Colorado is one of the cheapest states: $50 to form an LLC online, processed in real time, and a $25 periodic report each year. With state fees this low, the service's renewal price is most of what you pay.
Northwest charges $39 plus the state fee and includes a year of registered agent service, an operating agreement and a business address to keep your home address off public filings. After year one the agent is $125 a year. It has one package, so there are no tiers to compare.
$39 + state fee
Pros
$39 includes a year of registered agent, an operating agreement and a business address
Registered agent renews at a flat $125/yr
Cancel any service in the portal with no fee
Cons
EIN is a $50 add-on ($200 without an SSN)
Annual report filing is auto-enrolled at $100 + state fee unless you opt out
Lower Trustpilot score (4.1, 318 reviews) than the big brands
Bizee, formerly Incfile, files your LLC for $0 and includes a free first year of registered agent service, then $149 a year. The $0 Basic plan is slow (Bizee quotes 4 to 6 weeks in total), and refunds end once your fee goes to the state, usually within 24 hours.
$0 + state fee
Pros
$0 Basic includes a free first year of registered agent
Registered agent renews at $149/yr, below ZenBusiness and LegalZoom
4.8/5 on Trustpilot from 26,442 reviews
Cons
Basic takes about 4 to 6 weeks; Standard about 2 weeks
Refunds end once fees go to the state, usually within 24 hours
EIN ($70) and operating agreement ($99) cost extra on Basic
Free filing if you will cancel the agent6.4/10Fair
Inc Authority files your LLC for $0 and adds a free year of registered agent and the EIN. After year one the agent renews at $249, and to cancel it you must file an agent change with your state and send proof. Its paid bundles are sold only by phone.
$0 + state fee
Pros
$0 filing with a free first year of registered agent and the EIN
60-day refund on the first online purchase, minus state fees
4.8/5 on Trustpilot from 49,809 reviews; A+ BBB rating
Cons
Registered agent auto-renews at $249/yr, and reminders aren't guaranteed
To cancel the agent you must change agents with the state and send proof
Paid bundles and the operating agreement are sold by phone with no prices online
Northwest wins over two years. Its $125 agent fee has not changed in 20 years, by its own account (Northwest agent), and there are no per-document charges.
Bizee is the middle path. Basic is $0 with a free agent year, but Bizee quotes 4 to 6 weeks in total for Basic (Bizee order form), a long wait in a state that files online instantly. Skip the $70 EIN and get one free from the IRS (IRS EIN) to bring year one to $149.
Inc Authority is the cheapest year one at $50 all in, since the agent and EIN are free for a year (Inc Authority). It only makes sense if you will drop its agent before renewal.
Colorado traps to avoid
Inc Authority's agent renews at $249, ten times the state report. To cancel, you must change agents with the state and send written proof before renewal, by phone at 877-684-2836 or email, and refunds are not pro-rated (Inc Authority terms). It also leaves out an operating agreement unless you buy a phone-sold bundle.
Don't pay a service to rush a Colorado filing. Online filings are already instant, and the $150 expedite fee applies to paper documents.
Use the two-month grace window, but not past it. After that, the $25 report carries a $50 penalty.