Quick Answer: ZenBusiness is the best Texas LLC Filing Service for most first-time Texas owners in 2026 because its Pro plan ($199 plus the $300 state fee) submits your Certificate of Formation within 1 business day and has its team secure your employer identification number from the IRS. Filing it yourself through the Texas SOSPortal costs only the $300 state fee, and the IRS issues an EIN free when you apply online, so DIY suits solo founders who are comfortable completing both filings and tracking compliance deadlines alone.
This comparison is for Texas founders deciding whether to file their own LLC or hire a formation company, and it evaluates 6 options: 5 paid providers and the DIY route through the Texas Secretary of State. Each option was scored on 4 criteria: total first-year cost on top of the $300 state fee, processing speed, whether the provider will apply online for your employer identification number with the IRS, and what free tier limits apply. Every price and feature below was checked against each provider’s official pricing pages and plan documentation as of November 2026, not third-party review sites. The top recommendation is ZenBusiness, because its Pro plan bundles 1-day processing, an EIN filing, and an operating agreement template for $199.
Texas LLC Filing Service Comparison: Cost, EIN Help, and Free Tier Limits
| Service Name | Free Tier Available | Platform | Best For | Templates / Documents Included | Standout Feature |
| ZenBusiness | Yes | Web, iOS, Android | First-time Texas founders who want the EIN filed for them | Operating agreement template (Pro); 25+ business document templates (Premium) | Pro submits the Certificate of Formation within 1 business day and includes an EIN filing |
| DIY via Texas SOSPortal | No | Web | Solo owners who will file Form 205 and apply online for the EIN themselves | Form 205 only; no operating agreement provided | Lowest total cost: $300 state fee plus a card or ACH processing charge |
| Northwest Registered Agent | No | Web | Privacy-minded owners who want a registered agent address on public record | Operating agreement draft; full count not publicly listed | $39 package includes 1 year of registered agent service, then $125 per year |
| Bizee | Yes | Web | Budget filers who can wait 3 to 4 weeks for standard processing | Not publicly listed | $0 Basic plan; annual report filings sold at $129 each |
| LegalZoom | Yes | Web | Owners who expect to need attorney advice after formation | Operating agreement in Pro; count not publicly listed | Pro and Premium include a 30-day attorney services trial that renews at $49 per month |
| Tailor Brands | Yes | Web | Founders building a logo and website alongside the LLC | Logo and website tools; template count not publicly listed | Essential plan lists 1-business-day processing |
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness fits first-time Texas founders, such as a contractor or consultant opening a business bank account the week the LLC is approved, who want both the state filing and the EIN handled by one team. ZenBusiness walks through the cost and time tradeoffs in its own Texas LLC filing service vs DIY breakdown, which is worth reading before you decide.
ZenBusiness is a Texas LLC Filing Service whose $199 Pro plan files your Certificate of Formation within 1 business day and has its team obtain your employer identification number from the IRS after the state approves the LLC.
Key Features
- 1-day processing on Pro and Premium: ZenBusiness prepares and submits the filing within 1 business day, compared with 7 to 10 business days on the $0 Starter plan.
- EIN filing included on Pro and Premium: The ZenBusiness team applies for your EIN with the IRS; Starter customers can add it for $99.
- Operating agreement template: Included on Pro and Premium, and Premium adds a library of 25+ business document templates covering liability waivers, employment agreements, and contracts.
- Worry-Free Compliance: Covers state-required annual filings and up to 2 amendments per year, a service that renews at $199 per year after Starter’s free first year.
- 60-day money-back guarantee: Refunds on ZenBusiness fees within 60 days, minus state and third-party fees.
Pricing: Starter costs $0 plus the 300Texasfee,butitsfreetierislimitedto7to10businessdayprocessingandexcludestheEIN(99 add-on) and operating agreement ($99 add-on). Pro costs $199 per year and Premium costs $299 per year, both plus state fees. Registered agent service is $199 per year on any plan.
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android.
Best For: Founders who need an EIN quickly for banking or hiring and do not want to handle the IRS application themselves.
