Are you ready to form a limited liability company (LLC) and looking for online business formation services to simplify the filing process?
In this ZenBusiness review, we’ll walk through the pros, cons, pricing, features, customer reviews, and more. By the time you finish reading our review, you’ll know if ZenBusiness is the best LLC service for your small business.
Form Your LLC With ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness delivers worry-free compliance, great customer support, and 50% off your first year of registered agent services.
Get StartedWhat Is ZenBusiness?
ZenBusiness is an online business formation and compliance company that offers services to help entrepreneurs start, run, and grow their businesses. ZenBusiness specializes in assisting with LLC formation, corporation setup, and registered agent services. The company aims to simplify the process of starting a business by providing affordable, technology-driven solutions.
In addition to formation services, ZenBusiness offers ongoing compliance support, accounting and tax services, and various tools to help small businesses manage their operations. The company has gained popularity for its user-friendly platform and competitive pricing structure, which includes both annual plans and à la carte services.
ZenBusiness At a Glance
| Services | Business formation, compliance |
| Pricing | $0 + state fees |
| Best For | Small business owners, first-time entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs who want tech-driven formation and compliance services. |
Jump Ahead:
Pros and Cons of ZenBusiness
What We Like
- The ZenBusiness LLC formation service starts at only $0 plus state fees and includes worry-free compliance for the first year.
- ZenBusiness offers excellent customer feedback and most of their users claim that not only are they honest and “straightforward,” but deliver on their promises.
- The ZenBusiness LLC Premium package offers a significant number of perks you’ll enjoy as a business owner such as: rush processing speed, domain name, and website, just to name a few.
What Could Be Better
- You’ll have to pay extra fees for essential LLC features like an EIN and registered agent services.
- If you’re looking for more affordable options and personalized, expert customer support, there are better alternatives such as one of our other top picks, Northwest Registered Agent.
ZenBusiness Alternative: Northwest
Form your business with Northwest and receive one year of free registered agent services.
Get StartedHow Much Does ZenBusiness Cost?
Similar to many other LLC formation companies, ZenBusiness offers three plans with optional add-on services to meet your business’s specific needs: Starter, Pro, and Premium. We’ll share what each plan includes below:
Starter Plan ($0 + State Fee)
- Basic LLC formation
- Unlimited name availability searches
- Unlimited phone and email support
- Digital dashboard to access business formation documents
- Worry-free compliance services free first year (Auto-renewal price: $199/yr)
Pro ($199 + State Fee)
- Everything in Starter
- Rush processing speed (Processes in 1 business day*)
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Premium ($299 + State Fee)
- Everything in Starter and Pro
- Business domain name privacy
- Business email address
- Business website
- Business Document Templates
*Processing times are based on receiving complete information. ZenBusiness processing times do not include Secretary of State processing times, which can vary.
ZenBusiness Add-On Services
In addition to the services included in the Starter, Pro, and Premium plans, ZenBusiness offers several optional add-on services to help you customize your LLC formation package. These specific services allow you to supplement a basic plan like the Starter package without paying for unwanted features in the higher-tier plans. The add-on services include:
- Operating agreement: $99
- Registered agent service: $99 (50% off first year, then $199/year after)
- EIN filing: $99
- Business website builder: $15/month
- Business email address: $25/year
- Annual report filing: $100
- Rush processing speed: $79
- Certificate of good standing: $100
- Business bank account: $5/month
- ZenBusiness Money Pro: $30/month
ZenBusiness’s Standout Features
ZenBusiness sets itself apart with several key offerings:
Worry-Free Compliance
ZenBusiness’s Worry-Free Compliance service is designed to help businesses stay compliant with state regulations. It includes annual report filing, two yearly business amendments, and alerts for important state compliance deadlines. The service also provides expert support for compliance-related questions and concerns.
ZenBusiness Money Pro
ZenBusiness’s Money Pro service is a financial management solution for small businesses. With the service, customers can send custom invoices, accept online payments, and track revenue and expenses with ease. The service also includes tax preparation and deduction tools.
