The 10 Best LLC Services in Massachusetts: Reviewed and Ranked

Many Bay Staters aspire to start and manage a profitable business. However, success depends on selecting the right LLC formation service.

The right LLC service in Massachusetts will guarantee that your firm is registered on schedule and that your documents are completed correctly.

The wrong LLC service in Massachusetts will delay your LLC formation process due to lack of proper documentation and can also get you in trouble with the Massachusetts Secretary of State.

I examined the 10 best Massachusetts LLC formation services using a four-stage, five-factor procedure to assist entrepreneurs in making the best decision for their Massachusetts LLC.

Here are my findings.

1. Northwest Registered Agent: 9.45/10 (Best Overall LLC Service)

Northwest Registered Agent is the best LLC service in Massachusetts due to its low-cost LLC formation service charge and excellent customer support.

Pros

Northwest files and submits your certificate of organization to the Massachusetts Secretary of State as part of its $39 LLC formation package. But that’s not all it does.

Northwest also provides a draft operating agreement template, a seven-day free trial of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, annual report compliance notifications, an online document storage portal, a business tax consultation with its in-house experts, and a free year of Massachusetts registered agent service.

It also provides more comprehensive LLC services at an extra cost, such as access to a federal employer identification number (EIN), a Certificate of Good Standing, certified copies of your formation documents, and a business seal.

This formation package usually costs $225, but BoostSuite readers can get an 82% discount by following my exclusive link to Northwest's sign-up page. 

Despite all its extensive features, Northwest’s customer service remains the main highlight of its business model.

The Corporate Guides are a group of former accountants, lawyers, and small business owners who understand what it takes to manage a Massachusetts LLC. They not only help you with your LLC formation process, but they’re available all week during normal business hours to provide sound business advice that might assist you when you run into challenges.

Cons

Northwest's one flaw is that it doesn't offer any services to help your Massachusetts LLC establish an online presence, such as business domain registration, social networking tools, a customized business website, or an email service.

However, this isn't a significant issue because you can receive these services for as little as $15 from a number of internet platforms, such as Squarespace.

Overall

Northwest is the best Massachusetts LLC formation service because of its affordable formation package, which includes a wide range of services, including free registered agent service and a customer support team that is always ready to help you should you run into problems while managing your Massachusetts LLC.

Northwest’s low-cost $39 formation package includes all the essential LLC services you'll need to establish your Massachusetts business, and its professional Corporate Guides are available all week during normal business hours to provide invaluable business advice that will come in handy while managing your LLC in Massachusetts.

If you’re looking for a trustworthy Massachusetts LLC formation service that offers excellent customer service and economical (and dependable) services, call Northwest Registered Agent today and receive an 82% discount on LLC formation.

2. ZenBusiness: 8.25/10 (Best Essentials Service)

ZenBusiness’ $0 price is certainly enticing, but it doesn’t offer free registered agent services or small business advice. 

Pros

What’s most appealing about ZenBusiness is that it will provide all of the essentials necessary to legally establish your LLC. It will run a business name availability search, make sure that the information you’ve added to your formation documents is correct, and then file your formation paperwork with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. 

It also offers a $199 Pro plan that includes help creating your business’s operating agreement as well as expedited filing (around four to six days). There’s a $299 Premium plan that includes a business domain name, email address, and custom website builder, as well as rush filing (as little as one to two days), as well. 

Its customer service team is also available beyond the regular business hours on weekdays and even on Sundays! 

Cons

The $0 plan will cover the basics to get your LLC set up, but it definitely doesn’t cover everything. 

Some companies provide free registered agent service for the first year as part of its LLC service packages, and it’s a real crowd-pleaser. But ZenBusiness doesn’t. In fact, the only package that includes registered agent service is $199/year, which means you’ll pay more for its registered agent services in the long run. 

While it’s nice that ZenBusiness’ customer service has extended hours and that they’re able to help you with password changes or questions about the formation process, they aren’t experienced, qualified professionals. So if you want legal, tax, or business advice then you’re better off choosing a different provider. 

Overall

It may sound too good to be true, but ZenBusiness will form your LLC for $0. That price includes helping you fill out your documents properly, filing them, and providing you with a US-based customer service team that’s available during extended hours to answer your questions about the formation process. 

Though you’ll have to pay a bit more if you want registered agent services, some of ZenBusiness’ guarantees (like 100% accuracy and worry-free compliance) provide enough peace of mind to make up for the additional costs. 

