7 Best LLC Formation Services for Startups

LLC formation services file your articles of organization and deliver the documents an LLC runs on. This list ranks seven options by who drafts the operating agreement, price transparency, and fit for a startup's growth path.

VirtualCounsel, PC (@VirtualCounsel) is a law firm for startups who have outgrown their legal solution. Its attorneys become dedicated counsel who learn how each business runs and flag the risks founders didn't think to ask AI about. It ranks first here because its attorneys draft the operating agreement and stay on as the company's counsel.

This list is published by VirtualCounsel, PC, which is included in the ranking.

Key takeaways

• LegalZoom and Bizee each list a $0 LLC package, so the state fee is often a platform's largest day-one cost.
• The IRS issues an EIN for free, so any fee you pay for one buys convenience.
• Delaware charges every LLC formed or registered there a $400 annual tax, due June 1, per the Delaware Division of Corporations.
• California's Franchise Tax Board charges an $800 annual tax to every LLC organized or doing business in California.
• @VirtualCounsel bills LLC formation as a flat fee, since formation is clearly defined work. Current figures are on the @VirtualCounsel pricing page.
• Only C corporation stock can qualify for the federal small business stock exclusion under 26 U.S.C. § 1202. That's one reason venture-bound founders often skip the LLC.

What Does an LLC Formation Service Do?

An LLC formation service prepares and files your articles of organization with the state, then hands you starter documents. Articles of organization are the short public filing that legally creates the LLC.

Most platforms bundle a registered agent, the person or company that accepts lawsuits and state notices for the LLC. Many also request your EIN, the federal tax ID, which the IRS says never requires a fee.

The operating agreement is where services split apart. An operating agreement is the owners' private contract. It sets ownership percentages, voting, profit splits, and what happens when someone leaves.

Filing platforms supply a template operating agreement. A law firm drafts one around your facts and explains what a template leaves out.

Example: Hypothetical: two cofounders form a 50/50 LLC on a $0 package and never sign an operating agreement. Eighteen months later one leaves, and no document says whether the company can buy back her half or at what price.

When no written agreement exists, the state's LLC statute fills the gaps with default rules the founders never chose. A missing operating agreement is a common formation problem for LLCs formed on filing platforms.

One filing step has dropped off the list. FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule exempts U.S. companies from beneficial ownership information reporting, so a new domestic LLC files no BOI report today.

How We Picked These 7 LLC Formation Services

We ranked seven providers across four criteria that decide what a startup LLC costs over its first two years. Pricing and features last checked September 2026, on each provider's own website.

1. Operating agreement quality: whether an attorney drafts it for your facts or you fill in a template.
2. Price transparency: published service fees, renewal costs, and what's excluded.
3. Startup fit: support for cofounder terms, equity, and a later conversion to a C corporation.
4. Ongoing compliance and reach: registered agent coverage, annual report tracking, and help registering in other states.

We weighted operating agreement quality and startup fit most heavily, since mistakes there cost the most to unwind. The list mixes a law firm with filing platforms and compliance companies, because founders compare across all of them.

This ranking reflects those four criteria and nothing else. A filing platform can be the right buy for a simple LLC, and several entries below say so directly.

The 7 Best LLC Formation Services for Startups

Each profile below covers what the provider does, what it costs, who it suits, and where it falls short. Every competitor also gets a direct comparison with @VirtualCounsel.

1. @VirtualCounsel: Best for founders who need an attorney-drafted operating agreement

Key insight: @VirtualCounsel is a law firm whose attorneys draft a custom operating agreement and become the company's dedicated counsel. It suits founders whose LLC will have cofounders, investors, or valuable IP. That's us, so weigh this entry with that in mind.

The firm's attorneys look ahead for each client and say so when a request won't solve the underlying problem. The team handles formation, contracts, fundraising documents, equity, employment, IP assignment, and M&A.

@VirtualCounsel's formation service covers drafting and filing the articles of organization, a custom operating agreement, and initial member consents. The package also includes invention assignment agreements and guidance on EIN registration, tax classification, and banking setup.

