First LLC Guide › Online business
Best LLC formation service for a small online business (2026)
Mainstay Filing. An online business needs two addresses that look alike and are not: the registered agent address on the public record, and a mailing address that banks and payment processors will accept. Mainstay Filing supplies the first and says plainly it cannot stand in for the second.
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 address problem
The registered agent address receives legal papers. It is not a business mailing address, so it cannot be used for bank verification. Plan the mailing address separately; Mainstay Filing does not offer mail forwarding or a virtual office.
What you pay
| Service | Montana | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $672 | $1,507 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $364 | $1,199 |
| ZenBusiness | $572 | $1,407 |
| Bizee | $373 | $1,208 |
| LegalZoom | $822 | $1,657 |
Online sellers who register in more than one state add that state’s fee and agent; the table is for one.
Paperwork a storefront creates
- An EIN, for the payment processor. Free from the IRS; Mainstay Filing applies for it as part of formation.
- An operating agreement, even for one owner; no upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
- The annual report, filed for you by Mainstay Filing where the state requires one.
Questions
Best LLC formation service for a small online business?
Mainstay Filing. An online business needs two addresses that look alike and are not: the registered agent address on the public record, and a mailing address that banks and payment processors will accept. Mainstay Filing supplies the first and says plainly it cannot stand in for the second.
Can I use the registered agent address for my website and invoices?
You can print it, but a bank or payment processor will ask for a real business mailing address, which the agent address is not.
Not you? The other owner types.