Are you interested in using a free LLC filing service to start your business? There now seems to be an endless number of business formation companies that will help you start your LLC for cheap and sometimes free.
In this guide we break down which LLC filing service could be the best for your business to save some money and get your business started for free (you only have to pay state filing fees). Find the current recommended free LLC services below as well as comparisons and reviews.
Best Low-Cost LLC Formation Services
Below are quick reviews of the best free and cheap LLC formation and business formation brands. These companies are chosen because of their good reputation, pricing, and reviews across the internet. Always do your research when choosing which LLC formation companies is right to help you start your business.
ZenBusiness (Our Top Choice)
ZenBusiness is currently our top choice for those looking for free or cheap LLC formation done by professionals. They have good reviews with TrustPilot and Reddit users both having positive experiences with very few complaints compared to competitors. They offer a basic free LLC formation plan, but can expand services to be an all-in-one platform to start your business and keep it running as you grow.
Their free LLC filing option will give you all of the basics you need to get your business legally formed in your state. Along with the basics you can also opt for upgrades such as expedited filing, EIN filing, domain names, website hosting and much more.
If you’re on a budget then the free filing option should work without the need for upgrades. This is why it’s currently our top choice for starting an LLC for free.
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IncFile (Another Great Option)
IncFile has offered free LLC filing services long before most of their competitors. This means that they’ve perfected their free LLC filing plan with everything you need to get your business started the right way and quickly.
They have positive reviews and an easy-to-use platform that will walk you through each step to figure out what you need. If you have any questions then their experts can help you. They do have some upgrades and other services you can use, but their free plan should give you all of the basics you need. One major perk is that IncFile will give you free professional registered agent services for your first year even if you use the free package.
All of the above is why we think IncFile is another great option to get your business filings done for less by professionals. Use the link below to find more information to see if IncFile is right for you.
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Northwest Registered Agent (Low-Cost / High-Quality)
Northwest Registered Agent is one of our top choices even though it’s not free because they offer a highly reviewed service, have good customer service, and offer numerous add-ons and services for just $39. So even though Northwest isn’t free, you can end up saving money when compared to some free services since they offer registered agent services free for the first year.
Their main LLC service is $39 and unlike other services this includes everything you need to get your business started and running without being hit by endless upsells and upgrades. You will receive registered agent services, articles of incorporation, operating agreement, resolutions to open a bank account, and more. After the first year, the registered agent services will renew at the regular price.
Their LLC formation service is simple to use and understand with information to walk you through each step. If you’re still having problems then they have live chat and other ways to get help with any questions.
Along with their great customer service, Northwest also have great reviews by thousands of verified business owners who have used their service. Included with LLC formation services they also have registered agent services, virtual address options, and more. Use the link below to see if Northwest Registered Agents is right for your business.
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Average Price Of LLC Formation Services
Most LLC formation services now offer a basic free filing option. This is essentially helping you file the basic documents that make your business legal in the state you choose. There may be some other steps you need to do depending on your business, but most of these services will give you the basics for free and all you have to do is pay the state fee.
Most businesses will need a few other things such as a registered agent, business license help, web hosting and more. Most of these companies offer other service that can include those type of services to get your business up and running as well as have upgrade options for things such as expedited filing and more. It’s all up to you and the unique needs of your business to figure out if you need something other than a basic free LLC filing.
Since most businesses do need a few other services, most of the free services can end up being $100 to $300 once you’ve added on upgrades and add-on services. There are other services that offer a flat-rate up-front cheaper rate instead of offering free services for the basic services most businesses need. So if the price is too high once you start adding on services on a “free LLC filing package” then check around for other pricing models and plans.
Starting Prices Of Business Formation Services:
- CorpNet – $99 (Plus State Fees)
- Inc Authority – $0 (Plus State Fees)
- IncFile – $0 (Plus State Fees)
- LegalZoom – $0 (Plus State Fees)
- MyCompanyWorks – $59 (Plus State Fees)
- MyCorporation – $99 (Plus State Fees)
- Northwest Registered Agent – $39 (Plus State Fees)
- Rocket Lawyer – $0 (Plus State Fees)
- Swyft Filings – $0 (Plus State Fees)
- Tailor Brands – $0 (Plus State Fees)
- ZenBusiness – $0 (Plus State Fees)
These are just examples of some of the starting prices for popular LLC and business formation brands. The price at checkout after adding services and state fee can vary. This is why we always recommend you check to see the total price of multiple reputable services before choosing as the end result of most is the same.
