How to File a New York LLC Without LegalZoom
You don't need LegalZoom or any reseller to form a New York LLC. Here's the exact direct-with-the-state path, what it costs, and where the markups hide.
LegalZoom, ZenBusiness, Northwest, and similar services file the same Articles of Organization you can file yourself — and charge a service fee on top of the state's fee to do it, usually with a stack of add-ons. You can form a New York LLC without any of them. Here's the direct path.
What a filing service actually does
Stripped down, a formation service fills out a standard state form and submits it. The real money is in what gets bundled around it: registered agent subscriptions, operating-agreement templates, EIN "filing," and recurring "compliance" plans. None of that is the filing itself, and most of it you can do for free or close to it.
What it costs direct vs. through a reseller
| Item | Direct with the state | Typical reseller |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $200 (state fee) | $200 + service fee |
| EIN | Free at IRS.gov | Sometimes a paid add-on |
| Operating agreement | Template / drafted | Paid add-on |
| Registered agent | $0 if you use your own | $100 – $300/year |
| Newspaper publication | Varies by county | Varies + markup |
Pricing on these services changes often — check their current checkout before comparing. The pattern is consistent though: the state fee is fixed, and the markup is everything stacked on top of it.
The direct path — step by step
- Check your name in the New York Department of State business entity database to confirm it's available and includes "LLC"
- Decide on your registered agent — you can be your own with a New York address, or use the Secretary of State as agent for service of process (the default on the form)
- File your Articles of Organization online through NY Business Express — the state fee is $200, and online filings are usually approved within minutes to 24 hours
- Apply for your EIN at IRS.gov — free, about 10 minutes, issued on screen immediately
- Complete the newspaper publication requirement within 120 days, then file the Certificate of Publication ($50)
- Adopt an operating agreement (in New York it's required by statute, but you keep it in your records — you don't file it with the state)
Where the markups hide
- Paid EIN filing — the IRS issues EINs for free; never pay a third party for one
- Registered agent subscriptions you may not need — in New York you can serve as your own or use the Secretary of State
- "Compliance packages" — what you actually need is a calendar reminder for your Biennial Statement ($9) and any state deadlines
- Expedited fees you didn't ask for, added at checkout
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. For questions specific to your business, talk to a licensed attorney or accountant in New York.
Want help without the upsells?
The Midnight Founder files your New York LLC directly with the Department of State — $0 service fee, just the state's $200. Same confirmation number you'd get filing yourself, without the evening of paperwork.
File my NY LLC