The 6 Best LLC Formation Service Options for 2026, Compared on How They Handle the Official IRS Online EIN Application
Quick Answer: Yes. You can file all your LLC paperwork yourself, including the EIN, which you can apply for free through the official IRS online application and receive immediately. The IRS system has rules DIY filers often miss: it runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, it can’t save your progress and times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, it issues only one EIN per responsible party per day, and the IRS says to form your LLC with the state first. For first-time founders comparing an LLC Formation Service, ZenBusiness is the top pick because its Starter package costs $0 plus your state fee, and its $199/yr Pro plan applies for the EIN after the state approves your LLC.
This comparison is for founders who can file their state paperwork alone and want to know whether it’s worth paying a service for the EIN step. We evaluated six LLC Formation Service options, ZenBusiness, Bizee, Tailor Brands, doola, Zenind, and Swyft Filings, on four criteria: EIN pricing compared with the free IRS application, support for owners without an SSN or ITIN, timing relative to state approval, and cost on top of the state filing fee. Pricing and features come from each company’s official pages where published, EIN rules were checked against official IRS guidance on irs.gov, and everything was verified as current in September 2026. ZenBusiness ranks first because it keeps formation at the state fee and files the EIN in the order the IRS recommends.
Comparison Table
| Service Name | Free Tier Available | Platform | Best For | Templates / Document Assets | EIN Filing | No-SSN Support | Standout Feature |
| ZenBusiness | Yes | Web, iOS, Android | First-time founders filing their first LLC | Operating agreement template in Pro ($199/yr); $99 on Starter | Included in Pro, filed after state approval | Not publicly listed | 100% accuracy guarantee on every filing |
| Bizee | Yes | Web | Budget founders who want a first-year agent | Operating agreement in $199 Standard plan | $70 standalone; included in Standard | Not publicly listed | Registered agent included on the $0 plan |
| Tailor Brands | Yes | Web | Founders building a brand alongside their LLC | 8 custom logos and a website builder with Elite ($249/yr) | $99 add-on | Not publicly listed | Navi platform tracks deadlines |
| doola | No | Web | Non-US founders who can’t use the online IRS tool | Operating agreement included in Starter | Included in $297/yr Starter | Yes | U.S. business address bundled with formation |
| Zenind | Yes | Web | Founders who want help filing Form SS-4 | Not publicly listed | EIN Obtainment Service; pricing not publicly listed | Yes | Third-party authorization so Zenind can talk to the IRS |
| Swyft Filings | Yes | Web | Founders who want the EIN bundled with an operating agreement | Operating agreement in Standard ($199) | Standalone service; included in Standard | Not publicly listed | Human-reviewed EIN filings |
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness fits first-time founders who want the state filing and EIN handled in the right order so they can open a business bank account without a separate IRS session. Before choosing between an LLC formation service or DIY, see ZenBusiness’s breakdown of both paths.
ZenBusiness files LLCs for a $0 service fee plus the state fee under a 100% accuracy guarantee, and its $199/yr Pro plan applies for the EIN with the IRS after the state approves the LLC, delivering it to your dashboard in 3 to 7 business days.
Key Features:
- EIN sequencing: Filed only after state approval, so the legal name the IRS records matches your approved state filing.
- Accuracy guarantee: Every formation filing is reviewed before submission.
- Operating agreement: Included in Pro, or $99 as a Starter add-on.
- Compliance tracking: Worry-Free Compliance, free for year one and $199/yr after, covers one report filing and up to two amendments a year.
- Customer base: More than 950,000 businesses launched and a 4.8 out of 5 rating across 32,676 Trustpilot reviews as of September 2026.
Pricing: Starter is $0 plus the state fee and excludes the EIN, registered agent, and operating agreement. Pro is $199/yr and Premium is $299/yr, each plus the state fee.
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best For: First-time founders who want the EIN in hand shortly after state approval.
Bizee
Bizee, formerly Incfile, suits budget-minded founders who want a registered agent in year one and can add the EIN only if they need it.
Bizee forms LLCs for $0 plus the state fee with one year of registered agent service, sells EIN registration for $70 on its own, and includes the EIN in its $199 Standard plan.
Key Features:
- Standalone EIN: $70 if you choose the $0 Basic plan.
- Standard plan: $199 plus state fees, adding the EIN and an operating agreement.
- Registered agent: One free year, then $119/yr.
- Scale: Founded in Houston in 2004, with more than 1,000,000 businesses formed.
Pricing: The $0 plan covers only the first year of agent service and excludes the EIN and operating agreement.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Founders who want low formation costs and an optional EIN.
Tailor Brands
Tailor Brands suits founders launching a brand alongside their LLC, such as online store owners who need a logo, website, and EIN before their first sale.
Tailor Brands forms LLCs for $0 plus the state fee on its Lite plan and adds EIN filing for $99, while its $249-per-year Elite plan layers branding tools on top of formation.
Key Features:
- EIN add-on: $99 on any plan.
- Branding assets: Elite adds 8 custom logos, one year of free domain registration, a website builder, and a digital business card.