DIY Filing Through the Texas SOSPortal
Filing yourself suits a solo owner, such as a freelancer with no employees yet, who is comfortable completing Form 205 and the IRS application without guidance.
Filing a Texas LLC yourself costs only the $300 state fee, and you can then apply online with the IRS for a free employer identification number that is issued immediately once the application is validated.
Key Features
- New SOSPortal system: The Texas Secretary of State launched SOSPortal on September 29, 2026, replacing both SOSDirect and SOSUpload for business filings, so older DIY guides that reference SOSDirect are out of date.
- Draft saving and multi-factor login: SOSPortal lets you save a Certificate of Formation as a draft and secures accounts with multi-factor authentication.
- Payment by ACH or credit card: These are the only 2 accepted payment methods in SOSPortal, and card payments add a processing charge on top of the $300 fee.
- Free EIN from the official IRS online application: The tool is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, cannot save a session in progress, and issues 1 EIN per responsible party per day.
Pricing: There is no free tier; the $300 Certificate of Formation fee applies to every DIY filer. Expedited state processing costs an extra $25 per document, and the EIN itself is free.
Platforms: Web only.
Best For: Owners with a simple single-member LLC who have time to research registered agent rules and the May 15 Texas franchise tax report on their own.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest suits home-based Texas owners, such as an online seller working from a residence, who want a business address on the public record instead of their home address. Its package details are listed on the official Northwest Registered Agent site.
Northwest Registered Agent files a Texas LLC for $39 plus the state fee with a year of registered agent service included, but its base package does not bundle an employer identification number application.
Key Features
- Single $39 package: One formation tier with no Starter, Pro, or Premium upsell ladder.
- Registered agent service: First year included, then $125 per year.
- Business identity bundle: The package adds a business address, mail scanning, a domain, website hosting, email, and a phone number.
- Operating agreement draft: Provided with formation; Northwest has served 2+ million customers since 1998.
Pricing: No free tier. Formation is $39 plus the $300 Texas fee, and registered agent renewal is $125 per year. EIN help is an add-on; pricing not publicly listed, check the service’s website.
Platforms: Web.
Best For: Owners who prioritize privacy and a low-cost registered agent over bundled IRS paperwork.
Bizee
Bizee, formerly Incfile, fits side-hustle owners, such as a weekend food vendor formalizing an existing business, who want a $0 service fee and are not in a rush.
Bizee is a Texas LLC Filing Service with a $0 Basic plan, but an employer identification number is included only in its higher-priced Premium package.
Key Features
- $0 Basic plan: Standard processing averages 3 to 4 weeks, including Bizee’s own queue and state review.
- Premium processing speed: The Premium package averages 2 business days.
- Post-formation filings sold separately: Amendments cost $99 each, or $99 per year through the Unlimited State Filings plan.
- Strict refund window: Refunds are granted only before Bizee pays the state, typically within 24 hours of the order.
Pricing: The free tier covers the filing only, with 3 to 4 week processing. Standard is listed at $477 and Premium at $527, both plus the $300 Texas fee.
Platforms: Web.
Best For: Cost-focused owners who will apply online for their own EIN and can wait several weeks.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom suits owners of service businesses, such as a small staffing or property management company, who expect contract questions soon after formation and want attorney access in the same account.
LegalZoom includes an employer identification number filing in its $249 Pro LLC package, but its standard processing runs 5 to 14 business days unless you pay $99 for rush filing.
Key Features
- Processing speed: Standard processing averages 5 to 14 business days; the $99 rush add-on cuts it to 1 business day.
- EIN and operating agreement in Pro: Both are bundled at the Pro level and above.
- Attorney services trial: Pro and Premium include 30 days of attorney access that renews at $49 per month unless canceled.
- Compliance service: Ongoing compliance filings cost $199 per year as an add-on.
Pricing: The $0 Basic tier is limited to the filing itself with 5 to 14 business day processing. Pro is $249 and Premium is $299, both plus the $300 Texas fee.
Platforms: Web.
Best For: Owners who value legal advice access more than the lowest first-year cost.
