Business formation services file the paperwork that creates a company, usually a US LLC or Delaware corporation, and then sell the registered agent, annual reports and tax help that follow.
This guide ranks on what the first year really costs, how renewals are priced, whether the supplier is independent, and whether the product fits a founder's actual structure.
Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. Every vendor link is marked the same, whatever the arrangement behind it. How that works.
In short
What business formation services software does
Business formation services register a new company with the state, supply a registered agent and EIN, and file ongoing reports, so founders can incorporate without hiring a lawyer for the paperwork.
The ranking follows five checks. Setup effort comes first, then real cost, then the route for getting data out, then lock-in, then the intended buyer. The ranking then gives places 1 to 3 to challengers outside the best-known brands, if the category has such vendors, and the incumbents follow. Our how we work page explains the choice of these five and why we give no mark out of ten.
Published one-time setup fee; registered agent renews yearly after the first year
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A startup founder abroad who plans to take payments through Stripe.
A buyer who wants an independent supplier or another state.
We list the country the vendor operates from or contracts through. That is not the same as the hosting region, and any difference is spelled out in the entry.
Founder-led filing service formerly called Incfile, with itemised add-ons
Ranked #1 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
Bizee publishes its add-on prices openly: an agent service and a compliance protection plan at yearly rates, plus one-time charges for an EIN and an operating agreement template. That makes the second-year bill predictable before you sign up.
It also lists virtual address, trademark, DBA and dissolution filings. The weak side is that the home page names no software app or integration, and no country is stated beyond a Houston office.
What stands out
Formerly Incfile
Published add-ons
Independent owner
Where it costs you
The formation plan page does not list what separates the three tiers, so the real cost only shows up at checkout.
Registered agent, compliance protection and annual reports renew as yearly add-ons after the first year.
Right for
A US founder who wants a named formation tier and a clear add-on price list.
Wrong for
Founders who need cap table, SAFE or equity paperwork.
Not stated by the vendorPublished one-time formation tiers plus state fees; annual add-on prices listed
Delaware incorporation plus startup legal documents on lifetime or per-use pricing
Ranked #2 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
The lifetime package is the main reason to pick Clerky: one payment covers Delaware incorporation, the first-year registered agent fee and unlimited standard fundraising, hiring and commercial products.
SAFEs and convertible notes are priced per use on the fundraising side, and hiring subscriptions are billed monthly by volume. It is a poor match for anyone who needs formation in a state other than Delaware, because only California and New York foreign qualification are listed.
What stands out
Lifetime package
Startup paperwork
US legal assistant
Where it costs you
It is not a law firm, so questions about structure or tax still need a separate adviser.
The pricing page lists no trial, and foreign qualification for California and New York is an extra charge.
Right for
A startup founder who will keep issuing hires and SAFEs after incorporating.
Wrong for
A sole trader wanting a quick LLC in another state.
United StatesPublished lifetime package or pay-per-use incorporation; subscriptions for hiring and fundraising documents
LLC formation with zero service fee, paid for by upsold services
Ranked #3 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
The core offer is plain: an LLC filed with no service fee, a registered agent for one year, an EIN and 24-hour processing. The page compares itself to two competitors on price, and that figure is the vendor's own claim.
After the first year, nothing in the sources shows what the registered agent costs, so ask for the renewal rate before you file, and price the extras separately.
What stands out
No service fee
Upsold extras
Single LLC package
Where it costs you
Premium services are listed without prices, so the bill for anything beyond the base LLC is unknown.
The page does not state a headquarters or country, only US phone numbers and support.
Right for
A small US founder who wants the cheapest possible LLC filing.
Wrong for
Buyers who need published pricing for every extra.
Not stated by the vendorZero service fee on the LLC package plus state fees; premium services listed without prices
Delaware and Wyoming formation bundle with separate mailroom and accounting tiers
Ranked #4 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
Firstbase treats formation as the loss leader. The Start bundle includes zero filing fees on required documents, and the Agent plan adds registered agent coverage in all fifty states, annual report and beneficial ownership filings for a yearly price per state.
Accounting and tax filing are priced far above that. The sources show no trial and no free plan, so test the bundle first and decide on the rest later.
What stands out
Start bundle
Mailroom tiers
Accounting add-ons
Where it costs you
The entry bundle is much cheaper than the accounting and tax tiers that follow it.
Formation is limited to Delaware or Wyoming, and the bank account comes through partners.
Right for
A foreign founder who wants formation, mail handling and bookkeeping from one supplier.
Wrong for
Anyone who wants formation only, without ongoing tiers.
Not stated by the vendorPublished one-time starter bundle, then monthly and yearly tiers for mail, agent, accounting and tax
US LLC or C Corp formation sold as yearly plans for non-residents
Ranked #5 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
Doola is built around a recurring plan, not a one-time filing. Starter renews yearly, the tax and compliance tier is priced in the thousands per year, and the top Business-in-a-Box tier can be paid monthly.
