6 months ago · Updated 2 days ago
This LLC formation tool helps you choose the best state, compare services, and follow a step-by-step setup plan tailored to your business.
Find Your Best LLC Setup
in Under 2 Minutes
Answer 5 questions. Get your state recommendation, service comparison, real cost breakdown, and a post-formation roadmap — personalized to your business.
[llc_os_demo link="https://llcstarters.com/llc-tool/"]
What the tool gives you
Four Decisions. One Tool.
Most LLC guides leave you with generic advice. This tool gives you specific answers — filtered to your state, your business type, and your priorities.
State Recommendation
Tells you exactly which state to form in — home state, Wyoming, Delaware, or another — with the full reasoning behind it. Not "it depends." An actual answer.
Service Comparison
Compares Northwest Registered Agent, Bizee, and others side by side — filtered to what matters for your budget and priorities.
Real Cost Breakdown
Estimates selected Year 1 costs: state filing fee + service fee + registered agent. Licenses, taxes, publication and other obligations may add costs. The LLC cost calculator goes deeper if you need multi-state comparison.
Formation Roadmap
A step-by-step post-filing timeline specific to your state and business type. EIN, operating agreement, business bank account, BOI report, annual report deadline — in order.
How it works
6 Questions. 8 Steps. One Concrete Plan.
Each question filters the output. By the time you hit the last screen, the recommendation is specific to your situation — not a one-size-fits-all suggestion.
Welcome — Start your setup
The tool shows you what it covers and what you'll have at the end. Click Start My LLC Setup → to begin.
Step 1 — What do you need?
Start an LLC, compare services, reduce cost, non-US resident, privacy, or investor-ready. Your goal shapes everything that follows.
Step 2 — Where are you based?
US Resident or Outside the US. Non-US residents get a separate path covering Wyoming, Delaware, and New Mexico with EIN and banking guidance.
Step 3 — Which state?
Select your operating state. The tool immediately shows that state's filing fee, annual report cost, and flags expensive states like CA, NY, and MA.
Step 4 — Physical presence?
Office, staff, or inventory in that state — or fully online? This determines whether forming in another state is a real option for you.
Step 5 — Business type
Online, service, retail, real estate, or tech startup. Affects which compliance steps apply and which services the tool recommends.
Step 6 — Your priorities
Select up to 3: lowest cost, privacy protection, fast formation, compliance support, branding tools, or legal services. A founder who picks Privacy gets a different recommendation than one who picks Lowest cost.
Your Personalized Recommendation
After a brief loading screen, the tool returns two phases and a 4-tab results panel. Everything you need to form your LLC — in one place.
Your Recommended State — with filing fee, annual report, income tax status, and full reasoning.
Your Best LLC Setup — state + service + all-in Year 1 cost. One recommendation, no guessing.
Post-formation roadmap from Before Filing through Yearly Compliance — collapsed by default, expand phase by phase.
Each phase shows specific actions, why they matter, required documents, and direct links to tools and providers.
Who this tool is for
Three Situations. One Tool Handles All of Them.
US Resident — Not sure which state
For most US residents with a local business, the answer is your home state. But if you run a fully online business or care about privacy, the state question is more nuanced. The tool gives you a clear answer instead of "it depends."
Non-US Resident — Forming from abroad
Wyoming and Delaware are the two most common choices for international founders — for different reasons. The tool filters your options based on your residency, explains the tradeoffs, and covers banking and EIN guidance specific to non-US founders.
Anyone comparing services
The Compare Providers tab puts Northwest, Bizee, and others side by side with real pricing — not marketing copy. If you want to understand what each service includes before paying, use the comparison tab directly without completing the full questionnaire.
Next steps
What to Do After Using the Tool
The tool gives you a plan. Here's where each next step connects to a deeper guide.
Form your LLC
Use the service the tool recommended, or compare options in the full LLC formation guide if you want more context before deciding. Most services complete state filing in 1–5 business days.
Get your EIN
Apply free at IRS.gov in 10 minutes (US residents with SSN or ITIN). Read the full guide on how to get an EIN — including the IRS fax process for non-US founders. Never pay a formation service for this.
Open a business bank account
You need your Articles of Organization and EIN confirmation letter (CP 575). Full checklist in the guide on opening a business bank account for your LLC. Mercury and Relay work for both US and non-US founders.
Check your LLC name availability
Before you file, confirm your business name isn't already taken in your state. Use the LLC name availability checker to search your state's database directly.
Handle post-formation compliance
Annual report, BOI report with FinCEN, operating agreement, business licenses — the full list is in the guide on what to do after forming your LLC. The Timeline tab covers these by state.
Ready to form your LLC? Northwest Registered Agent is our top pick for founders who want privacy by default and real support — formation starts at $39 + your state filing fee, with a free year of registered agent service included.
Form Your LLC with Northwest → | Or Start Free with Bizee ($0 + state fee)