The best LLC service in Florida is the one whose real first-year total is lowest once you add what every LLC needs: a registered agent, an operating agreement and an EIN. On that measure, IncCraft comes out at $125, Northwest at $214, Bizee at $324, LegalZoom at $453 and ZenBusiness at $522.
How we ranked them
We ranked on true first-year cost (the advertised price plus the services a working LLC needs), what’s included, ongoing annual cost, processing speed, Florida expertise, and customer experience, meaning transparency, support quality and how hard they push upsells.
Which is the best LLC service in Florida? The quick answer
| Service | Advertised | True Year 1 Cost | Annual Cost | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IncCraft | $0 + state | $125 | $187.75 | Best Overall |
| Northwest | $39 + state | $214 | $263.75 | Best Privacy Focus |
| Bizee | $0 + state | $324 | $257.75 | Best Budget Option |
| ZenBusiness | $0 + state | $522 | $536.75 | Most Marketed |
| LegalZoom | $0 + state | $453 | $387.75 | Biggest Name |
True costs include a registered agent, operating agreement and EIN. Annual costs include the registered agent renewal and the $138.75 Florida annual report.
1. IncCraft: best overall for Florida LLCs (5/5)
IncCraft is $0 plus the $125 state fee, and that covers Articles of Organization filing, registered agent service for the first year, a Florida-specific operating agreement, EIN filing assistance, a compliance calendar with reminders and document storage. The registered agent renews at $49/year.
It’s built only for Florida, so the staff know Sunbiz and Florida’s requirements, the reminders are set to the Florida annual report deadline, and you get guidance on local business licenses. Processing takes 3-5 business days, or 24-48 hours with expedited processing (+$50).
Of the five services here, it has the lowest first-year cost and the lowest ongoing cost.
Form your Florida LLC with IncCraft
2. Northwest Registered Agent: best for privacy focus (4.5/5)
Northwest charges $39 plus the state fee. That includes Articles of Organization filing, first-year registered agent service, an operating agreement template, use of its corporate address on filings, and its Corporate Guides® resources. EIN filing is $50 extra, which brings the first year to $214. The registered agent renews at $125/year.
Northwest doesn’t push upsells at checkout, has an excellent customer service reputation, markets strongly on privacy and works in all 50 states. Standard processing is 3-5 business days. The downsides are the higher renewal ($125 vs $49), the extra EIN fee, and templates that aren’t Florida-specific.
It’s a reputable, honest service. Choose it if you need LLCs in several states or care a lot about its privacy branding. For a Florida-only LLC, IncCraft costs less.
3. Bizee (formerly Incfile): best budget alternative (4/5)
Bizee’s Basic plan is a genuine $0 formation with a free first-year registered agent. You get Articles of Organization filing, the registered agent, unlimited name searches and an online dashboard. The registered agent renews at $119/year, a competitive rate. Bizee has been around since 2004.
The catch is that the operating agreement and EIN filing need the Standard plan ($199), which makes the realistic first year $324. Expedited processing needs Premium ($299). Basic processing can take 3-4 weeks, there’s some upselling at checkout, and paid upgrades speed things up.
Bizee works if you’re comfortable writing your own operating agreement or don’t mind paying $199 for Standard.
4. ZenBusiness: most heavily marketed (3.5/5)
ZenBusiness Starter is $0 plus state fees and includes Articles of Organization filing, a name availability search, Worry-Free Compliance (free in year one, then $199/year) and its Velo AI assistant. The registered agent is $199/year, the operating agreement is $99 and EIN filing is $99, for a first year of $522. That’s $397 more than IncCraft.
Worry-Free Compliance is the part to watch. It auto-renews at $199/year to file your annual report and send reminders, which other services include free.
ZenBusiness has a modern interface and dashboard, banking integration tools and fast processing on paid plans: 1 day on Pro ($199), versus 7-10 business days on Starter. But at $522 for year one and $536.75 a year after, it’s the most expensive of the five over time.
5. LegalZoom: biggest name, not best value (3/5)
LegalZoom pioneered online legal services, but its pricing hasn’t kept up. The Basic plan includes Articles of Organization filing, and that’s about it. The registered agent is $249/year, the highest of the five, an operating agreement requires the Pro plan ($249), and EIN filing is $79. Basic customers write their own operating agreement, and the first year comes to $453, which is $328 more than IncCraft.
