The real cost of an LLC, not the sign-up price.
Formation services love a $0 headline, then quietly charge you $120 to $250 every year for the registered agent. So the number that matters is the multi-year total. Tell it how long you plan to keep the LLC and this ranks every service by what you will actually pay, renewals included.
Pricing reviewed 31 July 2026 . Service fees in USD, excluding your state's filing fee (which is the same whichever service you pick). This is a price comparison, not legal advice.
Renewals are where the real money is. Change the years and watch the ranking flip.
See llc formation priced beside 609 other tools and services, in one list →
| Service | Formation fee | Agent yr 1 | Renewal / yr | Total over term | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free formation and first-year agent; recoups it through the $119/yr agent renewal and checkout upsells. |
Free | Free | $119 | $238 | Cheapest overall | Visit site |
Includes a genuinely private registered agent that scans all your mail, and skips the aggressive upsells. |
$39 | Free | $125 | $289 | Privacy & best agent | Visit site |
Formation is genuinely free, but checkout funnels hard toward paid bundles and the agent renews at full price. |
Free | Free | $149 | $298 | Truly free filing | Visit site |
Quick filing and a low $99/yr agent renewal make it a strong mid-tier long-term pick. |
$59 | $99 | $99 | $356 | Fast, low renewal | Visit site |
Compliance specialists with the lowest agent renewal here and no upsell circus. |
$99 | $89 | $89 | $366 | Compliance-heavy firms | Visit site |
Free formation with a tidy dashboard, but the $199/yr agent renewal is on the higher side. |
Free | Free | $199 | $398 | All-in-one dashboard | Visit site |
Strong customer support, though the registered agent is a paid $149/yr add-on from day one. |
Free | $149 | $149 | $447 | Hand-holding support | Visit site |
The best-known name, but a $249/yr registered agent makes it one of the priciest to keep running. |
Free | Free | $249 | $498 | Brand recognition | Visit site |
Bundles logo and branding tools, but agent and compliance add-ons push the yearly cost up. |
Free | $199 | $199 | $597 | Branding + LLC bundle | Visit site |
Best value if you use the legal-membership; the standalone registered agent is $249/yr. |
$100 | Free | $249 | $598 | Ongoing legal advice | Visit site |
Higher upfront aimed at venture-style startups, with a $199/yr ongoing fee. |
$399 | Free | $199 | $797 | Funded startups | Visit site |
A flat $500 including the filing, then about $100/yr for the agent; built for startups raising money. |
$500 | $100 | $100 | $800 | Startup C-corp/LLC | Visit site |
A flat yearly fee covering formation, agent and compliance; popular with international founders. |
$297 | Free | $297 | $891 | Non-US founders | Visit site |
Common questions
What is the real cost of forming an LLC?
Your state filing fee ($35 to $500, the same whichever service you use) plus the service fee. Many services form you for $0 then earn on the registered agent renewal, typically $100 to $250 a year. The honest comparison is the multi-year total above.
Do I need a registered agent?
Yes, every state requires one with a physical address. You can be your own for free, but the address is public, so many owners pay a service for privacy. That renewal fee quietly dominates long-term cost.
Which LLC service is cheapest?
Over several years, usually Bizee or Northwest, because their renewals are low. A $0 formation with a $249 agent costs more by year three than a small upfront fee with a $120 renewal. Set your years above to see.
Is a free LLC formation really free?
The service can be free, but you still pay the state fee, the free first-year agent renews at full price, and checkout upsells things like an EIN or operating agreement you can often get yourself for nothing.