FormByStateLLC costs, state by state
What forming an LLC really costs
Most comparisons stop at the filing fee. FormByState counts the filing fee, the recurring state report, any annual state fee, the formation service, and registered agent renewal. You see a first year total and a five year total for every route.
True cost calculator
Choose a state and a route. The table below prices every route in that state with the same toggles, sorted by five year cost.
Employer identification number, or EIN: $0. The Internal Revenue Service issues it free when you apply yourself, so it is the same on every route.
How to read the totals: year one is what you pay when you form the LLC. The five year total is year one plus four more years of the state fees and agent fees that repeat every year. It is a running total for staying in business five years, not a price you pay today. The state bills its fees year by year, so there is no single five year payment and no discount for paying ahead.
| Provider | Plan | Year one total | State fees, year one | Service, year one | Five year total | State fees, five years | Service, five years |
|---|
Service means the plan price, agent cost and any add ons you turned on. Prices were checked on merchant pricing pages on October 25, 2026.
Start with your state
State fees set the floor under every option. The same service can look cheap in one state and costly in another once the state fees land. Pick your state for its formation fee, report rule, agent rule, and deadlines.
Compare formation services by five year cost
A service that looks free in year one can cost more by year five once agent renewal is counted. Our comparison sorts by five year service cost, with state fees left out of this table because the state charges the same amount on every route. The calculator above adds the state fees back in for your state.
| Provider | Plan | Service cost, year one | Registered agent, year one | Five year service total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File it yourself (DIY) | State fees only, Self filing | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | LLC formation | $39 | $0 | $539 |
| Bizee | Basic | $0 | $0 | $596 |
| ZenBusiness | Starter | $0 | $199 | $995 |
| Tailor Brands | Lite | $0 | $199 | $995 |
| LegalZoom | Basic | $0 | $249 | $1,245 |
State fees are the same whichever provider you choose and are counted in the calculator, not in this table. The do it yourself row is zero here because it carries no service charge. If you buy a standalone agent on that route, the calculator adds it. Prices were checked on merchant pricing pages on October 25, 2026.
Guides that walk the whole job
Forming the LLC is the first filing, not the whole job. The guides cover the order of the steps, the agent decision, the operating agreement, the tax ID number, and the reports that keep the company in good standing.
About FormByState
FormByState is an independent cost reference for forming an LLC, built on the five year total cost rather than the first year headline price.
Affiliate Disclosure
FormByState affiliate relationships explained in plain language, including how commissions work and why rankings on this site are never for sale.
Best LLC Formation Services, Ranked by What They Cost Over Five Years
A comparison of LLC formation services ranked by five year cost including registered agent renewal, with state fees treated the same for every route.
Best Registered Agent Services
A comparison of registered agent services ranked by yearly price and privacy, from Northwest at $125 renewal to LegalZoom at $249, plus the free option of acting as your own agent.
Do I Need a Registered Agent?
Every state requires an LLC to name a registered agent. This guide explains what the agent does, who can serve, and when a commercial agent is worth the cost.
How to Start an LLC, Step by Step
A plain step by step guide to forming an LLC, from choosing a state and filing Articles of Organization to getting an EIN and staying in compliance.