The best incorporation services for startups in 2026 range from a $0 LLC filing to a $819 lifetime package built for venture-backed companies.
Picking the wrong one rarely ruins a business, but it can cost you a few hundred dollars, a few weeks, or a painful restructuring when investors show up.
This guide compares ten popular options on price, speed, and who each one actually fits, so you can match the service to your startup instead of the other way around.
Prices below come from published comparisons checked in 2026, and several providers change their tiers often.
Confirm the final number on the provider's checkout page before you pay. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
First, Decide on Your Structure
Most startup founders land on one of two structures, and the choice narrows your list of services fast.
- Delaware C corporation: The standard for founders who plan to raise venture capital. Investors expect it, and it is the only structure that can qualify for the federal QSBS tax break.
- LLC: Cheaper, simpler, and flexible for bootstrapped companies, agencies, and side businesses.
The QSBS rules matter more this year than they did before. For stock issued after July 4, 2025, the tax exclusion phases in at 50% after three years, 75% after four, and 100% after five.
The per-issuer cap rose to the greater of $15 million or 10 times your basis, and the company's gross asset limit rose from $50 million to $75 million Carta, 2026.
Only a domestic C corporation can issue qualifying stock, so an equity-raising founder who starts as an LLC may need to convert later.
If you work in a licensed profession or plan to run a partnership, you may also wonder about LLC vs. LLP.
The short version is that an LLP is usually limited to certain professions and varies by state, so check your state's rules before you pick it over an LLC.
Quick Comparison Table
| Service | Best for | Starting price (2026) | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rho | Incorporation plus banking | Check provider | C corp, LLC |
| Clerky | VC-backed founders | $427 to $819 | Delaware C corp only |
| Stripe Atlas | Fast setup, global founders | $500 | Delaware C corp or LLC |
| Firstbase | International founders | Check provider | C corp, LLC |
| Doola | Non-US founders, ongoing compliance | Check provider | LLC, C corp |
| LegalZoom | Optional attorney access | $0 tier plus state fees | LLC, corp, more |
| ZenBusiness | Budget LLCs with simple tools | $0 plus state fees | LLC, corp |
| Bizee (formerly Incfile) | Tightest budgets | $0 plus state fees | LLC, corp |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Privacy and personal support | $39 plus state fees | LLC, corp |
| Tailor Brands | Branding bundled with an LLC | $0 plus state fees | LLC |
1. Rho: Best for Incorporation and Banking in One Place
Rho pairs formation with attorney review and business banking, which saves founders from juggling a formation service, a bank, and a lawyer separately.
Rho's own comparison names it the best pick for founders who want incorporation, attorney review, and banking in one place, with a fully refundable deposit Rho, 2026.
Good fit if: you are forming a Delaware C corp and want your bank account ready on day one. Watch out for: Rho is a company that sells these services, so compare its claims against independent reviews.
2. Clerky: Best for VC-Backed Founders
Clerky focuses on Delaware C corporations and the legal paperwork investors expect. A June 2026 review lists two plans:
Pay Per Use at $427 and a Company Lifetime Package at $819, with filing typically done in one to three days.
The same review says roughly half of each Y Combinator batch picks Clerky Flowjam, 2026.
Good fit if: you plan to raise a seed round and issue equity. Watch out for: Clerky forms corporations only, so it cannot set up an LLC.
3. Stripe Atlas: Best for Speed and Stripe Integration
Atlas charges $500 to form a Delaware C corp or LLC, and it works well for international founders who need a US company quickly Rho, 2026.
The tight link to Stripe's payments tools makes it a natural pick for startups that expect to take online payments from day one.
Good fit if: you want a fast, well-known setup and plan to use Stripe. Watch out for: at $500, it costs more than the $0 formation tiers, so make sure you will use the extras.
4. Firstbase: Best for International Founders Who Want a Back Office
Firstbase bundles formation with ongoing compliance, banking access, and related services under one subscription-style model.
Its Loop offering lets users apply for banking, payments, payroll, and accounting in one flow, and the company automates recurring filings so deadlines don't slip StartupSavant, 2026.
Good fit if: you live outside the US and want one vendor to handle the paperwork after formation.
Watch out for: subscription pricing adds up over time, so total the yearly cost before you commit.
5. Doola: Best for Non-US Founders Who Need Ongoing Help
Doola targets founders without a Social Security number. That gap matters because a non-US founder who files for an EIN without one must use a fax-based process that can take four to five weeks, which is why doola builds EIN assistance into its service Rho, 2026.
