LegalZoom Vs. ZenBusiness (2023 Comparison)

Deciding to start your own business often marks the beginning of an exciting new endeavor. While it’s possible to form a limited liability company (LLC) all by yourself, partnering with a company that provides business formation services online can simplify the process.

Several different companies provide online legal filing services. If sorting through the different options seems daunting, you’re not alone. We have done the necessary research to help you save time.

The following review will paint a clear picture of what LegalZoom and ZenBusiness offer and how they can help you achieve your business needs and goals. By lining up ZenBusiness vs. LegalZoom for a side-by-side comparison, you can make an informed decision about which provider suits you best.

LegalZoom vs. ZenBusiness at a Glance

Legal expertise is a key factor differentiating LegalZoom from other companies offering business formation services. A diverse group of legal professionals comprise LegalZoom’s team, enabling them to provide additional legal services for businesses.

ZenBusiness offers faster turnaround times for filing and processing new businesses than LegalZoom. On top of that, ZenBusiness doesn’t charge extra for expedited processing, whereas LegalZoom does. In other words, ZenBusiness includes the processing fees in their package.

LegalZoom

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

LegalZoom offers a wide array of business and legal services for anyone starting a new business — or operating an existing business. 

For instance, LegalZoom can help you start a limited liability company (LLC), a sole proprietorship, a limited partnership (LP), a limited liability partnership (LLP), a C-corporation, an S-corporation or even a nonprofit organization. 

After you get your business up and running, LegalZoom can act as your business’s registered agent, ensure all compliance requirements are met, provide legal consultations with licensed attorneys and register trademarks. 

Pros

• Offers attorney consultation services, unlike many competitors
• Customizable business website included in all LLC formation packages
• Staffed by a diverse network of legal experts with industry experience
• Offers several additional business and legal services and helpful features
• Provides three LLC formation package options

Cons

• One of the more expensive LLC formation service options
• None of the LLC formation packages include registered agent services
• Lacks a mobile app for Android users
• Significant jump in price from the Basic package to the Pro package
• Connecting with a customer service agent can be slow

Starting Prices of LegalZoom’s Business Formation Packages

LegalZoom offers three different tiers of business formation packages for multiple structures: Basic, Pro and Premium. If you want to start an LLC, the starting cost of the Basic package is only the fees required to file your LLC with the state. The starting price of the Pro package is $249 plus state filing fees, and the Premium package starts at $299 plus state filing fees. 

However, if you want to start a corporation, LegalZoom’s Economy package starts at just $149 plus state filing fees. The starting price of the Standard package is $329 plus state filing fees, and the Express Gold package starts at $349 plus state filing fees. 

LegalZoom also offers formation packages for limited partnerships and liability partnerships, with both structures sharing the same prices for each tier. The Economy package starts at $149 plus state filing fees, while the Standard package starting price is $259 plus state filing fees. The cost of LegalZoom’s Express Gold package for both structures starts at $379 in addition to state filing fees. 

LegalZoom also offers three packages that can help you start your own nonprofit. In addition to state filing fees, the Economy package starts at just $99, the Standard package starts at $239 and the Express Gold package starts at $359. 

ZenBusiness

Rating: 4.6/5 stars

ZenBusiness is a well-known company that provides a robust array of services to help fellow entrepreneurs form their new businesses. It also offers services that support and simplify the ongoing operation of your business, such as access to a library of business documents and forms, registered agent services and bookkeeping and accounting services. If you benefit from features that are focused on the actual running of your business, ZenBusiness is a solid option for you to consider. 

Pros

• Expedited filing and processing included in the Pro and Premium packages
• Offers bookkeeping and accounting business services

Cons

• Registered agent services are not included in any packages
• Lacks legal and tax services

Starting Prices of ZenBusiness’s Business Formation Packages

ZenBusiness offers three different business formation packages that can help you start your new LLC: Starter, Pro and Premium. The Starter package requires just the state’s filing fees. The starting price of the Pro package is $199 in addition to state filing fees, while the Premium package is $349 plus state filing fees. It’s important to recognize that aside from the initial state fees to file your new LLC, ZenBusiness’s Pro and Premium package prices represent an annual recurring fee for business services. And if you’re interested in forming a business with a different structure, ZenBusiness can help you do that as well. However, it currently only offers formation packages for LLCs. 

