I wouldn’t choose either provider based on formation fees alone. BusinessAnywhere’s listed first-year total is $1,037 before state fees for formation, a registered agent, EIN help, an annually billed mailbox, and tax filing. EasyFiling lists a $249/year Starter plan and a $999/year Compliance 360° plan, but the supplied information doesn’t confirm enough details for a matching total.
I compare what you pay upfront, what renewals cost, and which services you still need to buy. The IRS issues EINs for free, and owing no income tax doesn’t always mean you can skip tax filings.
Quick Comparison
| Cost or service | BusinessAnywhere | EasyFiling |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | $0 plus state fees | One-time offers from $0–$299; separate $350 package |
| Annual plans | Services priced separately | Starter: $249; Compliance 360°: $999 |
| Registered agent | First year included; renewal advertised from $147/year | Coverage and renewal price unconfirmed |
| EIN help | $97; supports applicants without an SSN/ITIN | Coverage unconfirmed |
| Business address | Mailbox from $240/year | Coverage and price unconfirmed |
| Documents | Operating agreement template: $97 | Included documents unconfirmed |
| Annual report filing | $50 plus state fees | Included in Compliance 360° |
| Tax filing | $700 for Form 5472 and pro forma Form 1120 | Forms and fees unconfirmed |
| Bookkeeping | Referral only | Coverage and fees unconfirmed |
My takeaway: <u>get the included services and renewal prices in writing</u>. Then compare three years of provider charges, state fees, address costs, and required tax filings – not just the price to form your LLC.
BusinessAnywhere vs EasyFiling: Fees and Included Services
Start with what’s included, then separate recurring charges from one-time fees. Both affect your first-year total. Treat any charge that hasn’t been verified as unconfirmed.
| Cost or service | BusinessAnywhere | EasyFiling |
|---|---|---|
| Formation service | $0 plus state fees | One-time options from $0–$299, plus a separate $350 package |
| Annual plans | None bundled | Starter $249/year; Compliance 360° $999/year |
| State filing fees | Extra; vary by state | Extra for annual plans and $0–$299 options; treatment in the $350 package unconfirmed |
| Registered agent | First year included; renewal advertised as low as $147/year | Coverage and renewal pricing unconfirmed |
| EIN assistance | $97, including applications without an SSN/ITIN | Inclusion and non-SSN/ITIN support unconfirmed |
| Document templates | Operating agreement, bylaws, or shareholder agreement: $97 each | Included documents unconfirmed |
| Business address | Basic virtual mailbox: $240/year or $325 for the first 12 months on monthly billing | Address coverage and charges unconfirmed |
| Annual report filing | $50 plus state fees | Included in Compliance 360°; other packages unconfirmed |
| LLC tax filing | $700 for Form 5472 and pro forma Form 1120 | Forms covered and fees unconfirmed |
| Bookkeeping | Referral only | Coverage and fees unconfirmed |
The table outlines the packages. Here’s how their fees affect the first-year total.
BusinessAnywhere: $0 Formation Plus State Fees and Extras
The $0 business registration service includes registered agent service for the first year. Renewal is billed afterward.
The $97 EIN service covers preparation, submission, and follow-up, including the non-resident application route. The $97 operating agreement is a template, not custom legal drafting.
A basic virtual mailbox costs $240 per year, or $325 for the first 12 months with monthly billing. Monthly plans add a $25 sign-up fee. Online notarization costs $37 per document.
The $700 tax filing service covers Form 5472, pro forma Form 1120, filing, and a review call. Year 2 compliance costs $50 per year, with annual report filing billed separately.
EasyFiling: Annual Plans vs One-Time Packages
Compare the same costs: formation, registered agent, address, EIN, and compliance. Look beyond the package name to see which recurring costs you’ll pay separately.
The references show four offers: Starter at $249 per year, one-time formation options from $0–$299, a $350 full formation package, and Compliance 360° at $999 per year. Confirm package availability, registered agent renewal costs, EIN support without an SSN/ITIN, address pricing, and the tax forms each offer covers.
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State Fees, EIN Rules, and Compliance Costs
A low formation fee does not cover your state and federal obligations. Separate government fees from paid filing help when budgeting for your first year and renewals.
| Cost category | Required cost or obligation | What the provider handles |
|---|---|---|
| Formation cost | $0 provider fee; state filing fees range from $35 to $520 | Preparing and submitting formation documents |
| Registered agent | A physical street address in the formation state and availability during business hours | First year free when bundled, then as low as $147/year |
| Annual compliance | Annual report or franchise tax obligations vary by state | Renewal filing help costs extra, apart from state fees; the service fee is unpublished |
| IRS EIN | Free from the IRS | Application preparation, submission, and follow-up; BusinessAnywhere charges $97 |
State Filing Fees and Registered Agent Rules
Your registered agent must have a physical street address in your formation state and be available during business hours. A PO box does not qualify.