Good fit if: you are a non-US founder who needs EIN help, bookkeeping, and compliance reminders.
Watch out for: compare its bundle price against a plain formation service if you only need the basics.
6. LegalZoom: Best for Founders Who Want Attorney Access
LegalZoom is the most recognized name here and the only one on this list that sells optional attorney access next to formation.
It also carries the steepest registered agent renewal in one 2026 comparison: $249 a year, roughly double the industry average of about $125 StartupOwl, 2026.
The same source prices a Northwest-equivalent scope at $299 plus that $249 yearly fee.
If you are deciding between a branding-heavy bundle and the household name, see this Tailor Brands vs LegalZoom breakdown before you buy.
Good fit if: you want a brand you recognize and the option to talk to an attorney.
Watch out for: the $0 tier leaves out registered agent service, and renewals cost more than most rivals.
7. ZenBusiness: Best for Simple Setups on a Budget
ZenBusiness advertises LLC formation from $0 plus state fees. Its registered agent service costs $99 the first year and $199 each year after, according to a September 2026 comparison, and its Starter tier takes about seven to ten business days BusinessAnywhere, 2026; Rho, 2026.
The BusinessAnywhere source sells competing services, so read its numbers as a cross-check, not gospel.
Good fit if: you want a clean LLC setup with compliance tools and a low entry price. Watch out for: the cheap headline fee grows once you add a registered agent and expedited filing.
8. Bizee (Formerly Incfile): Best for the Tightest Budgets
Bizee's Basic plan costs $0 plus state fees and includes a free first year of registered agent service. After that year, expect to pay about $119 to $149 annually, depending on the source and state StartupOwl, 2026; VJM Global, 2026.
Good fit if: every dollar counts and you only need a plain LLC. Watch out for: budget tiers skip extras like branding, so plan for add-ons if you need them.
9. Northwest Registered Agent: Best for Privacy and Personal Support
Northwest charges a flat $39 plus your state fee, and it is known for not stuffing the checkout with upsells.
One 2026 review says that flat price covers a year of registered agent service, a business address, a domain, a hosted website, email, and phone service StartupOwl, 2026.
Another comparison notes the $39 package does not clearly state whether the first registered agent year is bundled, so confirm that detail on Northwest's own page Rho, 2026.
Good fit if: you value privacy and want a real person to answer questions.
Watch out for: it has no free tier, and its filing options are less flashy than the venture-focused services.
10. Tailor Brands: Best for Branding Bundled Into Your LLC
Tailor Brands started as an AI logo maker in 2014 and grew into a business setup platform. It lists LLC formation from $0 plus state fees, then folds in a logo maker, website builder, and social post templates.
Formation speed ranges from two to fourteen business days depending on the tier, and its registered agent service costs $199 a year StartupOwl, July 2026.
Its prices are recurring annual charges, not one-time fees like some rivals.
Support is the question most buyers ask next. Before you sign up, read up on Tailor Brands customer service to see what help you can expect after checkout.
Good fit if: you are launching a small LLC and want branding tools in the same dashboard. Watch out for: the $199 registered agent fee and checkout add-ons push the real first-year cost above $0.
How to Choose the Right Service for Your Startup
Match the service to your next 12 months, not just today's checkout total.
- Raising venture money? Pick a C corp specialist like Clerky, Rho, or Stripe Atlas, since investors will ask for a Delaware C corp and clean cap table paperwork.
- Bootstrapping with a small LLC? Compare ZenBusiness, Bizee, Northwest, and Tailor Brands on year-two costs, not year-one promos.
- Founding from outside the US? Prioritize EIN help and compliance support from doola, Firstbase, or Stripe Atlas.
- Facing co-founder disputes or odd equity splits? Skip the online wizard and hire a startup attorney instead.
For a longer decision checklist, this guide to choosing the right LLC formation service walks through the questions worth asking first.
Also look past the sticker price. Registered agent renewals run from about $99 to $249 a year across these services, and they hit your budget every year after the first.
Final Thoughts
There is no single winner, because these services solve different problems. Clerky and Rho suit founders heading toward venture capital. Stripe Atlas, Firstbase, and doola help international founders move fast.
ZenBusiness, Bizee, Northwest, and Tailor Brands keep a simple LLC cheap, while LegalZoom adds optional attorney access at a higher price.
Pick based on your structure and your plans for the next year, then check the current price and renewal terms on the provider's site before you pay.