- LLC formation services side by side
- Eleven LLC formation providers, A to Z
- What an LLC formation service handles for you
- Questions to ask an LLC formation provider before you order
- Matching an LLC formation provider to your kind of business
- LLC formation mistakes that cause trouble later
- A last LLC formation checklist before you file
- Frequently asked questions
The right LLC formation service depends on what you want handled: the filing, a registered agent, EIN help, annual report reminders or support for founders abroad. This page lists eleven providers in no particular order, then covers what they do and the questions to ask. It isn't legal or tax advice.
Forming a US limited liability company isn't hard in itself, but the paperwork, the registered agent rules and the annual filings that follow can eat into time you'd rather spend on customers. That's why so many founders hand the job to an LLC formation service.
This page compares eleven providers in no particular order, listed alphabetically. I've included smaller specialists alongside the household names, and every description comes from each provider's own website. It's a comparison of services, not legal or tax advice, so please check with an attorney or accountant about your own situation. If you're still deciding on structure, my guide to an LLC versus a sole proprietorship is a sensible first read.
LLC formation services side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the provider's own site lists a free starting package. State filing requirements still apply whichever service you use, and packages change often, so check each provider's current terms before you order.
| Tool | Type of provider | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bizee | Formation and filings service | Simple filings plus later amendments and annual reports | Yes |
| doola | Formation for global founders | Forming a US company from outside the US | No |
| Firstbase | Formation and company admin | International founders setting up an LLC or C-Corp | No |
| Harbor Compliance | Licensing and compliance specialist | Licences, registrations and ongoing compliance tracking | No |
| Inc Authority | Formation service | A basic filing with a tax ID and starter extras | Yes |
| LegalZoom | Formation and legal services | Formation with optional documents and attorney access | Yes |
| MyCompanyWorks | Formation service | Guided setup with filing reminders that keep coming | No |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Registered agent and formation | Keeping your home address off public filings | No |
| 1 Day EIN | Formation for non-US founders | A Wyoming or Colorado LLC plus EIN within one business day | No |
| Stripe Atlas | Startup incorporation tool | Delaware startups planning to raise investment | No |
| ZenBusiness | Formation and compliance service | Formation with compliance reminders and alerts | Yes |
Eleven LLC formation providers, A to Z
Bizee
Best for: Founders who want a straightforward filing now and the option to hand over annual reports and amendments later.
doola
Best for: Non-US founders who want company formation, a tax ID, a registered agent and back-office help in one place.
Firstbase
Best for: Founders in any country who want formation and ongoing company admin handled from one dashboard.
Harbor Compliance
Best for: Businesses that expect to deal with licences and registrations in several states and want them tracked in software.
Inc Authority
Best for: First-time founders who want the filing, a tax ID application and a year of registered agent cover bundled together.
LegalZoom
Best for: Owners who like the idea of adding legal documents, attorney access and tax help to the same account later on.
MyCompanyWorks
Best for: Owners who'd like a step-by-step startup wizard, quick processing and ongoing reminders about annual filings.
Northwest Registered Agent
Best for: Founders who care about privacy and want a business address, mail forwarding and registered agent service from the start.
1 Day EIN
Best for: Founders outside the US who want a Wyoming or Colorado LLC and an EIN fast, with no SSN or ITIN needed.
1 Day EIN forms a Wyoming or Colorado LLC and gets the EIN for founders who live outside the US, and you don't need an SSN or ITIN to use it. It's $399 all-in, with the state filing fee, the first-year registered agent and a US address included. The LLC is formed and the EIN issued within one US business day of a complete order, or you get a full refund, state fee included. Their own 2026 Turnaround Report puts the median at 16.4 hours from complete order to formed LLC with EIN, with 83 of 85 orders done within one business day between July and September.
Stripe Atlas
Best for: Tech founders who want a Delaware company, founder equity paperwork and a direct route into payments and banking.
ZenBusiness
Best for: Small business owners who want the filing done and alerts about annual report deadlines so nothing slips.
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What an LLC formation service handles for you
At its simplest, a formation service files your articles of organisation with the state. Most do a good deal more, and that's where the real differences lie. Before you choose, look at which of these jobs are included and which you'd need to arrange yourself:
- A business name availability check before anything is filed.
- Registered agent service, so there's a named address to receive official mail in your state of formation.
- An operating agreement template that sets out who owns what and how decisions are made.
- Help applying for an EIN, the tax ID most banks and payment providers will ask for.
- Reminders or filings for annual reports, so the company stays in good standing.
- Mail forwarding and a business address that keeps your home address off public records.
- Support for founders who don't live in the US and don't have a Social Security number.
If you want to go deeper, try Stripe Atlas.
Questions to ask an LLC formation provider before you order
- Which state will you form in, and does the provider work in that state?
- Is registered agent service included, and for how long?
- Will it file for your EIN, or just point you to the IRS form?
- Does it send reminders for annual reports, or file them for you?
- Can it help if you're a non-US founder without a US address or phone number?
- Who do you speak to if something goes wrong, and how do you reach them?
- What happens to your documents and mail if you leave the service?
If this topic is on your radar, LegalZoom alternatives goes further.
Matching an LLC formation provider to your kind of business
- Solo founders forming one simple company often only need the filing, a registered agent and an EIN.
- Founders abroad should favour providers that say plainly they work with non-US residents and can help with banking.
- Startups planning to raise investment are usually steered towards a Delaware C-Corp rather than an LLC, so ask an attorney first.
- Businesses that need licences in several states will get more from a compliance specialist than from a basic filing service.
If you're forming from outside the country, my walkthrough on setting up a US LLC as a non-US resident covers the steps in more detail.
LLC formation mistakes that cause trouble later
- Picking a name without checking trademarks as well as state records. My guide on how to trademark a business name explains why the two checks differ.
- Skipping the operating agreement because your state doesn't demand one.
- Using your home address as the registered address and then finding it on public records.
- Forgetting the annual report and letting the company fall out of good standing.
- Choosing a tax treatment without talking to an accountant first.
Tax treatment is a big one. An LLC can be taxed in different ways, and my comparison of an S corp and an LLC shows the questions worth taking to your accountant.
Do you make an LLC formation or company setup service? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
A last LLC formation checklist before you file
Write down the state you'll form in, the name you want and who the members are. Then shortlist two providers that cover the jobs you can't do yourself, read their current terms, and keep copies of every document they file for you. If anything about ownership, tax or liability feels unclear, that's the moment to book time with an attorney or accountant rather than guessing.
Most services include a registered agent for a time, and our guide to registered agents explains what the role involves and when to switch.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a formation service to create an LLC?
No. You can file directly with your state's business filing office. A formation service saves time and can add extras such as registered agent cover, EIN help and annual report reminders.
What is a registered agent?
It's a person or company with an address in your state who receives official legal and government mail for your LLC. Many formation services offer it as part of their packages.
Can a non-US resident form a US LLC?
Yes, many founders abroad do. Some providers say plainly that they work with non-US residents and help with the tax ID and banking steps, so check that before you order.
Will a formation service give me legal or tax advice?
Most say clearly that they don't. They file and track documents for you, so speak to an attorney or accountant about structure, tax treatment and liability.
What happens after my LLC is formed?
You'll usually apply for an EIN, sign an operating agreement, open a business bank account and diary your annual report. Some providers remind you about each step.
