Coming up with a business idea is just one part of the business creation process. Forming a business can be a little trickier without the right support, but the best business formation services can take the confusion out of the equation.
Our research team spent four weeks analyzing and comparing business formation services to find the best of the best for different use cases. Out of 13 total brands, we narrowed the options to 10 services that help you navigate the legalities of business formation.
The Top 10 Best Business Formation Services
- LegalZoom — Best overall
- ZenBusiness — Best for business planning and branding
- Bizee — Best for LLC filing
- Northwest Registered Agent — Best for protecting your privacy
- Rocket Lawyer — Best for ongoing legal support
- Inc Authority — Best for managing your business after filing
- MyCompanyWorks — Best for quick business processing
- LegalNature — Best for doing it yourself
- Harbor Compliance — Best for all-around compliance
- BizFilings — Best for entrepreneurs and startups
The Best Business Formation Services Reviews
Our team’s deep dive into business formation services led us to pinpoint the features business owners need and expect from them. Those must-haves allowed us to find the right companies to fit those needs.
Explore the following detailed reviews to learn more about each of our final picks, what they offer, and what type of business needs they fulfill.
LegalZoom – Best Overall
LegalZoom is the best all-around business formation service for entrepreneurs who want a reliable, streamlined, and legally sound start. With over 20 years of experience and millions of businesses formed, LegalZoom makes it simple to set up an LLC, corporation, nonprofit, or partnership in any U.S. state—without the legal headaches.
Its easy-to-use online platform walks you through the entire formation process step by step, making it a great choice whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned business owner. LegalZoom also helps you stay compliant post-formation, offering ongoing services like registered agent representation, annual report filing, and operating agreement templates.
You can even bundle your formation with additional legal support, tax filing help, or attorney consultations—making LegalZoom a one-stop shop for launching and managing your business long-term.
Why LegalZoom Ranks #1
LegalZoom’s biggest advantage is its flexibility. You can start with basic formation for as little as $0 plus state fees, or choose a package that includes expedited processing, EIN registration, and lifetime customer support. Need extra help? Their premium plans come with access to business attorneys for legal advice during and after formation.
What sets LegalZoom apart from other providers is how comprehensive it is. Beyond formation, you get access to tools like tax filing through LZ Tax, trademark registration, business licenses, compliance alerts, and even contract templates. It’s designed to grow with your business and support every stage of your journey.
Pricing is transparent and competitive: LLC formation starts at $0 plus state fees, incorporation services are $149 plus state fees, and additional services like registered agent support, compliance monitoring, and legal help are available as add-ons or bundled in premium tiers.
If you’re looking for the most trusted, full-service platform to start and scale your business, LegalZoom is our top recommendation for 2025.
ZenBusiness – Best for Business Planning and Branding
Forming a business is just the starting point of your company. After that, planning and marketing a business are critical parts of its success. ZenBusiness helps you accomplish all of this.
In addition to ZenBusiness’s guided setup to form your business, you can also access tools like market research, grant searches, and startup cost calculators. Then, work on getting your business out to the world with a domain name, website builder, business email, and more.
Most of these tools are extra costs in addition to your business filing fees, so that’s something to consider when signing up. However, even if you don’t need branding, planning, and marketing tools right now, it could give you some peace of mind to know they’re there when needed.
Additionally, ZenBusiness offers a strong registered agent service, which simplifies the process of being compliant with LLC rules in your state. Our team ranked it second on our list of the best registered agent services. It’s this versatility that makes ZenBusiness such a strong tool for starting and running a business.
What Makes ZenBusiness Great
ZenBusiness is hyper-focused on simplifying the process of starting a business, which explains why it doesn’t expect you to fly solo after filing. Instead, you can utilize its full suite of tools, like business document templates, domain name privacy, and a website builder, whenever your business calls for them.
The company even provides assistance with tax preparation and filing services, accounting and bookkeeping services, and a Money Pro tool to track invoices, payments, and expenses.
