Welcome to the CPA at Large Do-It-Yourself Incorporation Hub
Forming an LLC or corporation is not just a filing task. It affects taxes, liability, banking, ownership records, and future cleanup. A filing service can help with paperwork, but it does not replace thinking through the structure carefully.
Top DIY Incorporation Apps
App | Why We Like It |
|---|---|
| LegalZoom Best for mainstream brand recognition | Industry titan: state-specific filing wizards, attorney add-ons, and tiered packages that bundle EINs, operating agreements, and bookkeeping trials legalzoom.com |
| Incfile (Bizee) Best for budget-focused LLC setup | $0 service fee on the entry plan, free first-year registered agent, and a slick dashboard for ongoing compliance alerts llcuniversity.com |
| ZenBusiness | All-in-one platform—formation, banking, bookkeeping, and worry-free annual report service—built for solopreneurs who want everything under one login zenbusiness.com |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Privacy-first filings, in-house support, and lifetime corporate guides; no upsell spam and strong data-protection practices northwestregisteredagent.com |
| Rocket Lawyer | Combines entity formation with unlimited legal-document templates and on-demand attorney consultations for a single monthly fee rocketlawyer.com |
| Swyft Filings | Fast turnaround times, intuitive questionnaire, and à-la-carte add-ons for those who want speed without paying for extras they don’t need llcuniversity.com |
Disclosure: This page includes affiliate links. If you use them, CPA at Large may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are based on usefulness and fit, not just compensation.
How to Use This Page
- Compare entities – run the Entity-Type Finder to confirm whether an LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp fits your goals.
- Pick a service – start a free account with one of the apps above and complete the intake questionnaire.
- Collect docs – gather IDs, business address, and any owner/manager info; print our Registered-Agent Cheat-Sheet if you’re appointing yourself.
- File & follow up – submit the formation, obtain an EIN, then add annual-report deadlines to your Compliance Calendar.
DIY incorporation may be reasonable when ownership is simple, the business is new, the state filing is straightforward, and you understand the basics of ongoing compliance.
Consider professional guidance if there will be multiple owners, custom profit-sharing, outside investors, licensing issues, state complexity, or tax-election questions.