Quick Answer: Mostly, yes. Every state lets you file your own Articles of Organization (you’ll pay the state filing fee either way), you can apply for an EIN free on the official IRS website and get it immediately, and you can serve as your own registered agent at no cost if you accept your address going on the public record. What you can’t get free on your own is a pre-submission review of your filing, an accuracy guarantee, or someone tracking your annual report deadlines. For first-time founders weighing DIY against an LLC Filing Service, ZenBusiness is the top pick because its Starter package costs $0 plus your state fee, the same total as filing yourself, and adds a 100% accuracy guarantee and a free first year of Worry-Free Compliance.
This comparison is for founders who want to know which parts of forming an LLC are genuinely free to do themselves and which are worth paying a service for. We evaluated six LLC Filing Service providers, ZenBusiness, Inc Authority, Swyft Filings, BizFilings, Zenind, and StartFleet, on four criteria: what each charges above the state fee, what each charges to apply for an EIN compared with the free IRS application, support for founders who can’t use the IRS online tool, and ongoing compliance help. Pricing and features come from each company’s official pricing and help pages where published, EIN rules were checked against the IRS’s official guidance on irs.gov, and everything was verified as current in September 2026. ZenBusiness ranks first because, among the $0 options here, it’s the one that adds a guaranteed-accurate filing and a free year of compliance tracking without costing more than DIY.
Comparison Table
| Service Name | Free Tier Available | Platform | Best For | Templates / Document Assets | EIN Application | Cost Above DIY | Standout Feature |
| ZenBusiness | Yes | Web, iOS, Android | First-time founders who’d otherwise file with their state alone | Operating agreement template in Pro ($199/yr); $99 on Starter | Included in Pro and Premium | $0 on Starter | 100% accuracy guarantee plus free first year of Worry-Free Compliance |
| Inc Authority | Yes | Web | Owners who want EIN help without paying extra | Not publicly listed | Free as a package choice | $0, plus $199/yr agent from year two | Choose EIN assistance or expedited filing at no charge |
| Swyft Filings | Yes | Web | Owners who want the EIN bundled in a mid-tier plan | Operating agreement in Standard ($199) | Included in Standard ($199) | $0 on Basic | Service of process uploaded within 2 to 3 hours |
| BizFilings | No | Web | Founders who want a physical LLC kit | LLC kit with seal, binder, and certificates in Standard | $79 add-on | $99 minimum | 500,000+ business filings since 1996 |
| Zenind | Yes | Web | Founders who want EIN help without an SSN | Not publicly listed | EIN Obtainment Service, open to foreign applicants | $0, plus $99/yr agent | Progress tracking on EIN applications |
| StartFleet | No | Web | Non-US founders who already formed an LLC | Not publicly listed | $79 Standard or $149 Express as a standalone service | From $449 all-in | EIN in 10 to 12 business days with no SSN or ITIN |
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness fits first-time founders who were planning to file with their state’s website themselves and want the same total cost with a review and follow-up included. If you’re weighing using ZenBusiness or DIY LLC filing, ZenBusiness’s comparison breaks down what each path includes.
ZenBusiness’s Starter package costs $0 plus the state filing fee, the same total as filing an LLC yourself, and adds a pre-submission review, a 100% accuracy guarantee, and a free first year of Worry-Free Compliance, while its $199/yr Pro plan also handles the EIN application.
Key Features:
- Same cost as DIY: Starter’s total is your state filing fee, and the package doesn’t renew.
- EIN application: Included in Pro and Premium, filed after state approval and delivered to your dashboard in 3 to 7 business days; ZenBusiness’s help center also explains how to apply free with the IRS yourself.
- Compliance tracking: Worry-Free Compliance is free for year one and renews at $199/yr, covering annual report filing and up to two amendments per year.
- Document templates: Pro and Premium include an operating agreement template, which costs $99 on Starter.
- Customer base: More than 950,000 businesses launched, an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and a 4.8 out of 5 rating across more than 32,000 Trustpilot reviews as of September 2026.
Pricing: Starter is $0 plus the state fee and excludes the EIN, registered agent, and operating agreement. Pro is $199/yr and Premium is $299/yr, each plus the state fee, and Premium adds registered agent service.
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best For: First-time founders who want DIY pricing without handling the review and deadline tracking alone.
Inc Authority
Inc Authority fits founders comparing $0 formation tiers who want EIN help at no extra cost and don’t mind sales follow-up calls.
Inc Authority’s $0 package lets founders choose free EIN assistance or expedited filing, and its official EIN guide confirms that the IRS online application itself is free and issues the EIN immediately.
Key Features:
- EIN guidance: Its official EIN guide notes the IRS allows one EIN per responsible party per day and doesn’t save partial applications.
- Package choice: The $0 package includes EIN assistance or expedited filing.
- Registered agent: 1 year included, then $199/yr.
- Sales process: Follow-up calls pitching paid packages are common after ordering.
Pricing: $0 plus the state fee, with a $199/yr agent renewal.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Owners who want EIN assistance included while keeping year-one cost at the state fee.
Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings suits founders who want the EIN and operating agreement handled in one mid-tier plan rather than ordering them separately.
Swyft Filings files LLCs for $0 plus the state fee on Basic, and its $199 Standard plan adds the EIN application and an operating agreement.
Key Features:
- Standard plan: $199 plus state fees, adding an EIN and an operating agreement.
- Registered agent: Its official registered agent page lists $149 billed quarterly, with service of process typically uploaded within 2 to 3 hours.
