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Written by: Natalie Fell
Natalie is a business writer with experience in operations, HR, and training & development within the software, healthcare, and financial services sectors.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on August 13, 2022
Updated on April 9, 2024
If you’re starting an LLC in Washington, the business entity formation process is one of the first and most important hurdles. This step can be terribly complex and time-consuming, which is why many entrepreneurs turn to professional formation services.
But which are the best LLC formation services in Washington? This article takes a closer look, stepping into an entrepreneur’s shoes, to help you choose the service that puts you on the road to success.
Here we summarize our top picks for business formation services in Washington.
Best for Startups
Best Registered Agent Service
Best Turnaround Time
Best for Small Budget
Best Variety of Legal Services
Best for Ensuring Compliance
Best for Variety of Business-Essential Services
ZenBusiness provides diverse plans for those aiming to establish a Washington LLC. The Starter plan, priced at $0 plus Washington state fees, facilitates a business name availability search in Washington and completes the LLC formation process with comprehensive support.
For those opting for the Pro plan, at $199 plus Washington state fees, it encompasses all the offerings in the Starter plan and includes an operating agreement template suited for a Washington LLC, an EIN, an annual compliance service, and expedited filing.
The Premium plan, priced at $349 plus Washington state fees, incorporates all Pro plan services, supplemented with a business document template library, domain name, website, and professional email services tailored for Washington LLCs.
ZenBusiness stands out as the premier choice for Washington LLC formation due to its competitively priced foundational service, which includes LLC filing and a 100% accuracy guarantee starting at just $0 plus Washington’s state fees.
Moreover, ZenBusiness operates as a Public Benefit Corporation, symbolizing its commitment not just to profits but to societal benefits resembling the mission of nonprofits.
Beyond merely establishing a Washington LLC, ZenBusiness extends various supplemental services ranging from registered agent offerings to specialized business tools. While these services can adjust the overall cost, historically, ZenBusiness has consistently received favorable reviews from its customer base in Washington and beyond.
ZenBusiness offers valuable services for budding entrepreneurs. While registered agent services are an add-on, their excellent customer support, user-friendly site, and positive reviews make them a top choice.
Northwest’s offering for a Washington LLC is priced at $39 plus Washington state fees. This package encompasses the formation of your Washington LLC, complimentary registered agent services for the inaugural year, a designated business address within Washington, a customized operating agreement for Washington, and several additional features.
This plan presents considerable value, particularly for a Washington LLC. Both the registered agent services and the operating agreement, crucial elements for an LLC in Washington, are part of the package. However, it’s noteworthy that even if you decide against availing of the registered agent services, the complete plan’s pricing remains unchanged.
Northwest Registered Agent, as hinted by their name, has carved a niche for themselves primarily with their registered agent services, particularly in Washington. As registered agent service providers, they stand out with their tailored customer service for Washington LLCs and prompt notifications regarding correspondence.
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent because of their transparent pricing, outstanding customer service, and a commitment to maintaining your privacy. They pride themselves on personalizing their approach to meeting your registered agent needs, which are their specialty.
At just the cost of Washington state fees, Swyft Filings’ Basic package provides verification of your company name within Washington, preparation of the Certificate of Formation tailored for a Washington LLC, and filing these documents with the state of Washington. Additionally, clients receive online access to their documents and a promise of lifetime customer support.
For those looking to expand their services, the Standard package is available at $199 plus Washington state fees. This package encompasses all the offerings of the Basic package and further includes a custom operating agreement specific to Washington and a federal tax ID, or EIN. Moreover, customers will have access to custom banking resolution services and custom organizational minutes — essential tools to set up your inaugural meeting for your Washington LLC.
For businesses seeking comprehensive solutions, Swyft Filings’ Premium package, priced at $299 plus Washington state filing fees, rolls out everything in the Standard package and boasts the advantage of expedited filing within Washington. It also provides a rich business document library, timely compliance notifications for Washington LLCs, and a dedicated business domain name and website.
As a bonus, clients receive a digital LLC kit comprising a digital company “seal”, a ledger for meticulous tracking of ownership transfers, and bespoke ownership certificates suited for a Washington LLC.
Throughout its offerings, Swyft Filings maintains its reputation of impeccable customer support, further solidified by a consistent record of positive feedback from Washington LLC owners.
Swyft Filings offers fast processing but doesn’t include registered agent services in their packages, making additions somewhat costly. However, they provide good value overall and strong customer support.
Bizee provides various packages tailored to your needs. The Silver package, priced solely at Washington state fees, provides preparation and filing of the articles of organization, business banking account offer, unlimited name searches, a year of free registered agent services, lifetime company alerts keeping you updated on reporting due dates, and a business tax consultation. You’ll also get access to a personalized online dashboard and unlimited phone and email support.
The Gold package, at $199, enhances the Silver package with a Washington LLC-specific operating agreement template, banking resolution, an EIN tax number, and the filing of IRS Form 2553, which allows LLCs to reap the tax benefits of an S Corporation.
For Washington entrepreneurs seeking a comprehensive package, the Platinum package, priced at $299, includes everything in the Gold package with the advantage of free expedited filing, as well as a domain name and business email. You’ll also receive access to business contract templates, which can be extremely helpful for new business owners. There are over 25 different contracts, all created and reviewed by attorneys.
Bizee provides substantial value, especially with their Silver package that costs only state fees and includes a year of registered agent service. For first-time entrepreneurs looking to save, Bizee stands out in the competition.
