Best LLC Service in Florida: Expert Review and Analysis

When starting an LLC in Florida, choosing the best LLC Service in Florida will make your life much easier. 

The right LLC service quickly files your articles of organization with the state so you can get your business up and running right away. 

The wrong LLC service delays paperwork, takes their time, and costs you valuable working hours. 

After thoroughly evaluating 11 LLC services in Florida on several key factors, I have identified the best options to efficiently form your LLC so you can focus on operating your business.

1. Northwest Registered Agent: 9.75/10 (Best Overall LLC Service) – $39

Northwest Registered Agent services are typically at the top of every list in Florida. I personally use Northwest, and they’ve been excellent for my business, especially with its team of advisors that help you learn the ins and outs of starting a new business and forming an LLC.

The company provides everything needed to establish your LLC in Florida. They’ll assist with filing your articles of organization and drafting the operating agreement.

Pros

Northwest Registered Agent shines when it comes to value, offering an impressive range of services in their discounted $39 LLC formation package. This includes filing your articles of organization, drafting an operating agreement, a 90-day free Voice over IP trial, and accessing an employer identification number if required.

If you start your LLC through them, you also get a full year of their registered agent service, which includes document storage, compliance alerts, and other useful features to keep your business legally protected.

But one of Northwest’s biggest assets is their customer support team. They utilize US-based Corporate Guides to handle your account – not outsourced foreign call centers. 

These agents have professional backgrounds in law, finance, entrepreneurship and understand the Florida business landscape.

The level of personalized support goes well beyond just the initial LLC formation process. You can contact them for specialized business advice on accounting, taxes, licenses, human resources issues and more. 

It’s a perk that can really pay off over the life of operating your LLC.

This formation package would normally cost $225, but as a reader of Orlando Mag you get an exclusive discount reducing the price point for full business formation down to $39 (+state fee).

You can get the discount by clicking here. 

Cons

The only area where I think Northwest Registered Agent comes up a bit short is cost. It’s not the cheapest on the market, that would be ZenBusiness. ZenBusiness will charge $0 + state filing fee.

While this sounds nice, you literally only get the barebones if you go down this route. No customized support, no registered agent service for a year, etc.

That said, I personally don’t think the $39 price point is really a “con” at all for what you get out of Northwest. 

Overall

Northwest Registered Agent is my top pick for the best overall LLC formation service in Florida because of the unmatched value they provide. Their discounted $39 formation package supplies all the vital services like document filing, operating agreements, registered agent service, compliance help, and more that you need to get your business off the ground smoothly.

But the true standout aspect is Northwest’s U.S.-based customer support team. Their level of expertise and availability to personally guide you through not just launching your LLC, but also providing tailored business advice whenever you need it, is extremely rare and valuable.

I recommend Northwest to anyone starting an LLC in FLorida. 

2. ZenBusiness: 8.5/10 (Most Affordable LLC Service in Florida) – $0

ZenBusiness is known for specializing in LLC formation, business incorporation, and registered agent services. They don’t offer nearly the same value as Northwest but they offer an affordable option if money is your main concern. 

Pros

The biggest advantage ZenBusiness offers is clearly their $0 LLC formation package. For zero dollars upfront, you can get your articles of organization filed and business name verified. This allows you to at least legally register your LLC right off the bat with no financial outlay.

If you do choose to upgrade to one of their paid packages down the line, they provide options for expedited filing, operating agreements, rush filing, domain/email bundles, and convenient website builders starting at $199. So the ability to add services in an a la carte fashion is beneficial.

ZenBusiness also provides prompt and competent customer support. While the agents don’t have the same deep tax and HR knowledge compared to Northwest, they can ably guide you through technical use of their platform or status changes to your business registration paperwork. 

Cons

The major catch is that ZenBusiness’ base $0 package is really only helpful if you literally just need the absolute basics to initially register an LLC. It does not include extras like obtaining an Employer ID Number or operating agreement templates that many rivals offer in their base pricing.

