Florida LLC · Photography
"The $400 May 1 penalty trap caught my last business. File.Business auto-files our annual report 14 days early now. Compliance score stays at 100%."
Composite founder · Solo studio owner
Saved $400/yr
Filing live in all 51 jurisdictions · 99.98% uptime
Index · File.Business
Form your business for $0.
Run it for less than your phone bill.
Free LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit formation. State filing fee passed through at cost. Then $99-$699 per year for registered agent, annual reports, and compliance monitoring for the entire business.
$0 service fee on formation
No credit card to start
60-day money-back guarantee
M
A
J
S
220,000+ businesses formed
★★★★★ 4.9 from 8,200+ verified reviews
★★★★★ 4.9 from 8,200+ verified reviews
02 · Manage
Manage a business
Registered Agent, document vault, multi-entity dashboard, team access, ownership updates.
Manage filings →
03 · Stay Compliant
Stay compliant
Annual reports auto-filed in all 51 jurisdictions. Registered Agent, S-Corp, EIN tracking. Penalty-free guarantee.
See compliance plans →
04 · Grow
Grow a business
Foreign qualification, entity conversion, mergers, trademark, multi-state expansion.
Plan growth →
$0
Free
formation service
51
Jurisdictions
filed in-house
220K+
Businesses
formed since launch
4.9★
Rating
8,200+ verified reviews
4.9 · 8,200+ reviews220,000+ Formed51 JurisdictionsE&O Insured · carrier on requestSOC 2 Type II · 2025 report
Trusted by businesses across 21 industries
E-commerce
Real Estate
Tech / SaaS
Consulting
Freelance
Nonprofits
Healthcare
Funded Startups
Agencies
Restaurants
Financial Svcs
International
How free formation works
$0 service fee. State filing fee at cost. 5 minutes from now to "filed."
No hidden charges, no upsells gating the basics, no $300 "registered agent" tacked onto formation. Free really means free.
0
businesses formed
since 2017
since 2017
0
average rating
from 8,200+ reviews
from 8,200+ reviews
0
US states + DC
covered
covered
$0
service fee
for formation
for formation
$0 to start. 5 minutes to file. Then we handle the rest.
You give us your business name and state. We handle the filing, the operating agreement, the EIN, and the ongoing compliance work.
1
Pick your name and state
Tell us your business name and what state you want to form in. We check name availability instantly across all 51 jurisdictions.
2
We file the paperwork
Articles of Organization filed with the state Secretary of State. Operating agreement drafted. EIN applied for. BOI report prepped if you are foreign-formed.
3
We keep you compliant
Pick a compliance plan and we track every deadline: annual reports in all 51 jurisdictions, BOI updates, S-Corp deadlines, state tax filings. Penalty-free guarantee.
All your entities, every deadline, one dashboard
Track compliance across LLCs, corporations, and subsidiaries. Auto-file annual reports in all 51 jurisdictions. Get alerted to BOI updates, S-Corp deadlines, and state tax filings before they cost you.
file.business/dashboard
Entities
3
In good standing
3
Days to next deadline
23
Upcoming compliance
DE annual report · Lattice Compute
Q1 quarterly tax estimate
WY annual fee · PW Holdings
Form 1120-S filed · Olsen Strategy
BOI updated · Lattice Compute
Pricing
Subscribe to the workspace. File on demand.
The Business OS is your subscription. Filings are billed per filing. State fees passed through at cost.
Just want alerts? Compliance Monitoring is $9/mo ($79/yr) per entity →
See full pricing, per-filing rates, and the 51-state fee table →
Free interactive tools
Run the math before you start.
Quick answers on whether to form an LLC, when to elect S-Corp, real state-by-state cost.
Entity Type Quiz
LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp · 5 questions to your answer.
S-Corp Savings
See how much SE tax you'd save with an S-Corp election.
Formation Cost
Real total cost of forming in any state · fees included.
SE Tax Calculator
2026 self-employment tax on your net earnings.
Name Generator
Combine industry + style + structure for 50+ ideas.
Sales Tax Lookup
State + local sales tax rates by state.
Payroll Tax
Employer-side burden: FICA + FUTA + SUTA + WC.
Annual Report Dates
Due dates and fees by state.
What it actually costs to form your business
Pick your state. We show our service price, the state's filing fee, and your year-one total. No hidden costs.
Filing fees vary by state. We never mark them up.
Our service
$0
Formation included
State filing fee
$0
Paid at cost
Year 1 total
$0
+ annual report
Select a state to see your year-one cost.
Why founders pick File.Business
The only platform that's free to start AND runs your business after.
LegalZoom files. ZenBusiness charges $349/yr for the same basics. Stripe Atlas only serves Delaware C-Corps. We do all of it, in all 51 jurisdictions, for less.
For your industry
Pick your situation. Get the right setup.
