Best Virginia LLC services in 2024 (2024)

Rocket Lawyer is best for people who may need to consult an attorney while setting up their LLC. No matter what plan you choose, you can call, email or use the online chat feature to ask legal questions concerning your LLC, including its formation, and get a response the same business day.

The company also offers you the ability to edit an unlimited number of legal documents, electronically sign them and share them with others for free, as well as services like tax preparation for a discounted fee.

However, if you don’t anticipate needing legal advice or other professional services, there are cheaper options available, especially considering you need to pay annually for RocketLegal+ to get the best pricing.

Rocket Lawyer excels at offering legal services for small business owners in addition to helping them form their LLCs. Each business also receives a dedicated customer service provider and has access to the company’s network of tax preparers, registered agents, attorneys and other professionals for a fee.

Value

For those on a budget, Rocket Lawyer makes a lot of sense. You can set up an LLC for free during the seven-day trial period and even get access to limited legal support, three legal documents and the electronic signature feature. That said, you will need to open an account and provide a credit card.

If you decide to continue, Rocket Lawyer offers two plans: a monthly subscription for $39.99 per month and an annual subscription for $479.76. The annual plan works out to $39.98 per month, so you’re not saving any money with it, and the only real benefit is a discount on professional services you may not need.

Functionality

Rocket Lawyer’s strength lies in its legal services. Business owners can connect with an attorney by phone, email or online chat for answers to straightforward questions within 24 hours. For more complex legal issues, Rocket Lawyer has a trusted network of attorneys available for hire at a discounted rate for those on the annual plan.

In addition, the company offers customizable, boilerplate legal documents that should cover most of your business needs as well as documents pertaining to real estate and estate planning. To make creating legal documents even easier, Rocket Lawyer provides free e-signature capabilities.

Support

The company supports its users in several ways. First, each business receives a dedicated customer service representative to help with any general issues. It also has an online library focusing on relevant legal topics like business entities and registered agents.

But Rocket Lawyer stands out for its legal support. Even during the free trial, you can ask an attorney a question by phone, email or chat and get an answer within 24 hours. Rocket Lawyer also gives subscribers a free 30-minute phone consultation with an attorney for each new legal issue. After that, you have to pay for additional help.

Learn more: Read our full Rocket Lawyer review.

Northwest Registered Agent is best for people starting their first business, especially those on a budget. For just $39 plus state filing fees of $100 in Virginia, the company will set up your LLC, provide one year of free registered agent services and give you access to legal document templates, including an operating agreement. You also get a free domain, website and email — essentially everything you need, infrastructure-wise — to get up and running.

Additionally, you can phone or email the company’s in-state corporate guides — experienced accountants, lawyers, paralegals, and other experts — with questions about setting up and running an LLC in Virginia. Online resources provide step-by-step instructions for tasks like business name searches, and articles give a crash course on business basics, covering topics like what to do when a client doesn’t pay and how to catch up on estimated business taxes.

As a dedicated registered agent service, Northwest Registered Agent provides everything you need to start an LLC for $39 plus state filing fees, from guided support through the company’s formation to a domain and website. Plus, corporate guides can answer questions about the law as it pertains to LLCs, specifically in Virginia, at no extra charge.

Value

With Northwest Registered Agent, you pay for only the services you need. There’s even the option to sign up for a free account and complete the paperwork yourself, but that only saves you $39 since you still have to pay $100 in state filing fees. For your $39, you get one year of free registered agent services, free guided support, a free domain, free website and other perks in addition to your LLC.

The freebies don’t last, though, and the services can add up. The registered agent will cost $125 annually after the first year, and you’ll pay $9 per month each for the website, SSL security, business email and business phone.

Functionality

Even though its name focuses on its registered agent services, the company does a good job of guiding new business owners through the LLC formation process. It boasts corporate guides in every state who are familiar with the ins and outs of forming and running a local LLC — in contrast to most companies, which rely on staff at one central location.