Clients reach the team through a dedicated Slack channel, email, and scheduled calls, per the firm. Documents live in a shared Google Drive and the Counsel client portal.

@VirtualCounsel's attorneys are licensed in California, New York, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, and North Carolina. Most of its clients are Delaware corporations, with founders and operators around the world.

The firm's attorneys are transactional startup counsel. Their work spans contract review, formations, financings, and equity and employment matters.

Robert Rolnik of WindEverest is quoted on @VirtualCounsel's formation page. "I like that Daniel's team kept reminding me to attend to the foundational signatures required to keep the process moving."

Results depend on each client's facts; past results don't guarantee a similar outcome.

Key features

• Attorney-drafted operating agreement covering ownership, voting, and member exits.
• Single-member and multi-member LLC formation, plus LLC-to-corporation conversion.
• Guidance on EIN registration, tax classification, and banking setup at formation.
• Ongoing counsel on contracts, equity, and employment after formation.
• Integrations with Slack, Google Drive, Loom, and Gusto, and @VirtualCounsel is a Carta Partner Law Firm.

Pricing: See pricing page. Hourly is @VirtualCounsel's default for new relationships and open scope, with itemized invoices. Flat fees cover clearly defined work, formation above all, and subscriptions are also available.

Of the subscriptions, only @VC Launch is month to month. Higher tiers carry an annual commitment and are offered by invitation once the fit is clear. For plan names, prices and inclusions, see the @VirtualCounsel pricing page.

Who should choose @VirtualCounsel

• Cofounders who need vesting, buyback, and deadlock terms written for their deal.
• Founders who want formation handled by the same team that will review contracts later.
• Companies weighing an LLC against a C corp that want an attorney's view first.

Limitations: A law firm engagement is more than a solo founder with no partners and no investors needs. Registered agent service and address privacy fall outside its formation package. @VirtualCounsel's attorneys hold licenses in five jurisdictions, so a matter under another state's law may need local counsel.

2. Stripe Atlas: Best for tech founders who expect to convert to a C corp

Key insight: Stripe Atlas forms Delaware LLCs and C corporations online for a one-time $500 fee that includes government fees. Stripe describes its Atlas LLC as designed to make conversion to a C corporation as simple as possible.

Stripe Atlas is a technology service from Stripe that forms companies in Delaware only. Per its site, a company is incorporated and ready to bank, fundraise, and accept payments within two business days.

The Atlas package includes an EIN, a first year of registered agent service, founder equity issuance, and 83(b) election filing for corporations. Stripe says its legal templates are created in collaboration with Cooley LLP, and it states that Atlas isn't a law firm.

Stripe's Atlas LLC announcement positions the LLC for small teams and bootstrapped businesses that may later scale. That conversion-ready design is why Atlas ranks second on our startup-fit criterion.

Key features

• Delaware LLC or C corporation formation from one online flow.
• EIN and first-year registered agent service included in the $500 fee.
• Legal templates built with Cooley LLP, per Stripe.
• $2,500 in Stripe product credits for the first year, per the Atlas page.

Pricing: $500 one-time, then $100 per year for registered agent service, per Stripe Atlas.

Who should choose Stripe Atlas

• Technical founders who want a Delaware entity this week at a fixed cost.
• Founders already processing payments on Stripe.

Limitations: Atlas forms entities in Delaware only, so a founder operating in California still owes California's $800 annual LLC tax. Atlas gives legal information and templates, and a founder with a custom cofounder deal still needs counsel.

Stripe Atlas vs @VirtualCounsel

Stripe Atlas wins on speed and price for a standard Delaware entity, and its $500 fee includes Delaware's filing costs. @VirtualCounsel costs more and fits founders whose operating agreement needs terms a template can't anticipate, such as uneven capital contributions.

3. Northwest Registered Agent: Best for privacy-minded single-member LLCs

Key insight: Northwest Registered Agent forms LLCs for $39 plus state fees and puts its own address on public filings. It fits a solo founder who wants a low price and a private home address.

