How to Form an LLC in Texas: DIY vs. Bizee

If you are starting a business in Texas, one of the first major decisions you may face is whether to create a formal business entity.

For many small business owners, that means forming a limited liability company, or LLC.

An LLC can help establish your business as a separate legal entity, create a more professional structure, and make it easier to move into later steps such as opening business bank accounts, establishing business credit, and applying for financing.

But there is one question almost every new business owner eventually asks:

Should I form my LLC myself, or pay a company to do it for me?

The good news is that both options are available.

As part of the LivingRGV Business Foundation Series, we are going to walk through both approaches so you can choose the one that makes the most sense for your business.

What Is an LLC?

A limited liability company is a business entity created under state law.

In Texas, an LLC is created by filing a Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State.

An LLC can be owned by one person or multiple members and offers flexibility in how the business is managed.

Forming an LLC does not automatically guarantee that every personal asset will be protected in every circumstance, nor does it automatically create business credit. However, creating and properly maintaining a separate business entity can be an important part of establishing a professional business foundation.

How Much Does It Cost to Form an LLC in Texas?

As of August 2026, the Texas Secretary of State filing fee for a Certificate of Formation for a limited liability company is $300.

That fee goes to the State of Texas.

It is important to understand the difference between a state filing fee and a formation-service fee.

Even when a formation company advertises LLC formation for "$0," you will generally still be responsible for the Texas state filing fee.

Option 1: Form Your Texas LLC Yourself

The least expensive approach is usually to handle the filing yourself directly through the Texas Secretary of State.

Texas provides Form 205 — Certificate of Formation for a Limited Liability Company for this purpose. The Secretary of State also allows business formation filings to be submitted online through SOSDirect.

When completing your Certificate of Formation, you will need to provide information about your new company.

This generally includes items such as:

• Your LLC's legal name
• Your registered agent
• Your registered office address
• How the LLC will be governed
• The names and addresses of the initial governing persons
• The LLC's purpose
• Organizer information

The state's Form 205 instructions explain each of these sections in greater detail.

Advantages of Filing Yourself

The biggest advantage is cost.

If you complete the filing yourself, you avoid paying another company simply to prepare the Certificate of Formation for you.

You also maintain direct control over the filing process.

For someone comfortable reading forms, following instructions, and handling their own paperwork, the DIY route may be perfectly reasonable.

Disadvantages of Filing Yourself

The tradeoff is that you are responsible for making sure the filing is completed correctly.

You will also need to understand decisions such as:

• Who will serve as registered agent?
• Will the LLC be member-managed or manager-managed?
• What address should appear on your filing?
• Who should be listed as an organizer?
• Do you need an operating agreement?
• What should happen after the LLC is approved?

Those questions can be intimidating for someone starting their first company.

That is where a formation service may be helpful.

Option 2: Use an LLC Formation Service

Instead of preparing and submitting everything yourself, you can use a business formation company to assist with the process.

One option we include in the LivingRGV Business Roadmap is Bizee.

Bizee offers business formation services that help prepare and submit LLC formation documents.

As of August 2026, Bizee advertises its Basic formation package at $0 plus the applicable state filing fee, with additional paid packages and optional services available.

For a Texas LLC, you would still be responsible for the state's required filing fee.

What Are You Paying a Formation Company For?

A formation service does not eliminate the state's requirements.

Instead, you are paying for convenience and assistance.

Depending on the service and package selected, a formation company may help with:

• Preparing your formation documents
• Submitting the filing
• Tracking the filing status
• Registered agent services
• Operating agreement templates
• EIN assistance
• Compliance-related tools
• Other business startup services

This can be appealing to entrepreneurs who would rather focus on getting their business running instead of learning the filing process themselves.

DIY vs. Bizee: Which Is Better?

Neither option is automatically better for everyone.

