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 Massachusetts. 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. Get this discount!
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 resident 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 MA 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 Massachusetts 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 resident 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 resident agent service.
What Is a Massachusetts 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.
Massachusetts does not require LLCs to create an operating agreement, although it is 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.
The state of Massachusetts has incredibly high fees for LLC formations, as you’ll pay $500 if you file on a paper form or $520 for online or faxed submissions. You can pay by check, money order, or credit/debit card. The state typically processes LLC formations within two business days.
The ongoing LLC maintenance requirements in Massachusetts include the annual report. You need to file it by your LLC’s anniversary date each year, and the filing fee is at least $500. Unfortunately, this is the most expensive annual report fee in the nation.
Clearly, owning a business in Massachusetts can be very costly.
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 Massachusetts?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts’ Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming a Massachusetts LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s business entity search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Massachusetts, check out our full article on the topic.
Where Can I Find the Massachusetts Certificate of Organization?
You can fill out or download the Massachusetts Certificate of Organization on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website.
What Are Massachusetts’ Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
All LLCs operating in the state of Massachusetts are required to submit an annual report to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. It’s due by your LLC’s anniversary date each year, and there is a $500 filing fee ($520 if you file online or by fax).
Where Can I Learn More About the Massachusetts LLC Licensing and Permitting Requirements?
Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with Massachusetts state law. For more information about business licenses and more in this state, check out the state’s Business Licenses and Permits webpage.
How Quickly Does Massachusetts Process LLC Formations?
The Secretary of State should be able to process your LLC’s formation within just 1-2 business days.
Which Company Provides the Best Massachusetts Resident 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 Massachusetts resident agents.
How Can I Dissolve My Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to Massachusetts?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts 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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