You also have to pay extra if you want registered agent service bundled in, which Northwest includes as a standard perk. So costs that seem avoidable upfront have a way of creeping in later on down the line.

There is also the fact that their customer service reps, while very friendly, do not have the business management expertise you’ll get from a provider like Northwest Registered Agent’s corporate guides. But if that degree of mentorship isn’t a priority for you, then this con could be less relevant.

Overall

ZenBusiness delivers worthwhile value if you just want a service for legally forming an LLC at the most ground floor basic level. Their $0 rate can’t be matched in that regard. However, any perks beyond submitting your articles of organization must be purchased separately. 

So costs can escalate rapidly if you desire normal features like an EIN or registered agent.

For execution of absolute LLC formation fundamentals without much hand holding, guidance, or bells and whistles, ZenBusiness provides a good entry point. 

3. Harbor Compliance: 7.25/10 (Lightning Fast Processing)

It may confuse some to see that Harbor Compliance is headquartered in another state (Pennsylvania to be exact). However, they have offices in Florida, and starting a business in Florida with Harbor at your back is no different than starting a business in Pennsylvania.

Pros

The biggest advantage Harbor Compliance provides is premium-level customer support. Rather than leave you stuck with an anonymous call center, they assign you a dedicated representative to personally handle your account and questions. This advisor truly gets to know your LLC goals and challenges in depth.

You also benefit from rapid processing speeds, whether in initially filing your formation documents or fielding compliance paperwork down the line. Harbor has efficiency down to a science to never leave you waiting long for the legal approvals needed to operate.

Harbor’s formation packages comprehensively cover all the core bases like obtaining EIN numbers, drafting operating agreements, securing registered agent service, and more. So everything required to formally register your LLC in Florida is addressed turnkey style.

Cons

The glaring potential drawback with Harbor Compliance is their pricing, which starts at $399 and reaches up to $799 for the premium compliance bundle. Compared to services like Northwest Registered Agent that offer similar features for as little as $39, Harbor’s rates could strain new business budgets.

You also don’t quite receive the degree of auxiliary business management mentoring from Harbor that Northwest includes as a value-add. The legal compliance help from Harbor is sterling, but guidance on accounting, HR issues, and general operations is lacking by comparison.

Overall

If premium-level customer support and flawless execution on formal business registration paperwork is your top priority when starting a Florida LLC, Harbor Compliance is a great fit. Their dedicated rep system and rapid turnaround times excel in those areas. Just be prepared to pay a steeper price for that Cadillac treatment.

4. Rocket Lawyer 

Rocket Lawyer’s greatest asset is their expediency. Within minutes of contacting and speaking to a support rep, I was on the phone with an expert who helped me through the entire process. Filing my articles of organization was as simple as uploading a few documents to their online portal and they took care of the rest. 

Their pricing is also very transparent and upfront. They charge $99 for LLC formation and that’s it. 

Rocket Lawyer matches IncFile with their free tax consultation service, which is an essential commodity for all business owners, but especially for startups. While Rocket Lawyer’s pricing is already affordable, this is an excellent reason to choose them.

Engaging Rocket Lawyer’s services is a lot like balancing subscription plans from multiple streaming providers. Outside of LLC Formation, you can add a ton of additional services in a subscription-based format, only paying for what you need.

5. Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings is a new but rapidly growing LLC service in Florida. It’s a great choice for new entrepreneurs looking to start a business while keeping their costs down. 

With its strong reputation and comprehensive range of services, Swyft Filings offers numerous benefits that make it a great option for starting a business in the Sunshine State.

One of the main benefits behind Swyft Filings is the fact that they specialize in LLC formation so the process is super fast, affordable, and their customer support team is made up of accountants so they know what they’re talking about.

6. Sunshine Corporate Filings LLC

One of Sunshine Corporate Filings’ major selling points is its low-cost LLC formation service. Only $35 per year will get you everything you need including a registered office location, limited free mail forwarding, free 60-day phone service trial, affordable filing services across the board. 

