vs Squarespace
ZenBusiness — best overall
ZenBusiness wins on the metric most founders actually care about: total value across price, included tooling, and ease of use. As of 2026, standalone registered agent service runs $99 for the first year and renews at $199, and it comes bundled into the Premium formation plan rather than billed separately. Coverage spans all 50 states, which matters when an online store crosses sales-tax thresholds in new states or a startup foreign-qualifies ahead of a Pacific Rim launch.
Key features: registered agent in all 50 states with same-day document scanning; Worry-Free Compliance with annual report alerts and filings handled on your behalf; a clean dashboard that ties formation, EIN, and operating agreement together; and a formation Starter plan at $0 plus state fees for founders building up piece by piece.
Best for: tech and e-commerce founders who want formation, registered agent, and ongoing compliance managed from a single, modern platform as they expand across states.
Pricing tier: budget-to-mid. The $99 first-year agent rate is among the lowest of any full-service provider, and bundling it into Premium removes a separate line item.
Low entry price, genuinely integrated compliance tools, an interface that's easy for first-time owners, and well-reviewed, friendly support.
The $199 renewal sits above the cheapest flat-rate competitor, and compliance add-ons can auto-renew, so it's worth tracking what you've enabled.
Northwest Registered Agent — best for privacy and predictability
Northwest is the most credible alternative here and the provider to beat on long-run cost. It charges a flat $125 per year for registered agent service as of 2026, a rate that doesn't climb at renewal, and includes a free first year when you form with them at $39 plus state fees. Its real differentiator is privacy: Northwest doesn't sell customer data to third-party marketers, and it lets you keep your personal address off public filings.
Key features: flat $125/yr agent fee with no tiers; free first-year service with formation; local scanning of documents; and a multi-state volume rate (around $100/yr per state for clients in five or more states) that's unusual in this market.
Best for: founders who prioritize address privacy and want a single, predictable number every year—especially useful for operators managing entities in several states.
Pricing tier: low and flat.
Lowest ongoing renewal of the full-service options, strong privacy posture, real-person U.S. support, and no aggressive upsells at checkout.
Cancellation requires 60 days' notice, and the platform lacks the integrated, dashboard-first compliance experience ZenBusiness offers, so owners who want filings actively managed for them get less hand-holding.
Bizee — best low-cost option for multi-state sellers
Bizee, formerly Incfile, leans hard into affordability. Formation is advertised at $0 plus state fees with a free first year of registered agent service, after which the agent renews at $119 per year as of 2026—the lowest ongoing rate among the brands here. Bizee operates owned offices in all 50 states, which gives e-commerce sellers expanding into new jurisdictions consistent coverage without juggling third parties.
Key features: free first-year registered agent with formation; $119/yr renewal thereafter; owned 50-state office network; and compliance alerts for upcoming deadlines.
Best for: cost-sensitive online sellers and side-business owners who expect to register in multiple states and want the lowest sustainable agent fee.
Pricing tier: lowest ongoing.
Rock-bottom renewal, free first year, and broad in-house coverage.
The checkout pushes add-ons, and the compliance tooling is lighter than ZenBusiness's, so founders who want proactive filing support may outgrow it.
LegalZoom — best for brand recognition and attorney access
LegalZoom is the most recognized name in online legal services, and that reputation is its main draw. Its registered agent service runs roughly $249 per year as of 2026—the highest among the major formation providers—and isn't included in any of its formation plans. What you're paying for is breadth: a deep catalog spanning trademarks, contracts, wills, and on-demand attorney consultations on premium tiers.
Key features: registered agent in all 50 states; access to a large attorney network; a $0 Basic formation plan plus state fees; and a broad suite of legal products beyond formation.
Best for: founders who value a household-name brand and want legal advice and document services under one roof.
Pricing tier: premium.
Strong brand trust, genuine attorney access, and the widest legal-services menu here.
The highest standalone agent fee in this group, no free first year, and a checkout flow known for aggressive upselling.
Rocket Lawyer — best for ongoing legal needs
Rocket Lawyer is built around a legal membership rather than one-off filing, which makes it distinct from the rest of this list. Registered agent service is listed at about $249.99 per year as of 2026, dropping by half for Rocket Legal Plus members, and formation can start at $0 with a membership. The value proposition is continuous access to contracts, document review, and attorney Q&A throughout the year.
Key features: registered agent service with member discounts; a Rocket Legal Plus membership (listed around $239.88/yr) that unlocks free first formations and discounted services; unlimited legal document creation; and attorney consultations.
Best for: owners who need legal documents, compliance help, and advice on a recurring basis—not just a one-time filing.
Pricing tier: subscription-led.
Excellent for ongoing legal work, member pricing softens the agent fee, and the document library is extensive.
The model feels subscription-heavy if you only need an agent, and standalone agent pricing is high without membership.
Tailor Brands — best for founders building a brand alongside the LLC
Tailor Brands started as an AI logo and branding platform and grew into formation, which shapes its appeal. Registered agent service costs $199 per year as of 2026, with no free first year, available on every plan in all 50 states. The reason to choose it isn't the agent service in isolation—it's the bundle of branding, logo, website, and marketing tools sitting next to formation, which can be compelling for a new e-commerce or direct-to-consumer launch.
Key features: registered agent in all 50 states at $199/yr; AI logo and brand-asset generation; website and digital-presence builders; and tiered plans (Lite at $0 plus state fees up through higher-tier subscriptions) that fold in design tools.
Best for: first-time e-commerce founders who want to form the LLC and stand up a brand identity and storefront from one dashboard.
Pricing tier: mid, with branding tools justifying the spend.
Unmatched branding depth in this category, all-in-one launch experience, and responsive live chat.
No free first year on the agent service, slower turnaround than dedicated filers, and renewal/subscription billing that some users find confusing.