LegalZoom vs. BusinessZen Comparison

	LegalZoom	ZenBusiness
Starting price	$0 + state filing fees	$0 + state filing fees
Is legal advice offered?	Free 30-day subscription included in the Pro and Premium package tiers. Subscription automatically renews monthly for a fee of $49	No. ZenBusiness is run by a team of entrepreneurs and business formation experts.
Are registered agent services included?	Available as an add-on for an annual fee of $199	Available as an add-on for an annual fee of $199
Is an EIN application included?	Available in an essential documents add-on package starting at $159 Or Available to purchase a la carte for a fee of $79	Available as an add-on for a one-time fee of $99 Or Available in an EIN and business documents bundle for a one-time fee of $149
Customer support channels	Website chat, email and phone	Website chat, email and phone

While both LegalZoom and ZenBusiness provide services that can help you achieve the same general outcome, they still differ significantly from one another. To make an informed decision about whether LegalZoom or ZenBusiness is the best option for you, you should know that the key differences are rooted in the experience following the creation of your new business.

To elaborate, the follow-up support available to you from LegalZoom’s packages greatly differs from those made available by ZenBusiness’s packages — and so do the associated costs.

For instance, after the Secretary of State officially files their LLC, customers of LegalZoom’s Pro package benefit from the opportunity to meet with a small business specialist for a consultation. Additionally, LegalZoom’s Pro package also provides customers with access to a personalized consultation with a licensed insurance agent.

While ZenBusiness does not offer their customers similar legal services, all three of their LLC formation packages provide customers with a full year of their Worry-Free Compliance service. In contrast, none of LegalZoom’s packages includes compliance services. If customers are interested in this service, they must add it to their order for a fee.

Cost

Although LegalZoom and ZenBusiness both offer three tiers of LLC formation packages, they carry different price tags and also provide customers with various services and features. In the sections below, we’ve included a handy table for each package offered to help you understand the differences between the package tiers offered by LegalZoom and ZenBusiness.

LegalZoom’s LLC formation package prices represent a one-time fee. Alternatively, ZenBusiness’s correlating packages carry an annual fee. So even though LegalZoom’s packages are priced for a one-time payment, most of their ongoing business services are priced annually. But instead of being included in the package price, they’re offered as add-ons during the ordering process. ZenBusiness’s LLC formation packages are priced to include these annual service charges.

Basic Plan

	LegalZoom	ZenBusiness
Starting Price	$0 + state filing fees	$0 + state filing fees
Ongoing Compliance	Available as an add-on for an annual fee of $99	Includes one free year of Worry-Free Compliance that annually renews for a fee of $199
Operating Agreement Cost	Available as an add-on for a one-time fee of $99	Available as an add-on for a one-time fee of $99
Registered Agent Service	Available as an add-on for an annual fee of $199	Available as an add-on for an annual fee of $199
EIN Application	Available in an essential documents add-on package starting at $159 Or Available to purchase a la carte for a fee of $79	Available as an add-on for a one-time fee of $99 Or  Available in an EIN and business documents bundle for a one-time fee of $149

Pro Plan

Premium Plan

In addition to the services above, LegalZoom’s Premium package also includes a free 30-day subscription to LegalZoom’s Business Attorney Plan, which provides access to an unlimited number of 30-minute attorney consultations, legal document reviews as well as copyright registration services. 

ZenBusiness’s Premium package, on the other hand, also provides customers with an online website builder tool, a registered private domain name and access to more than 25 business forms and document templates. 

Standout Features We Like

Popular ZenBusiness Features

If you have a clear idea of the business you want to start and are itching to get going, ZenBusiness has seized the opportunity to distinguish itself from the competition. While other business formation service providers require their customers to specifically request and pay extra for the expedited filing and processing of their articles of organization, ZenBusiness includes rush filing services in both their Pro and Premium LLC formation package fees.

