We compare the same thing everywhere
You tell us what you need (for example a registered agent, an EIN or Form 5472). For each provider we find the cheapest way to cover all of it: a package that already includes it, or a package plus add-ons. Providers bundle things differently, so this is the only fair way to compare them. If a provider does not offer something you need, we say so and list it after the providers that cover everything.
Provider charges first, then your state
State fees are the same whichever provider you choose, so provider pages, the ranking and the home page show what each provider itself charges. Pick your state anywhere on the site to add its fees; we remember your choice only in this browser, and you can change it at any time.
We count every year, not just the first
- The state's formation fee is charged in year 1. Each state charge after that (annual or biennial reports, minimum taxes, business licenses) follows that state's own schedule; some, like California's $800 tax, start in the first year. Biennial schedules assume the LLC is formed this year.
- One-time state requirements, like New York's newspaper publication or Nevada's initial list, are counted in the year they are due. When their price depends on a newspaper or county, they show as not confirmed.
- Recurring charges, like a registered agent that is free for the first year, start when the provider says they start and repeat on their schedule (monthly, quarterly or yearly), including introductory prices.
- Fixed fees a state adds for filing online (for example Washington's $20) are included. Percentage fees for paying by card are not.
Pre-selected extras
Some providers turn on extras by default at checkout. You can see what you would pay if you never untick them with the "Keep pre-selected extras" option. We only count an extra as pre-selected when the provider documents it.
Unconfirmed prices
When no public source confirms a price, we show "Not confirmed" and leave it out of the total. Totals that include an unconfirmed item are a lower bound: the real cost may be higher.
States where a provider does not operate
If a provider does not form LLCs in your state, we show it as not available instead of a price.
How we rank
The ranking orders providers by the three-year cost of an LLC with a registered agent, using the same calculation as the calculator. Without a state it compares what each provider charges, before state fees, and labels providers that only operate in some states or whose price already includes a state's filing fees. When you pick a state, totals include that state's fees and providers that don't operate there move to the end.
Corrections
Prices and rules change, and we can get things wrong. Every page has a "Report an error" link that opens an email to us with the page and section already filled in. We check each report against the official source before changing anything, and when we update a price we also update its verification date.
Where our data comes from
Only public information: providers' own pricing pages, terms and help centers, and official state websites. Every provider page lists its sources and the date we last verified its prices. We aim to re-verify every provider at least every 90 days.