6 Best LLC Formation Services in Pennsylvania: Picks for 2024

Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Pennsylvania offers significant benefits, including a business-friendly tax climate and easy access to major markets like New York City and Washington D.C. To capitalize on these advantages, setting up your LLC correctly is crucial. This is where professional LLC formation services come in to streamline the process and ensure compliance with Pennsylvania-specific requirements, such as filing annual reports (starting in 2025) and docketing statements.

With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which service offers the best value and support for your specific needs. Some services provide extensive legal and tax advice, while others focus on fast processing times and transparent pricing. To help you make an informed decision, I’ve reviewed the most popular LLC formation providers in the Keystone State, focusing on their unique features and benefits.

After thoroughly researching and comparing various services, I found that ZenBusiness stands out as the top choice for LLC formation in Pennsylvania. With its step-by-step guidance, comprehensive support, and competitive pricing, ZenBusiness offers a balanced package catering to new and experienced business owners. Keep reading to discover more about ZenBusiness and other top-rated LLC formation services that can help you successfully start your business in Pennsylvania.

What We Look For in the Best LLC Formation Services in Pennsylvania

During my research, I focused on specific features crucial for forming an LLC in Pennsylvania, as well as general features essential for any business. I considered these key features:

• Detailed step-by-step instructions. Forming an LLC involves multiple legal and administrative tasks. I’ve only included services that provide easy-to-understand step-by-step guidance to simplify the process.
• Transparent cost breakdown. Knowing the full financial commitment upfront helps you budget and plan effectively, preventing any unexpected costs from derailing your business.
• Legal considerations and tax implications. Insight into specific legal requirements helps you comply with state regulations without needing a lawyer. Understanding tax benefits and obligations also helps you manage finances and take advantage of any state-specific tax incentives for LLCs.
• Compliance and reporting. Guidance on maintaining compliance and annual reporting helps you stay on top of necessary filings and avoid penalties.

1. ZenBusiness: Best Step-by-Step Pennsylvania LLC Formation With Continuous Support1

ZenBusiness excels in Pennsylvania with its thorough step-by-step LLC formation process that’s convenient if you’re new to forming an LLC and want clarity and ease. The easy-to-use platform walks you through each stage with a few quick questions about your business, your preferred LLC package, and recommended products. It simplifies the filing of your Certificate of Organization and includes all the necessary details.

Transparent pricing is another strong suit. ZenBusiness offers packages starting at $01 plus state fees, with higher tiers providing added benefits like rush filing and online tools. You’ll appreciate knowing exactly what you’re paying for without hidden costs, making it easier to budget for your new business. I appreciate that, for example, the Pro plan includes an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and the fastest filing speed available, even though it’s not the most expensive plan.

Compliance monitoring stands out for ongoing support. ZenBusiness’ user-friendly dashboard helps you manage deadlines, access business license reports, and stay on top of annual report filings. However, one thing to look out for is that the live chat can sometimes glitch, and email support can take a full day to get back to you. Even though customer support is good, I wouldn’t call it excellent.

Features

• ZenBusiness Academy. You’ll have access to articles, videos, and FAQs designed to make the process straightforward and understandable.
• Website builder. Even though it can’t make a complete e-commerce store, ZenBusiness’ proprietary business website builder is a nice offering. You also get email services for your firm, as well as a domain name for your website.
• Speed of service. You can start your business operations as soon as possible with ZenBusiness’ rush filing service, which has an average filing speed of 3–4 days. If you’re not in a hurry and prefer to save money, the entry-level Starter plan files your LLC paperwork in 2–3 weeks.
• 100% accuracy guarantee. You can expect accurate and error-free document filing from ZenBusiness. It will also correct any paperwork mistakes at no additional cost.

Read our expert ZenBusiness review for more details.

2. Tailor Brands: Customizable Branding and Pennsylvania LLC Formation Packages1

Tailor Brands offers a range of customizable options that make forming and branding your LLC in Pennsylvania super easy. The platform allows you to tailor your branding with AI-driven tools1, including logo creation, social media graphics, and business cards. I like how it provides everything you need for a professional brand identity alongside your LLC formation.

Tailor Brands simplifies compliance by helping you file annual reports, Operating Agreements, and your EIN, so you can meet all Pennsylvania legal requirements efficiently and focus more on your business. However, most of these features are only included in the paid plans, so I recommend them if you want more than just basic LLC formation.

The platform is designed to be user-friendly, and the support team is responsive. Our reviewer received a response to their email within an hour, which is great considering the advertised 24–48 hour response window. You can also contact support if you want extra services, like having Tailor Brands professionals design your website.

