Bizee Hidden Fees: What a $0 LLC Actually Costs

TL;DR: Bizee really does form your LLC for $0 plus the state filing fee, but the extras add up fast: registered agent renews at $149 a year after the free first year, and EIN filing, operating agreement, and compliance add-ons cost extra at checkout. If you want one flat price with no upsell maze, doola Starter at $297/yr covers formation plus EIN and ongoing support in a single package.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Bizee (formerly Incfile) advertises a "$0 LLC" and that part is real. You pay nothing for the formation service itself on the Basic package; you only pay your state's filing fee. The catch is everything around it. Based on official pricing on bizee.com, here is where the money actually goes and when it makes sense to look elsewhere.

What does Bizee actually charge?

Bizee sells three formation packages. The headline $0 figure applies to the Basic tier. The higher tiers bundle extras that are sold separately at checkout on Basic.

Bizee's Premium tier runs $299 plus state fees and adds expedited filing and compliance extras. So the real choice is $0, $199, or $299 before the state takes its cut.

Where are the hidden fees?

None of these are scams. They are standard industry upsells. But if you clicked "$0 LLC" expecting to pay only the state fee, each of these can surprise you.

1. State filing fees are passed straight through

This is the biggest "fee" and it is not Bizee's fault. Every state charges its own LLC filing fee, and Bizee's own site notes it runs roughly $10 to $500 depending on the state. California charges $70 to file plus an $800 annual franchise tax. Texas charges $300. Kentucky charges $40. You pay this no matter which service you use, including doola, so always budget the state fee on top of any package price.

2. Registered agent renews at $149 a year

Bizee includes a free year of registered agent service with a new LLC formation. After that it renews at $149 per year as a standalone service, per bizee.com. That is in line with the industry, but it means your "$0 LLC" costs $149 in year two even if you change nothing. If you only need a registered agent without formation, that same $149/year applies from day one.

3. EIN filing is a paid add-on on Basic

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is free directly from the IRS and takes minutes to get online. Bizee charges a service fee to file it for you on the Basic package; it is bundled free in the $199 Standard tier. If you are comfortable filling out one IRS form yourself, this is pure savings: skip the add-on and apply free at irs.gov.

4. Operating agreement and extras at checkout

The operating agreement, banking resolution, and business document templates are bundled in Standard and Premium but sold as add-ons on Basic. Individually they are small charges, but stacked together at checkout they can approach the price of just buying Standard outright. Rule of thumb: if you need two or more add-ons, upgrade the package instead of buying them one by one.

5. Compliance and annual report reminders

Bizee offers annual report filing and compliance alerts as paid services. The alerts remind you of deadlines; the filing service charges a fee on top of the state fee. These are optional. You can file most annual reports yourself on your Secretary of State website in a few minutes.

What does two years actually cost?

Take a typical state with a $100 filing fee:

State annual fees vary, so treat these as planning figures, not quotes. The pattern is what matters: Bizee wins year one on price, and the gap shrinks every year after.

Who should still use Bizee?

The verdict: Bizee or doola?

If rock-bottom upfront cost is the goal and you will DIY the extras, Bizee Basic at $0 plus state fee is hard to beat. Just go in knowing year two brings a $149 agent renewal and that every checkout add-on erodes the savings.

If you want one flat fee, no upsell screens, and help beyond the filing itself, doola Starter at $297/yr is the cleaner deal. Formation, EIN, and ongoing support in one package with no renewal surprises.

1. Budget the state filing fee ($10-$500) on top of any package.
2. Get your EIN free from the IRS if you have an SSN; pay for help only if you do not.
3. Count the $149/year agent renewal before calling anything "$0".
4. Need two or more add-ons? Upgrade the package instead.
5. Non-US founder or want ongoing compliance? Compare doola's flat $297/yr pricing first.

FAQ

Sources: package and renewal figures from bizee.com pricing and registered agent pages; doola plan prices from doola.com/pricing; state fee range from Bizee's LLC guide; EIN free filing via irs.gov. Prices verified September 2026 and can change.