5 Bizee Alternatives for LLC Formation (2026 Pricing Compared)

2026-08-17 · by Aura Editorial · llc-formation bizee alternatives doola zenbusiness northwest legalzoom firstbase

Last updated: 2026-08-17

The short version

TL;DR: Bizee gets you in the door at $0 + state fee, but the real cost shows up fast: registered agent renews around $119/year, there is no bookkeeping, no EIN help on the free tier, and no US address for non-US founders. If you want formation bundled with the stuff Bizee sells separately, doola Starter at $297/year covers the LLC filing, EIN, a US business address, and a registered agent in one annual price. For the cheapest possible bare-bones filing, ZenBusiness also starts at $0 + state fees. See doola pricing.

Bar chart comparing first-year service fees for doola, Bizee, ZenBusiness, Northwest, and LegalZoom — First-year formation service fee by provider (state filing fees added separately). All prices from official vendor pages, August 2026.

Why are people leaving Bizee?

Bizee (formerly Incfile) built its reputation on one thing: form your LLC for $0 plus the state filing fee. That headline number is real for the Silver plan. But the add-ons stack up fast. Registered agent service is free the first year, then roughly $119 annually. EIN filing assistance costs extra. Operating agreement templates are a separate purchase. There is no bookkeeping or tax filing bundled into any tier, and non-US founders get no help with a US business address or banking setup.

Bizee's site also makes exact pricing hard to see without starting checkout - the Gold and Platinum tiers exist but are not always displayed up front. If you want a better bundle, a cheaper filing, or a service that supports non-US founders, here are five alternatives worth comparing.

How do Bizee alternatives compare on price?

Service	Formation fee	Registered agent	Best for
doola	$297/yr (Starter)	Included	All-in-one setup, non-US founders
ZenBusiness	$0 + state fee (Starter)	$199/yr add-on	Budget-first, compliance tools
Northwest	~$39 + state fee	Included year one	Privacy, no-upsell approach
LegalZoom	$0-$299 + state fee	$249/yr add-on	Attorney network access
Firstbase	Start plan (varies by state)	From $299/yr	Non-US founders, C-Corps

doola - the best all-in-one Bizee alternative

When to pick: You want formation plus the ongoing back-office in one annual price - EIN, US address, registered agent, and optional bookkeeping. Especially strong for non-US founders.

Avoid if: You only need a bare-bones filing at the lowest one-time cost.

Cost: Starter $297/yr, Bookkeeping $300/yr, Tax & Compliance $1,999/yr, Business-in-a-Box $2,999/yr. All billed annually; state filing fees extra. See doola plans.

doola bundles formation, EIN, a US business address, and registered agent into a single Starter plan at $297/year - the stuff Bizee sells separately or does not offer. LLC filing is typically completed in 1-2 business days. For founders outside the US, doola connects you with Mercury for US banking (you need a passport or US ID, but not citizenship).

The higher tiers add bookkeeping ($300/yr), federal and state tax filing ($1,999/yr), and a Business-in-a-Box with monthly financials and estimated quarterly taxes ($2,999/yr). As of August 2026, doola's Formation API also powers native LLC formation for Whop's global platform - a signal the infrastructure is growing beyond direct-to-consumer.

ZenBusiness - cheapest entry with compliance tools

When to pick: You want the lowest possible first-year spend and plan to add services like annual-report filing or registered agent separately as needed.

Avoid if: You want a single inclusive rate with bookkeeping and tax filing from day one, or you are a non-US founder who needs cross-border setup help.

Cost: Starter $0 + state fees, Pro $199, Premium $399 (all annual). Registered agent $199/yr. Operating agreement template $99. See ZenBusiness pricing.

ZenBusiness matches Bizee on the $0 entry price but adds a few things Bizee does not: Velo AI guidance (free on all tiers), a Worry-Free Compliance add-on that handles annual reports (free first year, then $199/yr), and a Pro tier with 1-day processing versus Starter's 7-10 business days. Registered agent is a separate purchase at $199/year unless you go Premium.

For a US-based founder who wants the cheapest filing and is comfortable buying add-ons one at a time, ZenBusiness is the leanest option.