Northwest Registered Agent is a registered agent and filing company that serves all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Northwest calls its staff "Corporate Guides" and describes them as a mix of paralegals, accountants, advisors, and lawyers.

Northwest's "Privacy by Default" approach puts the registered agent's address on public filings in place of the owner's. The company states it never sells customer data to third parties and doesn't outsource its services.

Registered agent service includes a business address, mail scanning for up to five documents a year, and operating agreement templates. Northwest's LLC page also links to operating agreement forms it says its attorneys prepared.

Key features

• $39 LLC filing fee, one of the lowest paid fees on this list.
• Owner address kept off public filings by default.
• Free domain, website, business email, and phone line with registered agent service.
• Volume registered agent pricing of $100 per state for five or more states.

Pricing: $39 plus state fees to form an LLC, and $125 per year for registered agent service.

Who should choose Northwest Registered Agent

• Solo founders forming a single-member LLC from a home office.
• Owners who want a human support line from a company that doesn't outsource.

Limitations: Northwest's templates come without legal advice on your specific ownership terms. It offers no equity or fundraising support for a company headed toward venture money.

Northwest Registered Agent vs @VirtualCounsel

Northwest costs a fraction of @VirtualCounsel's fee and adds address privacy that a law firm engagement doesn't include. @VirtualCounsel fits once the LLC has more than one owner and the operating agreement starts carrying economic weight.

4. LegalZoom: Best for founders who want a large platform with an add-on attorney plan

Key insight: LegalZoom offers three LLC packages from $0 to $299 plus state fees. The Pro and Premium tiers add an operating agreement, an EIN, and 30 days of attorney consultations.

LegalZoom is one of the longest-running online legal document platforms. LegalZoom states it isn't a law firm. It provides legal advice only where authorized through its subsidiary law firm, LZ Legal Services, LLC.

The Basic package covers the articles of organization, a name check, and a tax consult from 1-800Accountant. Pro adds the operating agreement, EIN, 150-plus customizable legal documents for a year, and e-signatures.

The attorney plan in Pro and Premium covers 30-minute consultations on new legal topics for 30 days. The plan then renews at $49 per month unless you cancel.

Key features

• $0 Basic package plus state filing fees.
• Operating agreement and EIN included from the $249 Pro tier.
• Attorney consultation plan through LZ Legal Services, 30 days included.
• Premium tier adds six months of bookkeeping tools.

Pricing: Basic $0, Pro $249, and Premium $299, each plus state fees, per LegalZoom's LLC pricing page.

Who should choose LegalZoom

• Founders who want a known brand and a single dashboard for formation documents.
• Owners who want short attorney calls without committing to a law firm.

Limitations: The Basic package excludes an operating agreement, which is the document most LLCs need first. Pro's operating agreement is a platform document.

LegalZoom vs @VirtualCounsel

LegalZoom gives founders a low entry price and a month of attorney calls, which suits simple questions. @VirtualCounsel fits when the founders need one legal team to draft the operating agreement and handle the contracts that follow.

5. Bizee: Best for the lowest one-time service fee

Key insight: Bizee forms LLCs from $0 plus the state fee and includes a free first year of registered agent service. Registered agent renewal is $149 per year after that.

Bizee, formerly Incfile, has operated since 2004 and says it has served over 1,000,000 entrepreneurs. The company describes itself as bootstrapped, founder-led, and independently owned.

Bizee sells three packages as one-time payments: Basic at $0, Standard at $199, and Premium at $299, each plus the state fee. Every package includes lifetime compliance alerts by text and email for state and federal filing deadlines.

Bizee states that it isn't a law firm and doesn't provide legal advice. That makes Bizee a filing tool for founders who already know the structure they want.

Key features

• $0 Basic package plus the state fee.
• First year of registered agent service included with every package.
• Free lifetime compliance alerts for filing deadlines.
• One-time package fees with no required subscription.

Pricing: $0, $199, or $299 plus the state fee, with registered agent renewal at $149 per year, per Bizee's own comparison page.

