Short answer: Best overall: Northwest Registered Agent ($39 + state fee). Agent included in year one, then $125/yr, the lowest renewal here. Lists its own address on your filings by default.
We ranked each service on the cost of forming an LLC and keeping a registered agent for three years, what the cheapest package includes, and how each handles your address on public records.
The ranking
1. Best overall
Northwest Registered Agent $39 + state fee
Agent included in year one, then $125/yr, the lowest renewal here. Lists its own address on your filings by default.
2. Best $0 start
Bizee $0 + state fee
Basic files for the state fee alone with a free first year of agent service. Renews at $149/yr.
3. Best for a compliance add-on
ZenBusiness $0 + state fee
Starter is $0, but the registered agent is a $199/yr add-on from day one. Worry-Free Compliance is free in year one, then $199/yr.
4. Best known brand
LegalZoom $0 + state fee
Basic is $0, and its registered agent costs $249/yr, the highest of the four. Higher tiers add monthly fees.
What you'd pay, side by side
| Service | Package | Registered agent | Year one | 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File it yourself | State only | You serve | $0 | $0 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | LLC package ($39) | Included year one | $39 | $289 |
| Bizee | Basic ($0) | Free year one | $0 | $298 |
| ZenBusiness | Starter ($0) | Add-on, $199/yr from day one | $199 | $597 |
| LegalZoom | Basic ($0) | Add-on, $249/yr from day one | $249 | $747 |
Add your state's filing fee to every row. It's the same no matter who files, and runs from $35 in Montana to $520 in Massachusetts. Find your state's fee.
How we ranked them
- Long-run cost. The registered agent renews every year, so we count three years of it, not just the sticker price.
- What the cheapest package covers. A $0 plan that leaves out the agent isn't really $0 for most owners.
- Privacy. Whose address ends up on the public record.
- Published terms only. No paid placements. Affiliate links never change the order.
Questions people ask
What is the best LLC service?
On our numbers, Northwest has the lowest 3-year cost with an agent included ($289 in service fees), and Bizee has the lowest year-one cost ($0). Which is "best" depends on whether you care more about this month or the next few years.
Are $0 LLC services really free?
The filing service can be $0, but you still pay the state fee. Most $0 plans make money on the registered agent, which renews every year, and on add-ons at checkout.
Do I need an LLC service at all?
No. You can file with your state for just the state fee, which runs from $35 to $520 on our site. Services add convenience and a registered agent address.
Why do registered agent fees matter so much?
Every LLC must keep a registered agent for as long as it exists. A $100 difference in the yearly fee costs far more over the life of the business than any first-year discount.
Sources
- Northwest Registered Agent: LLC pricing
- Northwest Registered Agent: registered agent pricing
- Bizee: LLC packages
- Bizee: registered agent pricing
- ZenBusiness: LLC packages
- LegalZoom: LLC packages
- LegalZoom: registered agent pricing
Provider prices change often, so confirm at checkout. State fees come from our state-by-state cost table.