The Best Online Incorporation Services in 2026
Are you getting ready to incorporate your business online? We researched what it actually takes to file a corporation in 2026 and more importantly who do file with.
We researched the incorporation services businesses actually use to file a C-corp or S-corp in 2026 (not just another list of LLC formation companies wearing an “incorporation” label). Below are the 8 best options, including pricing, what each one is really built for, and who should skip it.
The 8 best online incorporation services in 2026
- Northwest Registered Agent Best overall for privacy and support
- ZenBusiness Best value with a real incorporation package
- LegalZoom Most experienced name for incorporating
- Bizee Cheapest way to file your incorporation paperwork
- CorpNet Built specifically for S-corp and C-corp filings
- Rocket Lawyer Best if you want ongoing legal support after you incorporate
- BizFilings Best for compliance-heavy, multi-state corporations
- Stripe Atlas Best for startups incorporating a Delaware C-corp
EDITORS’ CHOICE
Northwest Registered Agent — Best overall for privacy and support
Northwest Registered Agent intentionally keeps incorporation simple: one price, no upsell maze, and a level of privacy most competitors don’t offer by default.
When you incorporate through Northwest, the company’s own address goes on your public filing instead of yours, and every plan comes with a full year of registered agent service already built in.
Support is handled in-house by Northwest’s own staff (not an outsourced call center) which matches up with how consistently the company gets praised for actually answering questions correctly.
Key features
- Flat $39 formation fee plus state fees, with no confusing package tiers
- One year of registered agent service included with every incorporation
- Your personal address stays off public filings by default
- In-house customer support, not outsourced
- Same-day filing available in most states
Plans and pricing
Corporation formation
-
$39 per month
plus state fees, one-time formation fee
Northwest charges a flat $39 plus your state’s filing fee to form a corporation, and registered agent service renews at $125 a year after your first free year.
Visit Northwest Registered Agent for additional information >>ZenBusiness — Best value with a real incorporation package
ZenBusiness runs a dedicated incorporation pricing page separate from its LLC service, which matters if you actually want a corporation rather than just an LLC. A lot of competitors bury the corp option behind the same flow as an LLC (and hope you don’t notice the difference).
The free Starter tier covers the state filing itself.
Stepping up to Pro or Premium adds the things a new corporation usually needs: an EIN, an operating agreement, faster processing, and registered agent service.
Key features
- Free ($0 plus state fees) starter filing for a straightforward incorporation
- Pro plan adds EIN, bylaws template, and 1-day processing
- Premium bundles registered agent service and ongoing compliance monitoring
- 60-day money-back guarantee on the Starter plan
- Public benefit corporation, with a share of profits supporting minority-owned businesses
Plans and pricing
Starter
-
Free of charge
plus state fees, does not renew
Pro
-
$199 per year
plus state fees
Premium
-
$399 per year
plus state fees, includes registered agent
The Starter plan is free plus state fees and doesn’t renew, Pro is $199 a year, and Premium is $399 a year and includes registered agent service (arguably worth $199 a year on its own).
Visit ZenBusiness for additional information >>LegalZoom — Most experienced name for incorporating
LegalZoom is the closest on the list to a household name and has been forming corporations longer than almost anyone else in this list.
That history shows in the depth of what’s offered once you’re past the initial filing:
- Attorney consultations
- Document review
- Ongoing legal guidance
These are features that a lot of budget formation services simply don’t have.
The Express Gold package is the one to look at if you want a real safety net while you incorporate. It adds 30 days of attorney advice and contract review on top of the filing itself.
Key features
- Business name availability check and Articles of Incorporation filing
- Express Gold adds 30 days of attorney consultations and contract review
- S-corp election filing available as an add-on
- Decades of experience, one of the most established formation companies
- EIN registration available as a bundle with bylaws and resolutions — learn what an EIN is and whether you need one
Plans and pricing
Economy
-
$149
plus state fees, one-time
Standard
-
$329
plus state fees, one-time
Express Gold
-
$349
plus state fees, one-time
The Economy package is $149 plus state fees, Standard is $329, and Express Gold is $349 and adds 30 days of attorney consultations. After that, the attorney plan renews automatically at $49 a month unless you cancel.
