LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness
Last updated July 2026
LegalZoom
Start your business with confidence
Advantages
- Most recognized brand in online legal services with 20+ years of trust
- Full legal services beyond formation: trademarks, contracts, IP, legal plans
- Attorney consultation available as part of premium packages
- Compliance calendar and registered agent service included on higher tiers
- Extensive legal document library for ongoing business needs
Drawbacks
- More expensive than ZenBusiness at every tier
- Aggressive upselling during the checkout process
- Formation-only package is barebones, many essentials cost extra
- Filing speed is slower than competitors unless you pay for rush processing
ZenBusiness
Start and grow your dream business
Advantages
- Dramatically cheaper with more features included at every tier
- Fastest standard filing times in the industry (often 1-2 weeks)
- Registered agent service included for the first year on all paid plans
- Operating agreement, EIN filing, and compliance alerts included earlier
- Clean checkout process without aggressive upselling
Drawbacks
- Less brand recognition than LegalZoom among older demographics
- No attorney consultation or full legal services platform
- Registered agent renewal is $199/year after the first year
- Limited services beyond business formation and compliance
LegalZoom and ZenBusiness are the two most popular online business formation services, and both can file your LLC, corporation, or DBA. LegalZoom built its brand over two decades as the trusted name in online legal services, while ZenBusiness launched more recently with aggressive pricing and faster filings.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LegalZoom | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Package Pricing | $0 + state fees (Basic) to $299+ (Premium) | $0 + state fees (Starter) to $349 (Premium) |
| Standard Filing Speed | 20-30 business days (standard); 7-10 days (rush $) | 1-2 weeks (standard); 1-3 days (rush included on Pro+) |
| Registered Agent Service | $299/year (included in Premium only) | Included first year (all paid plans); $199/year after |
| Operating Agreement | Included in higher tiers or add-on | Included on Pro and Premium plans |
| Compliance Alerts | Available on Premium plan | Included on all plans |
| Ongoing Legal Services | Attorney access, trademark filing, legal plans | Limited, formation and compliance focused |
| EIN Filing | Add-on: $70-$150 | Included on Pro and Premium plans |
| Customer Support | Phone, email, chat; attorney consultations on Premium | Phone, email, chat; extended hours |
ZenBusiness Wins
ZenBusiness wins for most new business owners with faster filing, better value, and more features included at lower price points.
For straightforward LLC formation, which is what 90% of users need, ZenBusiness delivers more for less at every tier. You get faster filing, an included operating agreement, EIN filing, and compliance alerts at prices well below LegalZoom's equivalent packages. LegalZoom's advantage is its broader legal services platform: if you need trademark filing, attorney consultations, or legal document review after formation, LegalZoom offers those under one roof. But for the simple act of forming a business entity and staying compliant, ZenBusiness is the better deal.
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