The short answer
The state's fee is the same on both paths. The Secretary of State's Form 205 instructions list a $300.00 filing fee for the Certificate of Formation, and card payments carry a 2.7% convenience fee on the total, so a $300 filing paid by card comes to $308.10. ZenBusiness does not replace that fee. It charges its own fees on top of it.
ZenBusiness's Starter plan is $0 plus the state fee. Pro is $199 per year and Premium is $299 per year. On every tier, including Premium, registered agent service is a separate $199 per year, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness and $199 per year after that.
Every Texas LLC needs a registered agent. The Secretary of State's registered agent FAQ says an entity cannot serve as its own, and failing to maintain an agent risks involuntary termination. If you have no suitable agent, you will pay someone for this service regardless, and arranging it alongside formation is reasonable. If you already have one, filing yourself costs $300 (plus the card fee if you pay by card) with no recurring service charge.
Two things cost nothing on either path. The IRS issues an EIN for free, and FinCEN states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from federal beneficial ownership reporting.
Texas formation facts at a glance
| Item | Figure or requirement | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation (Form 205) filing fee | $300.00 | Texas Secretary of State, Form 205 instructions |
| Card payment convenience fee | 2.7% of total fees | Texas Secretary of State, Form 205 instructions |
| Online filing | Available through SOSDirect | Texas Secretary of State, Business Formation FAQs |
| Registered agent | Required. An entity may not serve as its own | Texas Secretary of State, Registered Agent FAQs |
| Failing to maintain a registered agent | Risks involuntary termination | Texas Secretary of State, Registered Agent FAQs |
| Assumed name certificate (Form 503) | $25.00 | Texas Secretary of State, Form 503 instructions |
| General business license | Texas has none | Texas Secretary of State, out-of-state entity guidance |
| EIN | $0 from the IRS, after the LLC is formed | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Federal BOI report | US-formed companies are exempt | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information |
The sources used here do not set a formation deadline, so none is listed.
Side by side: filing yourself versus ZenBusiness
State fees and service fees are shown separately so the service cost is visible.
| Option | Service fee | State filing fee | Registered agent | Who prepares and submits Form 205 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File directly with the Secretary of State | None | $300.00, plus 2.7% if paid by card | You arrange your own | You, through SOSDirect |
| ZenBusiness | Starter $0, Pro $199 per year, Premium $299 per year | $300.00 state fee on top of the plan | Separate on every tier: $99 first year, then $199 per year | ZenBusiness |
What filing directly involves
The Secretary of State's Business Formation FAQs confirm that the Certificate of Formation can be filed online through SOSDirect. You complete Form 205, name your registered agent, pay the $300.00 fee, and the state processes it. There is no middleman and no renewal charge from anyone for the filing itself.
The part that trips people up is the registered agent, not the form. Your LLC cannot list itself, and the registered agent FAQ explains who qualifies. If you already have an agent who meets those requirements, the DIY path is simple and the cheapest possible route.
What ZenBusiness adds, and what it costs over time
On Starter, ZenBusiness charges no service fee for the formation, so the first-year formation cost matches filing yourself at $300. The recurring costs come from the paid tiers and the registered agent.
Counting the state fee, plan fee and ZenBusiness's registered agent together, the figures work out as follows. Starter with the agent is $399 in year one, made up of the $300 state fee plus $99 for the agent, then $199 per year. Pro with the agent is $598 in year one, made up of $300 plus $199 plus $99, then $398 per year. Premium with the agent is $698 in year one, made up of $300 plus $299 plus $99, then $498 per year. The state fee is a one-time formation cost in these figures. The plan and agent fees recur.
ZenBusiness's current plan page is the place to judge whether those extras are worth $199 or $299 a year to you. Note that Premium does not include the registered agent.
When filing yourself is the better call
Filing directly is the better choice if you have a qualifying registered agent already in place, you are comfortable working through an online state form, and you would rather not take on a recurring subscription. In that situation, a paid tier adds cost without changing what the state receives. Starter would only save you the effort of completing the form yourself, and SOSDirect is built to be used by owners directly.
When ZenBusiness is the better fit
ZenBusiness suits the owner who has no registered agent and wants the formation and agent set up in one place. Because the agent is required and you will be paying for one anyway, the $99 first-year rate is a practical starting point, with the $199 annual renewal as the real ongoing cost to plan around. It also suits anyone who wants the filing prepared by someone else, and Starter adds no service fee for that.
Costs that are identical on both paths
An EIN is free from the IRS. The IRS advises forming the entity with the state first, and it warns against paying a third party for an EIN. If a package offers to obtain one, you can do it yourself at no cost.
If you will operate under a name other than the LLC's legal name, the assumed name certificate (Form 503) costs $25.00 according to the Secretary of State's Form 503 instructions. The Secretary of State also notes that Texas has no general business license.
How this page makes money
This site earns a commission on some links. That does not change which option this page recommends, and filing directly, which earns us nothing, is recommended here wherever it fits better.
FAQ
What is the Texas Secretary of State LLC filing fee for Form 205?
The Secretary of State's Form 205 instructions list $300.00 for the Certificate of Formation. Paying by card adds a 2.7% convenience fee on the total.
What is the Texas LLC certificate of formation fee on SOSDirect in 2026?
The fee is $300.00, per the Form 205 instructions as of this page's date. SOSDirect is the Secretary of State's online filing system, and card payments carry the 2.7% convenience fee.
What does ZenBusiness charge for LLC formation on Starter, Pro and Premium, and is the $199 registered agent included?
Starter is $0 plus the state fee, Pro is $199 per year and Premium is $299 per year. The registered agent is not included on any tier. It costs $199 per year, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness.
Do I have to pay for an EIN?
No. The IRS issues EINs for free. Form your LLC with the state first, then apply.
Does my Texas LLC need to file a BOI report?
FinCEN states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from federal beneficial ownership reporting.
Sources
- Texas Secretary of State, “Form 205 - Instructions for Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Registered Agent FAQs”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Form 503 - Instructions for Assumed Name Certificate”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Formation of Texas Entities FAQs”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Foreign or Out-of-State Entities”
- 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.