Features

• Registered Agent services. You can designate Tailor Brands as your Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP), so you never miss important legal documents or deadlines and your personal address stays private.
• The Finance Manager program. For an extra fee, Tailor Brands helps you track your finances, from income and expenses to mileage and taxes.
• Website compliance features. Add and customize a privacy page and cookie notifications on your website using Tailor Brands’ website editor to inform your customers how you store and use collected data.
• Compliance monitoring. Receive an email from Tailor Brands before your next annual report due date and track the next filings and report status in the dashboard.

Read our detailed Tailor Brands review for more information.

3. LegalZoom: Comprehensive Legal and LLC Formation Services in Pennsylvania1

LegalZoom excels in document preparation and filing for LLC formation in Pennsylvania. It offers three main packages: Basic (free plus state fees), Pro, and Premium. Each package includes essential services like a business name availability search and a Digital Welcome Packet that contains your Certificate of Organization and a step-by-step checklist of what to do after forming your LLC.

Besides LLC formation essentials, LegalZoom’s Basic plan1 gives you a customizable Wix website and access to its legal form library. However, these are the only special features you can get with the free plan. If you want to use more of LegalZoom’s compliance, legal, and small business services, you can either upgrade your plan or pay separately for add-ons.

LegalZoom’s higher-tier plans provide extensive business tax and insurance guidance from experienced professionals. If you opt for the Premium plan, you get an unlimited 30-minute call per legal matter with a vetted attorney from LegalZoom’s directory. This is especially helpful if you’re in a business with legal intricacies, such as copyright.

Features

• Transparent and flexible pricing. LegalZoom offers clear and upfront pricing for its LLC formation services. Plus, you can pay your registration fees in 3 equal monthly payments instead of upfront.
• Comprehensive Article Center. Besides business formation, the Article Center covers various topics such as intellectual property, US law, and business management. It also offers articles in Spanish.
• Compliance service. LegalZoom helps you complete your annual reports and amendments and sends you personalized alerts if you need to submit requirements and meet deadlines.
• Founder’s Kit. Receive your essential business documents, including your Certificate of Organization and formation papers, organized in a binder with your business name.

Read our in-depth LegalZoom review for more details.

4. Northwest Registered Agent: Reliable Pennsylvania Registered Agent for Added Privacy1

Business transactions often feel impersonal, especially when dealing with online companies. However, forming your new Pennsylvania LLC is a deeply personal milestone. Northwest Registered Agent stands out by adding a personal touch to the process. When you select it to help form your LLC, you’ll receive a dedicated Corporate Guide, a local business expert you can reach out to if you need help with filing forms and annual reports.

Northwest Registered Agent offers free business tools that you can use to start your LLC. But if you can’t DIY, you can hire its LLC service for $39.00 to file your LLC paperwork and act as your CROP (or Registered Agent) for free for 1 year. This is a good deal since you don’t often see Registered Agent services included for free in other LLC formation services. However, take note that it lacks comprehensive legal and accounting services.

Northwest Registered Agent goes further to protect your privacy by keeping all operations in-house. Nothing is outsourced to third-party entities; instead, it has its own IT team, customer service, servers, and legal teams. It guarantees your data is never sold, and you won’t need to take extra steps to prevent it.

Features

• Free domain, website, email, and business phone. When you sign up for Northwest Registered Agent’s LLC formation service, you get a free domain for the first year. You also get free business website hosting, phone number, and email address for the first 90 days.
• Same-day scans. Northwest Registered Agent scans every legal document the same day it’s received. You can access these documents online and receive notifications for unread mail.
• Compliance tools and reminders. Northwest Registered Agent provides tools and reminders to help you stay compliant with Pennsylvania state regulations. This includes alerts for annual reports and other essential filings.
• Trademark service. If you want to protect your brand’s intellectual property, Northwest Registered Agent’s attorneys will review and file your trademark application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Read our expert Northwest Registered Agent review for more details.

5. Bizee (Incfile): Quick LLC Formation in Pennsylvania With Budget-Friendly Pricing1

Bizee (formerly Incfile) offers a streamlined process for LLC formation in Pennsylvania, providing detailed instructions for each step. Its platform guides you through choosing a unique business name, securing a business address, designating a CROP, and filing your Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

One of Bizee’s key strengths is its clear and upfront pricing. The Basic package is $0 plus state fees, which includes free CROP services for the first year and lifetime compliance alerts, making it highly cost-effective. The Standard and Premium packages add services like EIN registration, Operating Agreement filing, and express shipping, all clearly priced without hidden fees.

Bizee’s support team is available through email and phone. However, the reliability and responsiveness of its assistance depends on the agent who handles your inquiry, so I advise you to try to find the answers on the website first.