Higher tiers include a founders fund entry and sales tax registration through a partner. The one trial is 30 days on the bookkeeping tier, and the money-back guarantee only covers formation errors caused by doola.
What stands out
Yearly plans
Bookkeeping trial
Tax and compliance tier
Where it costs you
The pricing page shows two different yearly figures for the bookkeeping tier and says to confirm at checkout.
State fees are paid through doola on every paid plan, on top of the yearly price.
Right for
A non-US founder who wants an LLC, EIN and US address quickly.
Wrong for
A founder who wants a one-off filing with no renewal.
Not stated by the vendorPublished yearly plans plus state fees; one 30-day trial on the bookkeeping tier
Delaware corporation formation bundled with a cap table and a data room
Ranked #6 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
Capbase is closer to equity software than to a filing agent. It generates founder equity and IP contracts, awards restricted stock and options, and updates the cap table when investments close.
Partner perks include payroll, insurance, bookkeeping and banking from named vendors, plus a tax credit discount. The yearly fee covers the startup stage, but the page lists no cheaper tier for businesses that never raise money.
What stands out
Cap table
Data room
SAFE tracking
Where it costs you
The page shows a dollar sign only, so the currency is not named.
No free trial or entry-level filing option is mentioned, so a one-off incorporation is not clearly offered.
Right for
A venture-track startup that needs equity records from day one.
Wrong for
A freelancer who only wants a simple LLC.
Not stated by the vendorPublished yearly startup plan that holds until a priced round; no trial mentioned
Three formation tiers by processing speed, with a document portal
Ranked #7 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
The tier choice here is mostly about speed, so a founder who can wait a week pays only state fees. Higher tiers include a business tax consultation, a compliance trial with an annual report and amendment, and several months of a virtual mailbox.
A legal suite is offered with one or two months included. The mailbox is priced monthly once its included months end, so check that rate before you accept the bundle.
What stands out
Speed-based tiers
Document portal
Legal affiliate
Where it costs you
Faster processing and a custom LLC kit are paid add-ons rather than part of the cheapest tier.
The page states no headquarters or country, and a footer link to another company is not explained.
Right for
A US founder who will pay more for a quicker filing.
Wrong for
Anyone who needs a lawyer for formation advice.
Not stated by the vendorPublished one-time tiers plus state fees; paid express, same-day and mailbox add-ons
Registered agent service at a flat rate in every US state
Ranked #8 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
InCorp's list is wide for a filing firm: LP, LLP and LLLP formation, DBA, apostille, certified copies, BOC-3 and UCC filings, and coverage of all fifty states, DC, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
That breadth suits a business with entities in several places. The cost side is the unknown, because formation inclusions are not on the home page and the fees page is separate.
What stands out
Flat agent rate
Multi-year terms
All US states
Where it costs you
The home page shows a formation starting price with no inclusions, so the real filing cost is unclear.
Multi-year agent savings require paying several years upfront.
Right for
A company that already exists and needs a dependable registered agent.
Wrong for
A founder who wants formation, banking and bookkeeping together.
Not stated by the vendorPublished flat yearly registered agent rate with multi-year discounts; formation from a stated starting price
Four flat-rate incorporation packages that add paperwork and agent service
Ranked #9 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
The package ladder here makes comparison easy: each step adds named documents or services to the one below. The site also offers EIN, benefit corporation, non-profit and professional entity formation, apostilles and eNotary.
It describes itself as a document filing service that cannot give legal or financial advice. Since the copyright line is dated 1997, the firm is old, but the sources do not say who owns it today.
What stands out
Flat packages
Registered agent tier
Business products
Where it costs you
State fees vary widely by state and are always charged on top of the package.
Footer links point to deluxe.com without saying whether it is the owner, so independence cannot be confirmed.
Right for
A small business that wants a package ladder it can compare line by line.
Wrong for
A buyer who needs a clearly independent supplier.
Not stated by the vendorPublished flat-rate packages plus state fees; free startup consultation
Formation packages with free planning tools and optional bookkeeping and web products
Ranked #10 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
ZenBusiness is a retail catalogue around a formation filing. After the zero-fee start come the yearly agent and compliance charges, a bookkeeping product, a domain and a site builder, and a debit card offered through a bank.
This makes sense for a founder who wants one account for everything, but it also means the cheap entry price is only the start of the bill.
What stands out
Zero-fee start
Add-on catalogue
Mobile app
Where it costs you
Package prices for the three formation tiers are not listed on the pricing page.
Monthly bookkeeping and yearly agent and compliance charges build up quickly after formation.
Right for
A first-time founder who wants planning tools and add-ons in one place.
Wrong for
Buyers wanting every package price visible before signing up.