Five US business structures, ranked across the decisions that matter
Liability protection, tax treatment, ownership rules, fundraising readiness, ongoing compliance. The matrix we walk every customer through before they form.
LLC vs C-Corp vs S-Corp vs Nonprofit vs Professional Corporation
Factor
LLC
C-Corp
S-Corp
Nonprofit
PC / PLLC
Personal liability shield
✓
✓
✓
✓
Partial
Owner personally liable for own malpractice
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Yes
Pass-through taxation
✓ default
✗
✓
✓ tax-exempt
Optional
SE tax savings (vs sole prop)
By default no
N/A
✓ Major
N/A
Vian S-Corp election
Can issue stock to VCs
✗
✓ Required
Limited (100 shareholders, no entities)
✗
✗
Foreign owners allowed
✓
✓
✗ Only US persons
✓
Licensed pros only
Annual report (most states)
Some states
✓ Usually yes
✓ Usually yes
✓ + Form 990
✓ Plus license renewal
Typical setup time
1-15 business days
1-15 business days
+ Form 2553 election
3-9 months (1023)
+ Board pre-approval
File.Business formation
$0 service
$0 service
$0 service
$0 service
$0 service
One platform. Every state. Real filing data.
Click any state to see live filing fees, processing time, annual report requirements, and 2025 BOI status. The same data we use when we file for you.
Filing speed by state
Same / 1-3 days
5-10 days
2-4 weeks
Northeast quick-pick
State fees passed through at cost·
Live data, updated quarterly·
All 51 jurisdictions filed in-house·
Penalty-free guarantee on auto-filings
Every compliance deadline your business actually hits
State annual reports, federal income tax, payroll filings, estimated quarterly tax, S-Corp election, BOI reporting. Color-coded by category, re-verified quarterly.
Compliance calendar
Year 2026, every recurring deadline color-coded by categoryJanuary5
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November0
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Event-driven, not on the grid: BOI updates within 30 days of any beneficial-ownership change. Initial Report in CA, GA, NM within 90 days of formation. S-Corp election 2 months 15 days after formation.
Every state's annual report deadline
AK
Alaska
Jan 2
MI
Michigan
Feb 15
AL
Alabama
Mar 15
DE
Delaware (Corp)
Mar 1
VT
Vermont
Mar 15
DC
DC
Apr 1
GA
Georgia
Apr 1
IA
Iowa
Apr 1
KS
Kansas
Apr 15
MD
Maryland
Apr 15
MS
Mississippi
Apr 15
MT
Montana
Apr 15
NE
Nebraska
Apr 1
NH
New Hampshire
Apr 1
NC
North Carolina
Apr 15
PA
Pennsylvania
Apr 30
TN
Tennessee
Apr 1
AR
Arkansas
May 1
FL
Florida
May 1
RI
Rhode Island
May 1 to Nov 1
TX
Texas
May 15
DE
Delaware (LLC)
Jun 1
KY
Kentucky
Jun 30
ME
Maine
Jun 1
WV
West Virginia
Jul 1
ND
North Dakota
Aug 1
MN
Minnesota
Dec 31
AZ
Arizona
Anniversary
CA
California
Anniversary
CO
Colorado
Anniversary
CT
Connecticut
Anniversary
HI
Hawaii
Anniversary quarter
ID
Idaho
Anniversary
IL
Illinois
Anniversary
IN
Indiana
Anniversary
LA
Louisiana
Anniversary
MA
Massachusetts
Anniversary
MO
Missouri
Anniversary
NV
Nevada
Anniversary month
NJ
New Jersey
Anniversary month
NM
New Mexico
Anniversary
NY
New York
Anniversary
OK
Oklahoma
Anniversary
OR
Oregon
Anniversary
SD
South Dakota
Anniversary
UT
Utah
Anniversary
VA
Virginia
Anniversary
WA
Washington
Anniversary
WI
Wisconsin
Anniversary quarter
WY
Wyoming
Anniversary
OH
Ohio
No AR
SC
South Carolina
No AR
One number that tells you whether your business is in good standing
Pulled from federal, state, tax, and beneficial-ownership status across every entity you operate. Powered by the same data we file with. Updates daily.
Auto-cycling demo . click any entity to pause
0
of 100
Calculating.
+4 this month
-
Federal filings 100Up to date
Form 1120 filed Mar 14, accepted by IRS Mar 16. Next return due Apr 15 next year. No federal payroll obligations on file.
-
State annual report 72Due in 8 days
Delaware annual franchise tax due March 1. Score will hit 100 the morning after the state stamps the filing. Late filing triggers a $200 state late fee plus 1.5% monthly interest.
-
Registered agent 100Active . File.Business RA
File.Business has been the Registered Agent on record since Jan 12. No service of process scanned in the last 90 days. Next subscription renewal Jan 12 next year.