ZenBusiness pricing starts at $0, plus your state’s filing fees. Pro and Premium—$199 and $349, respectively—offer faster filing speeds and guided operating agreements. Premium is the best option for business owners wanting a comprehensive solution with a business website, domain registration, and email address included.
Bizee – Best for LLC Filing
It’s tough to beat a free service when you want to form a business. Bizee features a completely free LLC filing service in which you’ll only need to pay your state’s filing fees to have a brand-new business in your hands.
Although LLCs are generally one of the easiest businesses to form, Bizee ensures that there are no snags along the way with its guided setup and stripped-down website. Bizee is such a good tool for this that we named it one of the top LLC services.
Bizee is easy to use and has multiple customization options for forming your LLC. Those who have specialized or advanced needs can feel comfortable using Bizee, as will beginners.
In select packages, LLC business owners will receive a free EIN, a business tax consultation, and an operating agreement along with their filing. All packages also include a free registered agent service for one full year.
Should you need an incorporation service, Bizee allows you to form a C-Corporation, S-Corporation, or nonprofit corporation for free in the entry-level pricing tier. And forming other business types is just as easy as with the LLC, thanks to the step-by-step process.
What Makes Bizee Great
Let’s be clear that Bizee works for nonprofits, C corporations, and S corporations just as well as it does LLCs. However, we appreciate how especially straightforward and affordable it is for LLCs that want a no-fuss way to form their businesses and get consistent help along the way.
Even free filing members get unlimited phone and email support. Although there aren’t weekend support hours available, the support team is highly responsive and helpful. Opt for phone support when you need help immediately.
Bizee is free to start, but you can also choose a Gold plan for $199 or a Platinum plan for $299, plus state filing fees. Gold is an excellent choice for LLC owners who’d like a little extra help from Bizee with a tax consultation, lifetime company alerts, and a business banking account. However, many simple LLCs can likely get by with the free Silver plan.
Northwest Registered Agent – Best for Protecting Your Privacy
As a company that focuses on registered agent services, Northwest Registered Agent has several features in place to protect your privacy. Most importantly, it keeps your business’s information secure, only sharing it when needed. Otherwise, all communications include your registered agent’s contact information.
The company also has a premium mail forwarding service for $20 per month. This service sends your mail to an address other than your business address if you opt for physical forwarding. Alternatively, you may choose a digital service that scans your mail and provides you with digital copies of all your mail.
Business owners who worry about a company selling their data may also find some peace of mind with Northwest Registered Agent. The business formation service’s mission of keeping your “Privacy by Default” includes not selling your data by default rather than requiring you to opt out of data-selling practices.
What Makes Northwest Registered Agent Great
Don’t want to give away your physical office address to all your business contacts? Opt for Northwest Registered Agent’s virtual office service. For $29 per month, you’ll get a digital location with a virtual address and electronic mail scanning with included phone services to keep your real information private.
Business owners can also add a VoIP phone number to their plans starting at $9 per month without opting for the full virtual office service to keep their personal numbers secure.
Northwest Registered Agent charges $100 plus your state’s filing fees for corporation, nonprofit, or LLC filing. You also must include its registered agent services in your plan for $125 annually. If you need only a simple filing, like LLC, without a registered agent, you might find one of the free services on our list a better option.
Rocket Lawyer – Best for Ongoing Legal Support
Rocket Lawyer is a business formation service with a strong legal foundation. The company partners with real law professionals who can answer questions, review legal documents, and provide consultations to help you through various aspects of running your business.
Rocket Lawyer is especially useful when you need help with your legal questions quickly. You can access attorneys via email, phone, or chat, typically receiving answers to your questions in less than a day.
If you want to try to find the answers yourself, Rocket Lawyer has multiple resources and documents to help you understand the topic. There’s even an option for finding advice on regulations and laws that only apply to your state. For all these reasons, our team named Rocket Lawyer as one of the best online legal service options.