Who should choose Bizee

• Bootstrapped solo founders who want to spend only the state fee on day one.
• Owners who value reminders for annual report deadlines.

Limitations: Bizee gives no legal advice, so cofounder terms and ownership splits stay the founders' job. Its $149 registered agent renewal runs higher than Northwest's $125 or Stripe Atlas's $100.

Bizee vs @VirtualCounsel

Bizee wins for a founder who needs an LLC on file at the lowest possible cost. @VirtualCounsel fits once the founders need legal advice about what their LLC's documents should say.

6. doola: Best for non-US founders who want formation plus bookkeeping

Key insight: doola forms U.S. LLCs and C corporations for founders in 175-plus countries, starting at $297 per year plus state fees. Higher tiers add bookkeeping, federal tax filings, and annual state reports.

doola calls itself an all-in-one back-office solution covering LLC formation, bookkeeping, U.S. banking, and business taxes.

doola says it has served over 15,000 founders and is backed by Y Combinator, HubSpot, Nexus Venture Partners, and HustleFund.

Its Starter plan covers formation in one to two business days, plus an EIN application and an operating agreement. It also includes a registered agent and a virtual address. doola's site states founders don't need U.S. citizenship to use it.

The Tax and Compliance plan adds annual state reports, federal tax filings, and a licensed tax professional consultation. For a founder abroad, that bundle replaces several U.S. vendors at once.

Key features

• LLC or C corporation formation in any U.S. state.
• Operating agreement, EIN, and registered agent in the Starter plan.
• Bookkeeping and IRS filings in higher tiers.
• Monthly billing available on Business-in-a-Box at $329 per month plus state fees.

Pricing: Starter $297 per year, Tax and Compliance $1,999 per year, and Business-in-a-Box $2,999 per year, each plus state fees, per doola's pricing page.

Who should choose doola

• Founders outside the U.S. forming their first U.S. LLC.
• Solo e-commerce and online businesses that want formation and bookkeeping from one vendor.

Limitations: doola bills annually on most plans, so the cost recurs even for a single filing. Its plans center on formation, bookkeeping, banking, and taxes.

doola vs @VirtualCounsel

doola bundles tax, bookkeeping, and compliance work that @VirtualCounsel's formation package doesn't cover. @VirtualCounsel fits founders who need legal drafting and advice, and who will run bookkeeping through their own accountant.

7. Harbor Compliance: Best for LLCs registering in several states

Key insight: Harbor Compliance forms LLCs from $99 plus state fees and registers existing LLCs in other states for $399 per state. The $399 includes a year of registered agent service.

Harbor Compliance focuses on licensing and entity management for companies with a nationwide U.S. presence. Its network of registered agent offices spans every state.

Harbor's foreign qualification service handles the name check, good standing certificate, and application to do business in a new state. Clients also get Entity Manager software, which tracks annual report dates and flags lapses in good standing.

Harbor Compliance states that it doesn't provide tax, financial, or legal advice and that using it creates no attorney-client relationship.

Key features

• LLC formation from $99 plus state fees, with expedite options in most states.
• Foreign qualification at $399 per state, including a year of registered agent service.
• Entity Manager software for annual report tracking across states.
• Business license research and filing support.

Pricing: $99 plus state fees to form an LLC, and $399 per state for foreign qualification, per Harbor Compliance's service pages.

Who should choose Harbor Compliance

• LLCs hiring remote employees or opening offices in several states.
• Operators who need licensing research alongside entity filings.

Limitations: Harbor Compliance states that it doesn't provide legal advice. Its focus on compliance filings leaves ownership terms and cofounder deals outside its scope.

Harbor Compliance vs @VirtualCounsel

Harbor Compliance handles multi-state registrations and license tracking at a scale a formation-focused law firm engagement doesn't match. @VirtualCounsel fits the legal questions behind those filings, such as which state's employment rules apply once you hire there.

Which LLC Formation Service Fits a Single-Member LLC?

