ZenBusiness vs LegalZoom vs Bizee
Ready to start an LLC? In this detailed comparison, find out if ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, or Bizee is better for LLC formation.
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ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, and Bizee (formerly Incfile) are LLC formation services that make starting an LLC as convenient as possible. However, they offer more than just filing your paperwork.
Bizee offers fast and affordable LLC formation, while LegalZoom is perfect for budget-friendly legal advice. And ZenBusiness? New entrepreneurs will find their vast resource library and excellent customer support helpful.
Not sure what's best for your business? This detailed comparison might help. Read on.
Who Each One Is Best For
- ZenBusiness is best for LLC packages you can personalize with add-ons, like registered agent services or EIN applications. They're also great if you prefer a socially conscious company since ZenBusiness is a public benefit corporation.
- LegalZoom is best for more complex business needs, like starting different or multiple business entities, registering a trademark, or switching entity types. They're also great if you need low-cost legal services for business and personal matters.
- Bizee (formerly Incfile) is best for speedy and budget-friendly LLC formation. Besides having the cheapest pricing of the three, they also usually forward all LLC applications they receive to the state within one business day.
What They All Offer
Here's what you can expect from all three companies:
- LLC formation services in all 50 states
- A broad selection of other business services
- Comprehensive support from experts
- Affordable starting prices (only pay for the state fees)
- User-friendly checkout process
- Overall reliable and efficient service
How They're Different
To help you decide which option to choose, here's an overview of their differences:
- ZenBusiness's and Bizee's services focus more on business-related matters, while LegalZoom's services lean more toward legal assistance.
- Bizee includes free registered agent services in all its packages. But it's only a paid add-on with both LegalZoom and ZenBusiness.
- LegalZoom and Bizee have been around since 2001 and 2004, while ZenBusiness was only formed in 2015.
- Only LegalZoom offers business formation services for other entity types, like limited liability partnerships (LLPs)[1] and limited partnerships (LPs).[2]
- LegalZoom is also the only one that offers personal legal assistance.[3] You can hire them for services like estate planning, deed transfers, and name changes.
Keep reading for more details about each one.
Why Choose ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness makes running your company more convenient by providing one platform for all your business needs. This includes low-cost and efficient LLC formation services.
You can opt for one of their existing packages. Or you can customize a package with add-ons to avoid hiring multiple companies for different services.
What's more? ZenBusiness is a public benefit corporation (PBC).[4] It has many programs and online resources meant to support and empower different types of entrepreneurs, like neurodivergent people, moms, and more.[5][6][7]
It even awards eligible businesses thousands of dollars in funding using grants to help them get started.
Yes, ZenBusiness is a legitimate LLC formation service. It has received mainly positive reviews from previous customers. Plus, the company is accredited by the BBB, with an A+ rating.[8]
ZenBusiness Pros + Cons:
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Starter - $0 + State Filing Fees
- Includes 1 optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/year
- Standard filing speed
- 100% accuracy guaranteed
- Other services are available with additional costs
Need help with more complex business matters? Check out LegalZoom instead.
Why Choose LegalZoom
When it comes to LLC formation, LegalZoom is an industry veteran. It has helped over 2M businesses in the last 20+ years. The company's a great choice if you want an LLC service with a solid track record.
You can also hire them if you want to start a different type of business entity (like an LLP). Or if you want better flexibility with your business registration.
However, their real selling point is their low-cost legal services. They can give you expert legal advice for both business and personal matters. And their rates are less expensive than hiring a private attorney or an in-house legal team.
LegalZoom Pros + Cons:
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Economy Package at $149 + State Filing Fees
- Name check service
- Business consultation
- Digital welcome packet
- Customizable WIX website
LegalZoom focuses more on providing low-cost legal advice and caters to both individuals and businesses. Bizee is geared more towards businesses and business-related matters.
Although LegalZoom's legal services are cheaper than most, many feel that the LLC packages are too expensive.
You may be better off with Bizee as an affordable option instead.
Why Choose Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Like LegalZoom, Bizee has been around for some time and has served millions of businesses for 20+ years.
They have a full range of business services that will make starting your own company easier and more efficient, whether it's an LLC or a corporation. Of the three, Bizee has the cheapest pricing and offers the best value for money in terms of features included.
They also have the fastest turnaround time. So if you need to form your LLC in the shortest time possible, you should go with Bizee.
Bizee has been in the business for more than 20 years, so the company can be a trustworthy option. It has received thousands of reviews from customers during this time, with the majority of them being positive.[10]
Bizee Pros + Cons:
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Now that you know more about each company and their advantages, let's see how they are in terms of specific features.
Detailed Comparisons
ZenBusiness | LegalZoom | Bizee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Starts at $0 + state fees (Starter) | Starts at $0 + state fees (Basic) | Starts at $0 + state fees (Silver) |
| Registered Agent | Free for the 1st year then renews at $119/year | ||
| Order Processing Time | |||
| Expedited Processing | |||
| Cancellation | 60-day money-back guarantee; State fees are refundable until paid to the state | 60-day money-back guarantee; State fees are refundable until paid to the state | Refundable until payment is forwarded; Minus $30 cancellation fee + other incurred expenses |
| Customer Service | Phone: (844) 493-6249 Monday - Friday: 8AM - 8PM CT Sunday: 9AM - 6PM CT Online chat Web form | Phone: (888) 379-0854 Monday - Friday: 5AM - 7PM PT Weekends: 7AM - 4PM PT Online chat | Phone: (844) 830-8267 Fax: 877-919-2613 Monday - Friday: 9AM - 6PM CST Web form |
| Visit Site | Visit Site | Learn More |
While all three are solid choices, they have distinct differences that can make one better than the others.