Not stated by the vendorFormation tiers from a zero service fee plus state fees; yearly add-ons and monthly bookkeeping published
Branding platform that also files LLCs, with logos and domain bundled
Ranked #11 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
The tiers differ mostly in branding extras, not in legal work: logos, a domain, a website and Amazon gift cards. It also offers Navi AI guidance, business coaching, funding search, banking through partners, trademark filing and sales tax permits.
Founded in New York in 2014 according to its own FAQ, it still states no headquarters. Treat it as a branding bundle first.
What stands out
Branding bundle
Gift cards
Navi AI guidance
Where it costs you
Formation is a side product of a branding platform, so incorporation depth is thinner than at specialist filers.
Registered agent, EIN and monthly bookkeeping are priced separately from the yearly tiers.
Right for
A founder who also needs a logo, domain and website quickly.
Wrong for
Anyone who wants incorporation specialists or equity tooling.
Not stated by the vendorPublished yearly formation tiers plus state fees; 30-day trial on bookkeeping
Legal membership with documents, attorney questions and optional business registration
Ranked #12 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
Think of this as legal cover with a formation feature. The Standard plan has twelve attorney questions, Plus adds thirty-six plus twelve live consultations, and Pro is unlimited.
Trademark services start at a stated fee, and legal advice sessions are sold separately by the half hour. Phone support runs on Pacific time on weekdays only. The sources name Rocket Lawyer Incorporated and no country.
What stands out
Membership model
Attorney access
7-day trial
Where it costs you
Paying for a membership only to file one company costs more than a flat formation fee.
EIN and registered agent are limited to the Plus and Pro plans.
Right for
A small business that wants ongoing legal documents and attorney questions.
Wrong for
A founder who wants one cheap incorporation filing.
Not stated by the vendorPublished monthly or yearly memberships after a seven-day trial; add-ons for EIN and agent
Delaware-only company setup bundled with Stripe banking and startup credits
Ranked #13 of 13 in Best Business Formation Services in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
Atlas is the most startup-specific product here, and the one most tied to its owner's other services. The setup fee is a single payment, next-day processing is offered, and applicants can apply from almost anywhere.
The page does not state where Stripe is based, only a copyright line. The banking is provided through a named bank partner, and Stripe says it is not a bank. Atlas fits best when payments are already planned.
What stands out
Delaware only
Stripe credits
Treasury account
Where it costs you
Formation is possible only in Delaware, which excludes founders who need another state.
The product credit and Treasury bonus tie the offer to using other Stripe services.
Right for
A startup founder abroad who plans to take payments through Stripe.
Wrong for
A buyer who wants an independent supplier or another state.
Not stated by the vendorPublished one-time setup fee; registered agent renews yearly after the first year
How to choose business formation services software
Business formation services register a new company with the state, supply a registered agent and EIN, and file ongoing reports, so founders can incorporate without hiring a lawyer for the paperwork. Rather than compare features, settle the following points one after another.
01
Start with pricing transparency
The split is 12 published against 1 quoted. If you want to compare numbers first, start with Bizee, Clerky, Firstbase, Doola, Capbase, Swyft Filings, InCorp, MyCorporation, ZenBusiness, Tailor Brands, Rocket Lawyer, Stripe Atlas.
02
Weigh the vendor's home jurisdiction
The 13 companies behind this list are established in 2 countries, by region Elsewhere 12, North America 1. Disclosure obligations attach to the company, so they travel with the vendor even when the servers stay at home.
How to compare business formation services on the first-year bill
The headline price in this market is rarely what a founder pays. Bizee, Swyft Filings and Inc Authority advertise a formation tier at a zero service fee, but state fees are charged on top, and MyCorporation puts state fees at anywhere from forty dollars to over five hundred.
Registered agent service is often included for twelve months only, then renews: Bizee lists it as a yearly add-on, while InCorp holds a flat rate with no renewal increase. Add the EIN, operating agreement and annual report charges before comparing. A bundle that looks pricier, such as Clerky's lifetime package, may cost less over three years than a cheap filing plus yearly extras.
Ask for the second-year price of the registered agent
Add state fees, EIN and operating agreement to every quote
Compare the three-year total, not the entry price
Which structure and state a business formation service supports
Not every provider can form every entity. Stripe Atlas and Capbase are built around Delaware, and Clerky is also Delaware-led, with California and New York foreign qualification priced separately. Firstbase offers Delaware or Wyoming, while InCorp lists coverage of all fifty states plus DC, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
A founder planning venture funding usually wants a Delaware C corporation with founder share and 83(b) paperwork, which Atlas, Clerky and Capbase describe. A sole operator forming an LLC for a local shop needs the state where they work, and a Delaware filing may add a second registration. Check the entity type and state before comparing prices.
