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Free LLC formation: what "$0" really costs
Prices read on each provider's own site Oct 11, 2026 · State fees checked Oct 7, 2026 · Not hands-on tested: we did not buy these packages or complete a checkout
Short answer: "$0 LLC formation" is real. The provider charges no service fee to prepare and file your articles. Three things are never free:
- The state filing fee. It runs from $35 (Montana) to $500 (Massachusetts), and you pay it whoever files.
- A registered agent. Bizee's $0 package includes one for the first year (then $149/yr VERIFIED). ZenBusiness's and LegalZoom's $0 packages include none ($199/yr and $249/yr if you add theirs).
- Whatever you add at checkout or forget to cancel. That includes an EIN the IRS issues free, a compliance plan that renews at $199/yr, and advisor plans that bill monthly after 30 days.
Counting the agent, Bizee Basic is the cheapest package for the first two years ($0, then $149), and by $1 through year three against Northwest's $49 price. After that, Northwest Basic is cheapest ($49 or $39 with the first agent year included, then $125). That's from year four at $49, or from year three if you get the $39 price. Northwest shows both prices on two of its own pages. If you can legally be your own registered agent, filing directly with your state costs only the state fee.
How we make money: Statutia has no affiliate relationships yet. Every provider link on this page is a plain link that earns us nothing. If that changes, commercial links will be labeled next to the link. Commissions will never change our rankings. Details.
What each "$0" offer actually includes
This is the cheapest package from each provider, as published on its own site and read Oct 11, 2026. "Not stated" means we couldn't find it on the provider's site. It does not mean free.
| Provider and package | Package price | Registered agent in year one | What renews later, and at what price | Trials or subscriptions to watch | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bizee Basic | $0 + state fee | Included | Agent: "$149/yr value … included free for the first year and renews annually" REPORTED (the renewal charge isn't stated as a price) | "Virtual address … included free for the first month"; Bizee says both are "optional to continue" | Bizee order page ↗ (opens in a new tab), Bizee agent page ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Northwest Basic | $49 on one page, $39 on another, + state fee | Included on both: "365 days of registered agent service" ($49 page); "free Registered Agent service for the 1st year" ($39 page) | Agent: "automatically renews for $125 a year" VERIFIED | Its annual-report page says agent customers are "automatically enrolled" in report filing at "$100, plus state fees", charged "about 90 days before your state's deadline" (the same page's FAQ says "Not automatically") | Northwest /llc-formation ($49) ↗ (opens in a new tab), Northwest /llc/formation ($39) ↗ (opens in a new tab), annual report ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Registered Agents Inc formation | $100 + state fee | Included, "with annual report (or equivalent) filing" | Agent: $200 REPORTED (no billing period shown; not stated whether the state's report fee is covered) | Not stated | RAI LLC ↗ (opens in a new tab), RAI agent ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Inc Authority | $0 + state fee | "FREE 1-yr Registered Agent Services" | Agent renewal price not published UNKNOWN | Not stated | Inc Authority ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 + state fee | Not included: "+$199/yr" on its plan page (its agent page advertises $99 for the first year when you form an LLC) | Agent $199/yr. Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year with Starter, then "$199 per year" | A 30-day website-builder trial is preselected at checkout (removable), then $15/mo | ZenBusiness plans ↗ (opens in a new tab), ZenBusiness agent ↗ (opens in a new tab), Worry-Free Compliance ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| LegalZoom Basic | $0 + state fee | Not included | Agent $249/yr ("first time registered agent customers"), "auto-renews at the purchase rate", "renewal rate is subject to change" | The next tier, Managed Service ($249), charges $49 a month after 30 days. The top tier, Expert Service, is $299, then $99 a month after 30 days (its pricing page showed $999 at one check earlier on Oct 11, 2026; confirm at checkout) | LegalZoom pricing ↗ (opens in a new tab), LegalZoom compare page ↗ (opens in a new tab), LegalZoom agent ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Swyft Filings Basic | $0 + state fee ("Formation document only") | Not included | Agent listed as "$149+ Quarterly" UNKNOWN (what that totals per year is unclear) | ComplianceGuard trial in all packages; business address $29/mo on Basic | Swyft LLC ↗ (opens in a new tab), Swyft agent ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Tailor Brands Lite | $0 + state fee | Not stated on its pricing page UNKNOWN | Paid bundles bill yearly ($199/yr, $249/yr) | 30-day bookkeeping trial, then "$39/month" | Tailor Brands pricing ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| File it yourself | $0 + state fee | You, if you meet your state's agent rules | Nothing | Nothing | Your state's fee and filing portal |
The pattern: at least three of the six $0 packages include no registered agent, and almost every LLC needs one from day one. "Free registered agent" and "free formation" are different offers, and ads often blur them.
