Top 3 Florida Entrepreneur LLC Formation Services

When launching a startup in Florida, your time is extremely valuable. Selecting a service for LLC formation and registered agent services is crucial to save you time and worry. Of course you can do it yourself, see my Step by Step Guide for starting an LLC in Florida here: Step by Step Registration of an LLC in Florida.

However, as a lifelong entrepreneur, I can tell you that the stress-free process that these companies do for you is way worth it. It costs less than any other service you use for your business, and it is the most important to get right and stay compliant!

While all of the LLC service providers offer LLC registration services in Florida, there is a difference in the price, user experience and customer service that sets them apart.

The top 3 online services are:

I know, it can be confusing to choose between them. That’s why I put together this guide! To show you comparisons and help you decide which is best for you.

And yes, I have registered my businesses over the years with 2 of the 3. And I have scoured their websites for information and emailed and called their customer service to get more details.

One thing I can tell you is that all of them are good. Better than trying to register on your own! And the choice really comes down to price and trust.

When I first went to the homepage of each of these, I can tell you that ZenBusiness is the one that drew me in. It seemed to be the next generation LLC service that combines everything your business needs to get started, including banking, web hosting and google credits. This is appealing when you are starting out and don’t want to have multiple services.

However, if you already have other services set up, such as your website or accounting, you will not need an all-in-one type LLC service. And their free started package is not as comprehensive as the other two.

Inc Authority promotes a free LLC registration package that is hard to beat. (Obviously, you still have to pay the state fees). It includes free filing for your EIN, and I can tell you, after paying for that on ZenBusiness, I was a bit annoyed. Inc Authority also offers more freebies plus 24 hour processing. It is the most budget friendly service to get started with the most services included for free.

Northwest Registered Agent, at first glance seems very basic and you may not know where to start, but once you start clicking, they provide really good information to guide you through the steps and understand the service. They also put more focus on the LLC and registered agent services and don’t add alot of other services that will confuse you. And, they boast a #1 Business Services rating on Trust Pilot.

Here is the actual breakdown

Note that this information was obtained in January 2025 and is subject to change at any time. 

ZenBusiness

Founded in 2015, ZenBusiness has helped over 500,000 customers with business formation services. They have an amazing marketing team with Mark Cuban as the spokesperson. So they are really good at bringing clients on board!


They offer a free starter LLC formation package that includes:

  • LLC formation:  Preparation and filing of formation documents.
  • LLC Turnaround Time: 7 to 10 days (other packages offer expediated times)
  • Registered Agent Service: One year of free registered agent service.(renews at $199/year),

ZenBusiness provides a user-friendly platform with clear explanations, though some services may renew at higher annual rates. Tip: you probably do not need the Pro or Premium packages.

ZenBusiness – Starter package $0 to file plus state fees

Overall, Zen Business will draw you in if you are a fan of Shark Tank and Mark Cuban (the spokesperson). They offer marketing add-ons such as google credits and website hosting and really seems to have a great marketing team. Their services are awesome and they will meet your needs, and their site is pretty and easy to navigate, but not all of the services are clearly stated or priced and they are a bit higher than the others for many of the services.

Inc Authority

Operating since 1989, Inc Authority has formed over 130,000 businesses. They have been around since before the internet and while the other 2 came along and seemed to grab the online interest at their start, Inc Authority has become a really good online resource and value for startup entrepreneurs on a budget.

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They offer a free LLC formation service (excluding state fees), which includes:

  • LLC Formation: Preparation and filing of formation documents.
  • LLC Turnaround Time: 24 hours (this is their processing time as they cannot guarantee the state’s processing time)
  • Registered Agent Service: One year of free registered agent service (renewal is not easily found on their website, but customer service responded with $199/year)

While the initial formation service is free, Inc Authority offers additional premium packages with advanced features. Tip: start with the free package and don’t add any other services (unless you really need them) at the start.

Free LLC & Free Tax ID (EIN) – Inc Authority

Overall, Inc Authority offers the most features in their free startup package. Because they have been around and make money through their additional trusted services, they provide a budget friendly option.

Northwest Registered Agent

Established in 1998, Northwest Registered Agent has assisted over 2 million businesses. They offer a startup package for $39 that includes:

  • LLC Formation: Preparation and filing of Articles of Organization.
  • LLC Turnaround Time: Typically same day to process and submit to the state (be available for their call to confirm the details for quicker service)
  • Registered Agent Service: One year of free registered agent service, renewing at $125 annually.

Northwest is renowned for its commitment to privacy, using their address on state filings to protect clients’ personal information.

Direct to Sign up – $39 Filings

Overall, Northwest Registered Agent is a good choice for getting started with a reliable service that specializes in privacy with their registered agent service. And after the first year, it is the most affordable option.

 

Comparison Summary

  • Pricing: Inc Authority and ZenBusiness offer a free formation service, making it cost-effective for budget-conscious entrepreneurs. (yes, you still have to pay state fees!) Northwest has a $39 package but renewals after just one year will save you more than that.
  • Registered Agent Service: All three include one year of registered agent service. Northwest renews at $125/year, ZenBusiness and Inc Authority are $199/year after the first year.
  • Turn-around Time: Inc Authority and Northwest offer a 1 day processing time on their starter/basic packages once you submit all of your infomation and confirm it (does not include state processing time). ZenBusiness only offeres the 1 day processing time for their higher priced packages.
  • Customer Support: Northwest is praised for personalized, expert support. ZenBusiness offers reliable service with clear communication, and Inc Authority provides timely assistance via multiple channels. So yes, all three get equal ranking on customer service because I didn’t have any problem communicating and getting great responses from any of them.
  • Unique Features: Northwest emphasizes privacy protection by using their address on filings. ZenBusiness offers a business website package in their Premium plan and really wants to be the source for your business needs. Inc Authority includes the most freebies on their startup free package, beneficial for budget-friendly new businesses.

 

Choosing the right service depends on your startup’s specific needs:

  • Budget-Friendly: Inc Authority’s free formation service is appealing, but be mindful of potential upsells.
  • Comprehensive Support: Northwest’s all-inclusive package and strong customer service are ideal for those valuing personalized assistance.
  • Additional Features: ZenBusiness’s tiered packages offer flexibility, especially if services like a business website are desired.

Evaluate each provider’s offerings and align them with your business priorities to make an informed decision.

File Yourself with our Step by Step Guide on how to start your LLC in Florida

If none of these seem to fit your needs or you want to do it yourself, be your own registered agent, and manage your filing on your own, follow our guide to get started.

Or if you want to take away some of the stress by having a professional service manage your registration, you can choose to do some things yourself while letting them handle the others. Or you can simply save money by avoiding the upsell and not paying more for the things you do not need.

For example, The State of Florida does not require an Operating Agreement. While it is highly recommended, particularly for businesses getting funding or with more than one person, if you are a solo entity without a partner or financer, it is not necessary.

Also, the certificates and certified copies are not required for most business types in Florida. Banks used to require these to open an account, but in this digital world, they do not need printed copies.

And for filing your annual report, this is quite easy in Florida and only takes a few minutes on the State’s Sunbiz website.

So, yes, you can do it yourself and same money. But if time is money and if worry free saves you on your stress load, I’d recommend simply choosing one of these services and getting it done by professionals who have your back.

 

 

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About the author

Patti Jewel

Patti Jewel, aka Beach Jewel and Florida Jewel, has been a life-long Florida resident, beach lover, mom to 4 amazing children, and someone who sees the glass as both half empty and half full but in either case, always wants to fill it up.