State submitting charge: $200 (Certificates of Formation, filed with the Alabama Secretary of State). Enterprise Privilege Tax Return (Type PPT), due April 15 annually. No annual report back to SOS since October 2024 (Act 2024-213). Charge: $0 if the tax due is $100 or much less (BPT, paid to ALDOR not SOS). Prime decide: Northwest Registered Agent, $39 service charge + $225 in state charges ($200 + $25 title reservation) = $264 complete yr one, registered agent included free yr one, then $125/yr. Price range different: Bizee, $0 formation charge + $200 state charge. Observe: Bizee shares buyer knowledge with advertising companions.
Greatest LLC Service in Alabama (2026): Prime Picks for AL Formation
Greatest general: Northwest Registered Agent – $39 + $200 state charge = $264. Contains free yr of registered agent, working settlement template, compliance reminders. Privateness-focused, no knowledge promoting.
Price range decide: Bizee – $0 service charge + $200 state charge. Free yr of registered agent. Shares knowledge with advertising companions (caveat required).
Northwest Registered Agent – Best for Alabama LLCs
$39 service charge + $225 in state charges ($200 + $25 title reservation) = $264 complete yr one. Registered agent service included free for yr one, then $125/yr. Privateness-focused, family-owned, in enterprise since 1998. Doesn’t promote your knowledge.
Form Your Alabama LLC with Northwest →Lowest 3-year price we discovered: Northwest $289 vs Bizee $298 vs ZenBusiness $497 (service charges; state charges further). Northwest additionally places its tackle in your public filings as a substitute of yours the place the state permits.
Alabama LLC At a Look
| Merchandise | Element |
|---|---|
| Formation doc | Certificates of Formation |
| Submitting company | Alabama Secretary of State |
| State submitting charge | $200 |
| Processing time (on-line) | 1-2 enterprise days |
| Annual/biennial requirement | Enterprise Privilege Tax Return (Type PPT), due April 15 annually. No annual report back to SOS since October 2024 (Act 2024-213). |
| Annual/biennial charge | $0 if the tax due is $100 or much less (BPT, paid to ALDOR not SOS) |
| State revenue tax | 5% flat price on web revenue |
| Franchise tax | Enterprise Privilege Tax: $0.25-$1.75 per $1,000 of Alabama web value. Minimal $50. Due April 15. |
| Registered agent required | Sure, bodily Alabama tackle required |
Alabama compliance word: Alabama eradicated the SOS annual report in October 2024. The remaining compliance obligation is the Enterprise Privilege Tax (Type PPT) due April 15 to ALDOR, minimal $50. Affirm your formation service tracks ALDOR deadlines, not simply SOS filings.
Alabama LLC Formation Companies In contrast
| Service | AL Service Charge | AL State Charge | RA 12 months 1 | RA Renewal | 12 months-1 Complete | 3-12 months Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $39 | $200 | $0 (included) | $125/yr | $264 | ~$514 |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 | $200 | $99 (add-on) | $199/yr | $200 + $99 RA | Increased |
| Bizee Fundamental* | $0 | $200 | $0 (included) | $149/yr | $200 | Reasonable |
| Inc Authority | $0 | $200 | $0 (included) | $249/yr | $200 | Reasonable |
| LegalZoom Professional | $249 | $200 | Not included | $249/yr | Highest | Highest |
*Bizee Fundamental consists of articles of group submitting solely. RA included free yr one then $149/yr. Observe: Bizee shares buyer knowledge with advertising companions. LegalZoom registered agent is rarely included in any plan; auto-renewal traps apply on add-on companies. Charges verified October 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent: Prime Choose for Alabama
Northwest Registered Agent
Service charge: $39 • Alabama state charge: $200 • 12 months-1 complete: $264
Northwest has been forming LLCs since 1998. They’re family-owned, have an A+ BBB score, and keep bodily workplaces in all 50 states. They don’t promote buyer knowledge – a significant differentiator in an business the place knowledge promoting is widespread. The $39 formation charge features a free yr of registered agent service (then $125/yr), an working settlement template, and same-day submitting.
