Most Trusted LLC guides

Form an LLC in any state.
Verified guidance, every step.

Researched from primary sources, fact-checked against state filings, and updated monthly — the LLC resource we wish existed when we started.

12+ years of LLC expertise
800+ guides across 50 states
Cited by Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc.
140+ videos on YouTube
Updated monthly against state records
As Referenced By
Forbes Entrepreneur Business Insider Inc. Fast Company
Steve Goldstein
Meet the Editor

Steve Goldstein

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, LLCBuddy

I've formed many LLCs, tested every major formation service on the market, and spent over a decade in business compliance. LLCBuddy exists because every other LLC site I researched as a founder felt like rewritten templates with affiliate links.

Every guide on this site is researched from primary sources, written by specialists, fact-checked, and updated on a monthly cycle. I hold final editorial authority on every page published.

How We Work

Every page goes through a four-step editorial process before publication.

We don't aggregate other LLC sites. We don't rewrite state filings. Our team researches primary sources, verifies every fee against the Secretary of State, and tests every service we recommend.

When we review a formation service, we purchase it, time the delivery, and test customer support — then publish the results, regardless of affiliate relationships.

Read our full editorial policy →
1
Primary Source Research Every fact traces to a Secretary of State page, IRS publication, or state statute. We cite sources on every guide.
2
Specialist Writing Content is authored by Steve Goldstein and a team of editors with direct LLC formation experience.
3
Independent Fact-Check Every guide is verified by an editor who didn't write it. State fees and filing steps are confirmed against current records.
4
Monthly Re-Verification State fees and rules change. Every published guide is reviewed and updated on a rolling monthly schedule.
Actively maintained

472 guides fact-checked in the last 30 days

Verified against official state, IRS & FinCEN sources — 816 corrections logged this month.

  • Best services
    5 Best Arizona LLC Services for 2026 (We Tested Them All)This page was missed by the 3 and 6 September passes, which reached its twenty siblings. Corrected the MyCompanyWorks annual-report price from $59 to the published $99 + state fees (mycompanyworks.com/annual-report.htm), restored the "Starting at" hedge on its $119/year registered agent (mycompanyworks.com/registered-agent-service.htm), and dated the BOI exemption to the final rule's effective date, 14 August 2026, matching the other twenty pages. Source: fincen.gov/boi
  • Best-of
    10 Best LLC Services (September 2026) — We Tested Them All!Restored MyCompanyWorks' "Starting at" hedge on the registered-agent price; a 30 August pass had rewritten it as a flat $119/year. Source: mycompanyworks.com/registered-agent-service.htm. Corrected the Rocket Lawyer sentence that offered a monthly membership; rocketlawyer.com/pricing bills all three tiers yearly. Also corrected the 26 August entry below, which called BetterLegal's $120/year agent price its only option; betterlegal.com/services publishes "$12.5/month or $120/year".
  • Best-of
    6 Best Trademark Registration Services 2026Corrected LegalZoom's trademark registration price to the published $899 (the page carried $649), and updated the Quick Facts range to $49 - $899 to match. Verified on two LegalZoom product pages: legalzoom.com/business/intellectual-property/trademark-registration-overview.html ("Premium Trademark Registration $899 + federal fees") and legalzoom.com/business/intellectual-property/trademark-search-overview.html
  • Best services
    5 Best California LLC Services for 2026 (We Tested Them All)Restored MyCompanyWorks' "Starting at" hedge on the registered-agent price; a 30 August pass had rewritten it as a flat $119/year. Source: mycompanyworks.com/registered-agent-service.htm
  • Best services
    5 Best Colorado LLC Services for 2026 (We Tested Them All)Restored MyCompanyWorks' "Starting at" hedge on the registered-agent price; a 30 August pass had rewritten it as a flat $119/year. Source: mycompanyworks.com/registered-agent-service.htm
  • Best services
    5 Best Delaware LLC Services for 2026 (We Tested Them All)Restored MyCompanyWorks' "Starting at" hedge on the registered-agent price; a 30 August pass had rewritten it as a flat $119/year. Source: mycompanyworks.com/registered-agent-service.htm
See the full update log →
How we make money

LLCBuddy earns commissions when readers sign up for the formation services we recommend. Our rankings are based on direct testing — not commission rates. Services we don't recommend also pay us as those we do.

What We Cover

Three pillars. Zero filler.

We focus on three things and do them exceptionally well — state filings, service reviews, and ongoing LLC compliance.

📋

State Filing Guides

Every state's exact fees, processing times, and step-by-step filing instructions — verified against each Secretary of State office.

View state guides →
⚖️

Service Reviews

We purchase and test every LLC service before ranking it. Real screenshots, real timing data, real support transcripts.

See our rankings →
📖

Compliance Guides

Operating agreements, EINs, registered agents, annual reports, tax elections — with cited sources on every page.

Browse guides →
State Guides

Start an LLC in your state

Each guide reflects that state's exact filing fees, processing times, and procedures — verified against the Secretary of State.

All 50 States
Common Questions

Before you file

The questions we get asked most often — answered directly.

Can I form an LLC myself, or do I need a service?

You can absolutely file directly with your state — every Secretary of State accepts DIY filings. A service is useful if you want a registered agent included, want compliance reminders, or simply value the convenience. Our state guides walk you through both paths.

Which state is cheapest to form an LLC in?

Kentucky ($40) and Arkansas ($45) have the lowest filing fees. But "cheapest to file" rarely means "best for your business." We recommend forming in the state where you operate — out-of-state filing usually creates more cost and complexity than it saves.

Do I need a registered agent?

Yes — every state requires LLCs to designate a registered agent. You can be your own agent in most states if you have a physical address there and are available during business hours. Otherwise, a service typically costs $100–$300 per year.

How long does it take to form an LLC?

Online filings are usually approved in 1–14 business days, depending on state. Some states (like Delaware and Wyoming) offer same-day or 24-hour expedited processing for an additional fee. Each of our state guides lists current processing times.

What happens after I file?

You'll need an EIN from the IRS (free, takes 10 minutes), an operating agreement (we have free templates), and may need to register for state taxes or local business licenses depending on your activities. Our post-formation checklist covers all of this.

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