-
Tax estimates 95On schedule
Q1 estimated payment of $12,400 made Apr 14, one day ahead. Q2 due Jun 15. Score loses 5 points until Q2 confirms on the IRS portal. Set up auto-pay to lock this at 100.
-
BOI status (FinCEN) 100Exempt under 2025 IFR
Acme Holdings LLC qualifies as a US-formed entity with no foreign reporting-company status. Exempt under the FinCEN 2025 Interim Final Rule. If beneficial ownership changes, you have 30 days to report.
-
Multi-state nexus 85Review recommended
Foreign-qualified in California and New York. Texas revenue passed $500k last quarter, approaching California sales-tax nexus threshold. Foreign qualification recommended within 60 days to avoid back-tax exposure.
The 72 in state annual report is your Delaware franchise tax due in 8 days. Compliance Annual Filings ($129/yr) files it automatically 14 days before due. The score will hit 100 the morning after submission.
Every filing, traceable from submission to state seal
The same status view your customers see in the dashboard. Five stages, color-coded, with timestamps. No "we'll let you know" black box.
Filing #FB-2026-04812 · Acme Holdings LLC · Delaware
Your filing is in progress
State of Delaware Division of Corporations · Expected acceptance: same business day
1
Drafted
2:14 PM ET
2
Reviewed
2:31 PM ET
3
Submitted
2:46 PM ET
4
State accepted
Pending
5
Documents delivered
Pending
Entity typeLLC
StateDelaware
State fee paid$110.00
Our service fee$0.00
Estimated acceptanceToday by 5 PM ET
EIN statusQueued (issues after state acceptance)
What forming an LLC actually costs, ranked by state
Top 10 states by formation volume. State filing fee, annual report fee, processing speed, 3-year total. All state fees passed through at cost · our $0 service fee applies regardless.
Top 10 LLC formation states · 2026
| State | Formation fee ▼ | Annual report | Speed | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware (DE) | $110 | $300 | Same day | $1010 |
| Wyoming (WY) | $100 | $60 | Same day | $280 |
| California (CA) | $70 | $20 | 3-5 days | $130 |
| Texas (TX) | $300 | $0 | Same day | $300 |
| Florida (FL) | $125 | $138.75 | Same day | $541 |
| New York (NY) | $200 | $9 | 7-10 days | $227 |
| Nevada (NV) | $425 | $350 | Same day | $1475 |
| Illinois (IL) | $150 | $75 | 7-10 days | $375 |
| Ohio (OH) | $99 | $0 | 3-5 days | $99 |
| Washington (WA) | $200 | $60 | 5-7 days | $380 |
3-year total = formation fee + (annual report fee × 3). Excludes our $0 formation service fee + $99 annual report service ($129/yr auto-renew). Excludes state franchise taxes (CA $800/yr LLC, TN $300/yr minimum, etc.).
One platform. Every filing. Every state.
File.Business is built around four pillars that work together: formation, compliance, registered agent, and growth. Each pillar connects to specialized services your business will need over its lifetime.
Start. Manage. Stay Compliant. Grow. Exit.
Every stage of a US business has services, deadlines, and decisions. File.Business is the operating system that runs through all of them · not just the formation moment.
1
Form
Days 1-15- Name + state selection
- Articles of Organization
- EIN from IRS
- Operating Agreement
- Business banking
2
Manage
Days 16+ ongoing- Registered Agent
- Document vault
- Officer + address updates
- Member changes
- Multi-entity dashboard
3
Stay Compliant
Annual + recurring- Annual reports auto-filed
- BOI for foreign-formed
- S-Corp election timing
- Franchise tax
- Compliance Monitoring
4
Grow
Year 1-5- Foreign qualification
- Entity conversion
- Mergers + restructure
- Trademark + IP
- Multi-state expansion
5
Exit / Dissolve
When ready- Foreign entity withdrawal
- Business dissolution
- Final tax filings
- Record retention
- Clean state records
The numbers behind a Business Operating System you can trust
Real metrics from real customers across 51 jurisdictions and 90+ countries. Updated daily.
The numbers behind a business operating system you can trust
Audited, accredited, encrypted, insured. The complete picture of what makes File.Business safe to run your business on.
SOC 2 Type II
Audited
Independent annual audit. Report available under NDA for enterprise customers.
BBB Accredited
A+
Better Business Bureau accredited business with public dispute resolution policy.
Businesses formed
220,000+
Across all 50 states + DC. Single-member LLCs to multi-entity holding structures.
Verified customer rating
4.9 ★
Customer rating from verified-formation customers, audited annually.
E&O insurance
$5M
Professional liability coverage. Penalty-free guarantee covers state late fees from our error.
Jurisdictional coverage
51
All 50 states plus DC. Filing direct with each Secretary of State; no middleman.