If you just want the basics without any frills, you can learn more about ZenBusiness on its website. 

3. Harbor Compliance: 7.15/10 (Best Premium LLC Service)

Due to its personalized customer support and extensive array of premium LLC formation services, Harbor Compliance is the best premium LLC service on this list and the second best overall.

Pros

Its basic plan includes services like an operating agreement template, a business name and physical address in Massachusetts, assistance with submitting your certificate of organization, access to an EIN, a draft operating agreement template, compliance notifications that remind you of annual reports deadlines, pre-filled state forms and user-friendly software, and a year of free registered agent service.

The main contrast between Harbor Compliance and Northwest is customer service. While you can contact one of Northwest's Corporate Guides, Harbor Compliance assigns you a dedicated account manager who is familiar with your account and delivers service-related assistance targeted to your individual situation.

Cons

Harbor Compliance charges high prices for its services as a premium Massachusetts LLC formation service. Its most basic formation package is $399, while its most expensive package, the Compliance package, is $799. This may be out of reach for those on a limited budget.

Furthermore, although it provides excellent customer service, its dedicated account manager does not provide the small business advice that Northwest's Corporate Guides are famous for. They solely assist with service-related matters.

Overall

Harbor Compliance is a highly recognized Massachusetts LLC formation service that provides satisfactory premium services.

Instead of calling an anonymous helpline, participating in an online forum, or even interacting with an online chatbot, Harbor Compliance assigns your LLC in Massachusetts a dedicated account manager who is available to answer your questions about any account-related issue and will provide guidance whenever you face any LLC challenges during the business formation process.

Check out Harbor Compliance today if you require a premium LLC formation service with personalized customer support and are willing to spend $399.

4. Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer is an online legal services provider that also provides essential LLC formation services to entrepreneurs.

When you purchase its $99.99 LLC formation service, you will automatically receive a seven-day free trial of its legal services membership, your certificate of organization will be filed and submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, your legal documents will be reviewed by a lawyer, you will have legal representation in court when necessary, and you will receive a 30-minute consultation with a lawyer on any matter. Its customer service team is made up of highly qualified lawyers who will answer any legal queries you may have.

The $99 LLC formation package from Rocket Lawyer does not offer many comprehensive services. It doesn't offer a free year of Massachusetts registered agent services, EIN access, or phone service. Rocket Lawyer is also among the most expensive Massachusetts LLC formation services on this list.

If you need continuous legal support and services after forming a Massachusetts LLC, Rocket Lawyer is a good option. It’s especially useful for first-time business owners who are inexperienced with the state's business regulations. However, if you want more extensive services, Northwest provides a wide range of essential LLC services in its $39 package.

5. Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings' $49 basic package includes a 30-minute business tax consultation with one of its in-house certified public accountants, an online document storage portal, and a one-year business domain name registration for free.

It’s sixth on my list mostly because it does not provide a free year of Massachusetts registered agent services. This will cost you an additional $149, which is ludicrous given that Northwest includes this service in its $39 basic package.

Nonetheless, it’s a genuine Massachusetts LLC formation service that offers reliable services. Check out my Swyft Filings review for a more in-depth look at its services.

6. MyCompanyWorks

MyCompanyWorks offers a $79 base package that includes help with your certificate of organization, an operating agreement template, help acquiring an EIN, and compliance notifications to ensure you don't miss any crucial filing deadlines, such as filing annual reports.

A free year of registered agent service is also available, but only as part of its$279 Premium package. This same service is $39 with Northwest.

However, its customer ratings are good, with a 4.5/5 rating based on 3,500 online reviews.

7. Inc Authority

Inc Authority is another Massachusetts LLC service that claims to provide free LLC formation services. Just like ZenBusiness, it’ll file and submit your certificate of organization free of charge.

However, you must upgrade to its $399 plan if you need more extensive services, such as an EIN, an LLC operating agreement template, or a corporate seal. If you want free registered agent service, you must subscribe to its $799 all-inclusive “premium” subscription.

If all you need to form your Massachusetts LLC is your certificate of organization filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State, ZenBusiness is a more reputable firm.

8. Incorporate Fast

Incorporate Fast's $99 basic package guarantees to submit your certificate of organization the same day your documents are received. 

It doesn't provide comprehensive services such as online document storage or business tax assessment, and acquiring an EIN is only available as part of its $199 package.

Incorporate Fast is a reasonable option if you need your formation papers completed soon, but keep in mind that they are still quite expensive when compared to Northwest's $39 basic package.