Visit LegalZoom for additional information >>Bizee — Cheapest way to file your incorporation paperwork
Bizee (formerly Incfile) keeps the same $0 formation model for corporations that made it a go-to for budget-conscious LLC filers, and it still holds up if you simply need the paperwork filed correctly without paying for extras you don’t need.
You’ll only pay your state’s filing fee on the Basic tier. The paid tiers exist mainly to speed things up and add a registered agent, not to unlock features you can’t get elsewhere for less.
Key features
- Basic tier is $0, and you only pay the state filing fee
- Unlimited business name searches before you file
- One free year of registered agent service on every tier
- Standard and Premium tiers add faster processing and more support
- Straightforward, low-pressure checkout compared to some competitors
Plans and pricing
Basic
-
Free of charge
plus state fees
Standard
-
$199
plus state fees, one-time
Premium
-
$299
plus state fees, one-time
The Basic tier is free plus state fees, Standard is $199, and Premium is $299. Every tier includes a free first year of registered agent service.
Visit Bizee for additional information >>CorpNet — Built specifically for S-corp and C-corp filings
CorpNet is a smaller, family-run company that’s been filing corporations since 1997, and it’s built its pricing specifically around the C-corp-versus-S-corp decision rather than treating incorporation as an afterthought to LLC formation.
If you already know you want a corporation and just need help choosing between a C-corp and an S-corp election, CorpNet’s team walks through that decision as part of the filing rather than charging extra for the conversation.
Key features
- C-corp and S-corp registration starting at $99 plus state fees
- Guidance on choosing between a C-corp and an S-corp election, including preparing your Articles of Incorporation
- Registered agent and ongoing compliance filings available alongside formation
- Family-owned, operating since 1997
Plans and pricing
Corporation registration
-
$99
plus state fees, one-time
CorpNet’s C-corp or S-corp registration starts at $99 plus state fees.
Visit CorpNet for additional information >>Rocket Lawyer — Best if you want ongoing legal support after you incorporate
Rocket Lawyer is the odd man out on this list in that it isn’t primarily a formation company. It’s a legal-services subscription that happens to include incorporation, and that’s exactly why it’s worth a look if you want more than a one-time filing.
A Rocket Legal+ membership includes business formation at no extra filing charge (you still pay the state fee) plus discounted registered agent service and ongoing access to attorneys for whatever comes up after you’re incorporated.
Key features
- Rocket Legal+ membership bundles incorporation with unlimited attorney consultations
- Registered agent discounted to $124.99 a year for members (vs. $249.99 standalone)
- Monthly or annual subscription options
- Ongoing access to legal document templates after you incorporate
Plans and pricing
Rocket Legal
-
$39.99 per month
plus state fees
Rocket Legal+
-
$239.88 per year
plus state fees, includes discounted registered agent
Rocket Legal runs $39.99 a month, while Rocket Legal+ is $239.88 a year and includes registered agent service at a discounted $124.99 a year instead of the standalone $249.99 rate.
Visit Rocket Lawyer for additional information >>BizFilings — Best for compliance-heavy, multi-state corporations
BizFilings is backed by Wolters Kluwer, one of the largest compliance and legal-information companies around, and it shows in how the service is built.
Registered agent and compliance monitoring come standard on every package, which is especially important if you’re incorporating in a state you don’t operate in day-to-day.
It’s not the cheapest option here, but for a corporation that needs to stay compliant across multiple states, BizFilings’ compliance tools are more built-out than most of the budget alternatives.