Let's take a closer look at those differences below.
Pricing and Plans — Winner: Bizee
ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, and Bizee all offer free LLC formation plans. You only have to worry about the state fees.
But if you want the best bang for your buck, Bizee is the top choice. It's the only option that includes a year of registered agent services in ALL of their formation plans.
A registered agent service costs extra with the other two, even when you upgrade.
What about their processing time? How fast can they form your LLC? Find out below.
Turnaround Time — Winner: Bizee
When it comes to how quickly they process LLC applications, Bizee is once again the winner. It usually forwards all LLC applications to the state within one business day.
On the other hand, it typically takes ZenBusiness 2 to 3 weeks, while LegalZoom takes around 1 to 2 weeks.
You can opt for expedited/rush filing with all of them for a fee if you want to form your LLC ASAP.
Next, let's see how user-friendly these companies are. Read on.
Ease of Use — Winner: LegalZoom and Bizee
Of the three, LegalZoom and Bizee have the easiest and most straightforward ordering process. You only have to input the required info to form your LLC and choose any additional services you need before checking out.
Meanwhile, ZenBusiness requires customers to talk to their chatbot when ordering their services. While it's meant to help you create a custom-tailored plan, it also makes the checkout process longer and somewhat confusing.
Refunds and Cancellations — Winner: ZenBusiness and LegalZoom
Both ZenBusiness and LegalZoom have a 60-day money-back guarantee. So if you're not satisfied with their services, you can request a full refund within 60 days of purchase.[12][13]
On the other hand, Bizee charges a $30 cancellation fee if you want to cancel or make changes after placing your order.[14] This is because they usually forward all LLC applications to the state within one business day.
That said, here's how you can cancel your account:
- ZenBusiness: email support@zenbusiness.com
- LegalZoom: from your dashboard or call their hotline
- Bizee: email support@bizee.com
If you encounter issues, however, you may want to put off canceling for a while. Customer support may still be able to help you out.
Customer Support — Winner: ZenBusiness
All three companies provide easy-to-use and efficient services. However, ZenBusiness outshines the other two in terms of customer support.
Most customers claim that ZenBusiness' support team is helpful, knowledgeable, and quick to respond. For this reason, the company mostly has positive reviews online.
Meanwhile, most criticisms about LegalZoom and Bizee are about their long response times. Sometimes, it takes them weeks or months to resolve customer concerns.
Customers have also complained about how tough it is to reach someone on the support team. This can result in costly delays to a company's operations.
Bottom Line
ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, and Bizee are all reputable companies that can make the LLC formation process easy and convenient. Your best choice will ultimately depend on what you're looking for.
Choose Bizee if you want the fastest filing time and the best value for money. ZenBusiness is better for comprehensive online resources and altruism from your formation company. And LegalZoom is best for regular legal advice on a budget.
Just make sure you do your own research beforehand. That way, you can choose a company most suitable for your business needs.
References
- ^ LegalZoom. Limited Liability Partnerships, Retrieved 11/08/2023
- ^ LegalZoom. Limited Partnerships, Retrieved 11/08/2023
- ^ LegalZoom. Personal, Retrieved 11/08/2023
- ^ ZenBusiness. PBC, Retrieved 11/08/2023
- ^ ZenBusiness. Above the Grade, Retrieved 11/08/2023
- ^ ZenBusiness. Moms, Retrieved 11/08/2023
- ^ ZenBusiness. Own What's Yours, Retrieved 11/08/2023
- ^ Better Business Bureau. ZenBusiness, Retrieved 11/08/2023
- ^ LegalZoom. LegalZoom Terms of Service: 18. Installment Plan., Retrieved 01/02/2024
- ^ TrustPilot. Bizee, Retrieved 12/13/2023
- ^ U.S. Small Business Administration. Register your business, Retrieved 01/02/2024
- ^ ZenBusiness. Terms of Use, Retrieved 12/15/2023
- ^ LegalZoom. LZ Guarantee, Retrieved 12/15/2023
- ^ Bizee. Changing or Canceling Your Bizee Order, Retrieved 12/15/2023
Starter - $0 + State Filing Fees
- Includes 1 optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/year
- Standard filing speed
- 100% accuracy guaranteed
- Other services are available with additional costs
Economy Package at $149 + State Filing Fees
- Name check service
- Business consultation
- Digital welcome packet
- Customizable WIX website
Business Formation Service - $39 + State Fees
- Form Your LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit Today
- A Fully-Formed Business
- Registered Agent Service
- Business Address
- Mail Forwarding
- Privacy by Default
Set Up Your LLC - $0 + State Fees
- Free business plan included (no credit card required)
- Lifetime compliance alerts
- Comprehensive name check
- Lifetime customer support via email and phone
Write to Alyssa Supetran at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
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