ZenBusiness (which has formed more than 300,000 businesses) has an inviting offer for LLC formations that is among the best options nationwide and in Alabama. We pride ourselves in offering the most bang for your buck in the industry.
We offer LLC formations for free (only pay your state fee). In addition, we receive spectacular feedback from our clients, with more than 10,000 reviews available online, and nearly universal acclaim from our customers.
Furthermore, ZenBusiness is a public benefit corporation, which indicates that we’re focused on more than simply maximizing our profits. We have a partnership with Kiva.org to help lift people out of poverty through financial lending, and ZenBusiness also loans money to help women- and minority-owned businesses get off the ground.
It’s tough to top what ZenBusiness has to offer, no matter what state you’re starting a business in.
LegalZoom is the biggest name in the LLC formation service industry. They’ve been a prominent player in this market for years, and they advertise more than most of their competitors combined.
They also serve a very high volume of customers, so there’s no denying that LegalZoom is a popular service. In addition, LegalZoom has thousands of mostly positive customer reviews available online.
However, their pricing is acceptable but uninspiring. Their LLC formation packages are threadbare and lacking value compared to many of their competitors.
If you prioritize using the company with the largest volume of customers or the biggest brand power, LegalZoom is certainly worth a look.
Are you interested in receiving personalized customer support? If so, give Northwest Registered Agent a look. Northwest provides all of its clients with support from their Corporate Guides.
These highly trained representatives walk you through each step of the formation process, and you can contact your Guide at any time to ask questions or get advice.
Northwest’s pricing starts at $225, and that rate includes 12 months of their registered agent service.
While their competitors typically only scan the government documents they’re legally required to scan, Northwest scans all documents they receive on your behalf.
They provide solid overall value, and they also receive strong reviews from their customers, albeit in a smaller volume of feedback than ZenBusiness has to offer. If you’re looking for personalized service, Northwest is a good AL LLC service.
Who doesn’t like getting things for free? Along with ZenBusiness, IncFile is one of the only companies we’ve ever heard of that actually offers to form your Alabama LLC at absolutely no charge, as long as you pay your own state fee.
This is a bargain, and it gets even better when you realize that IncFile is far from a barebones service. With IncFile, that free formation package we just discussed actually comes with a free year of registered agent service.
In addition, they have a positive reputation for customer feedback, as they have thousands upon thousands of reviews available online, and nearly all of them are perfect five-star scores.
The only real drawback of IncFile is that their customer support team can sometimes take a bit to get back to you. Still, it’s hard to complain about a company that offers to form your LLC for free, while still throwing in a full year of registered agent service.
What Is an Alabama LLC?
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnerships, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes.
An LLC may also elect to be taxed like a corporation, although this is not a very common option.
There are similarities to corporations too, especially when it comes to financial responsibilities. In an LLC, the owners or members are not usually personally accountable for the financial status of the business. This means that if someone sues your LLC, your personal assets are not at risk.
While Alabama does not legally require LLCs to create an operating agreement, it’s still strongly recommended. This document can help clear up any disagreements between your owners, and it’s also just generally convenient to have a roadmap of your LLC’s operational aspects.
Alabama’s LLC formations are somewhat expensive, although there are a few states with higher fees. Still, the Alabama Secretary of State charges $200 for the Certificate of Formation. You can pay by check, money order, or credit/debit card, or you can use an Alabama Secretary of State prepaid account. The state typically processes all business filings within 24 hours of receipt.
Alabama’s LLC maintenance requirements are reasonably affordable. This state requires LLCs to file a Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report each year, with a $100 minimum fee.
Get The Best LLC Service
| Service | Price | Value | Legit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 ZenBusiness | $0 + state fee | Excellent | Absolutely |
Want the best LLC service? Choose ZenBusiness. We have formed 400,000+ businesses and accumulated thousands of positive customer reviews.
We'll form your LLC for free — just pay your state's required fee!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in Alabama?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Alabama. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
How Can I Search Alabama’s Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming an Alabama LLC is choosing and reserving a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Secretary of State’s business name availability search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Alabama, check out our full article on the topic.
Where Can I Find the Alabama Certificate of Formation?
You can find the Alabama Certificate of Formation on the Secretary of State’s website.
What Are Alabama’s Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
All LLCs operating in the state of Alabama are required to submit a Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report with the Department of Revenue in the first three and a half months of the LLC’s taxable year.
Where Can I Learn More About the Alabama LLC Licensing and Permitting Requirements?
Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with Alabama state law. For more information about business licenses and more in this state, check out Alabama’s convenient Business Licensing hub.
How Quickly Does Alabama Process LLC Formations?
Alabama has some of the nation’s fastest turnaround times for business filings. In most cases, the state will process LLC formations within just 24 hours of receiving your documents.
Which Company Provides the Best Alabama Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to Alabama registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My Alabama LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to Alabama LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to Alabama?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Alabama. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in Alabama for more information.
Best LLC Formation Services in All 50 States
We've broken down the best LLC formation services in all 50 states. Select your state for more information.
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