Northwest Registered Agent also provides step-by-step instructions for tasks like obtaining an EIN (employer identification number) or registering a DBA (Doing Business As) in Virginia. With an account, you have access to free legal forms, but the document library falls short of Rocket Lawyer’s offerings.

Support

This family-owned and operated company prides itself on its responsiveness, boasting that whatever question or issue you have, you will get a response the same day. You can reach its corporate guides 24/7 by phone, email, contact form or chat. Not only can these guides address general questions but they can answer more specifically about what needs to be done in the state of Virginia.

Given the detailed information online, you might not need customer support that often, though. Northwest Registered Agents has a solid library of articles that walk you through tasks, usually with links to state-specific instructions.

Learn more: Read our full Northwest Registered Agent review.

LegalZoom works well for both those who need a comprehensive package that includes guidance from an attorney and those who don’t mind doing much of the work themselves to save money.

At the one end of the LegalZoom spectrum, the free basic plan provides the essentials like the Articles of Organization and name check service but only limited written instructions to get you through your business’ launch. On the other end, a business attorney walks you through the Virginia filing process and you get perks like a free EIN and attorney review of your contracts (free for 30 days) for $299 plus state fees.

For those who feel capable of setting up an LLC on their own but want some phone support and additional features, LegalZoom’s mid-level plan is an acceptable option, but at $249, it’s more expensive than similar offerings from other companies.

With its premium package, LegalZoom provides an attorney to guide you through the creation of your LLC and the management of your business, saving you time and effort. The company also has a free option that includes everything you need to get started as long as you are willing to do all the work yourself.

Value

LegalZoom has three package levels, starting with a free option that requires you to do all the work. While it will get you up and running, it is bare-bones and offers only email and chat support. At the other end of the spectrum, the premium package comes with unlimited legal consults (for 30 days) and compliance essentials like an EIN but costs $299 (plus the Virginia filing fees).

At $249, the mid-range is almost as expensive, but instead of the legal support that comes with the premium package, it connects you to insurance and tax specialists. For the $50 difference, you might as well upgrade to the premium.

Functionality

You get what you pay for when it comes to LegalZoom’s features. Its premium package offers attorney consultations, operating agreement, EIN, consultations with insurance and tax specialists and e-signature capabilities. However, with the free plan, you get the bare minimum, along with a digital welcome pack to guide you through your business setup. The mid-level package has most of the features of the top-tier option but without the free legal consults.

We like that all packages come with a free Wix website and access to LegalZoom’s more than 150 downloadable legal forms. You also have the option to pay for additional services like registered agent services and trademark registrations.

Support

LegalZoom offers customer service seven days a week during set hours, but the service you get depends on the package you choose. Business owners on the basic plan can only connect by email or chat, while those on the two top-tier plans can also get phone support.

Not surprisingly, the help you can get during setup depends on your package, too. On the basic plan, you receive a digital packet, but at the high end, you get unlimited access to an attorney.

In addition to this, LegalZoom has a limited self-help knowledge base online focused on using its e-signature feature.

Learn more: Read our full LegalZoom review.

Formerly Incfile, Bizee stands out for its straightforward, transparent approach to pricing. It clearly states what each of its three packages includes and how much extra you’ll pay for the services that aren’t included – making it a good choice for business owners watching their bottom line.

Additionally, pop-up windows in the package comparison table explain what each feature is and why it’s either essential or worth considering. This can be extremely helpful to new business owners who might not understand that federal law requires an EIN or that by filing an IRS Form 2553, they could gain certain tax advantages.

On the other hand, Bizee doesn’t offer the legal support that other LLC services like Rocket Lawyer or LegalZoom do, so it’s not a good solution if you think you might want to consult an attorney while setting up your LLC. Bizee compensates for this with an extensive resource library that includes Virginia-specific articles.

Bizee stands out for its transparent pricing and competitive features. Even its basic Silver plan comes with free registered agent services for a year and lifetime compliance alerts to remind you when your state compliance requirements are due. Features not included in the Silver and Gold tiers can be purchased for an additional fee.

