Best LLC Service in Vermont (2026): Top Picks for VT Formation
Budget pick: Bizee - $0 + $155 state fee. Free RA year one. Shares data with marketing partners.
$39 service fee + $155 state fee = $194 total year one. Registered agent included free year one, then $125/year. Family-owned since 1998, A+ BBB, does not sell your data.
Form Your Vermont LLC with Northwest →Vermont LLC At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| Filing agency | Vermont Secretary of State |
| State filing fee | $155 |
| Processing time | 1 business day (online); 1 week or more by mail |
| Annual requirement | Annual Report, due within 3 months after fiscal year end (March 31 for calendar-year LLCs). Late penalty: $25. |
| Annual fee | $45 (domestic LLC) |
| State income tax | Graduated: 3.35% to 8.75% |
| Franchise / minimum tax | No franchise tax. Vermont does impose a Business Entity Tax (BET) of $250 minimum on LLCs taxed as corporations; most LLCs taxed as pass-through entities do not owe BET. |
| Registered agent required | Yes, physical Vermont address required |
Vermont compliance note: The annual report is due within 3 months after your fiscal year ends (March 31 for calendar-year LLCs). Vermont's $45 fee is one of the more affordable in New England. No franchise tax for most pass-through LLCs. Vermont's income tax rates (3.35%-8.75%) are among the higher in the country.
Vermont LLC Formation Services Compared
| Service | VT Service Fee | State Fee | RA Year 1 | RA Renewal | Year-1 Total | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $39 | $155 | $0 (included) | $125/yr | $194 | ~$644 |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 | $155 | $199/yr add-on | $199/yr | $155 + $199 RA | Higher |
| Bizee Basic* | $0 | $155 | $0 (included) | $119/yr | $155 | Moderate |
| Inc Authority | $0 | $155 | $0 (included) | $179/yr | $155 | Moderate |
| LegalZoom Pro | $249 | $155 | Not included | $249/yr | Highest | Highest |
*Bizee Basic: articles of organization filing only. RA free year one, then $119/year. Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. LegalZoom RA never included; auto-renewal traps apply on add-on services. Rates verified June 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent: Top Pick for Vermont
Northwest Registered Agent
Service fee: $39 • State fee: $155 • Year-1 total: $194
Northwest has formed LLCs since 1998. Family-owned, A+ BBB, physical offices in all 50 states. They do not sell customer data, which is a genuine differentiator. The $39 formation fee includes a free year of registered agent service (then $125/year), an operating agreement template, and same-day filing.
For Vermont: Northwest files your Articles of Organization with the Vermont Secretary of State and sends compliance reminders for your annual report deadline. Their Business Identity suite (added January 2026) also includes business address and phone services.
Not included: EIN assistance is a $50 add-on. Get your EIN free at IRS.gov in 15 minutes.
Form Your Vermont LLC with Northwest →ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
Service fee: $0 (Starter) • State fee: $155 • RA: $199/year add-on (auto-renewing)
ZenBusiness offers $0 formation on its Starter plan, but registered agent service is $199/year and not included. On a 3-year total basis, most Vermont LLC owners needing registered agent service pay more with ZenBusiness than with Northwest. The dashboard and compliance alert system are good; watch for auto-renewing subscriptions at checkout.
Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Bizee
Service fee: $0 (Basic) • State fee: $155 • RA: Free year 1, then $119/year
Bizee offers $0 formation with free registered agent for year one (then $119/year). Caveat: Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. If data privacy matters to you, this is a meaningful drawback. Bizee is a reasonable budget option on cost alone but falls short on privacy.
View Bizee →Inc Authority
Inc Authority
Service fee: $0 • State fee: $155 • RA: Free year 1, then $179/year
Inc Authority offers $0 formation with free first-year registered agent. The $179/year renewal is higher than both Bizee ($119) and Northwest ($125), making it more expensive long-term despite the free formation. Aggressive upselling during checkout is a known issue.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom
Service fee: $249+ • State fee: $155 • RA: $249/year, never included
LegalZoom's Pro plan costs $249 and registered agent is never included at any price point. Auto-renewal traps on bookkeeping and attorney trial add-ons are well-documented. Brand recognition does not translate to better formation quality than Northwest at $39. Not recommended for Vermont LLC formation on cost or value grounds.
DIY Filing in Vermont
You can file your Articles of Organization directly with the Vermont Secretary of State without a formation service:
- Search the Vermont business entity database for name availability
- Complete and submit the Articles of Organization online or by mail
- Pay the $155 filing fee
- Designate yourself or a service as registered agent
DIY saves the $39 service fee but requires tracking compliance deadlines independently. For most new LLC owners, the $39 Northwest fee is worth it for same-day filing, compliance tracking, and a free year of registered agent service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $155, the same whether filing online or by mail. Using Northwest Registered Agent adds $39, for a $194 total year one including a free first year of registered agent service.
Vermont annual reports are due within 3 months after the end of the LLC's fiscal year. For calendar-year LLCs (the majority), this means a March 31 deadline. The fee is $45. A $25 late penalty applies for filings after the deadline, and continued non-filing can lead to involuntary termination.
Vermont does not impose a franchise tax on most LLCs taxed as pass-through entities. Vermont does impose a Business Entity Tax (BET) with a $250 minimum on certain entity types, but standard LLCs filing as partnerships or disregarded entities generally do not owe the BET.
Vermont taxes LLC pass-through income at graduated rates from 3.35% to 8.75% for individual filers. This is one of the higher state income tax ranges in New England, though Vermont's natural quality of life and workforce advantages attract many businesses despite the tax environment.
Online filing through the Vermont Secretary of State's Business Services Center typically processes within 1 business day. Vermont does not offer a paid expedited lane - online filing is the fastest available option. Mail filing takes 1 week or more.
Related Guides
- How to Form an LLC in Vermont (2026)
- Northwest Registered Agent Review
- Bizee Review
- Compare All LLC Formation Services
- All State LLC Formation Guides
Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:
- Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
- Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
- Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
- Incredible Value: $39 includes free business address, mail scanning, phone line, business email, domain name, website, and brand protection.
- Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.
Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!
Frédéric has founded and operated businesses across multiple countries, including 3 LLCs formed using Northwest Registered Agent. He holds certifications as a holistic coach and therapist trainer, is a published author, and has been featured in Le Parisien, IMDb, Goodreads, and international encyclopedias.
FTC Disclosure: OnlineLLCGuide.com earns affiliate commissions when you use our links. These commissions do not affect our ratings, rankings, or editorial positions. We independently evaluate each service. , OnlineLLCGuide.com