YEAR 1
Year one: formation and starting operations
Service charge + selected state filing fee + any address, EIN-assistance or expedited options + applicable upkeep costs.
COMPANY FORMATION
LLC Costs and Addresses: First-Year Budget and Ongoing Upkeep
A “$0 formation” offer refers to the service charge. Budget separately for state fees, addresses, registered-agent renewals and ongoing upkeep.
Build a two-part budget
YEAR 2+
Later years: renewals and upkeep
Continued registered-agent and address subscriptions + applicable state reports, taxes and accounting/filing costs. Check when introductory services become paid.
For example, Bizee Standard’s $199 is a formation service charge. Check state fees and optional items separately in the order; do not use first-year introductory terms as the second-year budget.
File yourself or use a service?
Direct state filing can suit people willing to prepare paperwork and follow notices themselves. When comparing services, identify the work performed for you and the work you retain. Check current state requirements with either approach.
Read SBA business-registration guidanceThree address roles to distinguish
| Item | Main purpose | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Formation service | Prepares and submits formation paperwork. | State, entity type, service charge and state fee. |
| Registered agent | Receives legal and official documents in the registration state. | In-state physical presence, scope, renewals and replacement process. |
| Virtual mailbox / mailing address | Receives, scans or forwards mail, subject to provider terms. | Company-name support, unit format, packages and forwarding rules. |
| VPS / cloud hosting | Runs websites, applications and remote services. | Region, resources, network and backups. |
The SBA describes a registered agent as the recipient of official and legal documents. Whether a mailing address fits a particular state form or institution depends on that field’s requirements and the service contract.
EIN: distinguish the IRS fee from assistance charges
Applying directly to the IRS is free. The IRS lists international application routes when the principal place of business is outside the US. Select the route for your actual circumstances; a US mailing address alone does not establish online eligibility.
Applicants without an SSN/ITIN should review current IRS SS-4 instructions and ask the filing service how it handles their case. A provider’s EIN charge pays for assistance.
Official IRS EIN guidanceBOI: check current rules and place of formation
FinCEN’s current page states that US-created companies are exempt from BOI reporting. Check the applicable rules separately for entities formed abroad and then registered in the US. Owner nationality alone is not the test, and a BOI filing service is not an automatic purchase for every new LLC.
Current FinCEN BOI rulesAssign ongoing responsibilities before choosing a package
Track state deadlines, agent renewals, address renewals, company-detail changes and applicable tax filings separately. An alert, filing assistance and a completed filing are different service scopes.
This guide provides general information and cost comparisons, not advice on your individual legal or tax position. Confirm entity choice and specific obligations with the relevant state office and qualified professionals.
Review Bizee packages and charges →Sources and review date
Reviewed · Editorial review of public information, not live price monitoring.