Best Washington LLC Formation Service in 2026

Washington has no personal income tax, a top-tier tech ecosystem, and a $200 online filing fee — pretty competitive headline numbers. But there's a catch most founder guides skip: Washington has a B&O (Business & Occupation) tax, a gross receipts tax that applies before you've calculated profit. That single fact reshapes whether Washington is the right state for your LLC.

The service you pick still decides whether you get to a working US bank account fast — especially as a non-US founder. Here's the honest 6-service comparison.

Quick verdict

Service	Best for	Filing fee (WA)	Service fee	Reg. Agent	EIN included	Non-US friendly
Doola	Non-US founders, one-person company	$200	from $297 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	✅ (incl. SS-4 paper filing)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northwest	US residents wanting privacy	$200	$39 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$50)	⭐⭐⭐
ZenBusiness	US residents, low budget	$200	$0 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$99)	⭐⭐
LegalZoom	US residents wanting brand	$200	$0 (Basic)	$249/yr	❌ (+$79)	⭐⭐
Bizee (formerly IncFile)	US residents, free starter	$200	$0 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$70)	⭐⭐
DIY (Washington SOS)	US founders with SSN	$200 online	$0	❌ (~$125/yr separately)	DIY (free with SSN)	⭐

Our recommendation for non-US founders: Doola — bundles LLC + EIN (with SS-4 paper for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent + Mercury Bank introduction.

Disclosure: We have an affiliate relationship with Doola — code LLCCLASS10 gives 10% off and supports our work at no extra cost to you.

Washington LLC basics

Filing fee: $200 online for the Certificate of Formation (paper is also $200 plus a $30 Initial Report fee)
Annual report: $60 per year, due by the end of your LLC's anniversary month
Business License Application: Washington requires a state business license through the Department of Revenue ($90 application, plus any local endorsements)
B&O tax: A gross receipts tax — you pay on revenue, not profit. Rates run from ~0.13% to ~1.5% depending on business classification. For a software/services LLC, this is typically a few tenths of a percent of gross revenue.
State income tax: 0% personal income tax (Washington swaps it for B&O)
Privacy: The registered agent's name and address are public; using a service keeps your home address off the record

The Washington trap: B&O tax is the silent line item. A $1M-revenue service LLC with thin margins in Washington might owe a couple thousand in B&O even at a small effective rate — and unlike income tax, you owe it whether you're profitable or not. For founders with high revenue and low margin (resellers, dropshippers, agencies passing through ad spend), Washington can be punishing. For high-margin software or consulting, it's usually fine. Confirm with a Washington CPA before assuming "no income tax" means "no state tax."

Service-by-service breakdown

1. Doola — best for non-US founders forming a Washington LLC

Pricing: Starter $297/yr, Total Compliance $799/yr
What's included: LLC filing + EIN (handles SS-4 paper for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent (1 year) + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction
Turnaround: 2–4 weeks for non-US founders, 3–7 days for US founders with SSN
Why we use it: One platform, no toggling between four different vendors. The EIN piece (mailing SS-4 from outside the US) is the bottleneck — Doola handles it.

→ Doola signup with LLCCLASS10 code (10% off)
→ Full Doola 2026 review

2. Northwest Registered Agent — US residents wanting privacy

Pricing: $39 + $200 state + $125/yr after year 1
Includes: LLC filing + 1 yr registered agent + privacy by default
EIN: +$50, US-only
Why pick: Good customer service, no upsell pop-ups, fast filing

3. ZenBusiness — US residents on a budget

Pricing: Free Starter ($200 state only), Pro $199, Premium $349
EIN: +$99
Caveat: Year-2 renewal upsells

4. LegalZoom — brand recognition, expensive

Pricing: Basic $0 + state, Pro $249, Premium $349
Registered agent: Separate $249/yr
EIN: +$79
Caveat: Highest TCO; cancellation friction

5. Bizee (formerly IncFile) — US-residents free starter

Pricing: Free + state, Gold $199, Platinum $299
EIN: +$70
Caveat: Compliance tracking is rough

6. DIY — for founders with US SSN and patience

Cost: $200 state filing + ~$125/yr registered agent + free EIN online (SSN required)
Why pick: Cost minimization
Why skip if non-US: SS-4 paper from abroad is the killer

Step-by-step Washington LLC formation

Choose a name — must include "Limited Liability Company", "LLC", or "L.L.C.". Verify availability via the Washington Secretary of State's Advanced Business Search.
Designate a registered agent — physical Washington street address required, no PO Boxes.
File Certificate of Formation — $200 online to the Washington Secretary of State. Online processing is roughly 5 business days; mail is 3–4 weeks.
File the Business License Application — required for all Washington businesses via the Department of Revenue ($90 application + any local endorsements).
Get an EIN from the IRS — free online for US residents with SSN; non-US founders file SS-4 paper (4–8 weeks).
Open a US business bank account — Mercury Bank, 3-hour approval when LLC and EIN are clean.
File the Annual Report — $60 each year via the SOS portal, due by the end of your anniversary month.
Register and file B&O tax with the Department of Revenue — your business classification (Retailing, Service, Wholesaling, etc.) determines the rate; filings can be monthly, quarterly, or annual depending on revenue.

FAQ

Is Washington a good state for a non-US founder LLC?
It depends entirely on revenue and margin. For software/SaaS at decent margin, Washington is competitive. For high-revenue/low-margin (reselling, agency pass-through, dropshipping), B&O tax hurts. Wyoming is usually a better default for non-US founders without specific Washington ties.

Do I really have to pay B&O tax if I have no profit?
Yes — B&O is a gross receipts tax, applied to revenue regardless of profitability. Rates vary by classification but there is no "no income, no tax" escape valve the way income taxes work. Some small business credits exist; talk to a Washington CPA.

Can a non-US resident form a Washington LLC?
Yes. Washington does not require US citizenship or residency. You need a Washington-based registered agent (any formation service above) and a path to an EIN without an SSN (Doola handles the SS-4 paper filing).

What's the difference between the Washington filing fee and the Business License Application?
The $200 Certificate of Formation creates your LLC at the Secretary of State. The Business License Application ($90 plus local endorsements) registers you with the Department of Revenue for tax purposes — including B&O. You need both. The two are independent processes that confuse most first-time Washington founders.

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