Confirm the entity types and states on the pricing page
Check whether foreign qualification is an extra charge
Match the structure to your funding plans
What extras business formation services sell after incorporation
Formation is the entry point, and the money is made afterwards. ZenBusiness lists bookkeeping, a domain and a website builder; Tailor Brands bundles logos and gift cards; Doola sells tax and compliance tiers priced in the thousands per year; Firstbase adds mailroom, accounting and tax filing; Rocket Lawyer sells a legal membership with attorney questions.
Some extras are useful, such as a registered agent or annual report filing, while others duplicate tools you already have. Decide up front which services you will actually use, and avoid bundles that renew automatically for products you never open.
List the extras you will actually use
Check which add-ons renew automatically
Compare the bundle with buying each service alone
How independent a business formation service really is
Some suppliers state who is behind them, others do not. Bizee describes itself as bootstrapped, founder-led and independent, and Inc Authority names Inc Authority, LLC as its legal entity. Swyft Filings says it is an affiliate of a law firm, MyCorporation links to deluxe.com without saying whether Deluxe owns it, and Stripe Atlas shows only a Stripe, LLC copyright line.
Several vendors here state no headquarters or country at all. Clerky, Tailor Brands and Inc Authority each say in their own wording that they are not a law firm. Treat all of them as filing agents, and read what the terms say about errors.
Find the legal entity name in the footer or terms
Check the vendor's own statement on legal advice
Read the guarantee wording for formation errors
What goes wrong most often when buying business formation services software
Choosing the zero-fee tier and forgetting that state fees and a second-year registered agent charge still arrive.
Forming in Delaware by default when the business operates elsewhere and will also need a local registration.
Buying a legal membership such as Rocket Lawyer when a single flat filing would do.
Accepting an auto-renewing bundle without checking what Capbase, Doola or Firstbase charge in year two.
07
Frequently asked questions
6 answers
What is the best business formation services in 2026?
First of 13 on this page is Bizee. Bizee is the former Incfile and describes itself as bootstrapped, founder-led and independently owned, so no investor or acquirer sits behind the filing.
Formation tiers are one-time payments plus state fees, and every package includes a first year of registered agent service. The catch is renewal: the agent, compliance cover and annual reports are separate yearly charges, and the plan page does not itemise what each tier contains.
Which business formation services tools publish their pricing?
The ones that do, with the model each states:
Bizee: Published one-time formation tiers plus state fees; annual add-on prices listed.
Clerky: Published lifetime package or pay-per-use incorporation; subscriptions for hiring and fundraising documents.
Firstbase: Published one-time starter bundle, then monthly and yearly tiers for mail, agent, accounting and tax.
Doola: Published yearly plans plus state fees; one 30-day trial on the bookkeeping tier.
Capbase: Published yearly startup plan that holds until a priced round; no trial mentioned.
Swyft Filings: Published one-time tiers plus state fees; paid express, same-day and mailbox add-ons.
InCorp: Published flat yearly registered agent rate with multi-year discounts; formation from a stated starting price.
MyCorporation: Published flat-rate packages plus state fees; free startup consultation.
ZenBusiness: Formation tiers from a zero service fee plus state fees; yearly add-ons and monthly bookkeeping published.
Tailor Brands: Published yearly formation tiers plus state fees; 30-day trial on bookkeeping.
Rocket Lawyer: Published monthly or yearly memberships after a seven-day trial; add-ons for EIN and agent.
Stripe Atlas: Published one-time setup fee; registered agent renews yearly after the first year.
The remaining 1 sell by quote.
Is there a free business formation services tool?
ZenBusiness have a free plan or free self-hosted edition.
Where are these business formation services vendors established?
The headquarters are spread over 2 countries and 2 regions, Elsewhere 12, North America 1:
Bizee: Not stated by the vendor.
Clerky: United States.
Inc Authority: Not stated by the vendor.
Firstbase: Not stated by the vendor.
Doola: Not stated by the vendor.
Capbase: Not stated by the vendor.
Swyft Filings: Not stated by the vendor.
InCorp: Not stated by the vendor.
MyCorporation: Not stated by the vendor.
ZenBusiness: Not stated by the vendor.
Tailor Brands: Not stated by the vendor.
Rocket Lawyer: Not stated by the vendor.
Stripe Atlas: Not stated by the vendor.
What should you use instead of Bizee?
The next in line are Clerky, aimed at a startup founder who will keep issuing hires and SAFEs after incorporating., and Inc Authority, aimed at a small US founder who wants the cheapest possible LLC filing..
Who should not buy Bizee?
Founders who need cap table, SAFE or equity paperwork.. The formation plan page does not list what separates the three tiers, so the real cost only shows up at checkout..
If a business formation services product of yours deserves a place among these 13, say what it is and who it serves. Inclusion rests with us alone. See software advice for the rules.