After ZenBusiness helps you quickly create your new LLC, it also provides valuable services that support the ongoing operations of your business. In particular, ZenBusiness’s domain and website services can help save you time and money while simultaneously helping you expand your business’s reach.

Popular LegalZoom Features

LegalZoom’s strengths as an LLC formation service provider lie in its legal expertise. Even if you don’t see yourself needing or using these services, a situation may arise in which having access to LegalZoom’s legal support can be advantageous.

Although LegalZoom isn’t the only company that offers LLC formation packages that include access to their business document library, the size of the LegalZoom library is undoubtedly one of the most substantial. Compared to ZenBusiness’s library of more than 25 business forms and documents, LegalZoom’s repository houses more than 150 documents. Even if you have already officially formed your new business, this is a major advantage of partnering with LegalZoom to help you with your business’s ongoing operations.

Customer Support

ZenBusiness Customer Support

ZenBusiness offers multiple avenues of contact for those needing customer service and support. In addition to getting in touch over the phone, through the website’s chat feature or by sending an email, ZenBusiness also offers an online contact form.

While it’s common for companies to include a contact form on their website, the ZenBusiness form is more detailed and personalized than most — especially the option to attach a file.

Depending on which channel you select for contacting ZenBusiness, hours of availability vary slightly. Please note that the following hours are for the Central time zone, so convert to your local time zone as needed.

• Chat and Phone support (844-493-6249)
  • Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Email support: sales@zenbusiness.com

LegalZoom Customer Support

LegalZoom offers high-quality customer services and support experiences that you can access through three different channels: phone, email and chat support on their website.

LegalZoom’s support services are available every day, though their weekend hours differ from their weekday availability. Please note that the following hours are for the Pacific time zone, so be sure to convert to your local time zone as needed:

• Monday through Friday: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can refer to the following support numbers to get in touch with LegalZoom during its customer care hours:

• Phone support:
  • General support: (855) 787-1221
  • Customer support: (888) 379-0854
  • Order support: (800) 773-0888
  • Subscription support: (888) 310-0151
  • Sales support: (855) 787-1922
  • eSignature support: (833) 563-1603
    
• Chat support:

• • Users can click on the chat button in the lower right-hand corner of the website to connect with a LegalZoom agent and ask their questions in real-time.
    

• Email support:
  • You can send your email to support@legalzoom.com or customercare@legalzoom.com.

Customer Reviews and Reputation

ZenBusiness Reviews

Several customer reviews online can give insight into how the public feels about ZenBusiness. While ZenBusiness is an accredited business with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the number of reviews is low. Averaged from 216 reviews, ZenBusiness holds a star rating of 3.99 out of 5.

On Trustpilot customers have posted more than 13,000 reviews about ZenBusiness. Most of these reviews are positive, with 86% of the reviews giving ZenBusiness a 5-star review. Averaged from 13,373 total reviews, ZenBusiness’s Trustpilot star rating is currently 4.7 out of 5.

LegalZoom Reviews

There are thousands of reviews concerning LegalZoom on the internet, and the majority of them are positive. LegalZoom has been accredited by the BBB for over 20 years and holds an A+ rating.

Averaged from 6,707 customer reviews left on the BBB platform, LegalZoom currently has an average star rating of 4.64 out of 5. Similarly, LegalZoom has earned an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 3,068 customer reviews posted on Trustpilot’s platform.

Our Final Thoughts

To determine if LegalZoom or ZenBusiness is the right company for your business, you should take an honest account of your business needs, goals and strengths.

If you don’t have a firm grasp of business fundamentals and need an experienced guide to support you through the business formation process, LegalZoom’s upper-tiered packages are a promising choice.

If you feel more confident in getting your new business off the ground, ZenBusiness’s Starter plan is a strong option. Even though LegalZoom offers a similar package for the same price, it’s ZenBusiness’s package that includes one year of free compliance services.

Frequently Asked Questions