Key features
- Registered agent service included on every package
- Compliance monitoring built for companies operating in multiple states
- Backed by Wolters Kluwer, with over 500,000 businesses formed since 1996
- Delaware incorporation priced lower than most other states
Plans and pricing
Basic
-
$99
plus state fees, one-time
Includes 3 months of registered agent services
Core
-
$199
plus state fees, one-time
Basic features plus certified copies and an e-corp kit.
All-inclusive
-
$329
plus state fees, one-time
Core features plus an EIN, state tax ID, business license research and 1-day rush filing.
The Basic plan is $99 plus state fees, the Core plan is $199 plus state fees, and the All-inclusive plan is $329 plus state fees in most states, though Delaware incorporation is discounted to $159 for the Core plan and $259 for All-inclusive plan plus state fees.
Visit BizFilings for additional information >>Stripe Atlas — Best for startups incorporating a Delaware C-corp
Stripe Atlas is built for one specific situation the rest of this list doesn’t really cover: a founder who’s raising money from US investors and needs a Delaware C-corp, not an LLC, set up the way venture-track startups expect.
The flat $500 fee handles the incorporation itself, the EIN, founder stock issuance, and the 83(b) election filing that founders often mess up when they do it themselves.
If you’re not planning to raise on a SAFE or priced round, this is more way setup than you need. Atlas is a startup tool, not a general small-business one.
Key features
- Flat $500 one-time fee covers Delaware incorporation and the first year of registered agent service
- Automatic EIN (SS-4) filing and founder stock purchase agreements
- 83(b) election filing handled, including the certified-mail requirement
- $2,500 in Stripe product credits for the first year
Plans and pricing
Atlas formation
-
$500
one-time, includes first year of registered agent
Stripe Atlas is a flat $500 one-time fee that includes your first year of registered agent service, which renews at $100 a year after that.
Visit Stripe Atlas for additional information >>Compare the best incorporation services
| Service | Starting price | Registered agent renewal | Registered agent included | Money-back guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 one-time | $125/yr renewal | 1 year included | N/A |
| ZenBusiness | Free – $399/yr | $199/yr | 1 year on Starter | 60 days (Starter) |
| LegalZoom | $149 – $349 one-time | Sold separately | Not included | N/A |
| Bizee | Free – $299 one-time | ~$199/yr | 1 year included | N/A |
| CorpNet | $99+ one-time | Sold separately | Not included | 100% satisfaction guarantee |
| Rocket Lawyer | $39.99/mo or $239.88/yr | $124.99/yr (member) | Discounted, not free | N/A |
| BizFilings | $99 – $329 one-time | Sold separately | 3 months on Basic plan | N/A |
| Stripe Atlas | $500 one-time | $100/yr renewal | 1 year included | N/A |
How to choose an incorporation service
The right incorporation service depends less on the company’s overall reputation and more on what you actually need when filing. Here’s what to weigh before you pick one.
C-corp or S-corp?
A C-corp is the default and the only option if you’re raising venture capital, in short, investors expect it.
An S-corp is a tax election, not a separate entity type and it can save money on self-employment tax once your business is consistently profitable. Services like CorpNet and LegalZoom will walk you through the decision as part of the filing.
Do you need a registered agent?
Yes, every corporation needs one. It’s the person or company that receives legal and state mail on your behalf.
Most services on this list include a free first year and then renew anywhere from $100 to $250 a year.
If privacy matters to you, check whether the service’s own address goes on your public filing instead of yours. Our best registered agent services guide covers standalone options if you’d rather split formation and registered agent service between two companies but you’ll probably get a better deal bundling.
How fast do you need it filed?
Standard processing runs 7 to 10 business days in most states. If you need same-day or 1-day processing, expect to pay extra for it. It’s usually an add-on rather than included in the base price.
Are you a startup raising money, or a small business?
If you’re incorporating to raise on a SAFE or a priced round, a service built for that specific situation (Stripe Atlas) handles the founder paperwork (stock issuance, 83(b) elections) that a general formation service won’t touch.
If you’re incorporating a local or online business that isn’t chasing venture funding, that extra machinery is overkill and you’re better off with a general formation service.
