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Quick Answer: Yes. You can submit the Texas Certificate of Formation (Form 205) on your own through the Secretary of State’s SOSDirect or SOSUpload systems for the $300 filing fee, plus a 2.7% convenience fee if you pay by card. Texas is more forgiving than many states: it doesn’t charge your card when a filing can’t be accepted, so a rejection costs time rather than the fee, and it will pre-clear a draft for $50. For first-time founders comparing Texas LLC Filing services, ZenBusiness is the top pick because its Starter package costs the same $300 as submitting the Certificate of Formation on your own and reviews each filing under a 100% accuracy guarantee.
This comparison is for Texas founders deciding whether to complete Form 205 themselves or have a service prepare and submit it. We evaluated five Texas LLC Filing services, ZenBusiness, Bizee, Harbor Compliance, Northwest Registered Agent, and Zenind, on four criteria: cost on top of the $300 filing fee, registered agent pricing, help with Form 205’s governing person and agent sections, and support for the annual franchise tax report that follows. Pricing and features come from each company’s official pages where published, Texas requirements were checked against the Secretary of State’s official Form 205 instructions and the Comptroller’s franchise tax guidance, and everything was verified as current in September 2026. ZenBusiness ranks first because it matches the $300 fee exactly while reviewing the filing before it reaches the state.
Comparison Table
| Service Name | Free Tier Available | Platform | Best For | Templates / Document Assets | Total With $300 Filing Fee | Registered Agent (TX) | Standout Feature |
| ZenBusiness | Yes | Web, iOS, Android | First-time founders who’d otherwise file on SOSDirect alone | Operating agreement template in Pro (199/yr);businessdocumentslibraryinPremium(299/yr) | $300 on Starter | $199/yr add-on | 100% accuracy guarantee on every filing |
| Bizee | Yes | Web | Solo founders who want a first-year agent at $300 total | Operating agreement in Standard ($199) | $300 with 1 year of agent service | First year free, then $119/yr | Houston-based, with 1,000,000+ businesses formed |
| Harbor Compliance | No | Web | Owners with entities in Texas and other states | Pre-filled state forms with its agent signature | From 399(99 + $300) | $99 first year, then $149/yr | Local Austin office with a phone call for lawsuit notices |
| Northwest Registered Agent | No | Web | Owners who want a low long-term agent rate | Free operating agreement templates | 339(39 + $300) | First year included, then $125/yr | Free domain, website, and business phone line |
| Zenind | Yes | Web | Founders forming a Texas LLC from out of state | Not publicly listed | From 300(0 + $300) | $99/yr | Step-by-step Form 205 guidance |
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness fits first-time Texas founders who planned to submit the Certificate of Formation on their own but want Form 205 reviewed before it goes to the Secretary of State. For a side-by-side breakdown, see how ZenBusiness Texas LLC filing compares with filing through SOSDirect yourself.
ZenBusiness prepares and submits the Texas Certificate of Formation for a $0 service fee plus the $300 state fee, the same total as filing on your own, and reviews each Form 205 under a 100% accuracy guarantee before it reaches the Secretary of State.
Key Features:
- Same cost as SOSDirect: Starter’s total is Texas’s $300 filing fee, and the package doesn’t renew.
- Submission speed: Starter submits in 7 to 10 business days, Pro and Premium in 1 business day, with rush submission on Starter for $79.
- Compliance reminders: Starter includes a free first year of Worry-Free Compliance, covering one report filing and up to two amendments a year, then $199/yr.
- Document assets: Pro adds an EIN and an operating agreement template, and Premium adds a business documents library, a domain with privacy, and a business advisor consultation.
- Customer base: More than 950,000 businesses launched, an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, and a 4.8 out of 5 rating across 32,676 Trustpilot reviews as of September 2026.
Pricing: Starter is $0 plus the $300 fee and excludes the registered agent, EIN, and operating agreement. Pro is $199/yr and Premium is $299/yr, each plus the $300 fee. Registered agent service is $199/yr on any package.
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best For: First-time founders who want Form 205 reviewed for the same $300.
Bizee
Bizee, formerly Incfile, suits solo Texas founders who want a registered agent included in year one from a company headquartered in Houston.
Bizee’s $0 Basic plan keeps a Texas LLC’s formation total at the $300 state fee while including one year of registered agent service, which renews at $119 per year.
Key Features:
- Basic plan: $0 plus state fees, covering Certificate of Formation filing and 1 year of registered agent service.
- Standard plan: $199 plus state fees, adding an EIN and an operating agreement.
- Compliance alerts: Lifetime alerts for upcoming filing deadlines.
- Track record: Founded in Houston in 2004, with more than 1,000,000 businesses formed.
Pricing: The $0 plan covers only the first year of agent service and excludes the operating agreement. Premium is $299 plus state fees, and EIN registration is $70 on its own.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Solo founders who want a first-year agent at the state fee.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance suits owners whose Texas LLC also operates in other states and who want the fastest possible notice when a lawsuit arrives.
