On your own, you file directly with your Secretary of State and pay only the state fee. Where your state allows it, you can serve as your own registered agent. Once the LLC exists, you apply for an EIN directly with the IRS at no cost. The IRS's EIN page says to form the entity with the state first and warns against paying a third party for an EIN. You can draft your own operating agreement and put your state's report deadlines on a calendar.
ZenBusiness is worth paying for when your time, privacy or follow-through is worth more than the fee. As published on ZenBusiness's LLC page, Starter 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 tier, including Premium. It is discounted to $99 for the first year if you form with ZenBusiness. If you're comfortable with state websites, have an in-state address you don't mind appearing on public records, and will actually track your deadlines, filing yourself costs only what the state charges.
Fees, deadlines and requirements at a glance
State charges and provider charges are listed separately so the service fee is visible.
| Item | Figure or requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EIN from the IRS | $0 (free) | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Paying a third party for an EIN | Not needed; the IRS says never to pay one | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| When to apply for an EIN | After the LLC is formed with the state | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| State formation filing fee | Varies by state; charged by the state, separate from any provider fee | Your Secretary of State's published fee schedule |
| Annual or periodic reports | Deadlines and fees vary by state | Your state's business filing office |
| Federal BOI reporting | US-formed companies are exempt | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 plus state fee | ZenBusiness LLC plans page |
| ZenBusiness Pro | $199 a year | ZenBusiness LLC plans page |
| ZenBusiness Premium | $299 a year | ZenBusiness LLC plans page |
| ZenBusiness registered agent | $99 first year when forming with them, then $199 a year, on every tier | ZenBusiness LLC plans page |
What you can do yourself
Forming the LLC. You submit your state's formation document to the Secretary of State or equivalent office and pay its fee. The SBA's guidance on registering your business walks through this, and most states accept filings online.
Registered agent. Your LLC needs a registered agent to receive legal and official notices. The rules on who can serve vary by state, and in many cases that person can be you. The tradeoff is that the agent's address goes on the public record, and someone has to be reachable there.
Operating agreement. This is an internal document setting out how the LLC is owned and run. Whether your state requires one varies, but you can write your own.
EIN. The IRS issues EINs for free, including through its online application. Form the LLC first, then apply.
Annual reports. Many states require a periodic report to keep the LLC in good standing. Your state's filing office publishes the deadline and the fee.
BOI. FinCEN's current guidance exempts companies created in the United States from federal beneficial ownership reporting, so a domestic LLC has nothing to file there.
What ZenBusiness actually adds
The real value is in three areas. First, time: someone else prepares and submits the state filing. Second, privacy and reliability: its registered agent address stands in for yours and receives official mail. Third, follow-through: reminders and help with ongoing filings, so a missed report doesn't catch you out.
Which extras sit in Pro versus Premium changes from time to time. Compare the current plan list on ZenBusiness's LLC page before choosing a tier.
Doing it yourself vs. a service
| Option | What it handles | What you still handle | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doing it yourself | Nothing is outsourced | State filing, registered agent, operating agreement, EIN, reports | State fees only; EIN $0 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Formation and registered agent service | EIN (free from the IRS) and anything outside its service | $39 formation plus state fee; registered agent $125 a year (as of 2026) |
| ZenBusiness | Formation filing, optional registered agent, plan-dependent extras | EIN if not in your plan, plus reviewing what's filed | Starter $0, Pro $199/yr, Premium $299/yr, plus state fee; agent $99 first year, then $199/yr |
Northwest Registered Agent is here for one reader: someone whose main reason to pay anyone is the registered agent address. As of 2026, Northwest charges $39 plus state fees to form an LLC, and its registered agent service is $125 a year, which it says it hasn't raised in 20 years. Northwest's pricing pages don't say whether the first year of agent service comes with formation, so confirm that at checkout before comparing first-year totals.
This site earns a commission on some provider links. That doesn't change which option we recommend, and it's why the case for filing yourself is made here too.
Who ZenBusiness fits, and who should file alone
The honest cost of ZenBusiness is the plan plus the registered agent, before state fees. Using only the published figures:
- Starter with registered agent: $99 in the first year, then $199 a year.
- Pro with registered agent: $298 in the first year, then $398 a year.
- Premium with registered agent: $398 in the first year, then $498 a year.
State fees come on top of all three, and they are the same whether you file alone or through a provider.
ZenBusiness makes sense if you don't want your home address on the public record, travel or keep irregular hours, or know you'll lose track of report deadlines. For that reader, Starter plus the registered agent covers the parts that are hardest to do well alone, at the lowest recurring cost.
Filing yourself is the better call if you have a stable in-state address you're comfortable listing, can follow a state form, and will set your own reminders. In that case, every service fee above is money spent on convenience you don't need.
Frequently asked questions
What LLC formation services does ZenBusiness offer, like a registered agent, annual reports, an operating agreement and an EIN?
ZenBusiness handles the state formation filing on every plan. It sells registered agent service separately at $99 the first year, then $199 a year. Help with annual reports, operating agreements and EINs depends on the tier, so check the current plan list. Remember that the EIN itself is free from the IRS.
How do I register my LLC with my state, and do I need a registered agent and annual reports?
You file your state's formation document with its business filing office and pay the state fee. You name a registered agent, which can be yourself where your state allows. Many states also require periodic reports. The SBA's guidance covers the process, and your state publishes the specific fees and deadlines.
How do I apply for an EIN for my LLC online from the IRS?
Apply directly through the IRS, including online, for $0. Form the LLC with your state first. The IRS says never to pay a third party for an EIN.
Does my LLC need to file a BOI report?
Not if it was formed in the United States. FinCEN's current guidance exempts US-formed companies from federal BOI reporting.
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"
This is general information, not legal advice, and requirements vary by state and change over time.