Value

Bizee offers three packages, all of which include LLC formation, free registered agent service for the first year (something some companies charge $200 or more annually for) and unlimited phone and email support. Based on that, the free Silver plan is a good option for business owners looking to limit start-up costs since they can pay individually for additional services if they choose.

The mid-level Gold plan comes with extras like a prepared operating agreement. These extras, if purchased separately, equal the plan’s cost of $199 (including the $5 discount on domain cost). For an extra $100, the Platinum option includes expedited filing, legal templates and domain name. Its $299 price tag exceeds the value of the individually priced extras.

Functionality

Bizee provides the basic features you need to launch your business for free, then gives you the option to pay for additional features individually or as part of an upgraded package. We appreciate that the registered agent service is free for all tiers for the first year since some LLC services charge more than $200 annually, but other features, like the legal templates, cost $150 unless you have the Platinum package.

The company offers some nice free perks for all users, starting with its lifetime compliance alerts that notify you when you need to file your state compliance documents. You’ll also receive a consultation to ensure your tax structure is right.

Support

All packages get unlimited phone and email support, but it is only available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. This presents a challenge if you are trying to connect by phone and can only work on your business in the evenings and weekends. When emailing with questions, we found that Bizee responded promptly but gave an incomplete answer.

On the other hand, Bizee has an extensive library covering everything from the differences between business entities to funding opportunities. There are also articles relating to specific business models like cannabis or cryptocurrency and blockchain.

Learn more: Read our full Bizee review.

Swyft Filings is a good option for first-time business owners who want someone else to handle the paperwork involved with creating an LLC. You just need to complete a short form – a task the company promises won’t take more than 10 minutes – and Swyft Filings will complete and file the paperwork for you. If you purchase the Standard or Premium package, Swyft Filings will also secure an EIN for you.

With expedited and same-day filings, Swyft Filings is a no-brainer for those in a rush to get their paperwork as well, but it comes at a cost. You’ll pay $199 (plus state filing fees) for the Standard plan’s five-day turnaround and $299 for the Premium plan’s same-day service.

Documents are delivered electronically on both plans, and physical copies are mailed with expedited shipping on the Premium plan. For comparison, the Basic plan, which is free except for Virginia’s filing fees, takes three weeks to process and sends documents by standard shipping.

The company makes it easy to launch your LLC, only requiring you to complete a short form to get the process started. All plans include the necessary paperwork and a free business tax consultation. Plus, if you’re in a rush, you can choose expedited or same-day processing.

Value

Like many LLC services, Swyft Filings divides its packages into three tiers — free, mid-range and premium — and the value you get from each depends on your needs. If you can handle tasks like getting your own EIN (which is offered by the IRS at no cost), the free Basic plan is a good deal, especially since all plans come with a free business tax consultation.

However, costs for the extras can quickly add up, so many small businesses may find more value in the Standard plan at $199 (plus filing fees). By far, though, the $299 Premium package offers the best value since it includes same-day processing (a $100 value) and a one-year domain subscription (a $276 value).

Swyft Filings offers a money-back guarantee and promises to correct any filing errors it makes at no cost.

Functionality

The features you get with Swyft Filings are fairly typical for an LLC service, although the company stands out for its same-day processing capabilities at the Premium level. Another attractive feature is the free business tax consultation all accounts receive since any mistakes made in this area can be costly in the future.

Small businesses can benefit from the company’s ComplianceGuard. Initially free, the tool notifies users when they have upcoming corporate governance, labor law, financial, regulatory and data privacy compliance issues. Beware, though. Unless you cancel it before the 14-day trial ends, ComplianceGuard automatically renews at $199 annually.

Support

Swyft Filings provides lifetime phone and email customer service even with its Basic plan. You can contact customer service Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. When we called, we found customer service representatives responded quickly with a concise answer to our question.

Online, the learning center covers topics ranging from how to open a business bank account to the benefits of social media. Case studies highlight small businesses in retail, technology, food service and other industries, while research studies explore the best and worst states for small businesses, entrepreneur hotspots and similar subjects.