Harbor Compliance serves as a Texas LLC’s registered agent from a local Austin office for $99 in the first year and $149 per year after, delivering time-sensitive notices electronically the same day and calling you if legal action arrives.
Key Features:
- Texas agent service: Its official Texas registered agent page describes same-day electronic delivery from its Austin office.
- Lawsuit alerts: A phone call supplements electronic delivery for service of process.
- Pre-filled forms: State forms come pre-filled with its signature wherever needed.
- Scale: More than 40,000 clients, with 7 years on the Inc. 5000 list as of 2025.
Pricing: No free tier; agent service is $99 the first year, then $149/yr, and formation starts at $99 plus state fees.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Owners who want a local Texas agent with phone alerts.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent fits Texas owners who plan to keep their LLC for years and want a low, predictable agent renewal.
Northwest Registered Agent submits the Texas Certificate of Formation for $39 plus the $300 state fee with a first year of registered agent service included, then charges $125 per year.
Key Features:
- Formation package: $39 plus state fees, with one year of registered agent service.
- Agent renewal: $125/yr after the first year.
- Operating agreement templates: Free single-member, multi-member, and manager-managed versions.
- Business identity: A free domain name, website, business email, and phone line.
Pricing: No free tier; formation is $39 plus the $300 fee. EIN filing is $50.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Long-term owners who want the agent cost to stay flat.
Zenind
Zenind suits founders forming a Texas LLC from another state or country, who can’t act as their own agent without a Texas street address.
Zenind files the Texas Certificate of Formation starting at $0 plus the $300 state fee and provides registered agent service for $99 per year, which meets Texas’s physical address requirement for owners who live elsewhere.
Key Features:
- Form 205 guidance: Its official Texas Form 205 guide explains what the form collects, including the governing authority and mailing address.
- Agent rules: Zenind notes that a Texas LLC can’t serve as its own registered agent and that the agent must consent.
- Registered agent: $99/yr, including a registered address.
- EIN help: Its EIN service is open to applicants without an SSN.
Pricing: Formation starts at $0 plus the $300 fee, and agent service adds $99/yr.
Platforms: Web
Best For: Out-of-state founders who need a Texas address for the agent field.
How to Choose the Right Texas LLC Filing Service
Cost above the $300 fee: If you want to pay no more than submitting the Certificate of Formation on your own, choose a $0 plan. ZenBusiness, Bizee, and Zenind all start at $0 plus the state fee.
Registered agent in year one: If you’d rather not list your own address, compare agent options. Bizee includes a free first year, and Northwest renews at $125/yr.
Getting Form 205 right: If you want the governing person and agent sections checked, prioritize pre-submission review. ZenBusiness backs every filing with a 100% accuracy guarantee.
Local Texas office: If you want a nearby agent for fast lawsuit notices, Harbor Compliance operates from Austin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit the Texas Certificate of Formation on my own?
Yes. The Secretary of State accepts Form 205 directly from owners and encourages electronic filing through SOSDirect or SOSUpload. ZenBusiness costs the same $300 on Starter if you want the filing reviewed first.
What does Texas Form 205 ask for?
It asks for the LLC name, the registered agent and registered office, whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed along with the names and addresses of its initial governing persons, a purpose statement, the organizer’s signature, and an optional effective date up to 90 days out. Governing person addresses become public. Zenind’s Form 205 guide walks through each section.
What happens if my Texas Certificate of Formation is rejected?
The Secretary of State doesn’t charge your card and returns checks when a filing can’t be accepted, so a rejection mostly costs time. Texas will also pre-clear a draft for $50 per document. Harbor Compliance and ZenBusiness both prepare filings for you.
How fast can Texas approve my Certificate of Formation?
Review time varies, but Texas Express offers expedited service at $50 per document, $500 for next-day, or $750 for same-day, with a noon cutoff for next-day and same-day requests. Bizee’s Basic plan includes a first-year agent with standard filing.
Does a Texas LLC file an annual report?
Not with the Secretary of State. Instead, it files an annual franchise tax report with the Texas Comptroller by May 15, and most small LLCs owe no tax under the $2,650,000 no-tax-due threshold for 2026 and 2027 reports but still must file. ZenBusiness’s official certificate of good standing service can confirm your status once filings are current.
Conclusion
You can submit the Texas Certificate of Formation on your own for $300, so these services differ on what they add. Bizee includes a first-year agent at $300 total, Harbor Compliance offers a local Austin agent at $99 the first year, Northwest keeps agent renewals at $125/yr, and Zenind serves out-of-state founders at $99/yr.
For founders asking whether they can file Form 205 themselves, ZenBusiness is the Texas LLC Filing service we recommend, because it matches the $300 filing fee on Starter while reviewing your Certificate of Formation under a 100% accuracy guarantee before submission.