LLC Decision Guide

Work it down

File your own LLC, or use a service? Six questions settle it

Nobody can tell you whether to file your own LLC without knowing what your situation looks like. What we can do is put the questions in front of you in the order that actually settles it.

The checklist Our Story

The essentials

Begin with these pages

Guide

Working Out Which Path Fits You (2026)

Read the guide Yourself or a service

Is it Worth the Risk of Forming an LLC Yourself Just to Save Money?

Read it Glossary

The Terms That Shape the Decision

Look up a term Yourself or a service

Do You Really Need a Formation Service to Start an LLC?

Read it Yourself or a service

Should You Form Your LLC Yourself or Hire a Formation Service?

Read it Yourself or a service

Should a Solo Founder Use ZenBusiness or Just File the LLC Themselves?

Read it

On the board

Nothing is ticked, and that is the point

Is your home address going on the public record?

This is the registered agent question, and for a lot of people it decides everything else. It can be solved without buying a formation package.

Is there more than one owner?

Multiple members mean an operating agreement that actually has to say something. That is not what a formation service produces.

Is your state one of the awkward ones?

A few states attach a publication requirement, a heavy annual charge, or an extra report.

Will you remember the annual report?

Honestly. The filing happens once; the report happens forever, and missing it is what quietly costs people an entity.

What is an afternoon worth to you?

That is the real size of the DIY route in most states. If the answer is less than the service fee, the list is finished.

Is anything about the business unusual?

Outside investment, a regulated activity, or owners in different states. None of that is what a formation service is built to handle.

No score at the bottom. Three ticks does not mean one route and two ticks the other - some of these questions outweigh the rest on their own.

Worked through in Is it Worth Paying ZenBusiness or Should You Just File Your LLC Yourself?, Is it Worth the Risk of Forming an LLC Yourself Just to Save Money? and Do You Really Need a Formation Service to Start an LLC?.

Read at the source

The numbers, and where they come from

Federal

  • An EIN is free directly from the IRS $0 (free) irs.gov

The page: Is it Worth the Risk of Forming an LLC Yourself Just to Save Money?

California

  • Articles of Organization filing fee $70.00 ca.gov
  • Statement of Information fee $20.00 ca.gov
  • FTB annual LLC tax $800 per year ca.gov

The page: Do You Need a Filing Service for a California LLC or Can You Use bizfile Yourself?

Florida

  • New LLC total filing cost $125.00 ($100 filing + $25 registered agent) fl.gov
  • Annual report fee $138.75 fl.gov
  • Annual report received after May 1 $538.75 (a $400 late penalty) fl.gov

The page: Sunbiz vs. an LLC Filing Service for Florida, Which Should a New Business Owner Pick?

Georgia

  • Articles of Organization fee $110.00 ($100 filing + $10 service charge) ga.gov
  • Annual registration fee $60.00 (online and paper) ga.gov
  • Penalty for late filing of annual registration $25.00 ga.gov

The page: DIY Georgia LLC vs. a Formation Service, Which Should a New Founder Pick?

Michigan

  • Annual statement fee $25.00 michigan.gov
  • Late penalty on the annual statement $50.00 if received after February 15 michigan.gov

The page: DIY Michigan LLC vs. a Formation Service, Which is Better for a New Business?

New York

  • Articles of Organization filing fee $200.00 ny.gov
  • Biennial Statement fee $9.00 ny.gov
  • Annual filing fee on Form IT-204-LL $25 minimum, up to $4,500 by NY source gross income ny.gov

The page: DIY New York LLC vs. a Filing Service, Which is Better for a New Founder?

Texas

  • Certificate of Formation filing fee $300.00 texas.gov
  • Assumed name certificate fee $25.00 state.tx.us

The page: DIY Texas LLC vs. a Formation Service, Which Should You Choose?

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