LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness: Price, Refunds and Which to Pick

LegalZoom leans toward attorney access and legal help, while ZenBusiness leans toward formation with ongoing compliance filings and its free Velo AI guide. ZenBusiness quotes its packages plus state fees, so budget for your state’s filing fee on top of any package. Neither is better on quality across the board. The right pick depends on whether you want a lawyer available during setup or mostly need the filing and the reminders handled.

Disclosure: Heads up, some links on this page are affiliate links. When you purchase through them, we may be paid a commission.

LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness at a glance

Each row comes from that company’s own website.

Can LegalZoom be trusted?

LegalZoom’s own pages name the company as LegalZoom.com, Inc., list customer care and sales phone numbers, and describe an Accurate Filing Guarantee. Under that guarantee, if your filing is rejected or incorrect because of LegalZoom’s error, it will correct it with the government agency at no additional cost to you. These are the company’s own statements, so check them against your account and your state’s records.

Read the legal disclosures too. LegalZoom’s homepage says it “is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, except where authorized through its subsidiary law firm LZ Legal Services, LLC.” Its attorney advertisement notice adds that the information you provide to LegalZoom “is not protected by attorney-client privilege.” If your matter is sensitive, keep that in mind before you share details.

Verify any call or email before you pay. The USPTO impersonation warning says impersonators may use spoofed caller ID to pose as agency staff and ask for personal information or for fees that are excessive or nonexistent. Use the phone number in your own account, and do not send sensitive personal information by email. LegalZoom’s FAQ asks customers to do the same. For a fuller look at the company’s pages, read our LegalZoom review.

Can ZenBusiness be trusted too?

ZenBusiness’s homepage shows a 4.8 Trustpilot score and says it has helped form businesses. Its pricing page shows 33,090 reviews, while its comparison page gives 33,104 for the same company. Those two counts disagree, so read reviews on the review sites yourself. Before you pay, ask ZenBusiness for its refund terms in writing. You can read more in our ZenBusiness review.

What kind of company is each one?

LegalZoom describes itself as a provider of access to independent attorneys and self-service tools, and its homepage lists “25+ years of legal protections” and “9M+ legal milestones supported.” ZenBusiness’s pricing page says it has launched “950K+ new businesses,” and it offers Velo, an AI guide, free to use. Both companies sell online filing with a dashboard, so the real difference is the help they sell after formation.

Why would LegalZoom contact me?

LegalZoom’s pages list several reasons it reaches out:

• Order status. You can track an order in My Account. If there’s an issue, the company says it will let you know in your account and reach out to you.
• A mismatch on your EIN. Its FAQ says there is “likely a small discrepancy” between the personal info on your EIN application and the IRS record, such as a mistyped Social Security number. It asks you to call rather than email sensitive details.
• Documents to sign. Look for an email with the subject line “Action Required.”
• Mail for your registered agent. It says it will alert you to important mail it receives on your behalf.
• Charges. The “LegalZoom Registered Agent Services” charge appears when it sends your documents to the state.

If a call or email does not match one of these, sign in to My Account and check the order there before you pay or share details.

How much does an LLC cost with each one?

Prices as of October 28, 2026; check the checkout for today’s.

Is ZenBusiness LLC free?

ZenBusiness lists its Starter plan at $0 plus state fees, so the company’s own fee for that plan is $0. The state’s filing fee still applies, and the paid plans renew each year. Velo is free to use.

What does LegalZoom cost?

LegalZoom’s LLC overview page lists its two subscription plans in the footnotes below its packages. Check the checkout for its formation package price.

What’s the cheapest way to get an LLC, and can I do it myself?

ZenBusiness lists its Starter plan at $0 plus state fees, and the state’s filing fee applies whether you file yourself or use a service. Check your state’s business filing office for its fee. LegalZoom’s LLC overview page says, “To form an LLC, you’ll need to file articles of organization with the state. Each state has its own rules.” Here is the do-it-yourself order:

1. Check the name. LegalZoom suggests checking your LLC name against similar businesses in your area. The SBA business name guide covers the separate name registrations you may need.
2. File the articles of organization with your state’s business filing office and pay its fee.
3. Get an EIN. Apply through the IRS EIN page. Onfolio’s 2026 comparison says the IRS issues EINs online for free.
4. Name a registered agent. LegalZoom says you can name the agent you want, even yourself, in most states. See the registered agent section below for the address rule.
5. Check the federal reporting rule. See the mistakes section below.

Rules differ by state, so check your state’s business filing office for its fee and name rules. If cost is the main worry, how to find free legal aid is the other route to explore.

Which parts can you do alone, and when is a lawyer worth paying for?

