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

After forming 3 LLCs through 3 different services, here are my real receipts and the only option worth paying for.

97%
Wasted
The Problem

The LLC Scam Nobody Talks About

01

The "Free" Filing Trap

$0 filing advertised, then $300+ in "essential" add-ons at checkout.

02

Registered Agent Racket

$149/yr for a service that costs them $2/yr. You can be your own agent for free.

03

The EIN Upsell

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

Real Numbers

What I Actually Paid (Real Receipts)

ServiceAdvertisedYear 1 Actual5-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

Why Northwest Wins

  • Flat $39/yr includes registered agent
  • No upsell checkout gauntlet
  • Free EIN filing included
  • Privacy-first: they use their address
  • 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
Free Path

The DIY Option

Form Your LLC for $0 (Plus State Fee)

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

Too much hassle? Northwest does all of this for $39 — the cost of a medium pizza.

Our Pick
$39/year
vs. $697/yr at LegalZoom
Form Your LLC with Northwest →
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Northwest RA — $39/yr
Get Started →