Online LLC & Corporate Formation

Top 3 Online Legal Service Providers for 2023

Get the legal protection of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or corporation and your Federal EIN number in a matter of minutes online. Avoid the high cost of hiring an attorney by using an online, step-by-step process that is fast, simple and affordable.

** Note: We reviewed the top 3 online Legal Service Providers with Google review scores of 4.5 stars or higher. You really can't go wrong in your final selection.

Very Good

92

8.5 ZenBusiness - Fast formation with worry-free services and support

Starts at $0 + state fees

Expert support and fast online filing

Registered Agent with worry-free compliance

100% accuracy and no hidden fees

Can assist with LLC, S Corp & C Corp formations

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Very Good

93 Northwest Registered Agent- Top notch professional assistance for your business formation

Live assistance and same day business filing

Registered Agent service only $39 + state fees

LLC formations as well as C corp and S corp

No markup on State fees

View Site

Very Good

98

8.5 Incfile- Form an LLC, C Corp, S Corp or a Non Profit

Get your domain name + business email

24/7 friendly customer service, NOT a salesperson, lifetime customer support

Free Registered Agent Service for one year

Trademark assistance, Articles of Organization, operating agreement, business banking account

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FAQ's

+ What are online legal services?

Online legal services are a convenient and affordable way to get legal help. They are also a way to connect with independent experts who can offer tailored legal services on an as-needed basis.

For example, if you need help forming an LLC or s-corporation, the site may connect you with an expert who can guide you through the process and answer any questions that come up along the way.

If you’re searching for low-cost lawyers, online legal services may be just the thing for you. Online legal service sites allow users to get legal help from experts at a fraction of what it would cost to hire a full-service law firm.

+ What Is an LLC?

Limited liability companies (LLCs) are a popular form of legal business structure for small businesses. They're also often used by large corporations as well.

An LLC is a business entity that combines the advantages of a corporation, such as limited liability for shareholders, with the tax benefits of a partnership or sole proprietorship.

LLCs offer their owners limited liability protection, which means that they're not held personally responsible for any debts or claims against the company.

This is similar to what most corporation owners enjoy but unlike what most sole proprietors and partners enjoy in their relationships with their own business ventures.

This means that if your business fails, creditors can't go after your personal assets like your home and bank accounts. An LLC also offers flexibility in management and taxation compared to other types of businesses such as corporations or partnerships.

The most common form of LLC is called a single-member LLC. In this type of organization, only one person — the owner — has an ownership interest in the company. However, there can also be multi-member LLCs where multiple people own parts (called membership interests).

One final note regarding self-employment taxes. Just like S Corps, Each member of a multi-member LLCs must pay self-employment taxes on their share of the LLC's profits. Even if LLC members leave some of their distributive share in the business, they must pay self-employment tax on their entire share of the profits.

+ S Corps versus C Corps

There are two types of corporations: S corporations and C corporations.

S Corporations are treated like partnerships for tax purposes and pass through all business income or loss to their shareholders, who then report it on their personal returns.

The advantage of this structure is that all of the losses generated by the company can be used to offset other sources of income, which can reduce your overall tax liability.

C corporations are subject to double taxation: The corporation pays taxes on its profits and then pays again when those profits are distributed as dividends to shareholders. However, there are ways around this problem: You can make charitable contributions out of corporate funds or take advantage of other tax breaks.

Because of this, it's typically more expensive for a small business to operate as a C corporation than as an S corporation.

Another difference between an S corp versus a C corp is that, in an S corp, shareholders are also responsible for paying self-employment tax on any profits they receive from the company.

In a C corp, no payroll taxes are due at the corporate level, but they're passed through to individual shareholders who pay them on their individual returns.