LLC Costs Review 2026: How Much Does It Really Cost to Form an LLC?
Is forming an LLC actually cheap or are there hidden fees everywhere? We break down the real cost — state fees, registered agent, EIN — and compare the 4 best-value services.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash — LLC formation costs vary more by provider than by state.
LLC costs look simple until checkout. Most services advertise $0 but add $199 for a registered agent, $79 for EIN, and $99 for an operating agreement. We tracked the real first-year total for Bizee, Doola, Harbor Compliance and LegalZoom so you know what you’ll actually pay.
What We Liked / What Could Be Better
- You can form an LLC for only your state fee ($40-$500)
- Bizee includes 1 year registered agent free ($119 value)
- Doola bundles banking + bookkeeping, cutting future costs
- Harbor Compliance prevents $250+ state penalty fees
- LegalZoom offers attorney access
- LegalZoom charges $199/yr for registered agent extra
- Checkout upsells on all platforms
- State fees never included in $0 price
- Cheapest plan = slowest processing
LLC Cost Breakdown
| Fee Type | Cost Range | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| State Filing Fee | $40 – $500 (CA $70, TX $300, WY $102) | Yes |
| Registered Agent | $0 – $299 / year | Yes |
| EIN | $0 free via IRS / $0-$99 via service | For bank & taxes |
| Operating Agreement | $0 – $99 | Recommended |
| Annual Report / Franchise Tax | $0 – $800 / year | Depends on state |
Best Value Picks for LLC Costs
Bizee
Free basic formation — pay only state fees. Includes 1 year registered agent ($119 value), EIN and operating agreement free.
True cost Year 1: WY $102 + $0 = $102 total. Renewal $119/yr RA after first year.
Doola
Best for total business cost if you need banking + books. Includes formation, RA, EIN, OA, bank setup.
True cost Year 1: $297 + $102 = $399 total, saves $300-600 on bookkeeping.
Harbor Compliance
Compliance-first. Saves you from $200+ late fees with best alerts and same-day scanning.
True cost Year 1: $99 + state fee = $201 in WY. Renewal $99-$149/yr RA.
LegalZoom
Household name. Basic $0 but RA is $199 extra. Worth it if you want attorney consultations.
True cost Year 1: $0 + state fee + $199 RA = $299 in WY.
Packages at a Glance
| Package | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Bizee Basic — Most Popular | $0 + state fees | Name check, Articles, 1yr RA, EIN, OA |
| Doola Starter | $297 + state fees | Everything in Bizee + banking, books |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 + state fees | Formation + compliance portal |
| LegalZoom Basic | $0 + state fees | Formation + name check — RA extra |
How It Works
Wyoming, NM, DE cheapest. Bizee checks free.
Bizee for lowest upfront, Doola for all-in-one.
Get 1yr free to avoid $199 charge.
1 day to 3 weeks depending on state.
Harbor/Doola alerts save $200+ late fees.
Final Verdict
Want cheapest today? Bizee at $0 + state fee. Want lowest total business cost? Doola or Harbor Compliance. Need brand trust? LegalZoom.
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