BizFilings starts at $99 plus state fees. Rocket Lawyer starts at $40 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: BizFilings is $220 per year, Rocket Lawyer is $250. Over five years that delta adds up to $120, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.

Rocket Lawyer has 9,717 Trustpilot reviews compared to BizFilings's 170. The volume gap is usually about review solicitation rather than quality, but the higher-volume score tends to be the more statistically stable signal.

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
BizFilings $99
Rocket Lawyer $40
Rocket Lawyer cheaper by $59
RA renewal (year 2+)
BizFilings $220/yr
Rocket Lawyer $250/yr
BizFilings saves $30/yr
5-year total (cheapest tier + RA)
BizFilings $979
Rocket Lawyer $1,040
BizFilings saves $61 over 5 years
Trustpilot
BizFilings 4.5
Rocket Lawyer 4.5
BizFilings 170 vs Rocket Lawyer 9,717 reviews

Key differences at a glance

  • Rocket Lawyer is $59 cheaper at the starting tier (both charge upfront).
  • BizFilings has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($220/yr vs $250/yr). Over five years that is a $120 difference.
  • Rocket Lawyer includes a free operating agreement; BizFilings charges for it as an add-on. For a single-member LLC that can use a template, this matters less. For anything with multiple members, a proper operating agreement is not optional.
  • Rocket Lawyer offers live chat support; the other relies on phone and email only.

Where each service fits

Pick BizFilings when

Pick BizFilings when you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper).

Pick Rocket Lawyer when

Pick Rocket Lawyer when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you want the operating agreement bundled at no extra cost; you want live chat support; you want a high-volume review history (9,717 Trustpilot reviews vs 170).

What each service offers that the other does not

Only Rocket Lawyer

  • Operating agreement included free
  • Live chat support

Both services

  • Compliance dashboard
  • 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 BizFilings Year 1 Rocket Lawyer Year 1 BizFilings 5-year Rocket Lawyer 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.
$99 $40 $979 $1,040
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.
$268 $110 $1,148 $1,110
Standalone registered agent only (no formation)
You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA.
$220 $250 $1,100 $1,250

Full feature comparison

Dimension BizFilings Rocket Lawyer
Starting price
Cheapest tier, excludes state fees
$99 $40
Registered agent year 1
Not included Not included
Registered agent renewal
Year 2 onward, annual
$220/yr $250/yr
Free $0 tier
No No
EIN application
Paid add-on Paid add-on
Operating agreement
Paid add-on Included free
Compliance dashboard
Yes Yes
Mail scanning
No No
International founders
No No
Banking partner
None None
Phone support
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT
Live chat
No Yes
Trustpilot rating
4.5/5 (170 reviews) 4.5/5 (9,717 reviews)

Pricing tiers side by side

BizFilings

  • Basic — $99
  • Standard — $229
  • Complete — $359

Rocket Lawyer

  • One-time LLC formation (non-member) — $100
  • Rocket Legal (monthly subscription) — $40 · renews $40/yr
  • Rocket Legal+ (annual subscription) — $240 · renews $240/yr

Support and ratings, interpreted

BizFilings offers phone, email. Rocket Lawyer offers phone, email, live chat. Rocket Lawyer is the only one of the two with live chat, which matters if you anticipate back-and-forth questions during filing. Trustpilot: BizFilings is 4.5 across 170 reviews; Rocket Lawyer is 4.5 across 9,717. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.

BizFilings

Phone: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time.
Email: yes.
No live chat.

Trustpilot: 4.5/5 from 170 reviews.

Rocket Lawyer

Phone: Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Monday-Friday business hours per vendor; vendor also offers Rocket Copilot AI chat 24/7 to members.

Trustpilot: 4.5/5 from 9,717 reviews.

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 BizFilings, Rocket Lawyer, 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 BizFilings and Rocket Lawyer 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, BizFilings or Rocket Lawyer?

    Rocket Lawyer is cheaper at the starting tier ($40 vs $99). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $61.

  • Does BizFilings or Rocket Lawyer have better support?

    BizFilings offers phone, email. Rocket Lawyer offers phone, email, live chat. Rocket Lawyer is the only one of the two with live chat, which matters if you anticipate back-and-forth questions during filing. Trustpilot: BizFilings is 4.5 across 170 reviews; Rocket Lawyer is 4.5 across 9,717. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.

  • Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using BizFilings or Rocket Lawyer?

    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?

    BizFilings renews at $220/yr. Rocket Lawyer renews at $250/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: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings · verified April 21, 2026
    BizFilings markets LLC formation starting at $99 plus state fees on the Wolters Kluwer solutions landing page. Package tiers (Basic $99, Standard $229, Complete $359) are shown on the PackageSelect ordering screen at secure.bizfilings.com/PackageSelect.aspx. Prices vary by state.
  • Registered agent renewal usd: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings/registered-agent-service… · verified April 21, 2026
    Registered Agent Services page quotes $220 for 1 year, $370 for 2 years, and $489 for 3 years. All formation packages include 3 months free registered agent, then auto-renew at standard rates.
  • Registered agent only: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings/registered-agent-service… · verified April 21, 2026
    Registered agent available as a standalone product independent of formation package.
  • Features: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings · verified April 21, 2026
    BizComply online compliance monitoring tool bundled with registered agent. EIN only included at Complete tier. Operating agreement template included at Standard and up. No mail scanning, no international founder product, no named banking partner.
  • Support: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings/contact · verified April 21, 2026
    Contact page lists phone 608-827-5300 with office hours 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time Monday to Friday. Email via web form. No live chat advertised on the contact page.
  • Headquarters: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings/contact · verified April 21, 2026
    Contact page lists 525 Junction Road Suite 5000, Madison, WI 53717. Area code 608 matches Madison, WI.
  • Founded: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings · verified April 21, 2026
    BizFilings was founded in 1996 and acquired by Wolters Kluwer (CT Corporation) in 2002. Now operated under the Wolters Kluwer solutions portfolio.
  • Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings · verified April 21, 2026
    Trustpilot profile for BizFilings (Wolters Kluwer) shows approximately 4.5/5 across roughly 170 reviews as of April 2026. Review volume is modest relative to consumer-facing competitors.
  • Pricing: www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    Pricing page lists Rocket Legal at $39.99/month and Rocket Legal+ at $239.88/year, each with a 7-day free trial. Comparison table shows new business registration at $99.99 plus state fees for Rocket Legal, 'First one FREE, then $99.99 plus state fees' for Rocket Legal+, and full-price business filings for non-plus members (half off for Rocket Legal+).
  • Registered agent: www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    Pricing comparison table shows registered agent services at $249.99/year for Rocket Legal monthly members and $124.99/year for Rocket Legal+ annual members. Trademark services at $699.99 plus USPTO fees, or $349.99 for Rocket Legal+.
  • One time: www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
    Non-member LLC formation is quoted at $99.99 plus state fees. Rocket Lawyer also advertises a 7-day free trial that gives members access to the 'first one free' formation benefit, so non-members rarely pay the $99.99 in practice without first considering membership.
  • Features: www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/starting-a-business/form-a… · verified April 21, 2026
    LLC formation product page markets online filing, legal document library (including LLC Operating Agreement template included with membership), Articles of Organization preparation, registered agent service as an add-on, and access to Legal Pros (independent network attorneys) for consultation.
  • Operating agreement: www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/starting-a-business/form-a… · verified April 21, 2026
    Operating agreement template is part of the Rocket Lawyer document library, which is free to personalize and sign under any active membership or 7-day free trial.
  • Support: www.rocketlawyer.com/contact-us · verified April 21, 2026
    Phone (877) 881-0947 Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT. Email support@rocketlawyer.com. Chat with us widget on contact page. Rocket Copilot AI provides additional AI-powered chat to members.
  • Founded: www.rocketlawyer.com/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
    About page states 'Since our founding in 2008, nearly 30 million people have created Rocket Lawyer accounts.'
  • Headquarters: www.rocketlawyer.com/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
    Rocket Lawyer does not publish a specific headquarters city or street address on its About, Careers, Contact, or Newsroom pages. Set to null per playbook rule against inventing facts.
  • Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/rocketlawyer.com · verified April 21, 2026
    Trustpilot profile shows 4.5 out of 5 stars across 9,717 total reviews as of 2026-04-21.