International founders
90+
Countries. Foreign founders without SSN supported via IRS fax-EIN channel.
This is what running a business on File.Business actually looks like
Eight modules of the Business Operating System. Click any tab to see the real product screen.
Step 1 of 8 · Formation
Pick your entity, pick your state, see fees instantly
Side-by-side state comparisons with live fee totals, formation timelines, ongoing compliance load, and tax implications. Entity quiz available if you are unsure. Same flow for first entities and serial founders launching their tenth.
- Real-time name availability across all 51 jurisdictions
- State recommendation engine factors industry, residency, tax goals
- Foreign-founder ready: no SSN required, ITIN guidance built in
From "I want to start a business" to fully compliant in five steps
Each step has a target time, a status indicator, and a clear owner. We do most of it. You sign and approve.
1
5 minutes · You
Pick name + state
Instant name availability across 51 jurisdictions. Our quiz suggests the right state if you are unsure.
2
24 hours · We file
Articles of Organization
$0 service fee. State fee at cost. Same-day in DE, WY, NV, FL, TX. Other states in 5 to 15 business days.
3
Instant (US) / 4 days (intl) · We file
EIN from the IRS
Free, filed direct with the IRS. International founders without SSN: we fax Form SS-4 and get your EIN in 4 business days.
4
Same day · You + bank
Open business banking
Mercury, Relay, Chase, or Brex. Pre-filled with your formation documents. International-founder accounts at Mercury and Relay.
5
Ongoing · We track + file
Stay compliant
Annual reports auto-filed in all 51 jurisdictions. BOI tracking for foreign-owned entities. Penalty-free guarantee on Pro+.
What you actually get
A clear timeline. No surprises.
In
5 min
5 min
Submitted
- Business name reserved
- State filing submitted
- BOI report prepared
In
24 hrs
24 hrs
Approved
- Articles approved (DE, WY, NV, TX same-day)
- EIN issued (US founders w/ SSN)
- Confirmation emailed
In
1 week
1 week
Operational
- Operating agreement drafted
- Business banking opened
- Compliance tracking live
Always
free
free
Tools
- 25 legal form builders
- 8 calculators
- 377-term glossary
Real outcomes from real founders
Composite stories from 220,000+ businesses we have helped form and operate since 2017. Names changed; outcomes are typical.
Real founders, real outcomes
Composite stories drawn from typical outcomes across our 220,000+ formed customers. Real customer interviews via our stories program replace these as collected.
Three short videos for the most common questions
Two minutes each. Designed for founders who want the gist before they sign up.
220k+Businesses formedSince 2017
4.9 ★From 8,200+ reviewsVerified customer ratings
SOC 2Type II auditedAnnual independent audit
A+BBB accreditedBetter Business Bureau
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Should I form an LLC or a C-Corp?
LLC for most operating businesses, real estate, freelancers, and consultants. C-Corp for venture-backed startups (investors require Delaware C-Corp) or businesses planning QSBS tax treatment. Take our 5-question quiz for a personalized answer.
What state should I form in?
Most operators form in their home state to avoid foreign qualification costs. Exceptions: Wyoming for asset protection + anonymity, Delaware for VC-backed startups, New Mexico for cheapest formation + no annual report. See our state cost comparison.
Do I really need a Registered Agent?
Yes · required in every state where your entity is registered. The Registered Agent receives legal papers and official state mail. File.Business provides this free for the first year, then $99/year.
When do I need to file BOI?
For entities formed in 2024 or later: within 30 days of formation. For entities formed before 2024: depends on current FinCEN guidance following Corporate Transparency Act litigation. Penalty for non-compliance: $500/day. We handle BOI filing as part of formation.
What's the total cost?
$0 service fee on Free. Plus the state filing fee · ranges $35 (Kentucky) to $520 (Massachusetts). EIN and Registered Agent (year 1) included . BOI handled if your entity needs it. Business OS adds dashboard + Vault + BosAI + bulk filing at $29/mo. See full pricing.
How fast can I form my business?
Same business day in Delaware, Wyoming, Nevada, Texas (with $99 expedited add-on). 1-3 business days standard in most states. EIN issued same-day for US founders with SSN. See same-day eligible states.
Do you handle annual reports and ongoing compliance?
Yes. Our compliance service tracks every state filing deadline, prepares the filing, and submits to the state. Includes email reminders 60, 30, and 7 days before due dates. $149 per state per year.
Start your business in the next 5 minutes.
$0 service fee. Pay only the state fee. 60-day money-back guarantee.
$0 service fee
60-day money-back
Cancel anytime
Built for real businesses
220,000 founders, every kind of business.
60-day money-back · penalty-free guarantee
On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.
When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we cover the state's late fee. The guarantee is specific to that plan and the filings it includes.