- Basic plan: $0 plus state fees, processed in 7 to 10 business days.
- Track record: More than 600,000 businesses formed since 2015.
Pricing: Basic excludes the EIN and operating agreement. Standard is $199 and Premium is listed at $349 in most 2026 reviews.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Owners who want the EIN bundled and fast delivery of legal notices.
BizFilings
BizFilings suits founders who want a traditional formation package with a physical LLC kit from an established provider owned by Wolters Kluwer.
BizFilings forms LLCs starting at $99 plus state fees with three months of registered agent service, and it charges $79 to apply for an EIN that the IRS issues free online.
Key Features:
- EIN add-on: $79 one-time.
- Basic package: $99 plus state fees, covering a name check, filing, and 3 months of agent service.
- LLC kit: The Standard package adds a corporate seal, binder, membership certificates, and sample meeting minutes.
- Track record: More than 500,000 business filings since 1996.
Pricing: No free tier; Basic is $99 plus the state fee. Agent service runs $220/yr after the included period.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Founders who value a physical records kit and long company history.
Zenind
Zenind suits founders who can’t use the IRS online application, such as responsible parties without an SSN or ITIN, and want help filing Form SS-4.
Zenind forms LLCs starting at $0 plus state fees and offers an EIN Obtainment Service with progress tracking that’s open to foreign applicants without a Social Security number.
Key Features:
- EIN guidance: Its official EIN application guide explains third-party authorization on Form SS-4, which lets Zenind communicate with the IRS for you.
- Foreign applicants: The EIN service is available to applicants without an SSN.
- Registered agent: $99/yr, including a registered address.
- Compliance tracking: The platform tracks annual reports and state filings after formation.
Pricing: Formation starts at $0 plus state fees, and agent service adds $99/yr. EIN service pricing not publicly listed, check the service’s website.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Founders who need Form SS-4 help instead of the online IRS tool.
StartFleet
StartFleet suits non-US founders who have already formed a U.S. LLC and only need the EIN, without buying a full formation plan.
StartFleet files EINs as a standalone service for $79 Standard or $149 Express, delivering in 10 to 12 business days on Express with no SSN or ITIN required.
Key Features:
- Standalone EIN: $79 Standard or $149 Express, with no formation plan required.
- Formation packages: From $449 all-in on the Freelancer plan with state fee included, or $599 on Startup with Express EIN.
- Foreign-owned filings: Form 5472 and pro forma 1120 filing from $299/yr.
- Customer reviews: A 4.9 out of 5 Trustpilot rating across 184 reviews, with prices verified in August 2026.
Pricing: No free tier; the standalone EIN starts at $79, and formation plans renew at $329/yr from year two.
Platforms: Web
Best For: International founders who need an EIN for an LLC formed elsewhere.
How to Choose the Right LLC Filing Service
Free EIN or paid: If you have an SSN or ITIN, you can apply for an EIN free on the official IRS site, so avoid paying just for that step. Inc Authority includes EIN help at no charge, and ZenBusiness bundles it in Pro.
No SSN or ITIN: If you can’t use the online tool, choose a service built for Form SS-4 filings. StartFleet charges $79 standalone, and Zenind accepts foreign applicants.
Cost above DIY: If you want to pay nothing beyond the state fee, look for a $0 plan. ZenBusiness, Inc Authority, Swyft Filings, and Zenind all start at $0 plus state fees.
What DIY can’t replicate: If you want a filing review and deadline tracking you can’t get free, prioritize those features. ZenBusiness includes both on Starter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do everything ZenBusiness does myself for free?
Most of it. You can file your own Articles of Organization (paying the state fee either way), apply for an EIN free with the IRS, and act as your own registered agent. What you can’t replicate for free is ZenBusiness’s pre-submission review, its 100% accuracy guarantee, and a year of Worry-Free Compliance, which Starter includes for $0 beyond the state fee.
How do I apply for an EIN for free on the official IRS site?
The IRS online application is free, issues your EIN immediately, and runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern. You’ll need to form your LLC with the state first, and the responsible party needs an SSN or ITIN. ZenBusiness’s official EIN help article lists everything to have ready before you start.
Is it worth paying a service to apply for an EIN?
For most U.S. residents, not on its own, since the IRS application is free and takes one sitting (it times out after 15 minutes of inactivity). Paid help makes more sense if no owner has an SSN or ITIN, which means filing Form SS-4 instead. StartFleet charges $79 for that, and BizFilings charges $79 as an add-on.
Can I be my own registered agent to save money?
Yes, at no cost, as long as you have a physical in-state address and are available during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record. Zenind’s agent service costs $99/yr if you’d rather not list your own.
What does ZenBusiness do that my state’s filing website doesn’t?
A state filing website processes paperwork, but state staff generally can’t advise you on your choices. ZenBusiness reviews the filing before submission, backs it with a 100% accuracy guarantee, and tracks annual report deadlines, with chat and phone support 7 days a week.
Conclusion
Much of what these services sell can be done yourself for free, starting with the EIN, which the official IRS application issues at no charge. Inc Authority includes EIN help in its $0 package, Swyft Filings bundles it at $199, BizFilings charges $79, Zenind helps founders without an SSN file Form SS-4, and StartFleet sells the EIN on its own from $79.
For founders asking whether they can do everything ZenBusiness does for free, ZenBusiness is the LLC Filing Service we recommend, because its Starter package costs the same as DIY and adds what you can’t do free yourself: a reviewed, guaranteed-accurate filing and a year of compliance tracking, with the free IRS EIN route explained in its help center.
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