LLC Formation Review

I Spent $1,787 on LLC Services. $1,748 of That Was Wasted.

After forming 3 LLCs through 3 different services, I finally found the only option worth paying for. Here are my real receipts.

$1,787
Total Spent
$1,748
Wasted on Upsells
$39
What It Should Cost
The Problem

The LLC Scam Nobody Talks About

01

The "Free" Filing Trap

They advertise $0 filing then pile on $300+ in "essential" add-ons during checkout. The state fee is the only real cost.

02

The Registered Agent Racket

$149/yr for a service that costs them $2/yr. Most states let you be your own agent for free.

03

The EIN Upsell

They charge $79-$149 for something the IRS gives you for free in 5 minutes online.

Real Numbers

What I Actually Paid (Real Receipts)

Service Advertised Actual Year 1 5-Year Total
LegalZoom $0 + state fee $697 $1,897
ZenBusiness $0 + state fee $449 $1,045
Northwest RA $39 + state fee $39 $195
5-Year Savings with Northwest $1,702
The Verdict

Why Northwest Wins & What It Gets Wrong

Why It Wins

  • +Flat $39/yr includes registered agent
  • +No upsell checkout gauntlet
  • +Free EIN filing included
  • +Privacy-first: they use their address, not yours
  • +Been in business since 1998

What It Gets Wrong

  • –Website looks like it's from 2009
  • –No flashy dashboard or mobile app
  • –Compliance reminders are email-only
  • –No operating agreement templates included
The Free Path

The DIY Option

How to Form Your LLC for $0 (Plus State Fee)

  1. Go to your Secretary of State website
  2. File Articles of Organization ($50-$500 depending on state)
  3. Get your free EIN at irs.gov (takes 5 minutes)
  4. Write your own operating agreement (free templates on Google)
  5. Designate yourself as registered agent (free in most states)

Too much hassle? Northwest does all of this for $39. That's literally the cost of a medium pizza for a year of service.

Our Recommendation
$39/year
vs. $697/yr at LegalZoom for the same thing
Form Your LLC with Northwest →
Affiliate link • We earn a commission • Our honest recommendation
Northwest RA — $39/yr (includes registered agent)
Get Started →