What you'll pay over 1, 3 and 5 years (agent included)
These are service costs only. Your state's fees are the same whoever files. Formula: package price + agent for year one (if not included) + agent renewal × each later year. We assume renewal prices stay where they are today. None of these providers promises that. Totals are ESTIMATED from the prices in the table above.
| Path | Year 1 | 3 years | 5 years | Price status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File yourself and be your own agent | $0 | $0 | $0 | — |
| Bizee Basic | $0 | $298 | $596 | $149 renewal VERIFIED |
| Northwest Basic at $49 | $49 | $299 | $549 | VERIFIED. $10 less at the $39 price ($39 / $289 / $539) |
| Registered Agents Inc formation (annual-report filing included) | $100 | $500 | $900 | $200 renewal REPORTED; billing period not shown |
| File yourself + Northwest agent | $125 | $375 | $625 | VERIFIED |
| ZenBusiness Starter + its agent | $199 | $597 | $995 | VERIFIED at the $199 plan-page price. Its agent page advertises $99 for the first year when you form, which would be $100 less. The price at checkout governs |
| LegalZoom Basic + its agent | $249 | $747 | $1,245 | VERIFIED |
| Swyft Basic + its agent | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | "$149+ Quarterly" UNKNOWN |
| Inc Authority | $0 | Unknown | Unknown | Renewal not published UNKNOWN |
All totals assume paying yearly. Multi-year prepaid agent plans can come out lower (Harbor's 3-year plan works out to $615 over five years, but its fees are non-refundable); see prepaid plans.
What these leave out:
- ZenBusiness Starter: if you keep Worry-Free Compliance after its free year, add $199 a year from year two.
- Northwest: if you keep its annual-report service, add $100 plus your state's fee for each report it files. That replaces filing the report yourself for the state fee alone.
Northwest vs Bizee: the closest call
Northwest lists Basic at $49 on one of its pages ↗ (opens in a new tab) and $39 on another ↗ (opens in a new tab) (both read Oct 11, 2026; both include the first agent year). Which provider is cheaper depends on which price you get.
| Cumulative service cost | Northwest at $49 | Northwest at $39 | Bizee Basic | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Through year 1 | $49 | $39 | $0 | Bizee |
| Through year 2 | $174 | $164 | $149 | Bizee |
| Through year 3 | $299 | $289 | $298 | Bizee by $1 at $49; Northwest at $39 |
| Through year 4 | $424 | $414 | $447 | Northwest |
| Through year 5 | $549 | $539 | $596 | Northwest |
This is Statutia's canonical Northwest-vs-Bizee computation; /best-llc-service and /start-an-llc use the same numbers. ESTIMATED from published prices (Bizee's $149/yr standalone agent price: bizee.com ↗ (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 11, 2026).
- Bizee is cheaper if you want to pay nothing up front or might close the LLC within three years (two, if your Northwest price is $39).
- Northwest is cheaper if you'll keep the LLC four years or more at $49, or three or more at $39. If you file annual reports yourself, turn off its annual-report service.
- Neither Basic package includes an EIN (free from the IRS) or an operating agreement. Northwest's Deluxe ($149, or $139 on its other page) adds both. Bizee's Standard tier ($199 per its FAQ) adds both.
When doing it yourself is cheapest, and when it isn't
Filing yourself saves the whole service fee, but only if you're also your own registered agent. If you'd hire an agent anyway, compare bundle vs DIY + agent:
- Northwest's package with the agent included costs $76 less in year one at $49 ($86 at $39) than filing yourself and buying Northwest's agent at $125.
- Bizee's $0 package costs $149 less than filing yourself and buying Bizee's standalone agent at "$149/year".
Being your own agent costs $0. The trade-offs: your address goes on the public record, someone must be there during business hours to accept legal papers, and you track every deadline yourself. Should you be your own registered agent?
