The Short Answer
ZenBusiness's Starter plan, for example, costs $0 plus the state fee, which equals the DIY cost at formation. Its paid tiers cost more: Pro is $199 per year and Premium is $299 per year. Its registered agent service is a separate charge on every tier, $199 per year, discounted to $99 for the first year when the LLC is formed through ZenBusiness. An owner who can serve as their own resident agent avoids that charge entirely.
After formation, the state's ongoing charges are the same on either path. LARA's page on annual reports and annual statements, as read on September 28, 2026, lists a $25.00 annual statement fee, due February 15 each year after organization, with a $50.00 penalty if the statement arrives after February 15. LLCs formed after September 30 skip the next February 15 statement. LARA states that failure to file can lead to dissolution, revocation or loss of good standing.
Two costs are free either way. The IRS issues an EIN at no charge, and its guidance warns against paying a third party for one. According to FinCEN, companies formed in the United States are exempt from federal beneficial ownership (BOI) reporting.
Michigan LLC Fees, Deadlines and Requirements
Each figure below is shown with the official source it was taken from and the date it was read. State charges and service charges are listed separately and are never combined.
| Item | Amount or requirement | Official source | Date read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization filing fee | $50.00 (nonrefundable) | LARA | September 28, 2026 |
| Annual statement fee | $25.00 | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements | September 28, 2026 |
| Annual statement due date | February 15 each year after organization | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements | September 28, 2026 |
| First statement for LLCs formed after September 30 | Skips the next February 15 statement | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements | September 28, 2026 |
| Late penalty | $50.00 if received after February 15 | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements | September 28, 2026 |
| Consequence of not filing | Dissolution, revocation or loss of good standing | LARA, Annual Reports and Annual Statements | September 28, 2026 |
| EIN | $0 (free); never pay a third party | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number | September 28, 2026 |
| EIN timing | Form the entity with the state first | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number | September 28, 2026 |
| Federal BOI report | US-formed companies exempt | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information | September 28, 2026 |
Where the Cost Difference Actually Comes From
The state fee is a fixed payment to LARA. A service does not get a discount on it and cannot waive it, so every service price is either "state fee plus nothing" or "state fee plus something." That makes the DIY question less about formation day and more about three recurring items.
The first is the resident agent. Every Michigan LLC names a resident agent and a registered office in its Articles of Organization. LARA's guidance sets out who may serve and what address qualifies. Owners who can meet LARA's requirements often name themselves or another member, which costs nothing. Owners who cannot, or who prefer not to list a personal address on the public record, pay a commercial agent every year.
The second is the annual statement. The $25.00 fee goes to the state no matter who files it. What a service sells here is a reminder and filing help, which matters because the $50.00 late penalty applies to anything received after February 15, and repeated non-filing risks the LLC's standing.
The third is add-ons. Formation packages often bundle an EIN application, operating agreement templates or compliance tools. The EIN is worth singling out: the IRS provides it free and explicitly advises against paying a third party for it, so any package price should be judged without counting the EIN as value.
Comparing the Services
As of 2026, Bizee offers a basic formation package with no service fee beyond the state fee, though its registered agent terms change and should be checked on its site. LegalZoom sells several formation packages with optional add-ons, including registered agent service, at prices that vary by package. Northwest Registered Agent includes a year of its registered agent service in its formation pricing, with the agent billed annually after that.
ZenBusiness's published pricing, as of September 28, 2026, is Starter at $0 plus the state fee, Pro at $199 per year and Premium at $299 per year. Registered agent service is a separate $199 per year on every tier, including Premium, discounted to $99 for the first year when the LLC is formed with ZenBusiness.
When Filing Yourself Is the Better Call
DIY makes the most sense for an owner who meets LARA's resident agent requirements and is comfortable listing that address publicly, is willing to complete the Articles of Organization online, and will reliably file the annual statement by February 15. That owner pays the state fee, the $25.00 annual statement fee, and nothing else. No service beats that number, and any service with a recurring registered agent charge costs more every year.
When a Service Earns Its Cost
A service makes sense when the resident agent question does not resolve cleanly, for example an owner without a qualifying Michigan address, or one who wants a commercial address on the public record instead of a home.
For that owner, ZenBusiness fits well. The Starter plan adds no service fee at formation, so the filing itself costs the same as DIY, and forming through ZenBusiness cuts the first year of registered agent service to $99. The trade-off should be clear before signing up: the agent renews at $199 per year afterward, and that charge applies on every tier, including Premium. Pro and Premium are worth considering only if the owner will actually use what those tiers include, which should be checked tier by tier on ZenBusiness's page.
Northwest Registered Agent is the alternative worth weighing for owners whose main need is a long-term registered agent, since its formation pricing includes an agent year as of 2026.
This site earns a commission on some links, including some provider links on this page. That does not change which option is recommended for which situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Michigan LLC filing fee for Articles of Organization at LARA?
LARA sets the fee in its published fee schedule. It has not been verified for this page, so no figure is given. It should be confirmed on LARA's site before filing. The fee is the same whether the owner or a service files.
What is the Michigan LLC annual statement fee, according to michigan.gov?
As read on September 28, 2026, LARA lists the annual statement fee as $25.00, due February 15 each year after organization. A $50.00 penalty applies if the statement is received after February 15. LLCs formed after September 30 skip the next February 15 statement.
What are LARA's resident agent and physical address requirements for a Michigan LLC?
Yes. LARA's Form CSCL/CD-700 requires a Michigan street address for the registered office, where the resident agent is named, and a P.O. box can be used only as a separate mailing address. The LLC must keep both in place for as long as it exists, because LARA sends official notices there.
Does a Michigan LLC need to pay for an EIN or file a BOI report?
No on both counts. The IRS issues EINs free and advises against paying a third party, and the LLC should be formed with the state first. FinCEN states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from BOI reporting.
Sources
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, “Annual Reports and Annual Statements”
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
This is general information, not legal advice; requirements vary by state and change over time.