Non-members can use most of the site’s legal resources as needed for various prices. However, paying members get free consultations, discounts on on-call attorney services, and one free incorporation filing plus a 25% discount on future filings.
One potential downfall, however, is Rocket Lawyer’s lack of weekend customer service hours. The support team is available during the week from 6 am to 6 pm PT, but not having the ability to get in touch with someone over the weekend can be a drawback for businesses with out-of-the-ordinary hours.
What Makes Rocket Lawyer Great
Rocket Lawyer’s business documents have been reviewed by legal teams and are guaranteed to adhere to legal regulations. You can use the document builder to customize each document easily, ensuring that your business documents also follow the same guidelines.
As you move forward with your business filing and operating, Rocket Lawyer’s law professionals are available to help you navigate your contracts, divide and manage intellectual property, understand employment law, and more. There are no limitations on legal questions with a monthly membership.
With monthly membership costing just $39.99 per month, business owners can affordably access legal guidance from real law professionals. Sign up for an annual subscription to save 50% on the monthly rate. If you’re unsatisfied with your membership for any reason, you can get a full refund within the first 30 days.
Inc Authority – Best for Managing Your Business After Filing
Not only can you form your business for free with Inc Authority if you just need an LLC, but you can also access several business tools and resources to carry out your business duties after filing. Although not all extra tools are free, Inc Authority offers its registered agent services—normally $99 per year—at no cost for your first year.
You can also get business funding, a credit analysis, and digital document storage for free with your $0 LLC filing.
After forming your business and taking advantage of the company’s free offerings, consider whether you could benefit from the paid tools Inc Authority provides for ongoing business management. For instance, you can register a domain and set up web hosting for your business site or get business planning services.
What Makes Inc Authority Great
Filing a business for free can be tempting, but not all companies deliver truly free services. However, Inc Authority does for LLCs, and many LLC operators may find that its free service is all they need.
But for companies wanting more comprehensive operations and management services, one of Inc Authority’s premium bundles could work. They include annual compliance notifications, deluxe record books, operating agreements, and a web domain with up to five email addresses.
The caveat? You’ll need to get a hold of Inc Authority for bundle pricing, as the site doesn’t transparently list prices. Alternatively, you can get started with a free LLC filing and upgrade your plan later as your business needs evolve.
MyCompanyWorks – Best for Quick Business Processing
MyCompanyWorks promises free same-day business filing processing on business days if submitted before 3 pm EST. If you don’t get your filing submitted before the cutoff, it will be processed the next business day.
That’s good news for company owners looking for speedier processing than other companies offer without asking you to pay hefty rush fees. Of course, the time it takes to complete your filing ultimately depends on your state’s filing times, but MyCompanyWorks can shave some time off the total with its quick turnaround.
Note that MyCompanyWorks only handles LLC and corporation filings, so nonprofits will need to use another company that offers nonprofit filing services.
What Makes MyCompanyWorks Great
Speed of filing is the primary factor for MyCompanyWorks being on our list. But we also appreciate the simplicity of navigating its website and setting up an account. An interactive wizard helps you through the filing process, so you don’t have to feel like you’re on your own.
MyCompanyForms, the company’s suite of just about any form you need to run your business properly, is also available for as little as $35 for lifetime access or free with a Premium plan. Company name changes, website setups, and virtual office services are also at your fingertips if you need them.
Basic filing starts at $59 plus state fees. The Entrepreneur plan for $179 includes access to MyCompanyForms, registered agent services, and an EIN. The company’s 90-day guarantee gives 100% of your money back if you’re dissatisfied with your service.
If you sign up for the Complete package, which starts at $259, you’ll get free access to MyCompany Works Premium—a full compliance package. This is normally $99 on its own, so you’re getting a discounted rate by selecting a plan that includes it with the formation service.
LegalNature – Best for Doing It Yourself
When you know what legal forms your business needs to use and don’t need extra guidance from a company or its attorney team, LegalNature is a good option. The company provides various DIY forms that have already been legally reviewed to help you pick what you need, fill them out, and go about your business.
