Bizee starts at $0 plus state fees. Clerky starts at $427 plus state fees. Sticker-price differences between LLC formation services rarely tell the full story, since the cheapest tier usually excludes the EIN filing and operating agreement most filers need.

The registered agent renewal is the line item that actually matters over time: Bizee is $119 per year, Clerky is $125. Over five years that delta adds up to $24, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.

Bizee offers a genuine $0 formation tier; Clerky does not. The free tier is meaningful if you only need state filing and are comfortable applying for an EIN yourself on irs.gov. It stops being free the moment you bundle the basic documents most LLCs need.

For most filers, the decision between two services is decided by three things: whether you need a $0 tier or can absorb a mid-tier to get the EIN and operating agreement bundled, how much the registered agent will cost you in year two and onward, and whether the support quality matters to you (it matters more if you're paying $200+ for the service in the first place).

Starting price
Bizee Free
Clerky $427
Bizee cheaper by $427
RA renewal (year 2+)
Bizee $119/yr
Clerky $125/yr
Bizee saves $6/yr
5-year total (cheapest tier + RA)
Bizee $476
Clerky $927
Bizee saves $451 over 5 years
Trustpilot
Bizee 4.7
Clerky -
Bizee 25,227 vs Clerky - reviews

Key differences at a glance

  • Bizee is $427 cheaper at the starting tier (one of them has a free tier).
  • Bizee has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($119/yr vs $125/yr). Over five years that is a $24 difference.
  • Clerky includes EIN filing in its default price; Bizee sells it as a paid add-on. You can always get an EIN directly from the IRS in five minutes for free.
  • Bizee has a genuine $0 formation tier. The other does not.

Where each service fits

Pick Bizee when

Pick Bizee when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper); you want a genuine $0 formation tier (and don't need the add-ons).

Pick Clerky when

Clerky is comparable to Bizee on most of the dimensions we measure. The tiebreaker is usually support quality or brand preference.

What each service offers that the other does not

Only Bizee

  • Free $0 formation tier

Only Clerky

  • EIN included free

Both services

  • Compliance dashboard
  • Non-US founder support
  • Phone support

What it costs under your specific situation

Running the same LLC through three common scenarios. Year-1 and 5-year totals exclude state fees, which are identical for both services.

Scenario Bizee Year 1 Clerky Year 1 Bizee 5-year Clerky 5-year
Just the basics: state filing, RA year 1, nothing else
You file the EIN yourself at irs.gov and skip a written operating agreement.
$0 $427 $476 $927
You want EIN and operating agreement handled too
Most new LLCs end up here. Assumes $70 EIN and $99 OA add-ons where the service charges for them.
$169 $427 $645 $927
Standalone registered agent only (no formation)
You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA.
$119 $0 $595 $0

Full feature comparison

Dimension Bizee Clerky
Starting price
Cheapest tier, excludes state fees
Free $427
Registered agent year 1
Included Included
Registered agent renewal
Year 2 onward, annual
$119/yr $125/yr
Free $0 tier
Yes No
EIN application
Paid add-on Included free
Operating agreement
Paid add-on Not offered
Compliance dashboard
Yes Yes
Mail scanning
No No
International founders
Yes Yes
Banking partner
None None
Phone support
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST Business hours; no explicit hours published on the contact page
Live chat
No No
Trustpilot rating
4.7/5 (25,227 reviews) Not published

Pricing tiers side by side

Bizee

  • Basic — Free
    Includes RA year 1 · renews $119/yr
  • Standard — $199
    Includes RA year 1 · renews $119/yr
  • Premium — $299
    Includes RA year 1 · renews $119/yr

Clerky

  • Pay Per Use (Delaware C-corp Incorporation) — $427
    Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr
  • Company Lifetime Package — $819
    Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr

Support and ratings, interpreted

Bizee offers phone, email. Clerky offers phone, email.

Bizee

Phone: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST.
Email: yes.
No live chat.

Trustpilot: 4.7/5 from 25,227 reviews.

Clerky

Phone: Business hours; no explicit hours published on the contact page.
Email: yes.
No live chat.

Before you pick either service

A few things apply no matter which one you choose. These catch enough first-time filers to be worth stating plainly.

The state fee is identical. Whether you use Bizee, Clerky, or neither, your state charges the same formation fee. Nothing a service does lowers that number. The fee ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts depending on where you form. See the state-by-state guide for exact numbers.

You can get an EIN for free at irs.gov in five minutes. Both Bizee and Clerky either bundle EIN filing or sell it as a paid add-on. You're never required to pay for EIN filing; the IRS charges nothing and the online form takes about five minutes. If a service is pitching "we'll handle your EIN" as a headline feature, that's convenience pricing, not necessity.

The registered agent renewal is what matters long-term. The formation fee is a one-time cost. The registered agent is what recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC open. Over five years, the RA renewal cost usually exceeds the formation fee. Compare on that number, not just the day-one sticker.

Operating agreements are separately priced at most services. Any LLC with more than one member, and any LLC relying on its liability shield, should have a written operating agreement. It governs ownership percentages, profit splits, management structure, and dissolution. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require it by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended. Don't skip it to save $99.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is cheaper, Bizee or Clerky?

