LLC questions
Yes. The IRS gives you an EIN free, online, usually in one sitting. Formation services charge $49 to $99 to fill in the same application for you.
Use the IRS’s own online EIN application at irs.gov. It is open weekdays from 6am to 1am Eastern, Saturdays from 6am to 9pm and Sundays from 6pm to midnight, and gives you the number at the end.
To apply online the business has to be based in the US, and the person applying needs the responsible party’s Social Security number or ITIN. The IRS itself warns about websites that charge for an EIN.
From each service’s own price list, checked 21 October 2026. Some packages include it: Inc Authority’s free LLC, ZenBusiness Pro, Bizee Standard, CorpNet Deluxe, doola, Firstbase and Stripe Atlas.
| Service | EIN on its own |
|---|---|
| Inc Authority | $49 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $50 |
| CorpNet | $69 |
| Bizee | $70 |
| Rocket Lawyer (members) | $70 |
| LegalZoom | $79 |
| ZenBusiness | $99 |
| Tailor Brands | $99 |
| IRS | $0 |
Owners outside the US, or without an SSN or ITIN, can’t use the online tool. The IRS asks them to apply by phone, fax or mail with Form SS-4, which takes longer. This is the one case where paying a service can save real time: Northwest charges $200 for it.
The EIN is one step after forming. The LLC cost calculator shows the state fees for the rest, and the best LLC services page shows which services include it.