Add-ons at checkout vs what they cost directly
These prices come from each provider's own order or plan page, read Oct 11, 2026. We didn't walk through a full checkout, so the exact screens you see may differ.
| Add-on | What providers charge | What it costs directly | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIN (federal tax ID) | Bizee +$70 on Basic; ZenBusiness +$99; LegalZoom only from Managed Service ($249, then $49/mo); Northwest in Deluxe ($149 / $139) | $0. The IRS: "You never have to pay a fee for an EIN." (IRS ↗ (opens in a new tab)) | Apply yourself online. It takes minutes. |
| Operating agreement | Bizee +$99; ZenBusiness template +$99; Swyft custom agreement $35 (Basic) | $0 with a reputable template you adapt, or an attorney if ownership is complex | You need the document. You don't need to buy a generic one. |
| Faster processing | ZenBusiness Rush +$79; Swyft express $50, same-day $100; Northwest Premium ($199) includes same-day | Your state's own expedite fee, where it offers one | Worth it only if you need the LLC by a date. |
| Compliance / annual-report service | ZenBusiness Worry-Free Compliance free year one, then $199/yr; Northwest $100 + state fee per report; Swyft ComplianceGuard trial | The state's report fee only, filed by you (fees and due dates by state) | Convenience, not a requirement. Put the renewal date in your calendar either way. |
| Website, address and bookkeeping trials | ZenBusiness website trial preselected, then $15/mo; Swyft address $29/mo (Basic); Bizee virtual address first month; Tailor bookkeeping then $39/mo | — | Untick anything you won't use before paying. |
| Advisor or attorney plans | LegalZoom Managed ($249, then $49/mo after 30 days); Expert Service ($299, then $99/mo after 30 days) | — | Decide before day 30, or you'll be billed monthly. Confirm the Expert price at checkout. |
"+ state fees": what the state charges whoever files
Each state sets its own filing fee, and you pay it whether you file yourself or a service files for you. It runs from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts (all states, official sources checked Oct 7, 2026).
Three states add year-one costs that "+ state fees" ads don't show:
- California: $70 to file, a $20 Statement of Information within 90 days, and the $800 annual LLC tax, first due by the 15th day of the 4th month after filing. That's $890 in year one for a 2026 formation. If your first taxable year begins in 2027–2029, the first-year tax is $400 (SB 122), so the total is $490. A $0 service fee saves nothing against this. (CA SOS ↗ (opens in a new tab), FTB What's New ↗ (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 11, 2026; full detail in our California guide)
- Nevada: $75 articles + $150 initial list + $200 state business license, due together: $425 (checked Oct 7, 2026).
- New York: $200 + a $50 Certificate of Publication fee + newspaper publication costs, which vary by county (NY DOS fee schedule ↗ (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 11, 2026).
The free registered agent year: what happens in year two
When the free year ends, the agent renews automatically unless you act. Here's what each provider's terms say (read Oct 11, 2026):
| Provider | Renewal after the free year | How to stop it | Refunds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $125/yr; "We haven't raised our price in 20 years" (a claim, not a contractual lock) | Cancel in your client portal "at least one (1) business day before the next charge date"; "There are no fees to cancel" | "Non-refundable after 90 days"; "All state filing fees are non-refundable" |
| Bizee | $149/yr VERIFIED; prices "subject to change at any time without notice" | Assign a new agent with the state and notify Bizee "by the expiration date", or it may renew | Auto-renew fees "cannot be reversed, discounted or in any way altered" once charged |
| ZenBusiness (if you added its agent) | $199/yr | Not cancellable in the dashboard; contact support, which "will confirm your replacement is in place before processing the cancellation" | Full refund only "within 30 days of first purchase AND before ZenBusiness has been appointed with the state" |
| LegalZoom (if you added its agent) | Same as the purchase price unless it gives 30 days' notice of a new fee | Notify LegalZoom "by the next Billing Date" with written proof the new agent is on record | Its terms promise a refund of prepaid fees only when LegalZoom ends the service; customer cancellations aren't addressed |
| Inc Authority | Not published | Not stated | Not stated |
| Registered Agents Inc | $200 REPORTED (no billing period shown) | Not stated on the pages we read | Not stated |
Sources: Northwest termination ↗ (opens in a new tab), Northwest auto-pay ↗ (opens in a new tab), Bizee cancellation policy ↗ (opens in a new tab), ZenBusiness cancellation help ↗ (opens in a new tab), LegalZoom agent terms ↗ (opens in a new tab). Full detail: how to cancel agent service.
How to leave before you're charged
You can use the free year, then move to a different agent before year two. The LLC stays formed; only the agent on the state record changes.
