Do you need a lawyer to form an LLC?

Filing directly with the state

This costs the least: you pay only your state's fee. You find the form, fill it in, name a registered agent and fix anything the state sends back. It's the right choice if you have the time and a simple setup.

Hiring a lawyer

Clio's 2026 data puts the average US lawyer at about $362 an hour, and about $400 for business formation work. Michigan's bar reported a $400 median for corporate and business lawyers on 2025 rates. Clio's figures come from its own customers, and Michigan's from one state.

We couldn't find a reliable survey of flat fees for forming an LLC, so we won't quote one. Ask for a flat price and what it includes.

You're paying for advice as well as the filing. A lawyer can tell you what's right for your situation, which we can't do.

Using OpenFile

We prepare the state's form from your answers, a real person checks it, and we file it. You see the state fee on its own line, and our pricing is public. We're not a law firm, so we don't give legal advice.

When a lawyer is worth it

Talk to one when owners put in different amounts or have different rights, when you're taking outside investors, when you're in a licensed profession, or when a large contract rides on how the company is set up. An accountant is the better first call for tax questions, such as an S corporation election.