    Bizee is cheaper at the starting tier ($0 vs $427). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $451.

  • Does Bizee or Clerky have better support?

    Bizee offers phone, email. Clerky offers phone, email.

  • Is Bizee's free tier really free?

    The $0 tier covers state filing and typically includes year one of registered agent service. It does not include EIN filing (you can still get one for free from the IRS directly) or an operating agreement, which most filers need. Once you add those, Bizee's free tier ends up around $169, which is very close to what Clerky charges for its bundled mid-tier package. Pick the free tier if you're comfortable doing the add-ons yourself; pick a bundled service if you want everything in one place.

  • Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using Bizee or Clerky?

    You can. The state fee is identical whether you use a service or not. What these services sell is convenience: a handled registered agent (which you can also buy standalone), a bundled operating agreement, compliance reminders, and in some cases banking and tax integrations. If your time is worth more than $50 an hour and you would rather not research your state's specific filing quirks, a service pays for itself. If you like DIY administrative work, file directly at your state's Secretary of State portal.

  • How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?

    Bizee renews at $119/yr. Clerky renews at $125/yr. This number matters because it recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC. Over a five-year window, the registered agent renewal cost typically exceeds the formation fee, so it's worth more attention than most reviews give it.

Full reviews

Sources

  • Pricing: bizee.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
    Homepage lists three packages: Basic $0 plus state fee, Standard $199 plus state fee, Premium $299 plus state fee. All are one-time payments.
  • Package comparison: orders.bizee.com/form-order-now.php?entityType=LLC · verified April 21, 2026
    Order form with Delaware selected shows side-by-side package comparison: EIN add-on at $70 for Basic, Operating Agreement add-on at $99 for Basic, expedited +$50 for Basic and Standard. Premium includes those items at the headline $299 price.
  • Registered agent renewal: bizee.com/business-management/registered-agent · verified April 21, 2026
    Page shows two options: Free first year bundled with LLC formation, or Standalone Service at $119 per year.
  • Features: bizee.com/business-formation/start-an-llc · verified April 21, 2026
    LLC formation page describes free first year of Registered Agent for every package, online filing, and personalized dashboard.
  • Formerly known as: bizee.com/company/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
    About page section 'From Incfile To Bizee' explains the rebrand. Company was founded in 2004 in Houston, Texas.
  • Founded: bizee.com/company/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
    About page states Bizee's journey started 20 years ago and Houston has been the global headquarters.
  • Headquarters: bizee.com/company/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
    About page says the first commercial space in Houston has since become the global headquarters.
  • Support: bizee.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
    Footer lists phone 1 (888) 462-3453, support@bizee.com, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. No live chat advertised.
  • Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/bizee.com · verified April 21, 2026
    Trustpilot profile shows 4.7 stars across 25,227 reviews on the date of verification.
  • Pricing: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    Clerky pricing page shows two formation options: Pay Per Use at $427 one-time and Company Lifetime Package at $819 one-time. Both are Delaware C-corp incorporation. Clerky does not offer LLC formation. This is editorially important: readers comparing Clerky to Bizee or ZenBusiness should be aware it is not the same product category.
  • Registered agent renewal usd: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    First-year Delaware registered agent fee of $125 is bundled with both formation packages. Renewal pricing beyond year one is not explicitly published on the pricing page; $125/yr is used as the reasonable standing estimate based on year one.
  • Registered agent only: www.clerky.com/formation · verified April 21, 2026
    Registered agent is bundled inside Clerky formation, not sold as a standalone SKU.
  • Features: www.clerky.com/formation · verified April 21, 2026
    Formation product includes post-incorporation setup (bylaws, stock issuance, IP agreements) and an EIN Application workflow including support for non-US founders via pre-filled IRS forms and in-house fax submission. No LLC-style operating agreement (C-corp uses bylaws). No general mail scanning or banking partner integration (corporate bank account opening supported via partner banks as informational guidance).
  • Free filing tier: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    Entry price is $427 one-time; there is no $0 formation tier. This is intentional per Clerky positioning for fundraising-track startups.
  • Support: www.clerky.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
    Contact info on the site lists email support@clerky.com and phone 650-440-5449. Area code 650 maps to the San Francisco Peninsula, consistent with the founders' Orrick Menlo Park background. No live chat.
  • Headquarters: www.clerky.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
    Business address listed as 440 N. Barranca Ave. #1881, Covina, CA 91723 (Clerky is a bonded legal document assistant registered in Santa Clara County, LDA258).
  • Founded: www.ycombinator.com/companies/clerky · verified April 21, 2026
    Y Combinator company profile and third-party sources (Tracxn, press coverage) place Clerky's founding in 2011 by Darby Wong (CEO) and Chris Field, both former startup attorneys at Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe.
  • Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/clerky.com · verified April 21, 2026
    Clerky has a limited Trustpilot footprint (well under 100 reviews). Per playbook policy, rating and review count are left null because the sample is not representative. The Trustpilot URL is kept for reference.