ZenBusiness Starter costs $0 on top of the state fee, so formation alone adds nothing. The registered agent (Michigan's term is resident agent) is sold separately on every tier, including Premium. It costs $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness, then $199 a year. Pro is $199 a year and Premium is $299 a year, and neither includes the agent. Pro plus the agent comes to $298 in year one and $398 each year after. Premium plus the agent comes to $398 in year one and $498 each year after.
Filing yourself costs the state filing fee, plus $25.00 due each February 15, according to LARA's guidance on annual statements. An EIN is free from the IRS either way.
DIY saves money every year if two things are true: you have a Michigan street address where you can reliably receive legal papers, and you're comfortable with one yearly deadline. If either isn't true, or you'd rather not list your own address as the agent address on the state record, ZenBusiness Starter plus its registered agent is the lowest-cost way to use the service. The paid tiers are worth it only if you will actually use what they add.
Michigan fees, deadlines and requirements
| Item | Figure or rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of organization filing fee | Not stated on this page. Check LARA's current fee schedule before filing | Michigan LARA |
| Annual statement fee | $25.00 | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements |
| Annual statement due date | February 15 each year after organization | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements |
| First statement for late-year formations | LLCs formed after September 30 skip the next February 15 statement | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements |
| Late penalty | $50.00 if received after February 15 | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements |
| Failure to file | Dissolution, revocation or loss of good standing | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements |
| EIN | $0 from the IRS. Never pay a third party. Form the LLC first | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Federal BOI report | US-formed companies are exempt | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information |
ZenBusiness vs filing yourself: what each option costs
State fees are shown in their own column because the state charges them whichever route you take. This site earns a commission on some links, including ZenBusiness. That does not change what this page recommends.
| Option | Service fee, year one | Service fee, renewal | Registered agent | State fees (paid either way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (file directly with LARA) | $0 | $0 | You act as your own agent, or arrange one yourself | LARA filing fee, plus $25.00 each February 15 |
| ZenBusiness Premium | $299 | $299 a year | Separate: $99 first year, then $199 a year | Same |
| ZenBusiness Pro | $199 | $199 a year | Separate: $99 first year, then $199 a year | Same |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 | $0 | Separate: $99 first year, then $199 a year | Same |
Where filing yourself is the better call
The honest case for DIY is that Michigan asks little of a small LLC once it exists. You file articles of organization with LARA. Then, each year, you file one statement that costs $25.00. The deadline is the same date every year.
If you form after September 30, LARA does not require a statement the following February 15, so your first recurring filing is well over a year away.
If you have a Michigan street address and can act as your own resident agent, no service fee on this page buys you anything the state requires. Over five years, the ZenBusiness registered agent alone costs $895 ($99 plus four years at $199). That is money a DIY filer keeps.
The same applies to the EIN. The IRS issues it for free, and the IRS's own guidance warns against paying a third party for one. Apply after LARA approves your LLC, because the IRS says the entity should be formed with the state first. Whatever a formation service does around the EIN, the IRS charges nothing for it.
Where ZenBusiness earns its fee
The strongest case for ZenBusiness is the registered agent. If you work from home and would rather not use your house as the agent address on the state record, the agent is the part of the service you're really buying. The same goes if you travel and can't reliably receive legal papers, or if you have no Michigan street address at all. For that reader, ZenBusiness Starter plus the agent is a sensible setup. It costs $99 in year one and $199 a year after, with no package fee on top.
The second case is the cost of forgetting. LARA states that failing to file the annual statement can lead to dissolution, revocation or loss of good standing, and that a late filing adds a $50.00 penalty. If you know you won't track a February deadline, paying for help may be worth more than the $25.00 filing itself suggests.
Pro and Premium are harder to justify for a simple Michigan LLC. At $199 and $299 a year, before the agent, they cost several times the state's own recurring charge. Check the inclusions on ZenBusiness's pricing page and buy a paid tier only if you will use the extras.
FAQ
What is the Michigan LLC filing fee with LARA?
LARA charges a fee to file articles of organization. This page does not print the amount, so check LARA's current fee schedule before you file. You pay the same state fee whether you file yourself or through ZenBusiness. The service fee comes on top of it.
What are LARA's fees for Michigan LLC articles of organization and the annual statement?
The articles of organization fee is set by LARA's fee schedule (see above). The annual statement is $25.00. It's due February 15 each year after organization, with a $50.00 late penalty if it's received after that date. LLCs formed after September 30 skip the next February 15 statement.
Can I apply for an EIN online for free from the IRS?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs at no cost and advises against paying a third party for one. Form your LLC with LARA first, then apply.
Does a Michigan LLC need to file a BOI report?
No federal BOI report is required. FinCEN states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from beneficial ownership reporting.
Sources
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, “Annual Reports and Annual Statements”
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
This is general information, not legal advice, and requirements vary by state and change over time.