What LLC formation packages include

What does every LLC package cover?

Every package covers the filing itself: the provider fills in your Articles of Organization (or the state's version) and sends it to the state.

Plans list that step in different words. LegalZoom lists "State filing (Articles of Organization)," and the wording runs on through BizFilings' "Formation filing" and Bizee's "LLC Filing & State Registration."^{1, 3, 4}

A name check usually comes with it. ZenBusiness lists a "Name availability search" and InCorp a "business name verification." In our records, each of Harbor Compliance's three tiers lists a name check (Name availability check), and the tiers differ in how fast Harbor handles the order, from $99 to $499.^{5, 6, 7}

Where providers mention the state fee, they price it separately. Northwest writes its price as $39 + state fees, Harbor Compliance lists its Expedited Formation price plus the state filing fee, and Rocket Lawyer's memberships include LLC filing on these terms: first one free, then $99 + state fees. The LLC cost guide sets out what states charge.^{7, 8, 9}

Some listed items are referrals or perks, not services. LegalZoom lists a "Personalized business insurance quote from ERGO NEXT" and a "Tax consult from 1-800Accountant" on Basic, and Tailor Brands Essential lists a "$30 Amazon Gift Card." These sit on plan cards next to filings but don't do any work for the LLC, and our method doesn't count them.^{1, 2}

Which services do packages include for good?

A service is included for good when the plan keeps it with no trial end or first-year limit. Operating agreements and EINs top that count.

The table below counts, across every published plan, how often each service is included for good and how often only for a limited time.

They lead because many paid tiers add both, and doola lists both on every plan. The EIN is the business's federal tax ID, and the IRS is clear on price (free; the IRS never charges a fee for an EIN), so a plan that includes it saves you a service fee, not a government fee. ZenBusiness Pro lists an EIN, Swyft Filings Standard "Employer ID Number (EIN)" and Bizee Standard "Federal Tax ID (EIN)." The EIN guide and operating agreement guide cover each document, and the plans with an EIN included list shows where it starts.^{4, 5, 10, 11}

Annual report filing is the item to read closely. Some plans file the report for you; others only remind you. Tailor Brands Essential lists "Annual compliance: mandatory report filing & updates", ZenBusiness says Pro's ongoing filing compliance "covers state-required annual report filings," and doola's Tax and Compliance plan lists "Annual State Report Filing." By contrast, Northwest lists "Annual renewal/report reminders," ZenBusiness Starter lists compliance alerts (Compliance reminders and alerts), and Bizee Standard lists "Lifetime Compliance Alerts." A reminder leaves the filing, and the state fee, to you. Florida's report costs $138.75 and Nevada's $150 either way; the annual report guide lists each state's rules.^{4, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16}

A registered agent for good is rare. Only doola's plans list "Registered Agent Service" with no first-year limit, and those plans renew yearly at rates then in effect, with the renewal price not stated. Everywhere else the agent is a first-year or shorter extra, or a separate purchase.^{14, 17}

Which package items are free only for a limited time?

Registered agents, business addresses and software or advice subscriptions are the usual timed items. Most of them come with a stated price that applies once the free period ends.

Registered agent and business address

• Bizee includes "Registered Agent (1st year included)" on every tier; after that it costs $149/year.^{4, 18}
• Northwest includes its agent free for the first year; the agent renews at $125/yr after year 1. Its business address is tied to the agent service: "We provide a free business address with Registered Agent Service."^{8, 19}
• Inc Authority's Free LLC includes a year of agent service, and then the registered agent auto-renews at $249/yr after year 1.²⁰
• BizFilings includes "3 months free Registered Agent Services" on its Basic, Core and All-Inclusive tiers, with a regular rate of $220/yr.^{3, 21}
• Bizee includes a virtual address for the first month on every tier, then charges $29/month. Swyft Filings lists its business address as Standard 1 month free and Premium 3 months free, then $29/mo.^{22, 23}

The agent trial is the one to plan for. Some states can end an LLC that goes without one. Under Georgia law, "Being without a registered agent or office for 60 days or more is a ground for administrative dissolution," so when a free year runs out you either pay, name another agent or serve yourself. The registered agent guide covers the choice, and the services with an agent included list compares how long each inclusion lasts.²⁴

