LLC Register vs. LegalZoom: LLC Formation Service Comparison

What LegalZoom Charges for LLC Formation

LegalZoom's Basic LLC package is $0 plus the state filing fee, as published on its website in October 2026, with Pro at $249 and Premium at $299. Operating agreement and EIN help are included in Pro; in Basic they are add-ons at $99 and $79. LegalZoom bills registered agent service at $249 a year starting in year one, auto-renewing at that same rate, though LegalZoom's own terms say the renewal rate is subject to change.

What LLC Register Charges for LLC Formation

LLC Register's $99-a-year registered agent service includes LLC formation in year one at no separate service fee. The only other charge is the state's own LLC filing fee, which every state charges its own LLC filing fee no matter which service files the paperwork, from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts, and that fee is passed through at cost rather than marked up.

Registered Agent Renewal Pricing

The number worth comparing is the renewal price, since that is what you pay in most years you own the LLC, not the introductory offer. LLC Register renews at $99 a year, the same price as year one. LegalZoom's registered agent service is not included in the Basic package, renewing at $249 a year.

Annual Report and Ongoing Compliance

After formation, most states require an annual or biennial report to keep the LLC in good standing, and the state sets that fee independently of which provider you use. LLC Register includes the filing itself every year at no extra charge. LegalZoom's annual report filing is $99 per filing plus the state fee, or $199 a year as part of a Compliance Filings subscription.

What a Registered Agent Does, and Why the Renewal Price Follows You

A registered agent is a person or company available at a physical address during business hours to receive legal and state notices on the LLC's behalf, and every state requires one for as long as the LLC exists, not just in year one. That is why a registered agent's renewal price, rather than its first-year or bundled price, is the number that actually recurs across the life of the business. A $0 or low formation fee paired with a high registered agent renewal can cost more by year three than a slightly higher formation fee paired with a flat renewal price.

How LLC Register compares

LLC Register's registered agent service is $99 a year, the same price at renewal. LLC formation is included in year one and annual report filing is included every year, while most providers charge $99 to $199 a year extra for annual report filing. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before checkout.

What to Confirm Before You Choose

Before paying for either provider's package, confirm four numbers directly on its current pricing page: the state's own filing fee, the service fee for year one, the registered agent renewal price starting in year two, and whether annual report filing is included in that renewal price or billed separately. Prices change, and a provider's own site is the only place to confirm the current number before you pay. Where a note above says to confirm at checkout, that reflects conflicting figures published on the provider's own pages, not a guess. Reading the full order summary at checkout, rather than only the advertised headline price, is the most reliable way to see all four numbers before you commit to either provider. If you plan to keep the LLC active for several years, multiply each provider's registered agent renewal price by the number of years you expect to own the business, since that total, not the first-year price, is the more complete comparison between LegalZoom and LLC Register.

Compare the Full First Two Years, Not Just Year One

A low or $0 headline price is only a good deal if the renewal price that follows it is still reasonable. Add up what you would actually pay across the first two years with LegalZoom and with LLC Register, rather than comparing only the advertised first-year number, and do the same for year three if you plan to keep the LLC active that long.

State Fees Are the Same No Matter Who Files Them

The state's own LLC filing fee does not change based on which provider submits your paperwork, since it is paid directly to the state's filing agency either way. Checking your state's own Secretary of State fee schedule lets you confirm a provider is passing that fee through at cost rather than adding a markup on top of it.

LegalZoom's Published Numbers Can Shift

LegalZoom bills registered agent service at $249 a year starting in year one, auto-renewing at that same rate, though LegalZoom's own terms say the renewal rate is subject to change.

Why the Gap Can Grow Over Time

A small difference in the registered agent renewal price compounds every year the LLC stays active. Multiplying the renewal price difference by the number of years you expect to keep the business running is a more useful comparison than looking at either provider's first-year price alone, and it is the same arithmetic worth applying to any provider you are considering, not only the two compared here.

What Else the Price Includes

Beyond the formation filing itself, check whether an operating agreement, EIN application help, and organizational minutes are bundled into the price you are comparing or sold as separate add-ons, since two providers advertising a similar headline number can differ in what that number actually buys.

This Is Not Legal or Tax Advice

Which service costs less for your specific LLC depends on your state's own filing fee and how long you plan to keep the business running. Talk to a tax professional before deciding how to structure ongoing compliance costs, especially for a multi-state business.