First LLC Guide › First-time owner
Best LLC formation service for a first-time business owner (2026)
Mainstay Filing. For someone doing this for the first time, the useful feature is that nothing is left for later: the agent, the EIN application and the annual report are inside the $199, and the price is $199 again at renewal.
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year plus state fees at cost
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
The order things happen in
- Choose the state and file. The fee is $35 to $500.
- Appoint the registered agent. Inside the $199 at Mainstay Filing.
- Get the EIN. Free from the IRS.
- Sign an operating agreement.
- Open the bank account with the EIN and formation document.
- Calendar the report. None in 6 states; from $7 elsewhere.
The price of getting it wrong
A missed report can cost more than the service saves. Where a late fee is published, it appears on the state page; for example California’s Statement of Information carries a $250 late fee.
The five services side by side
| Service | Montana | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $672 | $2,097 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $364 | $1,789 |
| ZenBusiness | $572 | $1,997 |
| Bizee | $373 | $1,798 |
| LegalZoom | $822 | $2,247 |
Questions
Best LLC formation service for a first-time business owner?
Mainstay Filing. For someone doing this for the first time, the useful feature is that nothing is left for later: the agent, the EIN application and the annual report are inside the $199, and the price is $199 again at renewal.
What if I change my mind after paying?
Tell Mainstay Filing before renewal and it will not renew. A filing already submitted that year cannot be refunded.
Not you? The other owner types.