First LLC Guide › Startup
Best LLC formation service for a new startup (2026)
Mainstay Filing for a simple startup LLC. With several founders the filing is the easy part; what needs attention is the operating agreement, and Mainstay Filing charges nothing extra for one.
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.
Delaware or your home state?
Delaware’s filing fee is $110; its Annual LLC Tax is $400 a year. If you operate in another state you may also have to register there, which adds a second fee and agent; check that state’s rules. Compare both in the table.
| Service | Delaware | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $1,507 | $672 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $1,199 | $364 |
| ZenBusiness | $1,407 | $572 |
| Bizee | $1,208 | $373 |
| LegalZoom | $1,657 | $822 |
Splitting the bill
Over three years in Delaware, Mainstay Filing totals $1,507: $754 each for two founders, $502 for three. That is the whole Mainstay Filing budget apart from any lawyer you hire for the agreement.
What to settle before filing
- Who owns what.
- Who can sign for the company.
- What happens if a founder leaves.
- Who is responsible for the yearly report.
Questions
Best LLC formation service for a new startup?
Mainstay Filing for a simple startup LLC. With several founders the filing is the easy part; what needs attention is the operating agreement, and Mainstay Filing charges nothing extra for one.
Does a startup need a service that prepares an operating agreement?
It needs an agreement; whether a service’s template is enough depends on the deal between founders. With outside investors, use a lawyer.
Not you? The other owner types.