Standard processing is 7-30 business days. You get the biggest name in the industry, a long track record and access to a legal services network, along with heavy upselling. The registered agent fee alone is five times what IncCraft charges.
How do the totals compare over five years?
First-year costs
| Service | Formation | State Fee | Reg Agent | Op Agreement | EIN | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IncCraft | $0 | $125 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $125 |
| Northwest | $39 | $125 | $0 | $0 | $50 | $214 |
| Bizee (Standard plan) | $0 | $125 | $0 | $199 | $0 | $324 |
| LegalZoom (write your own agreement) | $0 | $125 | $249 | $0 | $79 | $453 |
| ZenBusiness | $0 | $125 | $199 | $99 | $99 | $522 |
Ongoing annual costs
| Service | Reg Agent | FL Annual Report | Other Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IncCraft | $49 | $138.75 | $0 | $187.75 |
| Northwest | $125 | $138.75 | $0 | $263.75 |
| Bizee | $119 | $138.75 | $0 | $257.75 |
| LegalZoom | $249 | $138.75 | $0 | $387.75 |
| ZenBusiness | $199 | $138.75 | $199 (Worry-Free Compliance) | $536.75 |
Five-year projection
| Service | Year 1 | Years 2-5 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| IncCraft | $125 | $751 | $876 |
| Northwest | $214 | $1,055 | $1,269 |
| Bizee | $324 | $1,031 | $1,355 |
| LegalZoom | $453 | $1,551 | $2,004 |
| ZenBusiness | $522 | $2,147 | $2,669 |
Over five years, IncCraft costs $1,793 less than ZenBusiness.
What does a Florida LLC actually need?
Two things are required by law: Articles of Organization filed with the Florida Division of Corporations ($125 state fee), and a registered agent to receive legal documents for your LLC.
Two more are needed to operate. Banks usually require an operating agreement to open a business account, and you need an EIN for business banking, hiring and taxes.
Expedited processing and compliance reminders are optional. Expedite only if you need the LLC right away. Reminders help with the annual report deadline.
Any complete LLC service should include the first four. A service that charges extra for them is padding its margins.
What should make you walk away?
A “$0” that isn’t $0. Several services advertise $0 formation but leave out the registered agent, which then costs $199-249/year.
Free trials that auto-renew. ZenBusiness Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year.
Upsell pressure at checkout. LegalZoom and ZenBusiness push add-ons hard.
Slow standard processing. Some services take 30+ days on their standard tier, which nudges you toward paying for speed.
EIN fees. The IRS issues EINs for free. A $79-99 charge for filing one is pure margin.
Can you skip the service and do it yourself?
Yes. You can form a Florida LLC through Sunbiz.org for just the $125 state fee. You’ll handle all the paperwork, serve as your own registered agent at a Florida address, write your own operating agreement, apply for your own EIN and track compliance deadlines yourself.
DIY is fine if you’re comfortable with the process. Most owners find a service saves time and makes sure nothing gets missed.
Our pick
For most Florida business owners, we’d go with IncCraft. It costs $125 in year one and $187.75 a year after, includes the registered agent, operating agreement and EIN, has staff who know Sunbiz and Florida’s requirements, and processes in 3-5 business days. The $328 to $397 you’d save in year one versus LegalZoom or ZenBusiness is better spent on the business itself.
Start your Florida LLC
IncCraft handles your Florida LLC formation for $0 plus the $125 state filing fee, with registered agent service, an operating agreement and EIN filing included.
Form your Florida LLC with IncCraft
Frequently asked questions
Can I form an LLC myself for free?
Not for free, but you can file directly with Sunbiz.org for $125 (the state fee only). You’ll handle registered agent duties, create your own documents and track compliance yourself.
Why do prices vary so much between services?
They charge differently for registered agent service, operating agreements and EIN filing. Always work out the true total, not just the advertised formation fee.
Is the cheapest option always best?
Not necessarily. The cheapest option should still include everything you need. A $0 formation that needs $300 in add-ons isn’t cheap.
How fast can I get my Florida LLC?
IncCraft’s standard processing is 3-5 business days. With expedited processing it’s 24-48 hours, for the $125 state fee plus a $50 expedited fee.
Do I really need a registered agent service?
Florida law requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a Florida address. You can serve as your own if you have a Florida address and are available during business hours, but most owners prefer a professional service.