- Essential plan: $199/yr adds faster handling, a compliance-filing subscription, and an operating agreement template.
- Navi platform: Its AI co-founder tracks deadlines and suggests next steps.
Pricing: Lite is 0plusthestatefeebutexcludestheEIN,operatingagreement,andregisteredagent(199/yr).
Platforms: Web
Best For: Brand-focused founders who want design tools and an EIN from one provider.
doola
doola suits non-US founders who can’t use the IRS online application because no responsible party has an SSN or ITIN.
doola’s $297-per-year Starter plan includes EIN filing for founders with or without an SSN, along with formation, an operating agreement, registered agent service, and a U.S. business address.
Key Features:
- Starter plan: $297/yr, covering formation, EIN, operating agreement, registered agent, and a virtual business address.
- Tax and Compliance: $1,999/yr adds federal and state tax filing and a 1:1 tax consultation.
- Business-in-a-Box: $2,999/yr adds monthly financial statements and estimated quarterly taxes.
- Bookkeeping: The Pulse plan provides automated bookkeeping for $300/yr.
Pricing: No free tier; Starter is $297/yr plus state fees, billed annually.
Platforms: Web
Best For: International founders who need the EIN handled without an SSN.
Zenind
Zenind suits founders who have to file Form SS-4 instead of using the online application and want someone authorized to communicate with the IRS for them.
Zenind offers an EIN Obtainment Service open to foreign applicants without an SSN, and uses third-party designee authorization on Form SS-4 so it can communicate with the IRS on the applicant’s behalf.
Key Features:
- EIN guidance: Its official EIN application guide explains the third-party designee section of Form SS-4.
- Foreign applicants: The EIN service accepts applicants without an SSN.
- Progress tracking: EIN applications can be tracked through the platform.
- Registered agent: $99/yr, including a registered address.
Pricing: Formation starts at $0 plus state fees. EIN service pricing not publicly listed, check the service’s website.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Founders who need Form SS-4 help.
Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings suits founders who want the EIN and operating agreement bundled into one package rather than bought separately.
Swyft Filings offers EIN filing as a standalone service with human-reviewed accuracy and includes it in its Standard plan, which costs $199 plus state fees and adds an operating agreement.
Key Features:
- EIN service: Its official EIN application page, updated in July 2026, notes that applying with the IRS is free and takes minutes online.
- Standard plan: $199 plus state fees, adding the EIN, an operating agreement, organizational minutes, and 3-business-day processing.
- Premium plan: $299 plus state fees, adding 1-business-day processing and unlimited attorney consultations.
- Track record: More than 600,000 businesses formed since 2015.
Pricing: Basic is $0 plus state fees and excludes the EIN and operating agreement. Standard and Premium are currently discounted by $30.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Founders who want two paperwork steps bundled.
How to Choose the Right LLC Formation Service
Free IRS EIN or paid: If you have an SSN or ITIN, the official IRS online application is free, so pay only for convenience. Bizee charges $70 standalone, and ZenBusiness includes it in Pro.
No SSN or ITIN: If you can’t apply online, choose a service that handles Form SS-4. doola includes it in Starter, and Zenind accepts foreign applicants.
EIN timing: If you want the EIN filed only after state approval, pick a service that sequences it. ZenBusiness files the EIN after the state approves your LLC.
Bundled paperwork: If you’d rather not handle the EIN and operating agreement separately, Swyft Filings includes both in its $199 Standard plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file all the LLC paperwork myself without any help?
Yes. You can file your state paperwork, write your operating agreement, and apply for your EIN on your own. ZenBusiness costs the same as DIY on Starter if you want your state filing reviewed.
How do I apply for an EIN for my LLC online through the official IRS site?
The online application is free, runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, and issues the EIN immediately. It can’t be saved and times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, so have your approved LLC name and the responsible party’s SSN or ITIN ready. Swyft Filings’ EIN page walks through the requirements.
Should I get my EIN before or after my LLC is approved?
After. The IRS says to form the entity with the state first, and applying early risks an EIN tied to a name the state rejects. ZenBusiness’s official EIN service page explains how it files after approval.
Can I apply for an EIN online without an SSN?
No. The online application requires a responsible party with an SSN or ITIN, so others file Form SS-4 by fax, which generally takes about 4 business days, or by mail, which takes several weeks. doola and Zenind both handle EINs for founders without an SSN.
Who can be the responsible party on an LLC’s EIN?
The individual who owns or controls the LLC, and the IRS doesn’t authorize nominees. Changing the responsible party later requires Form 8822-B within 60 days. Tailor Brands and Bizee both file EINs using the responsible party information you provide.
Conclusion
You can apply for your LLC’s EIN yourself for free, so these services differ on price and on who they help most. Bizee sells a $70 standalone EIN, Tailor Brands adds it for $99 with branding tools, doola and Zenind handle EINs for founders without an SSN, and Swyft Filings bundles it with an operating agreement at $199.
For founders asking whether they can file all the LLC paperwork themselves, ZenBusiness is the LLC Formation Service we recommend, because it costs the same as DIY on Starter and, in Pro, applies for the official IRS EIN only after state approval, the order the IRS recommends.
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