Most of the filing is paperwork you can handle. The SBA business name guide says the state may require you to register a legal entity name, and that a DBA “doesn’t give legal protection, but it might be legally required.” It also says trademark protects you at a federal level.

Trademark is where the USPTO attorney guidance is clearest. If you are domiciled in the United States, you are not required to hire an attorney, but the USPTO says, “we strongly encourage you to hire a U.S.-licensed attorney who specializes in trademark law.” If you are foreign-domiciled, you must be represented by a U.S.-licensed attorney. The USPTO adds that an experienced trademark attorney “can advise you about many important legal issues.”

A lawyer is worth paying for when:

• You are filing a trademark, or you are outside the United States.
• Your profession may require a particular LLC type. LegalZoom says you might need a professional LLC or corporation, and that you should contact your state’s licensing board to find out.
• You have a contract or a legal question about your own situation. LegalZoom says it does not provide legal advice except through LZ Legal Services, LLC, so ask who will give the advice before you pay.

What is a registered agent, and do you need one?

LegalZoom’s FAQ says a registered agent “is an adult or authorized business that’s around during normal business hours to accept mail or hand-delivered court documents on your behalf.” The agent must have a physical address, not a PO Box, in the state where your business formed. It also says you’re required to have one in most states, and you can name yourself.

The Delaware registered agent list says the selected registered agent must consent to being appointed before the filing is submitted. ZenBusiness says it offers registered agent services in all 50 states plus DC, and that its agent is available to receive state correspondence during business hours.

Prices for this service differ across the company pages and third-party reviews. Onfolio’s 2026 comparison lists $199 a year for ZenBusiness and $249 a year for LegalZoom. Check both checkouts for the current figure before you buy.

What are the refund and cancellation terms?

LegalZoom. Refund terms are in the LZ Guarantee and Refund Policy linked from its homepage, so read that page before you order. To cancel an order, call (800) 773-0888. To cancel a subscription, go to the Account tab in My Account, choose Manage Payments, click the subscription, then cancel, or call (888) 310-0151. To cancel registered agent service, name a new agent and file the change with the state. Then upload proof of the change and cancel in My Account. LegalZoom says most states require an agent on file at all times, so do not cancel before the new agent is filed.

ZenBusiness. Its support FAQ says there are “no fees or penalties for canceling your account,” and you can contact the company directly. To cancel registered agent service, you’ll need to show proof from the state that ZenBusiness has been removed as your agent, or that the business has been dissolved.

Ask ZenBusiness for its refund terms before you pay, and get the answer in writing.

What are common LLC mistakes to avoid?

• Assuming one name covers everything. The SBA says the entity name, a DBA, a trademark and a domain name are registrations that are “legally independent” of each other. See small business legal essentials for the wider list of early mistakes.
• Typos on the EIN application. LegalZoom says a small mismatch with IRS records can cause an email and a fix.
• Skipping the license check. Confirm with your state’s licensing board whether your profession requires a particular LLC type.
• Missing “Action Required” emails. Documents that need a signature can hold up your filing.
• Forgetting renewals. ZenBusiness Pro renews at $199 a year and Premium at $299 a year. LegalZoom’s registered agent renews automatically each year.
• Assuming you must file a beneficial ownership report. The FinCEN beneficial ownership page says the interim final rule published March 26, 2025 exempts entities created in the United States, and their beneficial owners, from reporting to FinCEN.

Who is each one for?

LegalZoom suits you if you want an attorney involved during setup or later, need document reviews, and are comfortable with monthly plans that renew until you cancel. Its Expert Service plan gives 30 days, then $99 a month, with document reviews of up to 10 pages.

ZenBusiness suits you if you want a $0-plus-state-fees starting plan, a dashboard for orders and documents, and ongoing compliance filings through Pro or Premium. Velo is free to use, and it guides you through business planning.

Who is better, ZenBusiness or LegalZoom?

Neither is better on quality in general. These questions usually settle it for you:

1. Do you need a lawyer on call during setup, or do you mostly need the filing done?
2. Can you carry yearly renewals for a service you will actually use?
3. Do you want annual compliance filings handled for you, or will you track them yourself?
4. Will you need trademark or contract help in the next year?
5. Does your profession require a particular LLC type?

If you want more options beyond these two, compare online legal services before you choose.

Before you order

• Read the LZ Guarantee and Refund Policy linked from LegalZoom’s homepage.
• Ask ZenBusiness for its refund terms in writing.
• Confirm the registered agent price and renewal at checkout for both companies.
• Check your state’s business filing office for its filing fee and name rules.
• Check the FinCEN beneficial ownership page for the current status of the reporting rule.

By LegalHelpOnline.org Legal Research & Editorial Team