Operating across state lines can add costs. Doing business, hiring employees, or owning property in another state may require foreign qualification. That can mean another state filing, another registered agent, and more recurring compliance costs.
Renewal filing help is available, but its separate fee is unpublished. You’ll still need to budget for the state’s own renewal fee.
EIN processing time can also affect when you’re ready to launch.
Free IRS EIN Applications and LLC Tax Filing Rules
Without an SSN or ITIN, you cannot use the IRS’s online application. Instead, you must submit Form SS-4 by fax or mail. Expect that process to take about 4 to 6 weeks, sometimes up to 8 weeks, compared with possible same-day issuance for clients with a U.S. SSN.
BusinessAnywhere’s EIN service is paid application help – not a government fee.
Depending on ownership and tax status, a foreign-owned single-member LLC may still need to file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120, even when no U.S. income tax is due.
First-Year and Renewal Cost Comparisons
BusinessAnywhere Costs: First Year vs Renewals
Compare first-year and renewal totals for the same service bundle. EasyFiling pricing in the supplied material is unverified.
Formation Costs With and Without EIN Assistance
The table separates formation, registered agent, mailbox, and tax-filing costs. BusinessAnywhere subtotals exclude state fees and assume annual mailbox billing.
| Cost scenario | BusinessAnywhere | EasyFiling |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1: formation + registered agent | $0 | – |
| Year 1: formation + agent + EIN | $97 | – |
| Year 1: formation + agent + EIN + mailbox | $337 | – |
| Year 1: formation + agent + EIN + tax filing | $797 | – |
| Year 2: agent renewal | $147 | – |
| Year 2: agent + mailbox renewal | $387 | – |
| Year 2: agent + mailbox + tax filing | $1,087 | – |
The dashes reflect unverified EasyFiling pricing and coverage – not free services.
Mailbox service and tax filing are the two add-ons that increase the first-year total fastest.
Costs With a Business Address or LLC Tax Filing
Formation, registered agent service, EIN assistance, and a mailbox billed annually total $337 before state fees. The mailbox is a separate cost: a registered agent address doesn’t replace it.
The $797 tax-filing subtotal does not include a mailbox. Add a mailbox billed annually, and the total becomes $1,037 before state fees. Count EIN and mailbox fees only once when combining services. For more details, see our EIN application guide.
After the first year, formation and EIN costs drop out. Renewal charges and compliance fees remain.
Year 2: Registered Agent, Mailbox, and Compliance Costs
Registered agent and mailbox renewal total $387 with annual mailbox billing or $447 with monthly billing, before state obligations and other services.
Neither total includes state filing fees or annual report charges.
Conclusion: Choose Based on Services and Renewal Costs
Choose based on the services you need and the total renewal cost – not the advertised formation price. Use the totals above to find the plan that fits your needs.
| Your situation | Decision rule |
|---|---|
| You already have tax filing help | Pay only for the formation and compliance services you still need. |
| You can file the EIN yourself | Skip paid EIN help; the IRS issues EINs for free. |
| You want one bundled plan | Compare it only if it replaces separate services you would otherwise pay for. |
$0 formation doesn’t mean $0 in state fees. A registered agent also isn’t a business address or mail service.
Before you pay, check state filing and renewal fees, get the included services in writing, and add up three years of costs. Confirm that your bank or payment processor accepts the address. Also, verify who prepares and files your required tax returns. Budget separately for tax preparation and filing unless the plan explicitly includes both.
For renewal and registered-agent support, see Existing Company Maintenance.
FAQs
How do I estimate my LLC’s total three-year cost?
Add your state filing fee in year 1, plus required state maintenance or renewal fees in years 2 and 3.
Your registered agent is free in year 1, then costs $147 per year. Starting in year 2, BusinessAnywhere’s compliance service costs another $50 per year, separate from state renewal fees.
If you choose EIN assistance, add a one-time $97 fee, along with the cost of any other add-ons you select.
Will banks accept my virtual mailbox address?
It depends on the bank or payment processor’s requirements. A virtual mailbox gives you a physical U.S. address for general business correspondence and helps protect your privacy. But banks and payment platforms set their own compliance rules for identity checks, business models, and address verification.
Before you apply, check which documents the institution requires to verify your business address.
Does my foreign-owned LLC need Form 5472?
Yes, foreign-owned U.S. LLCs typically must meet IRS reporting requirements involving Form 5472. BusinessAnywhere offers a service to help file this form and the accompanying pro forma Form 1120.
As a nonresident founder, filing these forms accurately is an important part of meeting your federal tax compliance duties.