In other words, you won’t get any legal help from LegalNature, but you will get all the forms you need for business formation, HR compliance, and business management at your fingertips. If you do choose to file with LegalNature, a specialist still reviews your forms to check that they’re ready to go.
You also get a support team on your side when needed to answer general questions. Business owners can also customize their plans with add-ons, like EIN registration or a registered agent service, to get the right blend of help and DIY.
What Makes LegalNature Great
Being able to grab legal forms as needed for your business can be helpful for business owners who are well-versed in compliance and business operations. LegalNature’s simple subscription service gives you unlimited access to its legal documents to use whenever you need them.
Then, as and when you do need a little more help, LegalNature can step in with additional services, like filing your articles of dissolution or furnishing a certificate of good standing for your company. LegalNature’s Compliance Guard—a $125-per-year service—is a popular addition that helps you meet annual compliance requirements, like SOS filings and meeting minutes.
Join LegalNature for ongoing documentation for $39 per month or $119 per year. You can also get a free 7-day trial to test the service for yourself and a 30-day money-back guarantee if it doesn’t meet your expectations. Business formation alone costs $49 plus state filing fees.
Harbor Compliance – Best for All-Around Compliance
Companies with complex compliance needs may find it helpful to outsource compliance tasks to a service like Harbor Compliance. The company provides easy-to-use compliance software to keep your business documents organized. However, if you’re not interested in self-service, there are also trained specialists on deck who offer manual assistance.
Harbor Compliance hosts and manages an intricate database of state and federal guidelines to keep businesses using its software compliant. That means that you won’t need to spend time finding the right forms or figuring out your next legal steps because the database keeps track of important dates, form updates, and regulations.
These compliance-focused services are added to Harbor Compliance’s business formation services, giving you a lot of value to carry through the lifecycle of your business. However, these extras are typically more than simple formations, like LLCs, need.
What Makes Harbor Compliance Great
Harbor Compliance’s ComplianceAdviser is another feature that makes it stand out for businesses with intense compliance needs. The package can include compliance audits, annual reports, registered agent services, and more, all customized to the needs of your business.
Even without the ComplianceAdviser package, you can add various services to your plan. For example, a registered agent service starts at $89 per year, depending on your state, which is more affordable than the $100+ many other business formation services charge.
Pricing for business formation services alone starts at $99 plus your state’s filing fees. However, these packages do not include Harbor Compliance’s suite of compliance tools. To get access to that, you’ll need to request a quote for a customized package from Harbor Compliance.
Get started with a free compliance health check to see if Harbor Compliance’s services might be right for you.
BizFilings – Best for Entrepreneurs and Startups
Entrepreneurs and startups without complicated business formation needs may enjoy the extra help BizFilings (a Wolters Kluwer company) provides.
When you form your business with BizFilings, you can use a startup wizard and checklist to ensure that you’ve taken the necessary steps for legal formation and compliance. The guided tools walk you through trademarking, compliance, and licensing requirements.
BizFilings also features an online toolkit for small business owners with resources to help choose the right business structure and meet legal requirements along the way. Additional services, like business plan creation and sales tax registration, can further assist entrepreneurs and startups needing a one-and-done solution.
What Makes BizFilings Great
BizFilings is one of the most comprehensive business formation services, especially for small business owners who don’t yet have a full team of helpers on their side. From registering for payroll taxes to enrolling in payroll services, BizFilings offers an impressive range of affordable services.
There’s also its online compliance tool, BizComply, which stores digital versions of your documents, tracks meetings, and sends alerts to help you stay current with any compliance measures your business should be aware of.
Although the website includes numerous options for self-help as you start and manage your business, the customer service team is available via phone, email, and live chat to help with more nuanced issues.
Business formations with BizFilings start at $99 plus state filing fees and include three months of a registered agent service for free. All plans come with a guarantee that protects your business against filing defects throughout its lifetime.