9. BizFilings

BizFilings offers a $99 basic plan that includes your certificate of organization, a free year of registered agent service, and compliance reminders to guarantee you don't miss any important filing dates.

It does not, however, provide more complete services, such as a Massachusetts LLC operating agreement, a business tax assessment, or an online document storage portal. Northwest is a preferable alternative since it offers substantially more value for your money than BizFilings.

10. LegalZoom

LegalZoom, like Rocket Lawyer, is a legal services firm that charges $79 for bare-bones Massachusetts LLC formation services. This “economy” package will only assist you with obtaining a business bank account and filing your certificate of organization. This is the slowest option for forming your Massachusetts business entity. LegalZoom typically processes all economy purchases within 30 business days, but no time period is guaranteed.

If you need faster processing times, its $329 (plus state filing fee) Standard package will get that done within two weeks, and its $349 (plus state filing fee) Express Gold package reduces the waiting time to seven days. 

Despite them being a reputable business formation service, its business services are very expensive. For instance, if you need an EIN, a general business license search, or a draft operating agreement, you’ll have to pay $199. Its registered agent service will set you back $299 per year.

Other Massachusetts LLC Services

I added seven more Massachusetts LLC formation services to this list as part of my study. Their services are substandard in comparison to the previous Massachusetts business services on my list, thus they do not warrant a thorough evaluation.

11. Incorporate.com

Incorporate.com provides a $99 Massachusetts LLC formation package that includes just assistance with submitting your certificate of organization and access to an online document storage portal. That's it!

12.CorpNet

CorpNet charges $79 for the submission of your certificate of organization and provides compliance alerts for important dates, such as annual report filing. Northwest's Massachusetts LLC formation package, which includes a free year of registered agent services and costs $39 less, is $40 cheaper.

13. MyCorporation

MyCorporation has a history of charging high rates for minor services. It’ll charge you $133 to submit your certificate of organization and provide you with a sample limited liability company operating agreement.

14. Direct Incorporation

Direct Incorporation, like MyCorporation, will assist you with filing your LLC’s certificate of organization and operating agreement with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but, unlike MyCorporation, it also includes an employer identification number and a banking resolution in the formation package. The downside is that these services cost $147.

15. InCorp

InCorp will submit your certificate of organization and help you with your Massachusetts LLC operating agreement for $117.

16. Nationwide Incorporations

Nationwide Incorporations charges $200 the same Massachusetts LLC formation services as InCorp.

17. SunDoc Filings

SunDoc Filings provides a basic package for $79 that will assist your LLC in Massachusetts with submitting the certificate of organization. Its $99 Key package includes a template for an LLC operating agreement, and its $279 Premier plan includes an EIN for your LLC. 

The Best LLC Service Review Summary

After detailed research, I determined that Northwest Registered Agent offers the best LLC service in Massachusetts.

Its $39 formation package includes assistance with filing your certificate of organization, assistance with drafting your operating agreement, a primary operating address, an online document portal, a consultation with its in-house accountants, compliance alerts, a 90-day free trial of VoIP service, and a free year of registered agent service.

For an extra charge, it also provides access to an EIN, a Certificate of Good Standing, and certified copies of your limited liability company (LLC) formation paperwork.

Best LLC Service Review Methodology 

This is how I researched all 17 Massachusetts LLC formation service providers on this list to find the best LLC services in Massachusetts.

Why You Should Trust Me

You should believe my Massachusetts LLC formation service recommendations because I have more experience in the LLC service field than any rational person would admit.

My journey began when I formed my first business entity. Because I lacked the essential knowledge to be my own registered agent, I engaged the help of a Massachusetts business service provider. However, the provider I chose delivered such substandard services that the entire procedure was quite unnerving.

During my second foray into the business world, I decided to go with an affordable but dependable service provider, and this time I went with Northwest because its services offered the best value for my money and its Corporate Guides were ready to offer their industry-leading small business advice.

After a while, I had saved enough money for my third LLC in Massachusetts, and I chose to use a premium limited liability corporation (LLC) service provider this time. Harbor Compliance was an easy choice because it provided a dedicated account manager to assist me with the Massachusetts LLC registration process.

My knowledge of the Massachusetts LLC formation service industry goes beyond merely buying these services. I've assisted friends, family, and many others with LLC formation problems through the years. In fact, the primary reason I created this website was to assist entrepreneurs with obtaining the best business advice, and I've assisted over 1,000 small business owners in finding the best Massachusetts LLC formation services for their business entities.