Filing Yourself May Be Better If:

• You want to minimize startup expenses
• You are comfortable completing government forms
• You understand the basic structure you want for your LLC
• You do not mind researching the process
• You want to handle the filing directly

Using Bizee May Be Better If:

• This is your first LLC
• You are uncomfortable preparing formation paperwork
• You value convenience
• You want help organizing the filing process
• You are interested in additional startup services

A formation service can make the process easier, but it is important to review any optional upgrades before purchasing them.

Not every additional service offered during checkout is necessary for every business.

What Is a Registered Agent?

One term you will encounter during the formation process is registered agent.

Texas LLCs are required to maintain a registered agent and registered office in the state.

The registered agent is the person or organization designated to receive certain official legal and government documents on behalf of the company.

This can sometimes be the business owner, another eligible individual, or a commercial registered agent service, depending on the circumstances.

Bizee currently advertises registered agent service with certain formation packages, including promotional periods with formation services.

Before paying for registered agent service, understand what the service provides and whether you actually need a third party to perform that role.

Should You Create an Operating Agreement?

An operating agreement is an internal document that outlines how an LLC will operate.

It can address issues such as:

• Ownership percentages
• Management responsibilities
• Voting rights
• Profit distributions
• Member responsibilities
• Procedures for adding or removing members
• What happens when an owner leaves the business

Texas does not require you to file an operating agreement with the Secretary of State as part of Form 205.

However, having one can be particularly important when an LLC has multiple owners.

Even single-member LLC owners may choose to maintain an operating agreement as part of their business records.

Form the LLC Before Applying for Your EIN

If your next step is obtaining an Employer Identification Number, the order matters.

For businesses creating a legal entity, the general process is to establish the entity with the state and then apply for the EIN using the official business name and information.

That is why forming your business entity is Step 1 of the LivingRGV Business Foundation Roadmap.

Once your LLC has been established, you can move on to obtaining your EIN directly from the IRS.

Avoid Unnecessary Startup Expenses

One of our goals with the LivingRGV Business Foundation Series is to make it clear which expenses are actually required.

For a basic Texas LLC, the state currently charges a $300 Certificate of Formation filing fee.

Everything beyond that should be evaluated individually.

You may encounter offers for:

• EIN filing services
• Registered agent services
• Operating agreement packages
• Compliance subscriptions
• Business licenses
• Virtual addresses
• Websites
• Business banking
• Business credit programs

Some of these services can be useful.

Others may be things you can do yourself for free.

Before buying an add-on, ask:

What exactly am I paying for, and can I get the same thing directly from an official source?

That simple question can save a new business owner a significant amount of money.

What Comes After Forming Your LLC?

Forming the LLC is only the beginning.

Once your company has been established, the next steps in the LivingRGV Business Foundation Roadmap include:

1. Getting your EIN
2. Establishing your Dun & Bradstreet business identity
3. Beginning to monitor your business credit
4. Opening a dedicated business bank account
5. Establishing a consistent business address
6. Creating your website and professional business email
7. Setting up your Google Business Profile

Later stages of the roadmap will cover vendor tradelines, business credit monitoring, business credit cards, and preparation for financing.

The purpose is not simply to create an LLC.

It is to gradually build a business that is organized, verifiable, professional, and prepared for future growth.

Ready to Form Your Texas LLC?

You have two straightforward starting options.

File It Yourself

Visit the Texas Secretary of State and use Form 205 or the state's online filing system to form your LLC yourself.

This is the most direct option and avoids paying a third-party formation fee.

Get Help Forming It

If you would rather have a formation service guide you through the process, Bizee offers LLC formation assistance and can prepare and submit your formation documents.

Regardless of which route you choose, take the time to understand what you are filing.

Your LLC is more than another box on a startup checklist.

It is the beginning of the business foundation we will continue building throughout this series.

Next in the LivingRGV Business Foundation Series: How to Get Your EIN for Free From the IRS

LivingRGV provides general educational business information. Nothing in this article should be considered legal, tax, accounting, lending, or financial advice. Business structures and requirements vary. Consider consulting an attorney, CPA, tax professional, or the appropriate government agency when deciding how to structure your business.