ZenBusiness vs LegalZoom
Both of these will form your LLC for nothing but the state fee. Both have about thirty-three thousand reviews. The difference is roughly fifty dollars a line, on every line that comes back each year.
The verdict
ZenBusiness takes it, 3–1 on rounds.
These two are the same product with a fifty-dollar gap running through it — and the cheaper one has the better reviews. Pay LegalZoom's premium only if you actually want the tax consultation.
Choose ZenBusiness if…
- • You want the lower recurring cost and will keep the LLC for years
- • You weight customer reviews heavily and want the better score at equal volume
- • You want every add-on price visible on one page before you commit
Choose LegalZoom if…
- • You want the included tax consultation with an accounting firm
- • You value the largest brand in the category for banking and lender familiarity
- • You expect to buy trademarks or attorney time from the same vendor later
Round by round
- Round 1What the tiers actually costZenBusiness winsZenBusiness8/10
$199
Pro tier — "Pro Package starts at $199 plus state fees"
- $0 entry like the other
- Pro is $50 cheaper
- Three tiers, clearly priced
- Premium matches LegalZoom at $299
Source: zenbusiness.com ↗
LegalZoom7/10$249+ state filing fees
Managed Service
- $0 entry
- Same $299 ceiling
- $50 more at the tier most people choose
Source: legalzoom.com ↗
Same shelf, same top price, fifty dollars apart where it counts.
- Round 2Registered agent costZenBusiness winsZenBusiness9/10
$199/year
"renews at $199/year"; $99 for a first year bought separately
- $50/yr cheaper, forever
- $99 first year if bought alone
- Still an annual cost you cannot avoid
Source: zenbusiness.com ↗
LegalZoom6/10$249/year
"Get registered agent services for $249/year."
- Document scanning and compliance calendar included
- $50/yr more than ZenBusiness
- No discounted first year
Source: legalzoom.com ↗
Fifty dollars once is a decision. Fifty dollars a year is a subscription.
- Round 3What customers actually sayZenBusiness winsZenBusiness9/10
4.8 / 5
32,839 Trustpilot reviews, 4% one-star
- Higher score at comparable volume
- Half the one-star share
- A rating is not a guarantee of your experience
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
LegalZoom7/104.6 / 5
33,394 Trustpilot reviews, 8% one-star
- Still a strong score
- Largest review base in the category
- Twice the one-star share at the same volume
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Same sample size, half the one-star reviews. That is not noise.
- Round 4What you get in the boxLegalZoom winsZenBusiness6/10
Name search + filing + dashboard
"a dashboard with unlimited storage", electronic document access
- Unlimited document storage
- Electronic document access
- No professional advice included
Source: zenbusiness.com ↗
LegalZoom8/10Tax consult from 1-800Accountant
included alongside the name check and state filing
- A real tax consultation included
- Company name check service
- No storage equivalent
Source: legalzoom.com ↗
A tax consult beats a storage quota, and I say that as someone who likes a tidy dashboard.
- Round 5What renews after year oneTieZenBusiness5/10
$199/yr
Worry-Free Compliance Filings, renews yearly
- Every price published on one page
- EIN costs $99 — the IRS issues it free
- Operating agreement is a paid template
- Compliance is another $199/yr
Source: zenbusiness.com ↗
LegalZoom5/10$299
Compliance Filings with Business Licenses price
- Compliance calendar tracks the deadlines
- Annual report filing is a separate $99
- Business licences $99/yr
- Stacks on the $249 agent
Source: legalzoom.com ↗
Two companies, same playbook: free to start, ninety-nine dollars a surprise.
- Round 6Keeping your address off the recordTieZenBusiness6/10
Virtual Business Address
"keeps your home address off public records"
- Does keep the home address off public record
- A separate purchase, not included
Source: zenbusiness.com ↗
LegalZoom6/10virtual business address
"Protect your privacy by listing a virtual business address"
- Same protection available
- Also a separate purchase
Source: legalzoom.com ↗
Both will protect your address. Both will invoice you for it.
Which one is for you?
The cost-sensitive founder
Anyone who wants advice, not just filing
Someone who reads reviews before buying
A founder who wants nothing sold to them later
Side by side
- Name availability search included
- Articles filing included
- Secure dashboard with unlimited storage
- Compliance renewal price is stated
- Corrects its own order mistake at no cost
- Other refunds may be available
- Business name check
- Articles of Organization filing
- Does not list Northwest’s business tools in this bundle
- Website builder renews at $15/mo
- Rush processing and EIN cost extra
- Live team hours are limited to the stated schedule
- No refund after documents are submitted
- No first-year registered agent service listed here
- Higher one-star share than Swyft Filings
- Filing fees are extra