Learn more: Read our full Swyft Filings review.

While MyCorporation doesn’t offer a free option like many other LLC services, its packages are customizable with add-ons and can grow with your business. Better yet, you can see what each feature costs with Virginia’s state fees included.

For example, if you include State Unemployment Insurance in your package, the price shows Virginia’s $20 fee. As you add each feature to your package, MyCorporation updates your total cost so you know exactly what you’ll be charged at checkout.

Business owners on a tight budget will want to look elsewhere, though, since MyCorporation’s packages start at $99 for what other services offer for free. Some add-ons can be pricey, too, although the registered agent service is a reasonable $120 per year.

MyCorporation may also not be a good fit if you want to consult legal or tax experts during the setup or for later issues. On the other hand, the company includes offers for payroll processing.

MyCorporation impresses with its extra features, ranging from state income tax withholding to labor law posters, but compared to other services, it can be expensive depending on how many add-ons you select. Its learning center provides solid content on issues that really matter to small business owners, like how to stay compliant.

Value

Although MyCorporation doesn’t have a free option, it gives business owners four plans to choose from and allows them to customize their choice with extra features. Plus, unlike some LLC services, there’s significant value in purchasing an upgraded package.

To get everything included in the top-tier plan, you would pay $568 (plus state filing fees) to add those features separately to the $99 plan, but the top-tier plan includes it all for $324 (plus the state filing fees).

While convenient, the extra features can get expensive, and many auto-renew every year. To get the best value, you’ll need to know what’s essential for starting and maintaining your business.

Functionality

All four packages include what you need to launch your LLC, with each tier adding one of MyCorporation’s core offerings, such as the registered agent service. The remaining features come á la carte and may or may not be of value. For example, you can get an EIN from the IRS for free instead of paying the $79 MyCorporation charges.

Those who don’t want to deal with all the required filings may appreciate the options that automatically handle those, but you will pay $200 for the convenience. Other options, like the labor law posters, are very overpriced. You can find posters online for under $20; MyCorporation charges $99.

Support

MyCorporation offers phone support Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST. You can also email them, contact them by snail mail or fax them. If that’s not enough, you can also complete the form on the company’s contact page or connect through live chat.

When live support is not available and you need answers quickly, MyCorporation’s learning center provides practical articles covering the basics, such as whether you need a business license or what a registered agent does. The blog tackles more advanced topics like how to motivate your team, brand ambassadors and Schedule C tax forms.

Learn more: Read our full MyCorporation review.

Business owners on tight budgets will benefit most from Inc Authority because it will set up your LLC for free and include perks that other services charge for, like an EIN, at no cost. Everyone receives registered agent service for free for one year, too. For an additional fee, you can add services like tax preparation or a website.

Inc Authority can also connect you to lenders for start-up funding, credit loans and other financing options, and it partners with Bank of America, ADP, QuickBooks and others to provide discounted services.

On the other hand, Inc Authority probably isn’t the right solution for you if you want a comprehensive package with a long list of features and legal support. While it does have two packages, both are expensive: $299 (plus state fees) for the Starter plan and $499 (plus state fees) for the Fast Track plan, which comes with expedited filing and a private banking specialist.

Where other LLC services offer the bare minimum for free, Inc Authority will set up your LLC and let you choose between a free EIN, free website or free expedited filing. A registered agent is also included at no cost. However, the company has limited resources online and lacks transparent pricing on many services.

Value

You can’t beat free, and that’s what Inc Authority offers: free processing (plus state filing fees) and a free registered agent for one year. Plus, you get to choose between a free EIN, free website or free expedited filing when you work with Inc Authority. Through its marketplace, you can purchase additional services, including tax preparation and federal trademark.

Because it has so many freebies, Inc Authority is a good option if you want to get the most bang for your buck. On the other hand, its two packages are expensive ($299 for the Starter plan and $499 for the Fast Track plan, plus filing fees for both options) and don’t allow for the customization that MyCorporation and other LLC services do.

