Free planning tool · No signup
CostChoices home →LLC / Business Launch Cost Estimator
Estimate one-time formation, state filing, and first-year ongoing costs, then get ranked picks across ZenBusiness, Bizee, Northwest Registered Agent, and LegalZoom.
- ✓ Conservative / base / upside ranges from documented add-on assumptions
- ✓ Eight editorial scores (1–10) for formation value, RA, compliance, speed, and more
- ✓ Transparent methodology — no live pricing APIs
Assumptions last reviewed: . Not legal or tax advice — always verify live pricing and state rules before you file.
How it works
Three steps — most people finish in under two minutes.
- 1
Describe your launch
Entity type, state, services, budgets, urgency, and priorities — stored locally in your browser.
- 2
See cost ranges
Package + state + expedited + add-ons, plus annual ongoing lines and first-year totals as low / base / high scenarios.
- 3
Compare providers
Ranked picks with strengths, tradeoffs, and comparison tables.
What we optimize for
Editorial scores (1–10) plus your answers drive the ranking — not hype.
Best value bundles
Formation + registered agent + compliance monitoring when you want one stack.
Lowest upfront cost
$0 service fee tiers (pay state fees) for budget-conscious founders.
Privacy & registered agent
Northwest-style registered agent quality and transparent upsell posture.
Trusted legal brand
LegalZoom when brand recognition and attorney-adjacent services matter.
Speed & urgency
Rush and same-day placeholders layered on top of published-style packages.
Providers we compare
- ZenBusiness
Popular bundles that pair LLC formation with registered agent and compliance monitoring — strong for founders who want one dashboard for filings and reminders.
View details → - Bizee
Formerly Incfile — free LLC formation (pay state fees only) on the entry tier, with paid bundles for faster support and compliance add-ons.
View details → - Northwest
Privacy-forward registered agent service with formation at a low service fee that includes the first year of registered agent in common bundles.
View details → - LegalZoom
Household-name legal services brand with broad document libraries and attorney-adjacent upsells — higher pricing and more upsells than specialist filers.
View details →
Built for transparency
- ✓Assumptions are documented — package fees, state defaults, expedited placeholders, and add-ons are defined in code.
- ✓Ranges, not false precision — real secretary-of-state menus and promos change; we show planning bands.
- ✓Transparent estimates — assumptions are documented and editable.
FAQ teaser
What is a registered agent? How do state filing fees work? Are $0 formation offers really free? How do we model expedited filing?
Read the FAQ →