The Basic plan, priced at Washington state fees only, provides a thorough business name availability search within Washington and comprehensive business formation services, coupled with unwavering customer support. Clients also benefit from a few exclusive extras, like a digital welcome packet and a business website tailored for Washington businesses. Notably, Washington LLC owners can access their formation documents online anytime, ensuring transparency and convenience.
Stepping up to the Pro plan at $249, LegalZoom offers everything present in the Basic plan, further augmented with vital services for a Washington LLC. This includes an operating agreement aligned with Washington’s regulations, an EIN, a business license guide designed for Washington’s landscape, and initial phone consultations with specialists knowledgeable about Washington LLC operations.
The Premium plan, available at $299, integrates everything from the Pro plan while adding significant value with unlimited 30-minute attorney consultations tailored for Washington LLC concerns. Additionally, changes to your Washington LLC are facilitated for 30 days, ensuring you have hands-on guidance from a business attorney familiar with Washington’s business landscape.
LegalZoom’s distinct edge lies in its array of supplementary legal services and documents, all crafted keeping the unique needs of a Washington LLC in mind.
LegalZoom’s services are easy to use and they offer great customer experience. They offer a wider variety of legal services and have been in business for more than 20 years. Overall, they’re a great one-stop shop for all of your business formation and legal needs.
Harbor Compliance provides a flexible approach tailored to Washington’s unique landscape. Instead of traditional business formation packages, they offer a la carte services. In Washington, business formation comes at a cost of $99, in addition to Washington state fees.
For Washington LLCs that require additional services, Harbor Compliance offers options like registered agent services, annual report filing, and EIN. Registered agent service is $99 annually ($50 off if you pay for five years upfront, $100 off if you pay for 10). Annual report filing services are available at a rate of $175 plus any associated Washington filing fees annually (you’ll get $250 off if you purchase ten years’ worth of annual report filing). The starting price for acquiring an EIN, crucial for business operations in Washington, is set at $99.
Beyond these core offerings, Harbor Compliance boasts a range of additional services tailored to the needs of a Washington LLC, including business license management tools.
Distinctively, Harbor Compliance ensures rapid processing for Washington businesses, standing out with a broader service spectrum than many of its competitors. Their registered agent services, particularly relevant for Washington LLCs, are competitively priced, emphasizing both value and quality.
Harbor Compliance provides extensive services, including comprehensive annual compliance and business license guidance, surpassing competitors. Though on the pricier side, they cater to most needs of new business owners.
Tailor Brands provides a variety of packages designed with Washington’s entrepreneurial environment in mind. The Lite plan, priced at $49 plus Washington state fees, encompasses business formation within the state of Washington, accompanied by the standard state processing times that Washington businesses can expect.
Upgrading to the Essential plan, Washington LLCs can enjoy an array of additional perks at $199 annually. This includes the crucial annual compliance service tailored to Washington’s regulatory landscape, a custom operating agreement suitable for Washington LLC structures, and expedited processing to fast-track your Washington business setup.
For those looking for a comprehensive solution, the Elite plan, designed for Washington businesses, comes in at $249 annually. It not only includes services like domain name acquisition but also provides eight distinct logos and a business website builder, essential for Washington businesses aiming for a digital presence.
What sets Tailor Brands apart, especially for Washington LLCs, is its emphasis on modern business tools. With offerings like a logo maker, a dedicated website, and domain name services, it caters specifically to the digital age needs of new businesses in Washington.
Tailor Brands’ plans are a decent value, but the main reason that we chose them for the list is the extensive business tools they offer. If you can overcome their aggressive sales tactics, you can access a variety of services to meet all your business needs.
A business formation service handles the business formation process for you, making it nearly seamless while offering additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner. Whether you’re forming a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, a business formation service takes care of all the red tape, freeing you up to focus on growing your business.
With so many business formation services to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. There are four essential elements that can help you make your decision.
Each service offers various products and services, and their plans are all designed differently. You may need some services but not others, so you need to choose the service that offers everything you need. For example, only some of the providers offer annual report filing.
If it’s important to you to get that task off your plate, you’ll want a service that offers that feature. Another feature you might need is a digital dashboard where you can always access your business formation documents.
You’ll want to choose a service that has everything you need to make starting and running your business as easy as possible.
Of course, you’ll want to get the best value for your money!
Compare the cost of each service for everything you need. The price can really add up when you start adding extras, so be careful not to go too far. You also want to get good value and great customer service, so if you’re considering the cheapest service, check the reviews to see how people feel about it.
Business formation turnaround times vary with each service, so if you’re in a hurry to get your business up and running, you’ll want to look for the quickest service. You don’t want your order to sit in an office for too long before your paperwork gets filed with the state. Some services differentiate themselves with fast turnaround times, so if they also offer good value, that might be your best choice.
One good way to learn about the quality of anything you’re buying is to listen to what people are saying about it. When we review services we look at Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot ratings and reviews. You should look at both positive and negative reviews to find out what people love about the service and about issues customers have encountered.
Remember that fake reviews are common, so you’ll have to take some of the reviews with a grain of salt.
As an entrepreneurial advisory site, we take our responsibilities seriously. We understand that countless entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, rely on our judgments and insights, particularly when it comes to creating their business.
As a result, our writers do their utmost to gain a comprehensive understanding of the services offered and the actual customer experience. In nearly every case, we:
Thanks to this full immersion in the actual customer experience, our reviewers are able to provide the most complete and insightful analysis of various LLC formation services.
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