ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Starts at $0 + state fee and only takes 5-10 minutes
Last Updated: April 18, 2025
If you’re looking for an excellent District of Columbia (DC) LLC service, choose ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 800,000+ businesses since 2017!
If you want a socially conscious District of Columbia (DC) LLC service with a service discount, choose ZenBusiness.
Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.
Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.
Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.
LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).
LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.
Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.
Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.
If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in District of Columbia (DC) and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.
Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.
Compare ZenBusiness Plans
Identify the package that's right for your business and then get started.
Starter
Pro
Premium
Processes in 7 to 10 business days*
PLUS STATE FEES
Processes in 1 business day*
Top Features
**SPECIAL OFFER – Starter is $0 plus state fees with one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance (renews at $199/yr).† ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a Washington D.C. business. You cannot form an LLC in Washington D.C. without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your business within the District. The filing fee is $220.
Some areas require all their businesses to submit annual reports, but the District of Columbia is a bit different: the District requires all businesses to submit a Biennial Report every other year. This report is pretty simple, but it keeps the District up-to-date on vital business facts like your registered agent and your address. The filing fee is currently $300. Read more about D.C costs – Washington D.C LLC costs.
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Washington, D.C. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in the District step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
One of the most important steps in forming a Washington, D.C., LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the D.C. Business Center’s business search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Washington, D.C., check out DC business search on the topic.
You can fill out the Articles of Organization in the District’s CorpOnline system.
In Washington, D.C., an LLC’s ongoing maintenance requirements include the biennial report. This filing is due every other year by April 1, and there is a $300 filing fee.
Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with District of Columbia law. For more information about business licenses and more in this jurisdiction, check out the District’s Business Licensing Division.
If you submit your Articles of Organization online or by mail, the district will process your documents within 15 business days. Hand-delivered documents are processed while you wait, although you will need to pay an additional fee. There are also expedited options available if you need to speed things up for your online or mail filing: an additional $100 for one-day processing or $50 for three-day processing.
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in the District, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to D.C. registered agents.
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 District’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to D.C. LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Washington, D.C. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in the District. 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 the District of Columbia for more information.
District of Columbia DC Business Resources
Top 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.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 800,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
Choose ZenBusiness Today
Start Your District of Columbia (DC) LLC Today