LegalZoom Vs. ZenBusiness (2024 Comparison) (2024)

Quick Overview

LegalZoom and ZenBusiness offer the same product with nuanced differences. Both will get your business entity registered for a fee, though ZenBusiness is less expensive. Both offer registered agent services and EIN registration for an additional fee and send you a binder with all pertinent registration documents for your business records.

Where the two companies differ is in the follow-up advice that you can receive. LegalZoom has attorneys associated with its business advisory plan. For $259 for six months or $469 for 12 months, you can get unlimited half-hour consultations with a lawyer as well as reviews of legal documents (limit of ten pages) so that you know what you’re signing before you enter into a contract.

If you think you need more than just business formation, LegalZoom has the extra services that can take your business to the next level.

Cost

Here’s how the two providers measure up in terms of cost. They each have a basic, advanced and premium plan. Here’s how they compare:

Basic Plans

Pro Plans

Premium Plans

Standout Features We Like

LegalZoom

In the process of setting up your entity, LegalZoom will perform a business name search to make sure that you formalize a unique name in your state so that you don’t run into copyright or trademark issues. You’ll receive a book complete with your operating agreement, minutes and bylaws when your company is formed.

LegalZoom’s assistance doesn’t stop there. You can sign up for a registered agent so that you get a legal address, which is often needed if you are setting up a legal entity in a state where you don’t reside. LegalZoom can also help you file your annual reports and provide you with a compliance calendar to ensure you don’t miss a deadline.

ZenBusiness

Worry-Free Compliance with ZenBusiness eliminates your annual filing stress, reminds you of critical compliance deadlines and continuously monitors your status with the state so that you can have peace of mind knowing that everything is up to date. If you do not maintain your good standing status, ZenBusiness will help get your business back in compliance and pay for any financial damages that resulted from its mistake.

ZenBusiness will also help you brand your business through its website builder. There are hundreds of mobile-friendly templates you can customize to fit your brand. It comes with built-in SEO tools and a drag-and-drop interface so you don’t need to know Java or HTML to create a beautiful website. And when you’re ready to expand, it offers a host of guides to get business funding, grow your business and expand locations.

Customer Support

LegalZoom

LegalZoom customer support is available via phone and contact form. Agent hours are Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific time and weekends from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT. When submitting a contact form, you should hear back within 24 hours.

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness customer support is available via chat, phone and email. Chat and phone hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. When sending an email, you’ll receive a reply within one business day.

Customer Reviews and Reputation

LegalZoom

On the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, LegalZoom has 5,824 customer reviews with an average customer review rating of 4.57 out of 5 stars. On Trustpilot, it has over 3,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Overall customer sentiment is that any issues resolve quickly, and staff are knowledgeable and professional. Its BBB rating is A-, and customer complaints come from a misunderstanding of ongoing charges for subscriptions.

ZenBusiness

On Trustpilot, ZenBusiness has 10,148 reviews averaging 4.7 out of 5 stars. Its company profile on Better Business Bureau doesn’t fare as well, with 167 customer reviews with an average of 4.31 out of 5 stars. Its BBB rating is B+, with 77 complaints closed in the last three years, 42 of which were closed in the last 12 months. Overall, customer sentiment is staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and most complaints come from a misunderstanding of ongoing subscription costs.

Bottom Line

Both ZenBusiness and LegalZoom offer a host of features for a range of business services. If you are looking for the best price in business formation filing, ZenBusiness is the most cost-effective option that you’ll find. However, if you think you’ll need more by way of legal advice, you can get a LegalZoom subscription to answer any legal questions you may have.