According to ZenBusiness's LLC pricing page, the Starter plan is $0 plus the state fee, Pro is $199 a year, and Premium is $299 a year. Registered agent service is a separate $199 a year on every plan, including Premium. It is discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness. That makes Pro with the agent $298 in the first year and $398 a year after that, before any state fees. You pay the state filing fee and any annual report fee whichever route you take, and those amounts vary by state.
Two things cost nothing on either route. The IRS issues an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for free and says never to pay a third party for one. FinCEN also states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from beneficial ownership (BOI) reporting, so there is no federal BOI filing to pay anyone for.
File yourself if you are comfortable with state forms, can meet your state's registered agent rules on your own, and will track your own deadlines. Choose ZenBusiness if you want someone else holding the agent role and the reminders, and the annual fee is a fair trade for your time.
Fees, deadlines and requirements at a glance
| Item | Figure or requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State LLC filing fee | Varies by state; paid on both routes | Your state's Secretary of State fee schedule |
| Annual report fee and deadline | Varies by state; paid on both routes | Your state's Secretary of State |
| Registered agent | Required by the state where you form | U.S. Small Business Administration, Register your business |
| EIN | $0 (free) | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Paying a third party for an EIN | Never necessary; the EIN is free | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| EIN timing | Form the entity with the state first, then apply | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Federal BOI reporting | US-formed companies are exempt | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 plus state fee | ZenBusiness LLC pricing page |
| ZenBusiness Pro | $199/yr plus state fee | ZenBusiness LLC pricing page |
| ZenBusiness Premium | $299/yr plus state fee | ZenBusiness LLC pricing page |
| ZenBusiness registered agent | $99 first year when forming with ZenBusiness, then $199/yr, on every tier | ZenBusiness LLC pricing page |
What filing yourself actually involves
The U.S. Small Business Administration's guidance on registering a business describes the core steps. You register the LLC with the state where you form it, and you name a registered agent who can accept legal documents for the business in that state. In most states you can do this online through the Secretary of State's website, and you pay the state's fee directly.
Once the state approves the filing, you apply for an EIN with the IRS. The IRS says to form the entity first and to apply directly with it, where the EIN is free. After that, your ongoing obligation is whatever your state requires, which often means a periodic report and fee on a state-set schedule. Those amounts and dates vary, so read them from your Secretary of State rather than from a summary.
Each state sets its own rules on who can serve as a registered agent and what that person must provide. If you have a suitable in-state address and are comfortable having it on the public record, you may be able to act as your own. Check your state's rules before you decide.
What ZenBusiness adds, and what it costs
ZenBusiness prepares and submits the state filing for you, and on the paid tiers it adds ongoing features. The exact features on each plan are listed on its pricing page. The service fee is separate from the state fee. Any plan's price is what you pay ZenBusiness, not what you pay the state.
Here is what each tier costs with registered agent service, before state fees:
- Starter plus agent: $99 in the first year, then $199 a year.
- Pro plus agent: $298 in the first year, then $398 a year.
- Premium plus agent: $398 in the first year, then $498 a year.
If you choose not to use ZenBusiness as your agent, you pay only the plan price. You still need to meet your state's agent requirement some other way.
Where filing yourself is the better call
Filing yourself makes sense if you are forming a simple LLC in the state where you live and work. It also makes sense if you have an address you are willing to list as the registered agent and you are organised enough to put your state's report deadline in a calendar. In that case, a service mostly charges you for convenience you may not need. Starting on ZenBusiness's $0 Starter tier removes the plan fee, but it does not remove the $199 yearly agent fee if you use their agent. You are also filling in largely the same information either way.
Where ZenBusiness is the better fit
ZenBusiness fits the reader who wants one account to handle the filing, the registered agent and the reminders. That includes people who would rather not list a home address as the registered agent, people who are short on time, and people who find state portals confusing. If a missed report or an unreceived legal notice would cost you more than a few hundred dollars a year in stress or risk, paying for that coverage is a reasonable decision. Just budget for the renewal price, not only the first-year discount.
Comparing the paths
| Option | What you pay the provider | Registered agent | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing yourself | $0 service fee; state fees only | You meet your state's rules yourself | Simple, single-state LLCs with an in-state address |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Check current pricing as of 2026 | Offered as a service | DIY filers who want only the agent role outsourced |
| ZenBusiness | Starter $0, Pro $199/yr, Premium $299/yr | $99 first year, then $199/yr, on every tier | Owners who want filing, agent and reminders in one place |
A middle path is to file with the state yourself and hire a standalone registered agent. Northwest Registered Agent is one service built around that role. Its prices, as of 2026, change often enough that you should read them on its own site rather than rely on a figure here.
This site earns a commission on some links, including some on this page. That does not change which option we suggest for which situation, and the reasoning for each is written out above.
FAQ
Is ZenBusiness better than filing an LLC myself?
It is better for owners who want the filing, registered agent and reminders handled together and are willing to pay yearly for that. Filing yourself is better if you can meet your state's agent rules and track your own deadlines, because you then pay only the state's fees.
What are ZenBusiness's pricing plans for an LLC?
Starter is $0 plus the state fee, Pro is $199 a year, and Premium is $299 a year, per ZenBusiness's LLC pricing page. All three are charged on top of your state's filing fee.
What does ZenBusiness charge for LLC formation, registered agent and annual reports in 2026?
Formation follows the plan prices above. Registered agent service is a separate $199 a year on every tier, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness. State annual report fees and deadlines vary by state and are paid to the state. Check ZenBusiness's pricing page to see which plans include annual report filing.
How do I register a limited liability company with my state and name a registered agent?
The SBA's guidance says to register with the state where you form the LLC and name a registered agent in that state. Your Secretary of State publishes the form, the fee and the agent requirements. After the state approves the LLC, apply for your free EIN directly with the IRS.
Do I need to file a BOI report for my new LLC?
Not at the federal level if the LLC is formed in the United States, according to FinCEN. New York's LLC Transparency Act applies only to LLCs formed under the law of a foreign country.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
- U.S. Small Business Administration, “Launch your business”
- New York State Department of State, Division of Corporations, “Beneficial Ownership Disclosure”
This is general information, not legal advice, and LLC requirements vary by state and change over time.