For Alabama particularly: Northwest information the Certificates of Formation immediately with the Alabama Secretary of State and sends compliance reminders on your Enterprise Privilege Tax Return (Type PPT). Their Enterprise Identification suite (added January 2026) additionally consists of enterprise tackle and cellphone companies.
What will not be included: EIN help is a $50 add-on. Get your EIN free at IRS.gov in quarter-hour.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
Service charge: $0 (Starter) • Alabama state charge: $200 • RA: $99 add-on in yr 1, then $199/yr (auto-renewing)
ZenBusiness affords $0 formation on its Starter plan, however registered agent service will not be included: it prices $99 for the primary yr, then $199/yr. This makes ZenBusiness costlier than Northwest on a 3-year foundation for many Alabama LLC homeowners who want registered agent service. ZenBusiness has a superb dashboard and compliance alert system, however the auto-renewing subscriptions require consideration at sign-up.
Bizee (previously Incfile)
Bizee
Service charge: $0 (Fundamental) • Alabama state charge: $200 • RA: Free yr 1, then $149/yr
Bizee affords $0 formation with a free first yr of registered agent service. After yr one, RA renews at $149/yr. Necessary caveat: Bizee shares buyer knowledge with advertising companions. If knowledge privateness issues to your online business or private data, this can be a significant disadvantage. Bizee is an inexpensive funds choice for price-focused formation.
Inc Authority
Inc Authority
Service charge: $0 • Alabama state charge: $200 • RA: Free yr 1, then $249/yr
Inc Authority affords $0 formation with registered agent included free for yr one. The year-two RA renewal at $249/yr is larger than Bizee ($149) or Northwest ($125), making it costlier long-term regardless of the free formation. Inc Authority upsells aggressively on add-on packages throughout checkout.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom
Service charge: $249+ • Alabama state charge: $200 • RA: $249/yr, not included in any plan
LegalZoom is the costliest choice: $249 for the Professional plan and registered agent is rarely included at any value level, including one other $249/yr. LegalZoom additionally has auto-renewal traps on bookkeeping and legal professional trial add-ons. The model recognition doesn’t translate to higher formation high quality than Northwest at $39. Not really helpful for Alabama LLC formation.
DIY Submitting in Alabama
You may file your Certificates of Formation immediately with the Alabama Secretary of State with out a formation service. The method requires:
- Looking out the Alabama enterprise entity database for title availability
- Submitting a reputation reservation ($25, required earlier than submitting in Alabama)
- Finishing and submitting the Certificates of Formation on-line at Alabama Secretary of State portal
- Paying the $200 submitting charge
- Designating your self or an expert as registered agent
DIY submitting saves the $39 service charge however requires monitoring compliance deadlines your self. For many new LLC homeowners, the $39 Northwest charge is value it for same-day submitting, compliance reminders, and a yr of registered agent service included.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
The state submitting charge for a Certificates of Formation is $200. Alabama additionally requires a $25 title reservation earlier than you may file, bringing the minimal to $225. Utilizing Northwest Registered Agent provides $39 for formation dealing with plus a free first yr of registered agent service, for $264 complete.
No. Alabama eradicated the Secretary of State annual report requirement for LLCs on October 1, 2024 (Act 2024-213). Nevertheless, each Alabama LLC should nonetheless file the Enterprise Privilege Tax Return (Type PPT) with ALDOR by April 15 annually, with a minimal tax of $50.
Sure. Each Alabama LLC should designate a registered agent with a bodily road tackle in Alabama. The agent might be a person Alabama resident or a enterprise entity licensed to behave as a registered agent within the state.
Alabama imposes a 5% state revenue tax on LLC pass-through revenue. There isn’t any exemption for LLCs, not like states comparable to Wyoming or Texas.
On-line submitting via the Alabama Secretary of State portal sometimes processes inside 1-2 enterprise days. Mail filings can take a number of weeks.