For a single-member LLC with no partners and no investors, a filing platform plus a template operating agreement usually covers the need. Northwest Registered Agent and Bizee are the strongest low-cost picks on this list for that case.

By default, a single-member LLC is "disregarded as separate from its owner" for income tax, per the IRS LLC guidance. An LLC can file Form 8832 to elect corporate tax treatment instead.

Example: Hypothetical: a solo consultant forms a California single-member LLC through Northwest for $39 plus the state fee. The larger recurring cost is California's $800 annual LLC tax, owed every year the LLC exists.

An attorney earns the fee on a single-member LLC in narrower cases. Those cases typically include an LLC that holds valuable IP, signs enterprise contracts, or adds a second owner soon.

Which LLC Formation Service Fits a Multi-Member LLC?

@VirtualCounsel is the pick for a multi-member LLC, because the operating agreement decides who owns what. A template can't reflect the founders' specific deal. The IRS taxes a multi-member LLC as a partnership by default.

Multi-member operating agreements typically cover capital contributions, profit and loss allocations, vesting, buybacks, deadlock votes, and transfer restrictions. When the agreement stays silent, the state's LLC statute supplies default rules for many of these terms.

Example: Hypothetical: three founders split an LLC 40/40/20, and the 20 percent member contributes $50,000 in cash while the others contribute code. The operating agreement has to say whether that $50,000 comes back first when the LLC sells or winds down.

@VirtualCounsel handles formation as flat-fee work, so the drafting cost is set before the engagement starts. Current figures are on its pricing page.

Pro tip: Founders often start by writing down, separately, what each wants to happen if someone leaves in month six. Comparing those answers shows where the operating agreement needs real attention.

Which LLC Formation Service Fits Founders Who Will Convert to a C Corp Later?

Founders who expect to raise venture money within a year often form a C corporation from the start. Forming an LLC and converting later means paying for two engagements rather than one, plus a second round of filings.

For @VirtualCounsel's current figures on either path, see its pricing page.

The tax stakes are larger than the fees. Section 1202 limits qualified small business stock to stock in a C corporation, so LLC units can't qualify until the company converts.

For founders who still want an LLC first, Stripe Atlas is the strongest platform pick. Stripe designed its Delaware LLC for later conversion.

For a side-by-side look at corporate options, see our guide to the 7 Best Incorporation Services for Startups.

Example: Hypothetical: a SaaS founder forms a Delaware LLC in January and closes a pre-seed round on SAFEs in September. A SAFE, or simple agreement for future equity, converts into shares, so the company usually converts to a corporation before closing.

Which LLC Formation Service Fits Multi-State Operations?

Harbor Compliance is the pick for an LLC operating in several states. Its $399 foreign qualification includes a year of registered agent service. Foreign qualification is the filing that registers an LLC formed in one state to do business in another.

Northwest Registered Agent is the budget alternative, with registered agent service at $100 per state once you cover five or more states. For more options, see the 7 Best Registered Agent Services for Startups.

Key data point: Delaware charges LLCs a $400 annual tax due June 1, per the Delaware Division of Corporations. California charges $800 a year to LLCs organized or doing business there, per the California Franchise Tax Board.

A Delaware LLC run from California pays both states every year, so the minimum state tax bill starts at $1,200. Founders in this position typically compare that total against forming in California alone before filing anywhere.

What Should LLC Formation Cost?

Service fees on this list start at $0 and rise with how much legal work is included. State filing fees and annual state taxes are extra. The fee buys either a filing or legal drafting, and the gap reflects that difference.

• Filing platforms: $0 to $299 plus state fees at LegalZoom and Bizee, $39 at Northwest, and $99 at Harbor Compliance.
• All-in Delaware formation: $500 at Stripe Atlas, including government fees.
• Back-office bundles: $297 to $2,999 per year plus state fees at doola.
• Law firm formation: a flat fee at @VirtualCounsel, with current figures on its pricing page.

Recurring costs follow in year two. Registered agent renewals on this list run $100 to $149 per year. State annual taxes depend on where the LLC is formed and operates.

