An independent view of legal pricing

Cost of Legal exists because pricing information about legal work is almost always published by someone who wants to sell you legal work. Filing services quote the number that makes their package look good. Law firm pages avoid numbers entirely. Comparison sites take a fee for every reader they pass along, which shapes what they recommend whether they admit it or not.

We publish ranges instead. Wide ones, with the assumptions shown, so a small business can budget before making a call rather than after.

What we do

We maintain three calculators covering trademark registration, LLC formation and contract work, plus written guides that explain the numbers behind them. Government fees are taken from published schedules. Market prices are compiled from advertised rates and reported quotes. Our methodology explains how we separate fixed fees from variable costs and turn those inputs into ranges.

What we will never do

We do not provide legal services. We do not broker or arrange legal services. We do not run an attorney matching service, a directory or a marketplace. We do not collect reader contact details for resale, and there is no lead capture form anywhere on this site. We take no payment from law firms or filing services for coverage, placement or a friendlier range.

The site is funded entirely by display advertising, which is labelled wherever it appears.

Who it is for

We write for founders and small business owners who need to plan a budget before committing to a filing or asking for a quote. You might be comparing the cost of protecting a name, opening an LLC or having a contract reviewed. We explain which charges are unavoidable, which services are optional and which recurring costs deserve a place in your budget. The goal is a clearer spending decision, not a recommendation about your legal situation.

How our calculators differ

A filing service calculator is often built around its own package. A law firm estimate may reflect the work that firm expects to handle. Our calculators are not a checkout or a quote request. They separate government charges from service prices, make room for common complications and show ongoing costs alongside the initial bill. We publish the assumptions so readers can see when a range fits their circumstances and when it does not.

A low estimate is not a promise, and a high estimate is not a ceiling. Complexity, location, timing and the scope of professional help can all change the amount you pay. We are not a law firm and do not claim attorney status or legal credentials. Our work is editorial research into costs, not a substitute for advice about a specific matter.

Our editorial commitments

The Cost of Legal editorial team researches, writes and reviews our pages. Every page is reviewed at least quarterly and dated. Government fee changes are updated as soon as they are announced. No advertiser, law firm or filing service influences an estimate. Our editorial standards explain our sources, review schedule, independence rules and how we handle corrections.

Accuracy and corrections

Fees change and markets move. If you find a figure that is out of date or a range that does not match what you were quoted, send it to us with the detail and we will look at it. We review and update within 14 days. Corrections are published, not quietly applied. You can report an outdated figure through our contact page.