Functionality

Inc Authority’s strength lies in its pricing. You pay nothing except Virginia’s filing fees, and although it delivers great freebies (for example, one year of free registered agent service), it’s still basic. To get more features, you have to purchase add-ons or one of its two plans, both of which require calling a representative.

The premium packages boast a comprehensive list of features, including a professional tax consultation and a web domain with five email addresses. They also come with annual compliance notifications to help you keep your business in good standing. With the highest-level package, you also get a private banking specialist and personal business advice.

Support

You can reach out to Inc Authority by phone Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, but the company doesn’t offer much in the way of expert support. You can hire an accountant through Inc Authority, but it does not connect you to legal counsel.

Additionally, the self-help knowledge base is very thin, and the blog is only updated about once a month. You’ll need to call with most questions.

Learn more: Read our full Inc Authority review.

Active Filings is best for first-time business owners who aren’t sure where to start. You provide a few key details (your state, your company name, the company’s owners and the company’s managers), and Active Filings completes the paperwork and submits it to the state of Virginia for you. Registered agent services are free for one year, even with the Starter plan, and when it comes due, Active Filings will complete your Virginia annual report at no charge, invoicing you for the state fees only.

Budget-conscious business owners should beware, though. All three of Active Filings plans are barebones, and the registered agent service is only free for the first year. Additionally, there isn’t an option to consult an attorney or tax expert.

Unlike many other LLC services, Active Filings offers its services in Spanish and English. The website has a Spanish version of its online content, and Spanish-speaking representatives are available to answer questions.

Active Filings streamlines LLC setup and helps new businesses conserve cash with a free plan that includes a registered agent for a year. Admittedly, it’s a no-frills service even if you upgrade to the top-tier plan, but it won’t overwhelm new business owners who just want to get their business off the ground.

Value

Like many LLC services, Active Filings has three packages. The free option will launch your business at no cost (except the state filing fees) but with no real perks other than a registered agent service for one year. At the high end, The Finisher includes all the available standard features, but considering it costs $250 (plus the state fees), it isn’t a great value. Similarly-priced packages through other companies give you more.

The mid-range plan, which costs $100, delivers good value for what you get. It includes expedited filing, something some companies charge $100 for, as well as an EIN, which services usually charge about $70 for.

Functionality

Active Filings keeps it simple. The three plans on its website all have the basics you need to get started and come with a one-year subscription to its registered agent service. Plus, the company will complete and file your Virginia annual report, charging you only for the state fee.

That’s all that comes with the basic plan, though. You can get some nice upgrades with the mid-level plan ($100 plus state filing fees), including a free EIN and expedited next-business-day filing. The Finisher plan adds a corporate seal and a corporate book to the mix, neither of which is worth the $150 upcharge.

Support

Customer support is limited with Active Filings. The company’s help center contains few resources with the exception of several articles relating to starting a business in each state, including Virginia. One thing that does stand out is that the information in the Help Center comes in Spanish as well as English. Users can also view the website in Spanish and converse with Spanish-speaking representatives.

You can call Active Filings Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST or complete the form on its contact page. The company doesn’t have a live chat option or an email address listed.

Learn more: Read our full Active Filings review.

ZenBusiness markets itself as a one-stop solution suitable for any new business. Budget-conscious business owners can have their paperwork filed at no cost (except the state filing fees) with the free Starter plan. However, they’ll wait up to three weeks for their LLC and get very little in terms of features. The only available perk is Worry-Free Compliance, which is free for one year before jumping to $199.

The paid packages include more features, but even the $349 Premium plan lacks offerings, like registered agent services (available for $199 with ZenBusiness), which are standard with other LLC services’ top-tier plans. Having said that, the Premium plan does provide a website builder, domain and business email address, all of which are necessities in today’s business world.

While you have the flexibility to tailor a plan with add-ons, be mindful of your total cost. Many of the add-ons cost more through ZenBusiness than other services.

ZenBusiness stands out for the extra features that let you tailor a solution to meet your needs. Besides the expected add-ons like an operating agreement, it offers a website builder, logo designer and tax services. The website clearly states which charges are one-time and which recur, so you’re not taken by surprise.

