Honest comparison · Michigan pricing
LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness
vs Michigan LLC Service
The national brands advertise "$0" formation. The $0 isn't the price — it's the door. Here's what a Michigan LLC actually costs at each, including the renewals they don't put in the headline.
| Michigan LLC Service | LegalZoom | ZenBusiness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan $50 state fee | Included in every plan | Charged on top | Charged on top |
| Registered agent, year 1 | Included (Standard & Pro) | $249/yr | $199/yr after year one |
| Registered agent renewal | $99/yr | $299/yr | $199/yr |
| EIN (federal tax ID) | $49 — or included with Pro | $99 | $99 |
| Operating agreement | Included with Pro | $99 | $99 (or higher tier) |
| Annual statement service | $120/yr, $25 state fee included | $99 + $25 fee per filing, or $199/yr plan + fee | $199/yr + state fee |
| Filed-right guarantee | Rejected due to our error = fixed free + fee refunded | See their terms | See their terms |
| Who does the work | Michigan-based team, LARA specialists | 50-state call center | 50-state call center |
| Phone support | Real Michigan number: (989) 262-9582 | Queue | Queue |
Competitor prices as published on legalzoom.com and zenbusiness.com, checked August 2026. Prices change — usually upward. LegalZoom and ZenBusiness are registered trademarks of their respective owners; we're just comparing published prices.
The three-year math
A Michigan LLC needs formation once and a registered agent every year. Compare a typical setup — formation, registered agent, EIN — over three years:
Standard $129.99 + EIN $49 + two renewals at $129.99. State fee included.
$50 state fee + RA $249 + $99 EIN + two renewals at $299.
$50 state fee + $99 EIN + registered agent at $199/yr after the first year.
The difference isn't just price. National services process Michigan filings through 50-state call centers; we file Michigan LLCs every week, with LARA, on a first-name basis with the process. Your filing is prepared correctly the first time, and a real person at a Michigan number answers when you call.
$89 all-in · filed by real people in Owosso, Michigan · (989) 262-9582