Choosing between doing it yourself and using a service comes down to what your time is worth and how much of the process you want to hold. Filing on your own is often straightforward, but it requires reading state instructions, submitting documents directly, and managing post-formation setup. Using a formation company offloads that labor. DIY is not automatically the smart answer, and a service is not automatically the safe one.

Evaluating commercial options requires looking at recurring costs, because a first-year price without the renewal beside it is not a price. For example, forming through ZenBusiness starts at Starter $0 plus state fee, Pro at $199/yr, or Premium at $299/yr. Registered agent is a separate $199/yr service on every tier, including Premium, though discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with them.

Crucially, certain steps should never cost extra. You must form the entity with the state before applying for an Employer Identification Number. Once formed, an EIN is $0 (free) directly from the Internal Revenue Service, so you should never pay a third party for an EIN. Additionally, under the federal rule effective August 14, 2026, entities created in the United States are exempt from federal Beneficial Ownership Information reporting according to Financial Crimes Enforcement Network guidelines.

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Depending on your situation, explore these guides to weigh your options:

  • Is There Any Real Advantage to a Formation Service Over Doing the LLC Paperwork Yourself?
  • What Do LLC Formation Services Actually Do That You Can't Do Yourself?
  • Is it Easy Enough to Skip ZenBusiness and Form Your LLC on Your Own?
  • What Extra Do You Get with ZenBusiness That You'd Miss Out on by Filing Your LLC Alone?

State Filing Guides

Filing rules and state agency portals vary by location. Select your state to see local requirements and compare direct filing against using a service:

  • Florida: What Extra Help Does a Florida LLC Service Give You That Filing on Sunbiz Yourself Doesn't?
  • Georgia: Filing Your Georgia LLC Directly Yourself vs. Using a Service, What's Actually Different?
  • Michigan: Filing Your Michigan LLC Through LARA Yourself vs. Using a Service, What's the Real Difference?
  • Texas: What's the Difference Between Filing a Texas LLC Yourself and Using a Service?

Making Your Decision

Deciding how to file comes down to balancing your available time against your budget. If you are comfortable following state instructions and managing your filings directly, doing it yourself keeps costs to the statutory state minimums. If you prefer to have an outside service handle paperwork and track filing deadlines, a service offers clear convenience. Review the detailed state and topic guides above to choose the route that best suits your business.

Sources

This article provides general information rather than legal advice, and specific filing requirements vary by state and change over time.