Features

• Educational materials and guides. Bizee provides a wealth of educational materials and guides, including a PDF library.
• Fast processing times. With expedited service options, Bizee ensures quick processing of your LLC formation. For Pennsylvania LLCs, the expedited option takes 5 business days and costs $50.
• Comprehensive client dashboard. Access the dashboard from Bizee’s website to view business documents, track order progress, view filing deadlines, and receive reminders for annual reports.
• Additional services. Bizee offers additional services such as business banking and bookkeeping.

Read my colleague’s Bizee review for more details.

6. Swyft Filings: Efficient Document Preparation and Pennsylvania LLC Filing Services1

Swyft Filings offers a highly user-friendly website and application process. I recommend it if you’re a first-time Pennsylvania LLC owner who may be anxious about “getting it all right” and filing formation paperwork without errors. You can complete the signup process in just a few minutes, and the client dashboard is equally easy to navigate.

The Basic package, starting at $0 plus state fees, includes essential services like name availability searches and document filing with the Department of State. The Standard and Premium packages offer additional features such as EIN application and expedited filing. You can even get a Web.com website and domain package for a year, which can help you kickstart your LLC’s brand identity.

The Premium package also includes a 14-day free trial of ComplianceGuard, which gives you a free annual report, a free amendment, deadline notifications, and unlimited access to creating meeting minutes. However, after the short trial period, you’ll have to pay more – about half the price of the Premium package – to continue using the compliance tool. For the same price, you can already get ZenBusiness’ Pro plan with its Worry-Free Compliance feature.

Features

• Accessible and knowledgeable support staff. Every LLC formation plan guarantees lifetime support through chat, phone, and email.
• Extensive library of guides and FAQs. Swyft Filings’ Learning Center contains guides to help you launch, market, and manage your LLC. It also has a dedicated page for entrepreneurship and business trend reports.
• Assistance with post-formation steps. Swyft Filings helps you with compliance, privacy, and tax essentials, such as obtaining a virtual mailbox and filing a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report.
• Attorney-drafted legal and business documents. You can download, customize, and e-sign over 250 documents, such as hiring contracts and non-disclosure agreements.

Read our expert Swyft Filings review for more information.

Choose the Best LLC Formation Service for Your Business Needs

Choosing the right service depends on your specific business requirements and how much of the paperwork you’re willing to do yourself. Here are my top recommendations:

If you’re looking for easy-to-understand business formation services and compliance and tax tools, ZenBusiness is my top recommendation1. It guides you through the LLC formation process, which is perfect if you’re a new entrepreneur.

If simplicity and ease of use are your main priorities, consider Tailor Brands1 instead. Tailor Brands is great if you need a quick and user-friendly way to establish your small business’s brand identity.

If you’d rather have extensive legal services and support, go with LegalZoom1. It gives you everything you need for legal compliance and documentation, plus access to legal advice for various business needs.

FAQ

How do I form an LLC in Pennsylvania?

To form an LLC in Pennsylvania, you need to choose a unique name for your LLC and file a Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Additionally, you must designate a Registered Office using your business address or through a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP), create an Operating Agreement, and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. A service like ZenBusiness can do all this for you.

What are the costs associated with forming and maintaining an LLC in Pennsylvania?

The costs associated with forming an LLC in Pennsylvania include a $125 filing fee for the Certificate of Organization. Other potential costs may include fees for hiring an LLC formation service and a Commercial Registered Office Provider (or Registered Agent), as well as optional legal, accounting, and compliance services. Plus, you’ll need to pay $7 each year for your annual report. Many LLC formation services offer free LLC formation help, so these might be your only costs.

Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC in Pennsylvania, or can I do it myself?

You can form an LLC in Pennsylvania yourself by following the state’s guidelines and filing the necessary paperwork. However, consulting with a lawyer or using an LLC formation service with legal assistance can ensure you file your LLC paperwork correctly and help you with complex issues.

What are the tax benefits and obligations of forming an LLC in Pennsylvania?

The tax benefits of forming an LLC in Pennsylvania include pass-through taxation, where profits and losses pass through to your personal tax return to help avoid double taxation and reduce business expenses. Tax obligations include paying federal self-employment taxes, filing state and federal tax returns, paying the annual report fee, and complying with local tax regulations. To keep track of your taxes, you can hire an LLC formation service provider with tax advice services.

Where can I find additional resources and support for forming an LLC in Pennsylvania?

You can consult our detailed article on how to start an LLC in Pennsylvania. You can find additional resources and support for forming an LLC in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Department of State, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), which offers mentoring and workshops. Legal and accounting professionals specializing in LLC formation can also provide valuable assistance.