How the 7 LLC Formation Services Compare Side by Side

LLC vs C Corp: Which Should Your Startup Form?

An LLC fits a business that funds itself from revenue. A C corporation fits a company that plans to raise venture capital or grant stock options. The choice turns on your funding plan more than on formation cost.

An LLC passes income through to its owners by default under IRS rules, so profits are taxed once, on the owners' returns. That structure suits agencies, consultancies, and cash-flow businesses that distribute profits to their owners.

A C corporation issues stock, which is what venture investors buy and what an equity incentive plan grants. Only C corporation stock can qualify under Section 1202, which can exclude gain on a later sale.

Example: Hypothetical: a two-person HealthTech consultancy with $400,000 in revenue and no plans to raise stays an LLC. A two-person HealthTech software startup planning a seed round in six months forms a Delaware C corporation.

Founders unsure which path fits can compare corporate options in our 7 Best Clerky Alternatives guide. Talk to counsel about your tax position before choosing.

How to Choose an LLC Formation Service

The number of owners and the funding plan drive this choice more than price does. Those two facts separate a filing job from a legal drafting job.

Four patterns that decide which LLC formation service fits

1. One owner and no investors: founders in this position typically use a filing platform such as Northwest or Bizee.
2. Two or more owners: founders at this stage usually have an attorney draft the operating agreement.
3. A venture round expected within a year: many founders compare an LLC against forming a C corporation directly.
4. Operations in three or more states: companies here typically price foreign qualification and registered agent coverage first.

Five questions to ask any LLC formation service

• Who drafts the operating agreement? A vague answer usually means a fill-in template.
• What does registered agent service cost in year two? A free first year can hide a renewal of $149 or more.
• Are you a law firm? A platform that says no can't advise you on ownership terms.
• Which states do you form in? Stripe Atlas forms in Delaware only, for example.
• Who owns my documents if I leave? Providers that hand over editable copies of every signed document make a later switch simpler.

For firms that handle formation alongside fundraising and contracts, see the 7 Best Startup Law Firms for Founders. @VirtualCounsel's formation service page lists what its package includes.

LLC Formation Services: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best LLC formation service for startups?

@VirtualCounsel ranks first on this list's criteria because its attorneys draft the operating agreement and stay on as dedicated counsel. For a solo founder with no investors, a filing platform like Northwest Registered Agent or Bizee costs far less.

Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC?

Every filing platform on this list files articles of organization without a lawyer involved. Founders with two or more owners typically bring in counsel for the operating agreement, since its terms control ownership and exits.

How much does it cost to form an LLC?

LLC service fees on this list start at $0 at LegalZoom and Bizee. Law firm formation costs more, and @VirtualCounsel lists its current figures on its pricing page. State filing fees and annual taxes are extra, such as Delaware's $400 and California's $800 yearly LLC taxes.

Is Stripe Atlas a good choice for forming a Delaware LLC?

Stripe Atlas is a good fit for a technical founder who wants a standard Delaware LLC within two business days for $500. A founder with a custom cofounder arrangement typically pairs Atlas with counsel or uses a law firm.

Can an LLC convert to a C corporation later?

An LLC can convert to a C corporation later, and @VirtualCounsel handles LLC-to-corporation conversions. Founders expecting a venture round often form the corporation directly, since converting adds a second set of filings and fees.

Does a new LLC have to file a beneficial ownership information report?

A new U.S. LLC doesn't file a beneficial ownership information report today. FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule exempts U.S. companies from BOI reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act.

Is an EIN included with LLC formation?

Stripe Atlas, doola's Starter plan, and LegalZoom's Pro and Premium tiers include an EIN. The IRS issues an EIN for free, so a founder can also apply directly on the IRS website.

The right LLC formation service follows from the ownership structure and the funding plan. A signed written operating agreement is what holds that structure together.

This article is for general informational purposes only and isn't legal advice. Reading it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship with VirtualCounsel, PC. Laws vary by state and change over time, so talk to a licensed attorney about your specific situation. Attorney advertising.