Best Idaho LLC Formation Service in 2026

Idaho is genuinely one of the cheapest states to keep an LLC alive: $100 to file once, $0 every year for the annual report. That makes the picking-a-service decision more important than usual, because the only meaningful cost over 5 years is what your formation provider charges in year 2 and beyond.

We compared the 6 major options on what actually matters for a one-person company founder, especially if you're non-US.

Quick verdict

Service	Best for	Filing fee (Idaho)	Service fee	Reg. Agent	EIN included	Non-US friendly
Doola	Non-US founders, one-person company	$100	from $297 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	✅ (incl. SS-4 paper filing)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northwest	US residents wanting privacy	$100	$39 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$50)	⭐⭐⭐
ZenBusiness	US residents, low budget	$100	$0 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$99)	⭐⭐
LegalZoom	US residents wanting brand	$100	$0 (Basic)	$249/yr	❌ (+$79)	⭐⭐
Bizee (formerly IncFile)	US residents, free starter	$100	$0 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$70)	⭐⭐
DIY (Idaho SOS direct)	Founders with US SSN + address	$100	$0	❌ ($125+/yr separately)	DIY (free with SSN)	⭐

Our recommendation for non-US founders: Doola — the only major service that bundles LLC + EIN + Registered Agent + Mercury Bank introduction, and they file SS-4 by paper for founders without an SSN.

Disclosure: We have an affiliate relationship with Doola — we use the same code (LLCCLASS10, 10% off) for ourselves. We earn a referral only if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you.

Idaho LLC basics

Filing fee: $100 (Certificate of Organization, one-time, online)
Annual report: $0 — free, but still required, due by the last day of your LLC's anniversary month
State income tax: Idaho honors federal pass-through treatment; personal income tax is a flat 5.695% on Idaho-sourced income
Community property state: married couples can elect to be taxed as a single-member LLC
Privacy: registered agent's name and address are public; members are not required on the public filing
No general state business license requirement

The free annual report is unusual — only a handful of states do this — and it makes Idaho one of the cheapest "real" states to keep an LLC active long-term. The catch is that "free" still means "required" — miss the anniversary deadline and your LLC gets administratively dissolved.

Service-by-service breakdown

1. Doola — best for non-US founders forming an Idaho LLC

Pricing: Starter $297/yr, Total Compliance $799/yr
Includes: LLC filing + EIN (SS-4 paper for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent (1 yr) + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction + annual report reminders
Turnaround: 2–4 weeks for non-US founders (EIN bottleneck), 1–2 weeks for US founders (Idaho's online queue is 5–7 business days)
Why we use it: The SS-4 paper filing is the killer feature. Doing it yourself from outside the US is a 6–12 week round trip with the IRS.
Caveat: Annual renewal is the highest of any service here. If you have a US SSN, Northwest is cheaper from year 2 onward.

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

2. Northwest Registered Agent — best for US residents who value privacy

Pricing: $39 service + $100 state + $125/yr registered agent after year 1
Includes: LLC filing + 1 year RA + privacy (their name on public records, not yours)
EIN: +$50, US-only — they won't file SS-4 paper
Pick if: You have a US SSN and want the lowest sustainable ongoing cost

3. ZenBusiness — US founders on a budget

Pricing: Free Starter (state only), Pro $199/yr, Premium $349/yr
EIN: NOT included on Starter, +$99
Caveat: Renewal upsell pressure in year 2

4. LegalZoom — brand recognition, expensive

Pricing: Basic $0 + state, Pro $249, Premium $349
EIN: +$79
Caveat: Highest total cost of ownership; their RA is $249/yr. Cancellation flow is hostile.

5. Bizee (formerly IncFile) — free starter

Pricing: Free + state, Gold $199, Platinum $299
EIN: +$70
Caveat: Compliance tracking is rough; we've seen users miss state notices

6. DIY — Idaho SOS direct

Cost: $100 state filing + ~$125/yr registered agent (any provider)
Pick if: You have a US SSN and an Idaho street address — Idaho's online filing system is one of the friendlier ones
Skip if non-US: EIN by SS-4 paper is the bottleneck. Doola handles it.

Step-by-step Idaho LLC formation

Choose a name — must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company". Check at the Idaho SOS business search.
Designate a registered agent — must have a physical Idaho street address (no PO Boxes).
File Certificate of Organization — $100 to the Idaho Secretary of State. Online approval is 5–7 business days.
Get an EIN from the IRS — free online with SSN. Non-US founders file SS-4 by fax/mail, 4–8 weeks. Doola does this for you.
Open a US business bank account — Mercury Bank, 3-hour approval if your LLC + EIN are clean.
File the (free) Annual Report — $0, but mandatory, due by the last day of your LLC's anniversary month every year. Set a calendar alert.

FAQ

Does Idaho really have a $0 annual report?
Yes. The annual report itself is free, but you still have to file it on time. Skip it and the state will administratively dissolve your LLC, which costs ~$30 to reinstate plus paperwork.

Can a non-US resident form an LLC in Idaho?
Yes. There is no citizenship or residency requirement. You'll need an Idaho-based registered agent (any service above) and the SS-4 paper filing path for an EIN (Doola handles it).

Is Idaho cheaper than Wyoming for an LLC?
Idaho's annual cost is $0 vs Wyoming's $60 floor — so technically yes on paper. But Wyoming has much stronger privacy and zero state income tax. For non-US founders without Idaho operations, Wyoming still wins. See our best state for LLC comparison.

Do I need a physical office in Idaho?
No. You only need a registered agent with an Idaho street address. The business itself can operate from anywhere in the world.

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