Free LLC Without The State Fee?
In our research, it doesn’t seem like you can waive the state fee for most states. There have been times in the past where a state waived their state LLC fee for a specific period of time (such as California), but it rarely happens.
This means that no matter if you decide to form your LLC on your own or if you use a free service, you’ll still be paying the state fee. So don’t be fooled by any service saying they can form your business completely free with no state fee as they’re either paying it for you or not being completely honest.
If you’re a veteran owned business then there are some states that waive the state LLC fee for veteran’s or at least give some type of discount. This is the only legit way we’ve found where you can get the state fee waived and get a 100% free LLC formed in your state.
Filing An LLC On Your Own
There’s always the option to use your state website to file the LLC on your own. This is usually the cheapest option if you know what you’re doing. If you have a very simple LLC or business to form and you know what you’re doing then this can be a great option. Each state has a different process and website, so for some states it can be easy with a step-by-step process shown on their website and other states make it hard to figure out where to even start.
There are enough free LLC formation companies now that if you’re able to avoid the unneeded upsells then this can be a great way to form your LLC. It will essentially walk you through the basics of getting your company started and will have all of the information double-checked by someone who is experienced in forming companies in your state (if you choose a reputable company).
Should You Use An LLC Filing Service?
Not everyone needs to use a business formation or LLC service to form their company. If you have some legal background or you’ve formed a business before then you may be better off saving a few dollars and doing it yourself. LLC services are essentially document filing services that know the ins and outs of state business formation documents. Most of these services offer other services, but if you’re getting basic LLC formation services then it’s essentially document filing done for you by experts.
For those that don’t have a legal background or understand the basics of forming an LLC then a business formation service is probably worth the money. These services use experts to make sure you do it right and they handle a lot of the paperwork and busy work for you so you can focus on other aspects of getting your business going. These services also will offer other services and options that may benefit your business such as business license checks and compliance checks.
These services will also try to offer numerous things that you don’t need and you’ll need to figure out what your business needs then avoid any upsells or unnecessary services. One service many offer is to file an EIN for you and you can do this yourself within minutes for free (Getting An EIN is free). If you go with the basics and only what your business needs then you can use one of the processional services for free or for less than $100 (plus state fees) in most cases.
How Do “Free” LLC Services Make Money?
Free business formation services make their money in two ways. The first way is offering other services that can be added on to your business formation such as registered agent services, business license consulting, virtual addresses, expedited filing, and more. Every business formation service is different, but these services can add up quickly so you’ll only want to choose the services you need. This is the main way these services make money as many times a business can bundle all-in-one services to get everything they need to start their business in one place.
The second way these services can offer free business formation is they make money on leads and referrals. When you’re forming your business you may be needing other services and these free business formation services will try to help connect you to these services. This can mean simple links during your filing showing you recommended business banks, accounting software, graphic design software and more. The services make money in both showing you the options and if you would click the link and purchase. This is a win-win as business owners can see some recommended services and the filing services can lower their LLC formation prices.
FAQ
Which Free LLC filing service is the best? The best free option to file your LLC can change regularly. You can check the recommendations at the top of this page to see some of our current choices. The list usually has a few of the same companies such as ZenBusiness, IncFile, Northwest Registered Agents, LegalZoom and a few others.
How much are state LLC filing fees? The state LLC filing fee depends on the state in which you are forming your business. These filing fees can range from $45 (Arkansas) to $500 (Massachusetts). The current average filing fee is $140. Every state is different so check out your Secretary of State page to see the current fee. Most of the LLC filing company websites will also show you how much the filing fee is by just clicking your state.
Note/Disclaimer: This is our list of LLC formation services that we’ve reviewed and feel could help new business owners save some money when using an LLC service. Always do your own research and get advice from legal and tax professionals before making any major choices about your business as we are not experts in these fields and simply business owners who have formed our business previously using LLC filing services.