[00:02] people that means getting ready to start or grow your business or side hustle. In this video, we're going to be covering the seven best LLC formation services that could help you with multiple aspects of the entrepreneurial journey.
[00:16] formation services out there that can help you with simply forming an LLC, but also other aspects including compliance, obtaining an EIN, operating agreements,
[00:28] and more. And while that is a plus, it does make the process of choosing who to go with a bit overwhelming to say the least. That's why I did the research here for you. And if you appreciate that, do me a quick favor and drop a
[00:41] like on this video. Now, before we get into the full list here, let's quickly cover what an LLC is and why you might need one in the first place. And feel free to skip ahead at any point using the table of contents down in the
[00:54] description below. Real quick, I just have to mention that this isn't legal or tax advice, and you should always consult with a CPA or attorney for your unique situation. For starters, an LLC is a type of business structure that
[01:08] combines the protection of a corporation with the flexibility of a partnership. A limited liability company is by far one of the most popular business structures for small business owners, side hustlers, freelancers, and even
[01:23] startups. At a basic level, an LLC creates a legal separation between you and your business. This will allow you to open up a business bank account and separate your business expenses from your personal expenses. Not only does
[01:38] this help with staying organized, it can also help protect your personal assets in the event that your business gets sued or goes into debt. However, as the name suggests here, LLC's provide limited liability protection and not
[01:52] absolute protection. Some people think that having an LLC makes their business lawsuit proof, and that is false. You can still get sued, but it makes it more difficult for them to go after your personal assets so long as you follow
[02:06] proper business formalities. But oftent times establishing an LLC goes handinhand with pursuing general liability insurance for your business and that can help to mitigate some of the risks. LLC's come with a lot of
[02:21] benefits including simplicity and flexibility. For example, you're able to choose between a few different options in terms of how you want your LLC to be taxed. And it could be as simple as having the profits simply pass through
[02:35] to your personal tax return. But perhaps the biggest benefit here is the added level of professionalism associated with having an LLC. If you're trying to land a big client, for example, having someone write out a check to the name of
[02:48] a business is a lot more legit than having someone pay you personally. So that's the big picture here. You have liability protection, flexibility, and added professionalism. Now, let's quickly cover a bit more on why you
[03:02] might need an LLC before diving into the top seven options. The main reason why you might need an LLC is because your side hustle has now grown into a full-fledged business. If you're making more than just a little extra money on
[03:16] the side, it might be time to level up here and go legit. In addition, making, you might be able to cut down on your tax bill by forming an LLC. That flexibility that we mentioned earlier gives you a few different options on how
[03:31] you are taxed, and one of those is the SC Corp election. Without going into too much detail here, this could potentially allow you to cut down on self-employment taxes. However, this is going to depend on each individual tax situation.
[03:46] Another important consideration to keep in mind here is how your business often becomes more complex as it continues to grow. And that makes staying organized more important, but also more challenging. Being able to open a
[04:00] business bank account is one of the best ways to do this. and it gives you that important legal separation. In addition, having an LLC in place puts you in a better position to scale, hire employees, and potentially even attract
[04:13] better opportunities. So, in short, LLC's come into play when you are ready to legitimize what you are doing and put yourself in the best position for potential growth while of course reducing risks. But you can also form an
[04:27] LLC for a new business venture, allowing you to capture all of these benefits at the beginning. Let's now dive into the seven best LLC formation services, and I'll include my affiliate links in the description below so you can sign up and
[04:41] support the channel in the process. Your use of these links is what makes videos like this one possible. So, thank you. Now that we've covered what an LLC is, let's talk about one of the most popular places to set one up, and that is Zen
[04:55] Business. Zen Business is an online platform built specifically for small businesses, side hustlers, and entrepreneurs. When you use Zen Business to form an LLC, they handle all of the paperwork for you, including add-ons for
[05:10] other important aspects. for example, articles of organization, which are the legal documents filed with the state you are forming your LLC in. And then there is the EIN or employer identification number. This is basically like a social
