LLC service checklist: six questions before you buy

Mainstay Filing is our best overall pick; these are the questions that decide between any two services.

1. Is the registered agent included, and for how long? Several services include it only for the first year.
2. What is the price at renewal? Mainstay Filing stays $199; compare the year-2 number, not the year-1 one.
3. Does the price include the state fee? No service includes it; the state fee goes to the state.
4. Who files the annual report, and at what cost? Some charge a separate fee plus the state’s report fee.
5. Is the EIN application included? The IRS charges nothing for an EIN; check whether the service charges for filing it.
6. Whose address goes on the public record? The registered agent’s address is public in most states.