Northwest Registered Agent - privacy-first, no upsells

When to pick: You value a real registered agent with physical street addresses (not PO boxes), care about privacy, and want minimal upselling at checkout.

Avoid if: You need bookkeeping, tax filing, or US bank account setup bundled in - that is not Northwest's focus.

Cost: Around $39 + state fee for formation, includes registered agent for the first year. Pricing was not fully re-verifyable on their site at the time of writing (Cloudflare blocks automated reads), so confirm on checkout. See Northwest's site.

Northwest's brand is built around being the registered agent that does not sell your data. Real street addresses, not PO boxes. Your personal address stays off public filings. The formation fee is roughly $39 plus your state fee, and the registered agent is included for the first year.

The tradeoff: you are buying a registered agent that also does formation, not a formation platform with a registered agent bolted on. If you need bookkeeping or tax work, you are going elsewhere.

LegalZoom - attorney network, subscription-heavy

When to pick: You specifically want attorney access for legal questions and do not mind paying for it through recurring subscriptions.

Avoid if: You want transparent all-in-one pricing and plan to skip the add-ons - the real cost lands above the headline once registered agent and attorney plan are factored in.

Cost: Basic $0 + state fees, Pro $249, Premium $299. Registered agent $249/yr. Attorney plan $49/month after 30-day trial. See LegalZoom pricing.

LegalZoom is the most recognized name in online formation. The Basic plan genuinely costs $0 in service fees, but it only files the articles. Pro ($249) adds an operating agreement and EIN help. Premium ($299) adds a 30-day trial of the Business Advisory Plan with attorney consultations that renews at $49/month.

The registered agent is a separate $249/year add-on on every tier. State filing fees run $40-$500. Total first-year cost with registered agent lands between $289 and $1,048 depending on plan and state.

Firstbase - non-US founders, C-Corp focus

When to pick: You are a non-US founder forming a C-Corp (especially Delaware) and want formation plus banking, mail, and compliance in one platform.

Avoid if: You want a simple LLC at the lowest possible cost - Firstbase is priced higher and skews toward startups raising funding.

Cost: Start plan varies by state. One bundle $199/mo billed yearly ($2,388/yr). Registered agent from $299/yr. Mailroom from $35/mo. See Firstbase pricing.

Firstbase focuses on non-US founders incorporating in Delaware or Wyoming. It handles formation, expedited EIN setup, post-incorporation legal documents (bylaws, stock purchase agreements), and connects you with banking partners. Registered agent from $299/year, Mailroom from $35/month.

The fit is narrower than doola's: strongest for C-Corps planning to raise venture funding from abroad. For a simple LLC, doola or ZenBusiness will be cheaper and simpler.

Quick recap - which Bizee alternative is right for you?

Want formation plus EIN, US address, registered agent, and optional bookkeeping in one annual price? doola Starter at $297/yr.
Need the absolute cheapest first-year filing and will handle the rest yourself? ZenBusiness or Bizee at $0 + state fees.
Registered agent quality and privacy matter most? Northwest at ~$39 + state fee.
Want attorney access and do not mind subscriptions? LegalZoom Pro or Premium.
Non-US founder incorporating a C-Corp for fundraising? Firstbase.

FAQ

Is doola better than Bizee?

For founders who need more than just a filing, yes. doola Starter at $297/year bundles the LLC formation, EIN, a US business address, and registered agent - the stuff Bizee sells separately or does not offer. If you only need the cheapest possible filing, Bizee or ZenBusiness at $0 + state fees is leaner.

How much does Bizee actually cost for an LLC?

Silver is $0 in service fees plus your state filing fee ($40-$500). Registered agent is free year one, then roughly $119/year. Gold and Platinum exist but exact pricing is not always shown publicly.

Can non-US founders use Bizee?

Bizee does not provide a US business address or banking setup. Non-US founders would need to arrange those separately. doola is designed for this - it includes a US address and connects you with Mercury for banking.

What is the cheapest Bizee alternative?

ZenBusiness Starter also starts at $0 + state fees. Northwest is around $39 + state fee and includes registered agent for the first year. The cheapest option depends on whether you need a registered agent bundled in.

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