[05:25] security number for your business and allows you to open a business bank account and file a tax return for your business. Zen Business helps out with all of this and they also provide a customizable operating agreement which
[05:39] lays out how your business is run and who owns what percentage. They also offer help with annual report filings so you don't miss a deadline which could potentially result in fines or losing your good standing. One of the big perks
[05:53] here is that many of their plans offer a free registered agent service for the first year. A registered agent is the official point of contact for legal and tax documents for your LLC. And a registered agent is legally required for
[06:09] LLC filings. On top of that, Zen Business offers additional business services as well, all under one roof. From building a website to custom domain names and getting a business email, you can potentially make this a one-stop
[06:24] them out by visiting ryanoscribner.com/zenbusiness second LLC formation service on our list here is Legal Zoom, which is probably
[06:38] one of the big names that you've seen in commercials or ads. Legal Zoom isn't just an LLC formation service. Instead, it's a full-blown online legal platform. For starters, they can help you with forming an LLC, setting up an operating
[06:53] forming an LLC, setting up an operating agreement, obtaining an EIN, and more. But they also offer other services, including trademark filings, copyrights, business contracts, and even estate planning for your personal assets.
[07:06] They've been around since the early 2000s, and they've helped millions of customers. So, there's a real sense of track record and credibility there. When it comes to forming an LLC, Legal Zoom can walk you through choosing a business
[07:19] name, preparing and filing your articles of organization and obtaining an EIN. In addition, they also offer registered agent services, and can help with ongoing requirements like annual reports and compliance alerts. But the big
[07:34] standout here with Legal Zoom is the access to licensed attorneys and professional legal advice. Through their subscription plans, you can get help with reviewing contracts, customizing legal documents, and even access
[07:48] attorney consultations. And depending on the size and the needs of your business, this could be a really important factor. Legal Zoom can be especially useful if you're building something more than just a simple side hustle, which could mean
[08:01] bringing on co-founders, investors, or employees. They offer that extra layer of legal support without having to hire a traditional law firm, which could potentially be hundreds of dollars an hour. But do keep in mind here that
[08:15] there are going to be some important limitations that you need to both look into and take into consideration. So be sure to check them out by visiting sure to check them out by visiting ryanoscribner.com/legalzoom
[08:29] up is Taylor Brands, which takes a slightly different approach here compared to others. While they do offer LLC formation services, their real specialty here is helping businesses look and feel professional from day one.
[08:44] about branding as the legal paperwork itself, this platform might be your go-to. Starting off with LLC formation, Taylor Brands lets you form your LLC online quickly. In addition, they offer registered agent services and compliance
[09:01] reminders, which might be included depending on which plan that you choose. But where they really stand out here is with the branding tools that they offer. You can create a custom logo, build a complete brand kit, and even start a
[09:15] basic website all in the same place. In addition, they've also integrated services like domain registration, business email setup, and social media branding. The idea here is that you can potentially launch your business
[09:29] identity alongside the important legal setup. So instead of having to juggle multiple different platforms for all of these different things, Taylor Brands offers more of a all-in-one service. So be sure to check them out by visiting
[09:42] be sure to check them out by visiting ryanoscribner.com/taylorbrands next LLC formation service on our list is Better Legal, which is all about keeping things fast and simple. Unlike other platforms out there with a ton of
[09:57] different confusing tiers, Better Legal is known for its single pricing model approach. This includes the key components that you usually need to get your LLC off the ground, including your operating agreement, EIN, and banking
[10:12] resolution. However, it is important to note here that they do offer additional services like registered agents and compliance help as additional add-ons. One of their main selling points here is speed, offering business formations in
[10:27] two to three business days on average. However, it is important to note that individual state processing times can vary. All you have to do is answer a set of questions and then they generate the documents and handle the state filing