How I Selected the Best LLC Service

I used the four-stage process shown below to find the best Massachusetts LLC formation services.

Stage 1: Reviews

My first stage in locating the best business formation service was to examine online reviews on leading business review sites like Facebook, TrustPilot, Google Business, and the Better Business Bureau. Most firms in the business formation service industry request their clients to post critical or positive comments on these sites so that they may rate their experiences.

This allowed me to differentiate between firms who provided mediocre services and those that were serious players in the Massachusetts business formation service sector.

Stage 2: Website Analysis

Following the elimination of the mediocre registered agents, the next step was to analyze the websites of the remaining service providers in order to select the best among them. This involved going through every claim and promise they made in order to fully understand the services they provided, their pricing strategies, and how they positioned themselves in the market.

Stage 3: Speaking With Real Customers

For the third phase, I called people who had formed an LLC in Massachusetts and to whom I had previously recommended business services, and I asked them about their experiences with the services supplied by these businesses.

I inquired about their Massachusetts LLC's websites' intuitiveness and usability, the quality of their customer support services, and how long it took to submit their registration paperwork. This method informed me which firms were scams and which offered legitimate services.

Stage 4: Speaking With Their Sales Teams

This final stage entailed contacting the sales and customer support departments of each LLC provider to see how aggressively they would try to upsell me. I also asked the representatives for clarity on several of the issues highlighted in the online reviews.

This enabled me to assess how each service provider dealt with criticism and how successfully their marketing personnel advertised their services.

Rating Factors

I ranked these Massachusetts business formation services based on the five factors listed below.

Factor 1: Offerings

Some limited liability company (LLC) services just allow your business entity to submit your certificate of organization for free before charging your LLC in Massachusetts for even the most basic LLC formation services. But others, like Northwest, for example, provide a basic LLC formation package that includes help with submitting your certificate of organization, a sample LLC operating agreement, an online document storage portal, a free consultation with their in-house CPAs, and a free year of registered agent service.

I had to start my rating process here due to the wide selection of services accessible.

Factor 2: Price

The second issue I considered was the cost of services. Some companies charge as little as $0 for their most basic services, while others spend $399 just to start up. I pushed service providers that offer reasonable and reputable services to the top of the list and relegated the expensive service providers to the bottom of the list.

Factor 3: Ease of Sign-Up

When researching the various LLC providers in Massachusetts, I noticed a concerning feature in their sign-up procedures. Some businesses provide excellent services but lose favor when it comes to sign-up convenience. They have poorly designed sign-up mechanisms that leave you confused in the end.

There are, however, firms that offer a pleasant combination of excellent services and a well-developed, user-friendly sign-up procedure that saves your LLC in Massachusetts a substantial amount of time and labor.

I went through the registration process for each service to evaluate which required the least amount of time and effort.

Factor 4: Ease of Use

The bulk of the flaws I observed throughout the sign-up procedure were also found in other parts of their websites. Some sites offer pre-filled data forms, and most only require your signature to complete the registration process.

Other businesses' websites appear to have been designed in the 1990s, with various faults, including broken links.

I assessed these providers based on how easy it was to navigate their online platforms.

Factor 5: Customer Service

The final factor I used to rate these Massachusetts business services was the quality of their customer service. Many organizations outsource customer service to call centers in foreign countries. Then there are groups like Northwest, whose highly experienced, US-based Corporate Guides give advice and assistance not only throughout the registration process, but also throughout your whole business journey.

In Conclusion

After conducting a four-stage, five-factor evaluation of the 10 best Massachusetts business formation services, I concluded that Northwest Registered Agent is the best service provider in the industry.

It will cover all the essential services your LLC in Massachusetts needs for just $39 (plus state filing fee), including assistance with filing your certificate of organization, an operating agreement template, an online document storage portal, a free trial of VoIP service, a free consultation with its in-house accountants, and a free year of registered agent service.

It also provides access to state-certified copies of your LLC creation paperwork, an EIN, and a Certificate of Good Standing (at an extra cost).

Northwest’s Corporate Guides are a collection of former salespeople, attorneys, and small business owners with substantial experience running an LLC in Massachusetts. It is prepared to assist you with the formation of your business and to provide genuine business advice when you encounter challenges while managing your LLC in Massachusetts.

Visit Northwest Registered Agent today if your firm requires a low-cost and reputable formation service that simplifies the business formation procedure while providing excellent small business advice.