Under Texas regulations, every LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. An individual owner can serve as the registered agent, but an entity may not serve as its own registered agent. Serving as your own agent means your personal street address is published in state public records.
Essential post-formation filings are free through official federal channels. An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is available directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for $0, and business owners should never pay a third party for an EIN. You must form the entity with the state before applying for an EIN. Under federal rules effective August 14, 2026, U.S.-formed entities are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting. SOSDirect is best for DIY founders seeking to minimize setup costs, while commercial services appeal to business owners prioritizing address privacy.
Official Texas LLC State Requirements and Fees
| Requirement or Feature | Official Standard or Fee | Official Source |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation (Form 205) | $300.00 state fee | Texas Secretary of State |
| Card Payment Convenience Fee | 2.7% of total fees | Texas Secretary of State |
| Registered Agent Mandate | Physical Texas address; entity cannot serve as its own agent | Texas Secretary of State |
| Agent Non-Compliance Penalty | Involuntary termination of LLC status | Texas Secretary of State |
| Employer Identification Number (EIN) | $0 (free after state entity formation) | Internal Revenue Service |
| Assumed Name Certificate (DBA) | $25.00 filing fee | Texas Secretary of State |
| General State Business License | None (no general business license in Texas) | Texas Secretary of State |
| Beneficial Ownership Reporting | Exempt for U.S.-formed entities (effective August 14, 2026) | FinCEN |
Provider and Formation Route Comparison
The table below compares filing directly against major commercial formation services (listed alphabetically, not ranked).
| Provider or Route | Formation Package Fee | Registered Agent Service Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY via SOSDirect | $0 service fee ($300.00 state fee) | $0 if serving as own agent | Direct portal submission; personal address becomes public. |
| Bizee | Packages start at $0 plus state fee (as of 2026) | Included first year, then annual fee | Entry-level formation with optional compliance services. |
| LegalZoom | Packages start at $0 plus state fee (as of 2026) | Additional annual fee | Business formation bundled with document libraries. |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Fixed fee plus state fee (as of 2026) | Annual fee | Focuses on address privacy and registered agent services. |
| Rocket Lawyer | Subscription or fee plus state fee (as of 2026) | Additional annual fee | Combines business formation with legal consultations. |
| Tailor Brands | Packages start at $0 plus state fee (as of 2026) | Additional annual fee | Bundles formation with web design and branding tools. |
| ZenBusiness | Starter $0 + state fee; Pro $199/yr; Premium $299/yr | $99 first year with formation, then $199/yr | Guided formation, compliance tracking, digital dashboard. |
Complete Breakdown of the DIY SOSDirect Route
Filing directly with the state requires creating an account on SOSDirect, the portal maintained by the Texas Secretary of State. Through SOSDirect, you complete and submit Form 205, known as the Certificate of Formation. The Texas Secretary of State collects a $300.00 filing fee for Form 205 (source: Texas Secretary of State). Payments made by credit card carry a 2.7% convenience fee (source: Texas Secretary of State).
When filling out Form 205, you must specify a registered agent with a physical street address in Texas. An individual business owner or resident can act as the registered agent, but Texas rules specify that an entity may not serve as its own registered agent (source: Texas Secretary of State). Failure to maintain a registered agent risks involuntary termination of the LLC (source: Texas Secretary of State). Because registered agent details appear in public state records, using your personal address exposes it publicly.
After the Texas Secretary of State approves Form 205, you can apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is free directly from the IRS ($0), and you should never pay a third party for an EIN (source: IRS). You must form the entity with the state before applying for an EIN (source: IRS).
Texas does not have a general state business license requirement (source: Texas Secretary of State). If your LLC operates under a secondary name, you must file an Assumed Name Certificate with a $25.00 filing fee (source: Texas Secretary of State). Under the federal rule effective August 14, 2026, entities created in the United States are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting to FinCEN (source: FinCEN).
DIY SOSDirect vs Commercial Formation Services
Every comparison of doing it yourself against paying for a service comes down to the same short list of questions. What changes between people is the answers, not the questions, so both sides stay open here until you close one. The layout gives both routes equal width deliberately, as this site does not have a house answer.
The DIY SOSDirect path is the lowest-cost option, requiring only the state's $300.00 filing fee and 2.7% card fee. It is ideal for founders who are comfortable navigating state portals and do not mind having their personal address listed on public government databases.
Commercial services assist founders who want professional oversight or address protection. Hiring a service lets you use their commercial address for registered agent services, keeping your personal street address off public registries.
For founders who decide a filing service fits their situation, ZenBusiness provides a structured choice. Their Starter tier costs $0 plus state fee, Pro is $199 per year, and Premium is $299 per year. Registered agent service costs $99 for the first year when purchasing formation, renewing at $199 per year on all tiers. If you want maximum savings and can handle forms yourself, SOSDirect is the best path. If you value address privacy and automated compliance tracking, paying a service is a reasonable trade-off.
This site earns a commission on some links. That never changes which option this page recommends.
FAQ
What does it cost to file a Texas Certificate of Formation through SOSDirect?
The Texas Secretary of State charges a $300.00 filing fee for Form 205 (Certificate of Formation) submitted through SOSDirect (source: Texas Secretary of State). Credit card payments carry a 2.7% convenience fee (source: Texas Secretary of State).
What are the Texas registered agent requirements?
Texas law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. An entity may not serve as its own registered agent (source: Texas Secretary of State). Failure to maintain a registered agent risks involuntary termination (source: Texas Secretary of State).
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Form 205 - Instructions for Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Registered Agent FAQs”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Form 503 - Instructions for Assumed Name Certificate”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Formation of Texas Entities FAQs”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Foreign or Out-of-State Entities”
This article provides general information rather than legal advice, and business requirements vary by state and change over time.