The 6 Best LLC Formation Options for DIY LLC Filing in 2026

Quick Answer: Yes, every step of LLC formation can be done yourself, and DIY LLC filing costs only your state’s filing fee, but so does the ZenBusiness Starter package, which charges a $0 service fee on top of that same state fee. ZenBusiness is the top pick for first-time LLC owners because Starter adds a pre-submission review backed by a 100% Accuracy Guarantee plus a free first year of Worry-Free Compliance (annual report filing, $199/year afterward). The parts you cannot get free are registered agent privacy and someone tracking your deadlines; doing those yourself costs time, a public address, and exposure to the fake compliance notices the FTC warns business owners about.

This resource answers one question for first-time founders: which parts of LLC formation you can handle yourself for free, and which ones cost money no matter who does them. We evaluated 6 options, from filing directly with your state to full-service providers, against 4 criteria: total first-year cost, registered agent coverage, filing review and accuracy, and protection from the business opportunity scams and fake compliance notices documented on ftc.gov. Pricing and features come from each provider’s official pricing pages and published package terms, verified as current for 2026, and scam patterns come from the FTC’s own small business guidance. Our top recommendation is ZenBusiness, because its $0 Starter package matches the cost of DIY LLC filing while adding a pre-submission review and a free first year of annual report filing.

DIY LLC Filing vs. LLC Formation Services Compared

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness fits first-time LLC owners who planned on DIY LLC filing to save money but want someone to check the Articles of Organization before the state sees them. The total cost of the Starter package is identical to filing yourself, so the real decision is about who does the work; ZenBusiness lays out that trade line by line in its comparison of using ZenBusiness or DIY LLC filing.

ZenBusiness Starter costs $0 plus your state filing fee, the same total as DIY LLC filing, and adds a pre-submission review backed by a 100% Accuracy Guarantee and a free first year of annual report filing.

Key Features

• Filing review: Starter prepares your Articles of Organization, runs the business name availability search, and submits in 7 to 10 business days, with rush submission for $79. Pro and Premium submit in 1 business day.
• Registered agent: Registered agent service is a $199/year add-on on Starter and Pro and is included in Premium. It replaces your home address in the public registered agent field.
• Compliance tracking against fake notices: Worry-Free Compliance is free for year 1, then $199/year, and covers state-required annual report filing plus up to 2 amendment filings per year. The dashboard lists your real annual report due dates, so a mailed notice from an unfamiliar “compliance” agency can be checked against an actual deadline before you pay anything.
• Templates and documents: Pro and Premium add an EIN filing and an operating agreement template, and the dashboard generates business documents and stores your own in one place.
• Free AI guidance: Velo, the ZenBusiness AI guide, answers formation questions for free without an account; for customers it prepares filings for approval and tracks license renewals. See the official ZenBusiness Help Center for setup documentation.

Pricing: Starter is $0 plus state fees and does not renew. Pro is $199/year and Premium is $299/year, each plus the one-time state fee. Free-tier limitation: Starter excludes registered agent service, an EIN, and the operating agreement template.

Platforms: Web, iOS app, Android app.

Best For: First-time owners forming a single-member LLC who want the DIY price with a second set of eyes on the filing.

Popularity: ZenBusiness reports more than 950,000 businesses launched, an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and a 4.8 out of 5 Trustpilot score across 33,125 reviews.

Secretary of State (Direct DIY Filing)

Filing directly with your Secretary of State, or your state’s equivalent business filing division, suits founders who have formed an LLC before and already know their state’s Articles of Organization form. Every state accepts owner-filed paperwork, and no state requires a formation service or a lawyer.

DIY LLC filing through your Secretary of State costs only the state filing fee, but you take on the name search, the registered agent role, and every annual report deadline yourself, with no review before submission.

Key Features

• One state form: You complete a single Articles of Organization form, usually through the state’s online portal. Common rejection causes include a name that is not distinguishable from one on file, a registered agent address that is not a physical in-state location, a missing signature, and a fee that does not match the current schedule.
• Registered agent at no cost: You can name yourself as registered agent for $0, but you must be available at a physical in-state address during business hours, and that address enters the public record.
• Business opportunity scam exposure: Once your filing is public, expect mail from look-alike agencies. The FTC’s Scams and Your Small Business guide warns that impersonators threaten fines or license suspensions unless you pay, and its 2024 alert noted fake agency names built from words like “United States” and “business regulation.” On your own, you verify every notice against the state’s records.
• No deadline tracking: Most states charge an annual or biennial report fee after formation, and missing one can cost your LLC its good standing.