Value

The free Starter plan isn’t much to get excited about. While you pay nothing except the state filing fees, you get nothing in return except Worry-Free Compliance, a compliance monitoring service that renews automatically for $199 after the first year.

For $199 (plus state filing fees), the mid-level Pro plan expedites your filing, prepares an operating agreement and provides an EIN. Given that the EIN is free through the IRS, you don’t receive much value from it.

There is some value in the website, email address and access to editable legal documents that are part of the Premium plan, but $349 is steep when you consider that you have to pay extra for a registered agent.

Functionality

Any of the plans offered through ZenBusiness will get the job of setting up your LLC done, but just barely. The Starter plan gives you the absolute minimum, while the Pro plan tosses in an EIN, operating agreement and expedited filing. Even the Premium plan only goes so far, adding a website and business email. As a business owner, you’ll likely need more, and each add-on costs.

ZenBusiness’ extras tend to be more expensive than what you’d pay for the same services elsewhere. For example, an EIN costs $99 through ZenBusiness. MyCorporation charges $79 for an EIN, and the IRS will provide one directly for free.

Support

You can reach ZenBusiness by phone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST or Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. The company also has live chat and provides an email address. When we completed the online form, we got no response. However, when we called the phone number, we were connected with someone right away.

Outside of business hours, you can turn to the online Help Center, although it is limited in what it provides. As an example, under the heading “troubleshooting,” you’ll find four articles. “Registered agent service” has a total of nine articles.

Learn more: Read our full ZenBusiness review.

Filenow appeals to business owners who want a straightforward LLC service with transparent pricing. It has two just two paid plans (no free option): the Starter plan for $49 (plus state filing fees) and the Premium plan for $199 (plus the state fees).

While you get unlimited phone and email support with both plans, the Starter plan doesn’t offer much more and wouldn’t be a good solution for business owners on a budget since you can get its features for free with other services.

The Premium package is a good value for its price considering it comes with an operating agreement, EIN, one year of free registered agent service and expedited processing. To keep things simple, Filenow limits its add-ons to a few basics, like a certificate of good standing and registered agent service.

Filenow also stands out for its money-back guarantee. The company will refund the full amount if your application is denied by the state because of a mistake it made.

With its Premium plan, Filenow delivers solid features at a reasonable price and backs it up with a full money-back guarantee if the state of Virginia denies your application due to mistakes Filenow made on the application. The company also exchanges services within 30 days of purchase under some circ*mstances.

Value

At its base level, Filenow doesn’t provide much. It has no free option and the Starter plan, which costs $49 (plus state filing fees), gives you what you can get for free from other LLC services.

However, its Premium plan comes with a registered agent for one year, EIN, operating agreement and expedited filing. That’s a lot for $199, especially since some LLC services charge that much or more for the registered agent service alone.

There are a few add-ons, and while some are worth the cost, others are not. For instance, you’ll pay $100 for 15 legal templates with Filenow when some services provide significantly more to their users for free.

Functionality

Filenow intentionally limits its offerings so business owners aren’t overwhelmed by choices. That’s why it only offers two plans. The Starter plan is about as basic as it gets, but you can pay for Premium plan features individually for a more customized solution.

With the Premium plan, you get a number of good features for free, including one year of registered agent service and an EIN. Filenow has basic services you can add to either plan (if they’re not already included), such as a business licensing report and certificate of good standing. Additionally, it offers a full money-back guarantee on applications that fail due to Filenow’s mistake.

Support

Business owners can connect with Filenow by phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST and by live chat 24/7. Additionally, the company has an online contact form and an email address. Filenow didn’t respond to our email, and when we called, we had to wait on hold, but once someone answered, they were helpful.

The company provides basic online support through its Frequently Asked Questions section and also has a blog with a handful of not-very-helpful posts. You’ll have to contact Filenow directly for answers to any substantial questions.

Learn more: Read our full Filenow review.