- Put the renewal date in your calendar on day one.
- About 60 days before it, compare the renewal with alternatives (registered agent prices).
- Appoint the new agent and file your state's change form. Fees run from $0 to $100 depending on the state (change fees by state).
- Confirm the state record shows the new agent.
- Then cancel the old agent as its terms require.
Example: moving from Bizee before year two in Texas, where the change fee is $15 (ESTIMATED from published prices; you pay the state fee if the new agent doesn't):
| Year-two agent | Year two | Each later year | vs staying with Bizee ($149) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest, $125/yr | $125 + $15 = $140 | $125 | $9 less in year two, then $24 less a year |
| Harbor Compliance, $99 first year, then $159 | $99 + $15 = $114 | $159 | $35 less in year two, then $10 more a year |
Harbor also sells 3 years for $297, then $159/yr; its pricing page doesn't show refund terms. Northwest's agent-only customers are also told they're enrolled in its $100 + state fee annual-report service; cancel it if you'll file yourself. Agent-only options: Northwest registered agent (opens in a new tab) Plain link · we earn $0 · Harbor Compliance registered agent (opens in a new tab) Plain link · we earn $0 (Northwest price ↗ (opens in a new tab), Harbor price ↗ (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 11, 2026).
A charge on your statement? What renews after year one
If you formed with a service and see a charge you didn't expect, it's usually one of these. Prices are from each provider's own pages, read Oct 11, 2026.
| Provider | What can renew | Price | How to stop it |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | Registered agent; Worry-Free Compliance ("Automatically renews annually"); Pro or Premium plan; website builder or web tools after a 30-day trial; banking | Agent $199/yr; compliance $199/yr; Pro $199/yr; Premium $299/yr on the plan page (its help center lists $399/yr, possibly a legacy or renewal price UNKNOWN); website builder $129/yr; web tools $15/mo; banking $5/mo | Its help center says "most annual subscriptions are refundable within 30 days of the renewal date". Agent cancellation goes through support (ZenBusiness bill help ↗ (opens in a new tab)) |
| Northwest | Registered agent; annual-report filing service | Agent $125/yr; report $100 + state fee, invoiced at least 90 days before the due date | Cancel in your client portal at least one business day before the charge (annual report ↗ (opens in a new tab)) |
| LegalZoom | Registered agent; Managed or Expert plan after 30 days | Agent $249/yr; Managed $49/mo; Expert $99/mo | Account or phone; agent charges continue until you prove a new agent is on record |
| Bizee | Registered agent after the free year; virtual address after the first month | Agent $149/yr VERIFIED; address price not stated | Appoint a new agent, then notify Bizee before expiration |
Being charged for an agent you still need? Compare before cancelling: stay or switch, how to cancel.
Which should you choose?
These picks are ranked by total cost for how long you'll keep the LLC. Commissions are not an input. State fees apply to every option.
- You can be your own agent and don't mind your address being public: file directly with your state. Cost: the state fee. Find your state's fee and portal.
- You want a service and may close within three years: Bizee Basic, $0 + state fee, agent included for year one, then $149/yr VERIFIED. Untick the add-ons you don't need. Go to Bizee (opens in a new tab) Plain link · we earn $0
- You want a service and will keep the LLC four years or more (three at the $39 price): Northwest Basic, $49 or $39 + state fee depending on which Northwest page you land on, agent included for year one, then $125/yr. Northwest's annual-report page says agent customers are automatically enrolled in its report-filing service, $100 + state fee per report, charged about 90 days before the deadline (source ↗ (opens in a new tab), checked Oct 11, 2026). Cancel it if you'll file yourself. Go to Northwest LLC formation (opens in a new tab) Plain link · we earn $0
- You want annual reports filed for you without a per-report service charge: Registered Agents Inc, $100 + state fee, agent and annual-report filing included for year one, then $200 REPORTED. Its site doesn't say whether the state's report fee is covered. Go to Registered Agents Inc (opens in a new tab) Plain link · we earn $0
- You want ZenBusiness's dashboard and extras: Starter is $0 + state fee, but budget $199 a year for its agent from day one (its agent page advertises $99 for the first year when you form), and decide on the website trial and compliance renewal before they bill. Go to ZenBusiness Starter (opens in a new tab) Plain link · we earn $0 · LegalZoom's agent is $249 a year. Go to LegalZoom (opens in a new tab) Plain link · we earn $0 · Compare services by need
Not sure? Run your state through the formation cost calculator.
