and $199 plus state fees, and a high-end plan costing between $199 and $299 plus state fees. These include Active Filings, Swyft Filings and ZenBusiness.
Which LLC Service Is Best for Your Business?
The best LLC service for organizations at the startup stage will likely be a free (state filing fees only) or low-cost option that provides bare-bones service such as business name search, articles of organization and assistance with preparing and filing the necessary paperwork with your state.
For already-established businesses that want to convert to an LLC, the best option may be an LLC service that combines formation assistance with other business services such as registered agent service, business banking and a domain name/website combination (even if they already have a site for their business). Having most or all of their business services bundled often is the simplest and most economical option, although this isn’t always the case.
The downside of going with an all-encompassing service such as Rocket Lawyer’s subscription model or BetterLegal’s $299 package (plus state filing fees) is the potential of buying more service than your business needs. So it may be cheaper and more effective for a new business to purchase only the LLC services it requires and deal with ancillary features only when they need them.
The high-end offerings from BetterLegal and Rocket Lawyer charge extra for registered agent service, while Northwest Registered Agent and Filenow provide one year of free registered agent service with their low-cost plans. Similarly, Inc Authority’s fees-only LLC service comes with your first year of registered agent service for free, as well as digital storage and delivery of your legal documents and assistance with tax and financial planning. These low-cost options provide great value to startups and small businesses operating on tight budgets.
State LLC Services Guides
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an LLC service?
An LLC service helps a business organize as a limited liability company, which may also be referred to as a limited liability corporation. The services assist the business in preparing and filing the documents and other paperwork required by their state to apply for LLC status.
Other services offered by the vendors include access to and help with their operating agreement or bylaws, EIN for tax and banking purposes and compliance with applicable state and federal regulations. Ancillary services available from some LLC vendors include business bank accounts, tax and legal advice, websites and access to a library of business and legal documents.
What are the pros of forming an LLC?
The primary benefit of forming your business as an LLC rather than a sole proprietorship or partnership is the protection an LLC offers its members (owners) against being personally liable for the business’s financial and legal obligations, with some limits (thus the name).
LLCs are taxed without the double taxation of other corporation types. The business’s profits and losses “pass through” directly to the members rather than going first to the corporation itself and then distributed to shareholders. LLCs are also easier and less expensive to form than corporations, and they are subject to fewer management and financial regulations than corporations.
What are the cons of forming an LLC?
One disadvantage of an LLC is that it can be more difficult for the company to attract investors than when they form as a corporation because they can’t issue stock the way a corporation does. Instead, they are funded by investments from members, so growing may require additional investment from existing members or adding new members. Also, LLC profits are taxed annually whether or not the members take a distribution from the corporation, so they may be liable for the LLC’s taxes without receiving funds from the company.
Since LLC members are categorized as self-employed, they must pay directly for federal services such as Social Security and Medicare. This can take a substantial bite out of the LLC’s available capital and impact its operation or slow its growth. Some states apply an additional tax on LLCs that’s called a capital values or franchise tax and isn’t levied on corporations in the state. This tax may be a flat fee or a percentage of profits and revenue.