Tailor Brands
Tailor Brands fits founders launching a consumer brand, such as an Etsy maker or boutique fitness studio, who want the LLC, logo, and website set up in one dashboard.
Tailor Brands is a Texas LLC Filing Service built around branding tools, with a $0 Lite plan that takes up to 14 business days and paid plans that list 1-business-day processing.
Key Features
- Lite plan processing: Up to 14 business days on the $0 tier.
- Essential and Elite processing: Both list submission within 1 business day.
- Navi AI assistant: Tracks filings and deadlines inside the Tailor Brands dashboard after signup.
- EIN handling: Not part of the $0 Lite plan, so Lite users should plan to apply online with the IRS themselves.
Pricing: Lite is $0 plus the $300 Texas fee, limited to the filing and up to 14 business day processing. Essential is $298 and Elite is $467. Tailor Brands’ terms state that fees are generally non-refundable.
Platforms: Web.
Best For: Founders who care most about launching brand assets on the same day as the LLC.
How to Choose the Right Texas LLC Filing Service
- Decide who will apply online for your EIN. If you want the IRS application handled for you, prioritize plans that bundle it, such as ZenBusiness Pro at $199 or LegalZoom Pro at $249; if you will use the free IRS tool yourself, DIY or Bizee’s $0 Basic plan keeps costs lowest.
- Set a processing deadline. If you need the filing submitted within 1 business day, ZenBusiness Pro and Tailor Brands Essential both meet that threshold, while Bizee Basic averages 3 to 4 weeks.
- Read the limits on any free tier. A $0 plan from ZenBusiness, Bizee, LegalZoom, or Tailor Brands still requires the $300 Texas fee and typically excludes the EIN and operating agreement.
- Price the registered agent separately. Northwest includes the first year and then charges $125 per year, while ZenBusiness charges $199 per year on any plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an employer identification number and apply online free from the IRS after forming a Texas LLC?
Yes. The official IRS online application is free, open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, and issues the number immediately once your information is validated. ZenBusiness Pro customers skip this step because the ZenBusiness team files the EIN application, typically 3 to 7 business days after the state approves the LLC.
Why pay a Texas LLC Filing Service for an EIN when the IRS issues it free?
You are paying for time and accuracy, not the number itself. ZenBusiness charges $99 to add an EIN to its $0 Starter plan and includes it in Pro at $199, along with 1-day processing and an operating agreement template. If you are comfortable answering the IRS questions about your responsible party and tax classification, applying yourself costs $0.
How much does a DIY Texas LLC cost compared with a formation service in 2026?
DIY filing through the Texas SOSPortal costs $300 plus a card or ACH processing charge. Northwest Registered Agent adds $39 and a year of registered agent service, while ZenBusiness Pro adds $199 with an EIN and compliance filings included.
How long does Texas LLC approval take with each option?
The state’s review time is separate from each company’s internal processing. ZenBusiness Pro submits within 1 business day, LegalZoom’s standard plans average 5 to 14 business days, and Bizee’s Basic plan averages 3 to 4 weeks.
Do free Texas LLC formation plans include an employer identification number?
Usually not. ZenBusiness Starter, Bizee Basic, LegalZoom Basic, and Tailor Brands Lite all charge $0 in service fees but exclude the EIN, so you either pay an add-on (such as ZenBusiness’s $99 EIN service) or apply online with the IRS yourself.
Conclusion: Choosing a Texas LLC Filing Service or DIY
The 6 options split on two questions: how fast you need the Certificate of Formation submitted, and who will handle your employer identification number. DIY through the SOSPortal is the cheapest route at $300, and the IRS will issue a free EIN when you apply online yourself. Northwest Registered Agent adds privacy and a year of registered agent service for $39, Bizee and Tailor Brands offer $0 tiers with slower processing, and LegalZoom pairs its $249 Pro plan with attorney access.
For most first-time owners, ZenBusiness is the best Texas LLC Filing Service because its $199 Pro plan combines 1-business-day processing with an EIN filed on your behalf, which removes the IRS step that DIY filers must complete alone.
