Skip to content
New Bank Account home

Business guide

How to open an LLC

Name the company, name a registered agent, and file with the state. We walk through it with Bizee, our formation partner.

Last reviewed Oct 30, 2026. Written by New Bank Account.

An LLC is a company you form with a state. It is not a bank account, and filing it is not the same as being ready to get paid. This is the path we use with Bizee, our formation partner. Bizee is the company that used to be called Incfile. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Decide the LLC is the right structure

A sole proprietorship is you, operating under your own name, with no separate company. An LLC is a company the state recognizes. The Small Business Administration's structure guide is the plain comparison (SBA). If you have a co-owner, outside investors, or you are unsure about liability, talk to a lawyer before you file. A formation service does not make that decision for you.

What you do, in order

Bizee lays the filing out in six steps on its LLC page (Bizee). This is that path, in plain language.

  1. Name the LLC. The name has to be available in the formation state, and it needs a designator such as "LLC" or "Limited Company." Bizee has a name search for the state. A state search is not a trademark search. If the brand matters, check that separately.
  2. Give an address. That can be a home, an office, or a virtual address. Some states do not accept a P.O. box as the business address. Read the rule for the state you pick.
  3. Name a registered agent. The agent needs a physical address in the formation state and has to be available during business hours to receive official mail. You can be your own agent. Bizee includes one year of registered agent service with its formation packages.
  4. List the members. The state wants the names and addresses of the people who own the LLC. A single-member LLC is still a company. Agree who signs before you submit a multi-member filing.
  5. State the purpose. A broad line such as "any lawful purpose" is what many filings use. A specific description is fine if you already know the work.
  6. File the articles of organization and pay the state fee. Bizee prepares that paperwork and submits it. You are not mailing a mystery form yourself.
Form your LLC with Bizee

What the price is, and what it is not

On its LLC page, Bizee lists three packages: Basic at $0, Standard at $199, and Premium at $299. The state filing fee is separate and shown before you pay (Bizee). A $0 service fee does not mean the state charges nothing. Each package includes a year of registered agent service, and that service has its own price after the free year. Read what else is in the package you pick, including whether an operating agreement or an EIN filing is included, before you check out.

After the state says yes

The approval is the start, not the end.

  • Download the filed articles from your Bizee dashboard. You will need them for the bank.
  • Get an EIN. The IRS issues it directly and does not charge a fee (IRS). Skip any site that charges you to "get" an EIN for the government.
  • Sign an operating agreement if your package includes one, or have a lawyer draft it if the company has more than one owner.
  • Open the business account in the LLC's name. Our editor's choice for a new business account is Relay. Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Thread Bank. The document list is in business checking for an LLC.

The next-week checklist is what to do after you form an LLC.

Questions people ask

Does forming an LLC with Bizee replace a lawyer?
No. Bizee files the formation paperwork. This page is a walkthrough, not legal or tax advice. Ask a lawyer if you have partners, investors, or a question about liability.
Is the state fee included in the service price?
No. Bizee lists Basic at $0, Standard at $199, and Premium at $299, and the state filing fee is added on top. The order summary shows the total before you pay.
Do I need a registered agent?
Yes. The state where you form the LLC requires a registered agent with a physical address in that state. You can serve as your own. Bizee includes a year of registered agent service with its formation packages, and that service renews after the free year.
Can I get the EIN myself?
Yes. The IRS issues an EIN directly and does not charge for it. Some formation packages file it for you. Either path is fine if the number comes from the IRS.

Sources

Keep reading

Related accounts

Alphabetical, not a ranking. See all business accounts

  • Best for A new business that wants no monthly fee

    Axos Bank Business Checking

    Axos Bank

    Bank

    Monthly fee
    $0Basic Business Checking. No monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance. Business Interest Checking is a separate account with a $10 monthly fee, waived at a $5,000 average daily balance.as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    APY
    Not listedBasic Business Checking does not publish an APY. Business Interest Checking lists 1.01% APY on balances under $50,000.as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    Sign-up bonus
    Up to $200Open Basic Business Checking with promo code START200 by Jan 31, 2027. Keep a $3,000 average daily balance. Axos pays up to $50 a month, up to $200 total.as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    Min. deposit
    $0as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    • No monthly fee
    • No minimum to open
    • Free incoming wires
    Open account for Axos Bank Business Checking, opens in a new tabRead review of Axos Bank Business Checking
  • Best for Interest on business checking

    Bluevine Business Checking

    Bluevine

    Fintech (banking by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC)

    Monthly fee
    $0Standard plan. Plus is $30 a month and Premier is $95 a month. Bluevine says those paid-plan fees can be waived.as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    APY
    1.3%Standard plan, on balances up to $250,000, if you spend $500 on the debit card or receive $2,500 in customer payments that month. Plus is 1.75% up to $250,000. Premier is 3.0% on all balances.as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    Sign-up bonus
    Noneas of Oct 30, 2026 source
    Min. deposit
    $0as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    • No monthly fee on Standard
    • Up to 3.0% APY on Premier
    • FDIC coverage up to $3 million
    Open account for Bluevine Business Checking, opens in a new tabRead review of Bluevine Business Checking
  • Best for Branch access for a small business

    Chase Business Complete Banking

    JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

    Bank

    Monthly fee
    $15$0 with a $2,000 minimum daily ending balance, or $2,000 in eligible Chase Payment Solutions deposits, or $2,000 in eligible Ink or Sapphire Reserve for Business purchases, or a linked qualifying personal checking account, or military banking.as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    APY
    Not listedas of Oct 30, 2026 source
    Sign-up bonus
    NoneA bonus page on Chase's site listed an offer that ended Oct 15, 2026. The checking page does not list a current bonus.as of Oct 30, 2026 source
    Min. deposit
    Not listedas of Oct 30, 2026 source
    • $15 monthly fee, or $0 if you qualify
    • Mobile card acceptance
    • 20 paper and teller transactions included
    Open account for Chase Business Complete Banking, opens in a new tabRead review of Chase Business Complete Banking