Which incorporation service should you use?
- If you want the simplest, most transparent pricing: go with Northwest Registered Agent, one flat fee, no upsell maze, and a full year of registered agent service included.
- If you’re incorporating on a tight budget: go with Bizee, you can file for $0 plus your state’s fee.
- If you want an attorney on call after you incorporate: go with Rocket Lawyer, a Rocket Legal+ membership gets you ongoing legal consultations, not just a one-time filing.
- If you already know you want a C-corp or S-corp specifically: go with CorpNet, it’s built around that decision instead of defaulting you toward an LLC.
- If you’re a startup raising venture funding: go with Stripe Atlas, it handles the Delaware C-corp paperwork investors expect, including founder stock and 83(b) elections.
Honorable mentions
MyCorporation – Still operating and backed by Intuit, but recent reviews flag billing complaints (customers charged for filings on closed companies) and support that’s slow to resolve refund requests. Worth a look for simple, smaller filings, but not a Top 8 pick this year.
Swyft Filings – Fast processing and a free Basic tier, but the checkout flow pushes hard on add-ons and an auto-renewing Compliance Guard subscription that’s easy to miss canceling.
Firstbase – A cheaper alternative to Stripe Atlas for the same startup-incorporation use case ($399 one-time), though registered agent and a US business address are separate paid add-ons that raise the real total.
FAQs
Incorporating creates a corporation (a C-corp or an S-corp), while forming an LLC creates a limited liability company. Corporations issue stock and are the standard structure for businesses raising outside investment; LLCs are simpler to run and more common for small, owner-operated businesses that don’t plan to sell shares.
Incorporation service fees range from $0 to about $500, plus your state’s own filing fee, which is usually $50 to $500 depending on the state. On top of the initial filing, expect to pay for registered agent service (typically $100 to $250 a year after any free first year) and, in some states, an annual report fee.
A C-corp is the default corporate structure and the one investors expect if you’re raising venture capital. An S-corp is a tax election on top of a corporation (or an LLC) that can reduce self-employment tax once your business is consistently profitable, but it comes with stricter ownership rules. CorpNet specializes in walking through that decision as part of the filing.
Yes. Every state requires a corporation to have a registered agent, a person or company at a physical address in the state who can receive legal and state mail during business hours. Most incorporation services include a free first year of registered agent service and then charge an annual renewal.
Yes, you can file the Articles of Incorporation directly with your state’s Secretary of State office yourself. You’ll need to draft the filing correctly, appoint a registered agent, and handle bylaws and an EIN on your own. If you’d rather not deal with the paperwork, a service like Northwest Registered Agent or ZenBusiness will file it for you.
Standard processing takes 7 to 10 business days in most states. Same-day or 1-day expedited processing is available from most services on this list, usually for an extra fee, and some states themselves take longer to process filings regardless of how fast your formation service submits the paperwork.
Most small businesses should incorporate in the state where they actually operate. Incorporating out of state means registering as a “foreign corporation” back in your home state anyway, which doubles your paperwork and fees. Delaware is the exception for startups raising venture capital, since investors and Delaware’s corporate law are both built around that structure.
Conclusion
Incorporating is more paperwork than forming an LLC, but it doesn’t have to be complicated if you choose the right service.
The eight services above cover the range: a flat-fee generalist (Northwest), a real incorporation-specific pricing tier (ZenBusiness), an experienced full-service option (LegalZoom), a budget filing (Bizee), two specialists built around the C-corp/S-corp decision (CorpNet and Rocket Lawyer), a compliance-focused pick for multi-state corporations (BizFilings), and a startup-specific option for a Delaware C-corp (Stripe Atlas).
Match the pick to what you’re actually filing, whether that’s a small local business, a multi-state operation, or a venture-track startup, and the paperwork itself is the easy part.
Ready to incorporate? Start with Northwest Registered Agent for a flat $39 filing fee, or compare all 8 options above to find the right fit.