[10:41] requirements. As mentioned, if you're looking for additional help with other aspects of your business, they also offer add-ons for business licenses and permits, tax consultations, and more. So, if you're looking for a simple,
[10:55] fast, and straightforward LLC formation, be sure to check them out by visiting be sure to check them out by visiting ryanoscribner.com/betleal. Registered Agent, which places an emphasis on privacy and personal
[11:10] support. Northwest is best known for its registered agent services, and they registered agent services, and they offer LLC formation in all 50 states. For the most part, their LLC formation service is similar to others, including
[11:23] the state filing and offering options for annual reporting and ongoing compliance. Where Northwest really stands out is helping you to protect your personal information for anyone working from home, running an online
[11:37] business, or just not wanting their personal address searchable online. That's a big deal. And this is one of the biggest benefits associated with using a registered agent service. But it's important to note that not all
[11:51] registered agents offer the same level of address shielding. Northwest can help you keep your home address off public records wherever possible by using their business address instead. Support-wise, Northwest is known for having real and
[12:07] knowledgeable reps, not any kind of giant outsourced call center. And in addition to LLC formation and registered agent services, they also offer a mail scanning service, business phone line, website tools, and more as additional
[12:22] add-ons. So, Northwest could be a good fit here if you care a lot about privacy and want to work with a smaller group that doesn't treat you like another number in the system. You can check them out by visiting ryan
[12:35] oscribner.com/northwest or by using the link down below. The next LLC formation service on our list is Doula, which is built with global business owners in mind. One of the key differentiators for Doula is that they
[12:50] offer support for international entrepreneurs looking to form an LLC as a non-resident. So, if you're based overseas but want a US company for things like payment providers or US-based clients, this could be a good
[13:05] fit for you. But in addition, they also offer a suite of business tools for US residents, too. Doula refers to their service offerings as an AI business in a service offerings as an AI business in a box. This includes the basics of LLC
[13:19] formation, but also bookkeeping, business taxes, and e-commerce analytics, all from one platform. However, some of these might be additional add-ons that come with additional costs or subscriptions
[13:31] potentially. The ongoing tax and compliance help can be especially helpful for non US residents who might be less familiar with the process. In they offer, Doula can be especially
[13:46] helpful for online business owners such as selling digital products, software as a service, online courses, or running e-commerce brands. They also offer an AI co-founder tool, which is basically a 247 chatbased assistant that understands
[14:03] your business. you're able to ask it things like, "Help me set up a Shopify store, help me open up a business bank account," and more. So, if you want to check them out, be sure to visit ryanoscrier.com/doula
[14:16] to learn more. The final LLC formation service on our list is Busy, which you might recognize from their old name, Inc. File. Busy is known for being budget friendly, which can be helpful if you are just testing out a business idea
[14:31] and don't want to spend a lot upfront. With Busy, just like other providers, you can search for a business name and have them handle the LLC filing with your specific state. In addition, you can get access to operating agreement
[14:44] templates and other basic documents that you might need, too. They also typically offer a free registered agent service for the first year on many of their plans. The platform itself is built around a simple online dashboard where
[14:59] you can see your filings, download documents, and track the status of your formation. Busy has been around since 2004, and they've helped over 1 million businesses with getting their LLC off the ground. So, if you're looking for a
[15:14] straightforward experience from a trusted name with a long track record, this could be a good fit for you. Is it time to quit your job? If you're serious about becoming financially independent by starting a side hustle, this book is
[15:27] main hustle to millionaire is a distilled version of my entire journey in business. Every lesson, mistake, and shortcut. Because here's the thing, I including the times that I learned that lazy habits do not translate to success.
[15:44] You'll learn the simple things like making your first $100, how to grow an audience from scratch, and understanding important things like perception, but in addition, it also gets into taking on business partners, selling off equity in
[15:56] your business, and even investing into other startup businesses. So, grab your copy today at Barnes & Noble, your local library, over on Amazon, or on Audible. your own terms, make sure you hit that subscribe button. Be sure to check out
[16:11] this next video that we think you'll like.