LLC Formation Compared › Texas
LLC formation services compared in Texas (2026)
The Texas filing fee is $300. With a registered agent, Mainstay Filing (our best overall pick) comes to $499 in year 1; the other four services range from $300 to $549.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
- Prices verified October 2026
Year-1 cost of each service in Texas
| Service | First-year price (with agent) | Year-1 total |
|---|---|---|
| Bizee | $0 Basic package, agent free the first year | $300 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 package, agent included the first year | $339 |
| ZenBusiness | $0 Starter package plus $99 agent | $399 |
| Mainstay Filing | Included | $499 |
| LegalZoom | $0 Basic package plus $249 agent | $549 |
Texas filing details
- State filing fee
- $300
- Formation document
- Certificate of Formation (205)
- Filed with
- Texas Secretary of State
- Yearly state report
- No report with the Secretary of State. LLCs file a Public Information Report with the Comptroller by May 15 each year; no franchise tax is due below $2.65 million in revenue (2026 and 2027).
- Registered agent
- Required. A Texas resident, including an owner, officer or employee, or an organization registered or authorized in Texas with a business office at the registered office. The company cannot be its own agent, and the agent has to consent.
Mainstay Filing
$199 + $300 state fee = $499 in year 1
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
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Texas questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Texas with a service?
In year 1, from $300 (Bizee) to $549 (LegalZoom), with a registered agent and Texas’s $300 filing fee included. Mainstay Filing is $499.
What does Texas charge to file an LLC?
$300, paid to the Texas Secretary of State for the Certificate of Formation (205). Every service on this page adds that fee on top of its own price.
Do I need a registered agent for a Texas LLC?
Yes. A Texas resident, including an owner, officer or employee, or an organization registered or authorized in Texas with a business office at the registered office. The company cannot be its own agent, and the agent has to consent.
Is the cheapest first year the cheapest LLC?
Not always. Bizee is lowest in year 1, but the agent price changes after the first year for Bizee, Northwest Registered Agent and ZenBusiness, while Mainstay Filing stays at $199.
Sources
- Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 3.005 (certificate of formation); LLC filing fee under Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code ch. 4, subch. D (§ 4.154 — certificate of formation, $300) (multira state research spine): www.sos.texas.gov/corp/forms/806_boc.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- Texas yearly filing: Annual report, official source read 2026-10-01: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-806.php, checked October 1, 2026
- Texas report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TX/htm/TX.171.htm, checked August 12, 2026
- Texas registered agent statute (Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.201): www.sos.texas.gov/corp/forms/401_boc.doc, checked October 20, 2026
Provider prices: each company’s own pages, checked October 2026 (see sources and method).