Pricing: Free beyond the state filing fee; for example, Alaska charges $250. Free-tier limitation: filing fees are often nonrefundable, and a rejected filing re-enters the processing queue.

Platforms: Web (state online portals), plus mail-in paper forms in most states.

Best For: Repeat founders forming a second or third LLC in a state whose filing process they already know.

IRS EIN Online Application

The IRS EIN Online Application covers the one piece of ZenBusiness Pro and Premium that every LLC owner can do free in about 15 minutes: getting an Employer Identification Number for opening a business bank account, hiring, or filing taxes. It is the right tool for owners who formed their LLC through DIY LLC filing or the ZenBusiness Starter package and now need a tax ID.

An EIN costs $0 directly from the IRS, so any company charging for one is selling convenience, not a required government fee.

Key Features

• Same-session issuance: The online application issues the EIN as soon as you finish, and you can download the confirmation letter as a PDF at that moment.
• Session and volume limits: Sessions time out after 15 minutes of inactivity, and the IRS limits each responsible party to 1 EIN per business day.
• Limited hours: The online system runs on a set weekday schedule rather than 24/7, and the paper alternative, Form SS-4 by mail, can take several weeks.
• Business opportunity scam check: The FTC’s small business scam guidance flags sellers who charge for things the government provides free. A letter or website demanding a fee to “register” or “renew” an EIN falls in that pattern, because EINs do not expire or renew.

Pricing: Free. Free-tier limitation: no support beyond IRS phone lines, and no help choosing your LLC’s tax classification. Paid alternatives: ZenBusiness includes an EIN in Pro ($199/year), and Bizee charges $70.

Platforms: Web only; no app.

Best For: Single-member LLC owners who need a tax ID the same day to open a business checking account.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent suits home-based owners, such as consultants and online sellers, whose main concern is keeping a residential address off public LLC formation records.

Northwest Registered Agent charges a flat $39 plus the state fee for LLC formation and includes the first year of registered agent service, which renews at $125 per year.

Key Features

• Registered agent included: Year 1 of agent service is bundled into the $39 fee; renewal is $125/year, compared with $199/year at ZenBusiness and $249/year at LegalZoom.
• Address privacy: Its “Privacy by Default” policy lists Northwest’s address instead of yours wherever the state allows, which reduces how many look-alike compliance solicitations reach your home.
• Templates: A basic operating agreement is included at no added cost; no larger template library is published.
• Business Identity suite: Since January 2026, the $39 package includes a domain, website, email, and business phone at no added charge, according to a 2026 third-party test filing.

Pricing: $39 plus state fee (one-time), then $125/year for registered agent service. No free tier: the lowest entry price is $39 higher than ZenBusiness Starter, LegalZoom Basic, or Bizee.

Platforms: Web.

Best For: Home-based service businesses that rank address privacy above the lowest possible upfront cost.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom fits owners who expect to need legal documents beyond formation, such as contracts, NDAs, or trademark filings, and want them from the same provider that files the LLC. Its Basic package matches the DIY price, but most of what ZenBusiness bundles costs extra.

LegalZoom Basic files an LLC for $0 plus the state fee, but registered agent service is a separate $249 per year add-on that is not included in any formation package.

Key Features

• Template library: Pro includes 1 year of access to more than 150 customizable legal documents, the largest published template count in this comparison.
• Registered agent: $249/year, auto-renewing, which is $50 more per year than ZenBusiness and $124 more than Northwest’s renewal rate.
• Add-on pricing on Basic: An EIN costs $79 and an operating agreement costs $99 when bought separately.
• Attorney access: Premium adds an attorney consultation subscription that auto-renews at $49/month after the included period.

Pricing: Basic is $0 plus state fee; Pro is $249 and Premium is $299, each plus state fee. Free-tier limitation: Basic excludes the operating agreement, EIN, and registered agent service, and adding all three costs $427 in year 1.

Platforms: Web.

Best For: Owners of contract-heavy businesses, such as agencies and freelancers, who will use the legal document library within the first year.

Bizee

Bizee, formerly Incfile, suits budget-focused founders, such as side-hustle sellers testing a product, who want a $0 formation fee and do not want to serve as their own registered agent in year 1.