What we couldn't verify
- We haven't bought these packages or completed a checkout. We can't confirm which add-ons are preselected beyond what providers state (ZenBusiness says its website trial is).
- Bizee: its pages don't state the post-free-year renewal charge as a price. "$149/yr value" and "renews annually" are the closest wording, so we label it reported. Its order page's comparison table also showed every package at "$299" on Oct 11, 2026, which conflicts with its own package cards and FAQ ($0 / $199 / $299). We use the cards and FAQ. Its cancellation policy says renewals are charged by "Bizee's registered agent partner".
- ZenBusiness: its plan page lists the agent at $199/yr, while its agent page offers $99 for the first year when you form an LLC. Our totals use $199. Its Starter FAQ also says $0 "for the first year", while the plan table says Starter "does not renew".
- Northwest: /llc-formation shows Basic at $49 and /llc/formation shows $39 (both include the first agent year). We show both and use $49 in totals. Its annual-report page says both that agent customers are "automatically enrolled" and, in an FAQ, "Not automatically".
- LegalZoom: Expert Service $299 (its pricing page showed $999 at one check earlier on Oct 11, 2026; confirm at checkout).
- Inc Authority: doesn't publish its agent renewal, so we can't total it.
- Swyft: lists its agent as "$149+ Quarterly"; we couldn't confirm the annual cost.
- Tailor Brands: its pricing page doesn't say whether any plan includes a registered agent.
- Registered Agents Inc: doesn't show a billing period for its $200 agent price.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm fees on your state's official site before filing.
Common questions
Is $0 LLC formation really free? The provider's service fee is $0. You still pay the state filing fee ($35–$500), and you need a registered agent: yourself, or a paid service after any free year.
Is Bizee really free? Bizee Basic is $0 plus the state fee and includes the first year of registered agent service. After that its agent is $149 a year. Basic doesn't include an EIN (+$70) or an operating agreement (+$99).
Does Northwest's $39 or $49 package include a registered agent? Yes. Its /llc/formation page says every LLC package "includes free Registered Agent service for the 1st year" (Basic $39). Its /llc-formation page lists Basic at $49 with "365 days of registered agent service". Either way it renews at $125 a year.
Does the free registered agent year renew automatically? For Northwest and Bizee, yes, unless you cancel or appoint a new agent first. See the year-two table above for each provider's notice rules.
Do I need to buy the EIN add-on? No. The IRS issues EINs free online: "You never have to pay a fee for an EIN."
What's the cheapest way to form an LLC with a registered agent? If you can be your own agent, file yourself and pay only the state fee. If you want a service agent, Bizee is cheapest for up to three years and Northwest after that (from year three if you get its $39 price), based on today's published prices.
Sources (read Oct 11, 2026 unless noted)
- Northwest: /llc-formation ↗ (opens in a new tab), /llc/formation ↗ (opens in a new tab), /registered-agent ↗ (opens in a new tab), /annual-report ↗ (opens in a new tab), auto-pay terms ↗ (opens in a new tab), termination terms ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Bizee: order page ↗ (opens in a new tab), registered agent ↗ (opens in a new tab), cancellation policy ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- ZenBusiness: plans ↗ (opens in a new tab), /llc/ ↗ (opens in a new tab), registered agent ↗ (opens in a new tab), Worry-Free Compliance ↗ (opens in a new tab), bill help ↗ (opens in a new tab), cancellation help ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- LegalZoom: LLC pricing ↗ (opens in a new tab), compare page ↗ (opens in a new tab), registered agent ↗ (opens in a new tab), agent terms ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Registered Agents Inc: /llc/ ↗ (opens in a new tab), registered agent ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Harbor Compliance: registered agent ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Swyft Filings: /llc/ ↗ (opens in a new tab), registered agent ↗ (opens in a new tab) · Tailor Brands: pricing ↗ (opens in a new tab) · Inc Authority: home ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: Get an EIN ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- California: SOS LLC fees ↗ (opens in a new tab), FTB What's New ↗ (opens in a new tab) · New York: DOS fee schedule ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Other state fees: Statutia state data, official sources checked Oct 7, 2026 (cost to start an LLC by state). How we rank: methodology.
How we make money: Statutia has no affiliate relationships yet. Every provider link on this page is a plain link that earns us nothing. If that changes, commercial links will be labeled next to the link. Commissions will never change our rankings. Details.