Sunshine Corporate Filings offers an assortment of affordable and premium packages to cater to all your needs. The company has great customer reviews and can help you get your business entity up and running with one of the best LLC formation services. 

Methodology: How I Chose the Top 6 LLC Services in Florida

When it comes to choosing the best LLC formation services in Florida, I follow the same exact process no matter what. This is my tried and true methods for choosing these services and the reason why people trust my reviews. 

Why You Should Trust Us

I can wax poetic words about my residence status and how I’ve procured my own LLC service, but that’s all taken for granted. 

However, when combining the personal experiences of myself and the team around me, along with the extensive research conducted on each of these LLC services, you can have faith in our results.

We’re passionate about small business owners and the many avenues they can take to facilitate, protect, and grow their businesses. 

Every successful small business that is successful and experiences exponential growth goes in the ‘win’ column as far as our book is concerned.

Trust is all important when it comes to taking advice on business decisions. At the same time, finding the right registered agent is necessary. The two have to come together at some point, with an ultimate decision reached.

We spent an inordinate amount of time conducting in-depth research into the seven LLC services on our list. All seven of them are well-known, especially among Florida’s many and ever-growing population of small businesses.

In fact, small businesses in Florida make up 99.8% of all businesses throughout the state, and they employ over 3.6 million. Florida also has four of the top ten best cities for small business growth in America. 

With that kind of existing small business infrastructure, growing at an explosive rate, it’s paramount to provide Floridians with the fastest and most efficient way to start their LLC. 

How I Select Only The Best LLC Services in Florida

Whenever I choose an LLC service, there are several important factors that I consider – these are non-negotiable: 

• Reliability and expertise
• Compliance
• Timely delivery
• Privacy measures
• Affordability

I’ve turned to large financial blog reviews in the past for information on LLC formation services and they’re always misleading, biased, and incorrect. 

Experience is the number one thing I look for and specifically expertise in Florida’s legal requirements. How efficiently LLC formation services navigate complex paperwork and filing while offering expert guidance to clients played a significant role in the evaluation process. 

Affordability is taken into account as well, especially since many of the potential clients on the lookout for a good registered agent are entrepreneurs, taking their first foray into the business world. 

Whether they lack the business acumen that only a veteran business professional has or the financial backing, affordability is crucial from the get-go.

One thing I notice right away is when affordability gets in the way of quality service. One area where you can see that is in customer service. Some companies have experts like attorneys and accountants on staff to help you, while others outsource their call centers. 

Speed is the name of the game for me as well. When you’re starting a business, the last thing you want holding you up is the paperwork. 

Not only is it crucial to get a fast response but also to get an informative response, rather than: 

“give us some time to work on that request.” 

LLC formation services that are able to demonstrate commitment to exceptional customer service, with prompt and helpful responses to inquiries were given higher rankings.

Last but not least, transparency played a large factor in my selection process. If I had trouble figuring out what is what and where, it didn’t make the list. Of course, not every company chooses to cram its entire business offering on its landing page.

In those cases, a quick phone call was enough to make a solid assessment. If they’re willing to lay out their pricing, procedures, and capabilities while receiving no commitment from me, I label that transparency.

The goal, as always, is to provide a reliable and accurate assessment to assist businesses in making informed decisions based on reputable criteria. It helps that it’s a lot of fun for me.

Conclusion

Getting the best LLC service in Florida is an important piece of the puzzle for getting your business started and we highly recommend Northwest Registered Agents for this. Even if you are a particularly savvy business person, there’s always a chance for mistakes.

I chose the seven LLC services in this guide based on filing speed, quality customer service, and affordability. 

Take your time. Do your homework. Choosing the best LLC service in Florida shouldn’t be a last-minute decision.

Your business depends on you making the right decisions—taking it in the right direction without compromising. It all starts with filing your articles of organization. Once that’s done, you’re open for business!