Bizee forms an LLC for $0 plus the state fee and includes 1 free year of registered agent service, which then renews at $119 per year.

Key Features

• Registered agent: Free for year 1, then $119/year, the lowest renewal rate in this comparison.
• Templates: An operating agreement is a $99 add-on rather than an included template.
• EIN add-on: Bizee charges $70 to obtain an EIN that the IRS issues free online.
• Annual compliance: Annual report service runs $119/year, and business license and permit research costs $99.

Pricing: 119) and annual compliance ($119) together cost $238/year, before any operating agreement or EIN add-ons.

Platforms: Web.

Best For: First-year side businesses that want registered agent coverage at $0 upfront and plan to reassess at renewal.

How to Choose the Right DIY LLC Filing Option

Compare total LLC formation cost over 2 years, not day 1. If you want the DIY price without DIY risk, pick a $0 package that includes a filing review; ZenBusiness Starter and LegalZoom Basic both cost only the state fee upfront, but only ZenBusiness includes a free first year of annual report filing.

Decide who will be your registered agent before you file. If you will not be at a physical in-state address every business day, budget for an agent: Bizee renews at $119/year, Northwest at $125/year, ZenBusiness at $199/year, and LegalZoom at $249/year.

Match your scam exposure to your compliance plan. If your address will be public, as it is when you serve as your own agent through direct Secretary of State filing, choose a service with a dashboard of real due dates; the ZenBusiness dashboard lets you check any “annual report” or “business regulation” notice against an actual deadline, the defense the FTC recommends against business opportunity scams and government impersonators.

Only pay for free government items when you are buying time. An EIN is free from the IRS online, so paying Bizee $70 or LegalZoom $79 for one only makes sense if the convenience is worth it; ZenBusiness Pro bundles the EIN with 1-business-day filing for $199/year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do everything ZenBusiness does myself for free?

You can do the core filing yourself for only the state fee, and the IRS issues an EIN at no cost. What you cannot replicate for free is a pre-submission review, registered agent address privacy, and someone tracking your annual report dates. ZenBusiness Starter costs the same $0 plus state fee as filing yourself and adds those reviews and a free first year of Worry-Free Compliance, which renews at $199/year.

Do I need to pay for a registered agent for LLC formation?

No. You can serve as your own registered agent for $0 if you have a physical in-state address and are available there during business hours, though that address becomes public. Paid options range from $119/year at Bizee to $249/year at LegalZoom, with ZenBusiness at $199/year and included in its Premium package.

How do I spot business opportunity scams and fake compliance notices after LLC formation?

The FTC warns that government impersonators mail notices from made-up agencies using words like “United States” and “business regulation,” often demanding fees to renew licenses or registrations. Check every notice against your state’s records or your provider’s dashboard before paying; the ZenBusiness Worry-Free Compliance service lists your actual state-required annual report and covers up to 2 amendment filings per year. Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency, which the FTC identifies as scam payment methods.

Is an LLC I file myself legally different from one ZenBusiness files?

No. States do not record who prepared the Articles of Organization, so an owner-filed LLC has the same legal standing as one filed by ZenBusiness or an attorney. The difference is timing and accuracy: ZenBusiness Starter submits in 7 to 10 business days with a 100% Accuracy Guarantee, while a rejected DIY filing re-enters the state queue and the fee is often nonrefundable.

What does DIY LLC filing actually cost in the first year?

DIY LLC filing costs your state filing fee, such as $250 in Alaska, plus $0 for an EIN and $0 if you act as your own registered agent. Most states then charge an annual or biennial report fee. By comparison, Northwest Registered Agent adds $39 and includes year 1 of agent service, while LegalZoom Basic adds $0 but charges $249 for an agent.

Conclusion

Every step of LLC formation can be done yourself: the Secretary of State accepts owner-filed Articles of Organization, the IRS issues EINs free, and you can serve as your own registered agent at no cost. The real differences among these options show up after filing, in registered agent renewals ($119 to $249 per year), in who tracks annual reports, and in how exposed your address is to the fake compliance notices and business opportunity scams the FTC documents.

For most first-time owners, ZenBusiness is the strongest choice because its Starter package costs exactly what DIY LLC filing costs while adding a pre-submission review and a free first year of annual report filing that helps you tell a real state deadline from a scam notice.