Software, advice and compliance subscriptions

LegalZoom lists several of these. On Managed Service, the legal forms library and eSignature carry a "30 day subscription included" note, the business advisors are included for 30 days, and the plan's advisor service auto-renews at $49/mo after 30 days. Expert Service adds attorney consultations, tax preparation and bookkeeping on the same footing, and its plan auto-renews at $99/mo after 30 days. LegalZoom's pricing may have changed since our records were gathered; the LegalZoom pricing page shows the tiers as we recorded them.¹

Other providers list their trials item by item. Tailor Brands' bookkeeping trial expires after 30 days, and after it you’ll be charged $39/month unless you cancel. ZenBusiness's website builder is "Included FREE for 30 days" and "Renews at $15/mo," and Starter's optional compliance year renews at $199/yr. Swyft Filings' ComplianceGuard runs on a 14-day free trial and then bills $199/year. Its legal document suite is vaguer: what applies after the free period is not stated. Inc Authority lists a "FREE Custom Website," while its service page says "Your monthly website fee is contract-free" without naming the amount. Bizee Premium adds "FREE 1st Year Business Phone + AI Employee," and Bizee doesn't publish the price after that year.^{2, 4, 5, 13, 23, 25, 26}

Not every timed item bills. Tailor Brands Elite's "1-year free domain" has no stated follow-on charge in our records. The free LLC formation guide follows these trials on the no-fee plans, and cancelling or switching a service covers how to stop one.¹²

What do higher tiers add?

Moving up a tier mostly buys the EIN, the operating agreement and faster handling, and at the top, extras such as a domain, a document library or advice. How much each step adds differs by provider.

LegalZoom lists a similar ladder. Managed Service adds an EIN, an operating agreement, a licenses and permits report and a website, and Expert Service adds attorney and accountant help, much of it for the first month only.

Billing changes along the ladder at some providers. ZenBusiness Pro renews at $199/yr, and both paid Tailor Brands plans bill yearly ($199/yr for Essential). Bizee's and Swyft Filings' paid tiers are one-time fees. The Tailor Brands review and Swyft Filings pricing list each tier item by item.^{5, 12}

What do common add-ons cost outside a package?

Items a plan leaves out can usually be bought on their own, and the add-on price shows what a tier's inclusion is worth. Prices below are each provider's own.

An EIN application costs $49 at Inc Authority and $99 one-time at ZenBusiness, and Tailor Brands offers an EIN filing service with the price not published. An operating agreement costs $89 at Inc Authority, while Northwest lists its operating agreement template as free (Free template). Both documents have their own guides, linked above.^{28, 29, 30, 31, 32}

ZenBusiness prices its website tools separately: Business Website Builder $129/year, Domain Name Registration $25/year and Business Email Address $25/year. It also sells Money Pro Bookkeeping, $30/month. Bizee's contract templates are included in Premium and sold as a +$150 add-on otherwise.^{4, 33}

Annual report filing is the add-on most likely to recur. It costs $89 + state fees at InCorp and $100 + state fees at Northwest per report, and Harbor Compliance charges $199 per state per year plus filing fees.^{34, 35, 36}

State costs stay outside every add-on list too. New York's rule that a new LLC publish a notice in two newspapers chosen by the county clerk for six consecutive weeks isn't covered by any package in our records. The cost calculator adds plan and state costs together.³⁷

How should you compare two packages?

Count only what each plan keeps, price what it leaves out, and check what bills after the first month or year. A long item list can include trials, referrals and reminders that do no filing.

1. Mark each item as kept, trial or referral. Words like "trial", "first year" or "subscription included" mark a timed item.
2. Check whether the annual report is filed for you or only reminded.
3. Add the registered agent cost from the second year, unless you'll serve yourself.
4. Note which plans renew every year and at what price.

Our most complete plans list counts services kept for good on the plan our rating compares for each provider, and how we rate explains which items count. The full plan list shows every tier side by side, and the LLC timeline guide covers what faster tiers buy.