Buyer's guide
Best LLC formation service (2026)
Nearly every provider files the same document with the same state office. What separates them is everything around it: whether the EIN is included, what renews in year two, and how much is sold as an add-on. Here is how the main options compare, and which one fits which situation.
Start your LLCWorth saying up front: StartGlobal is one of the services compared here, so treat this as a vendor's guide rather than a neutral review. We have tried to be useful anyway, by being specific about what each competitor does better than us and by including a section on when you should choose someone else.
How to compare
Six things that decide the real cost
The advertised formation price is the least useful number on the page. These matter more.
What the price actually covers
A headline of $0 usually means the registered agent, EIN, and documents are billed separately.
Whether the EIN is included
Many services file with the state and stop there, leaving the IRS paperwork to you.
Renewal pricing
Introductory registered agent rates often rise sharply in year two. Check the renewal, not the offer.
Upsell pressure
Some checkouts run to several screens of add-ons before you reach the actual filing.
Ongoing compliance
Annual reports and federal filings recur every year. Formation is the smallest part of the work.
Whether non-residents are supported
Most providers assume you hold an SSN and a US address. Check before you pay.
StartGlobal
$399 one-time formation, all state and government fees included
Best for founders outside the United States. Formation covers the state filing, registered agent, EIN obtained without an SSN, US bank account setup, and operating agreement in one price. Ongoing compliance is a la carte from $99 a year, or $149 a month fully managed, which covers bookkeeping, state annual reports, and federal tax filing including Form 5472 for foreign-owned LLCs.
If you are a US resident with a Social Security Number, be honest about which of those pieces you actually need. Several of them are things you can do yourself in an afternoon.
The field
What each provider is best at
Prices are each provider's advertised formation fee before add-ons, and exclude state fees. Ours includes them.
Be honest
When you should not choose us
We are built for a specific situation. These are the cases where something else fits better.
You are a US resident who just wants the cheapest possible filing
If you have an SSN, can get your own EIN in minutes online, and are happy to track your own deadlines, a budget filer like Bizee or Inc Authority will cost you less than we will.
Privacy on the public record is your main concern
Northwest Registered Agent built its reputation on putting its own address on filings rather than yours. If that is the deciding factor, they are a reasonable choice.
You want a lawyer on call
We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice. Rocket Lawyer and LegalZoom sell subscriptions that include attorney consultations, which is a different product from ours.
You are raising venture capital and need a Delaware C-Corp
We form LLCs. If investors expect a Delaware C-Corp with a standard equity structure, use a provider built for that path.
Questions
Common questions
What is the best LLC formation service?+
It depends on what you need beyond the filing itself. For founders based outside the US, the deciding factors are whether the provider obtains an EIN without a Social Security Number, helps open a US bank account, and files Form 5472 each year. For US residents who already hold an SSN, a budget filer is often sufficient, since the EIN takes minutes to obtain yourself. Match the provider to the part that is actually hard for you.
What is the best online LLC service for a small business?+
If your business is US-based and simple, the main thing to compare is renewal pricing rather than the formation fee. The formation charge is paid once, whereas registered agent and compliance costs recur every year, and introductory rates frequently rise at renewal. Over three years the recurring cost usually outweighs the headline price.
Are free LLC formation services actually free?+
The filing service is genuinely free at several providers, but the surrounding costs are not. State fees are still payable, the registered agent is usually free only for the first year, and the EIN, operating agreement, and compliance filings are typically sold as add-ons. Free refers to the labor of submitting the paperwork, not the total cost of having a company.
Can I form an LLC myself instead of using a service?+
Yes. Every state accepts filings directly, and doing it yourself costs only the state fee. A service is worth paying for when something in the process is genuinely difficult for you, such as obtaining an EIN without a Social Security Number, needing a registered agent address in a state where you do not live, or not wanting to track annual deadlines.
How much should LLC formation cost?+
Compare on the all-in first-year figure rather than the advertised price, and check the year-two renewal separately. StartGlobal charges $399 once, with all state and government fees included, covering the filing, registered agent, EIN, and operating agreement. Ongoing compliance is a la carte from $99 a year, or $149 a month fully managed.
Which LLC service is best for non-US residents?+
The requirements are different enough that it is worth treating separately. Non-residents need an EIN obtained without an SSN, remote bank account setup, and Form 5472 filed annually, and most mainstream providers do not handle all three. See our dedicated comparison of LLC services for non-residents.