Accessible Online Dashboard
One of the most notable traits of ZenBusiness is the company’s user-friendly digital dashboard. Through the dashboard, users can seamlessly form their business, maintain its good standing, and complete necessary tasks like opening a business bank account.
Annual Report Service
ZenBusiness offers an annual report service for $100 plus state fees to existing users. The service includes hands-on document preparation and filing as well as a 100%-accuracy guarantee. Businesses receive helpful notices throughout the process and once the report is complete.
Business Licenses
ZenBusiness offers business licensing services at the federal, state, and local level as well as professional licensing obtainment services. Simply provide information about your business and ZenBusiness will help you identify the types of licenses and permits you need as well as help you obtain them.
Ecommerce Website
For ecommerce businesses, creating a user-friendly website is one of the most important steps toward launching your business. ZenBusiness offers tools to create business websites with templates and easy-to-use features — no coding required.
ZenBusiness Reviews
ZenBusiness is a highly rated service on TrustPilot, earning 4.8 stars out of five and boasting more than 16,000 reviews total. Many of the company’s reviews focus on excellent customer service with a large percentage of reviews naming individual agents and praising their work. Additionally, many customers shared an appreciation for smooth, quick processes — from resolving issues to forming a business.
Negative reviews, however, mentioned upselling and an excess of communication from the company. ZenBusiness has responded to 94% of negative reviews with inquiries and further support.
Here are some verified ZenBusiness reviews from Trustpilot by customers who used the service to help launch their businesses:
“Excellent responsiveness. ZenBusiness has done a great job at helping me through the process of setting up our first LLC. They have been very responsive in moving the process forward and answering any questions I may have.”
”Too many emails, a phone call and lots of issues all at once. It would be helpful to take it one step at a time, when [the] first step [is] complete move to next step, etc. Starting up is confusing, not necessarily difficult. But your process adds to the confusion.”
“I’m really excited to start my business hopefully next month. And I was struggling to change my address in my account/dashboard and to confirm if I’ve submitted my BOI because I’ve already done it but I just wanted to make sure. And the person that I spoke with on the phone he’s really nice, calm, helpful and he has patience. He really [helped] me a lot.”
“Experience was pretty smooth and easy. Way too [many] upselling attempts. Nearly constant requests in app for me to add on additional services even after I decline them. Then I got cold-called by a rep trying to upsell me on the same add-ons I’d already declined multiple times.”
“I was expecting to wait on hold forever to speak to a representative..he answered all my questions in a timely manner!”
ZenBusiness Alternatives
Before settling on a business formation service, it’s important to compare alternative platforms to ensure you’ve found the right one for your new business. Northwest, Tailor Brands, and LegalZoom are all popular business formation services — each with their own unique offerings. Here’s how other business formation services stack up against ZenBusiness.
Northwest vs. ZenBusiness
Northwest is a reliable, affordable business service provider that offers formation, compliance, and legal services. The company’s LLC formation package costs $29 plus state filing fees, but includes a year of free registered agent services as well as an operating agreement template. Plus, customers get access to Corporate Guides as well as dedicated experts who support entrepreneurs through their formation process and beyond.
One of the standout traits of Northwest is the company’s commitment to data privacy for customers. Not only does the company not sell customer data, but it also commits to using its own address on documents when possible rather than the user’s in order to preserve customer privacy.
Tailor Brands vs. ZenBusiness
Tailor Brands combines business formation with branding and marketing services through the company’s AI-powered platform. In addition to competitively priced formation services ($0 plus state filing fees), Tailor Brands offers business compliance features like operating agreements and registered agent services.
However, what makes Tailor Brands stand out from competitors like ZenBusiness is the company’s branding and marketing tools. On the platform, users can design business cards, create a logo, build a website, and much more. This is an ideal provider for businesses looking to form their business and establish their brand from the start.
LegalZoom vs. ZenBusiness
LegalZoom is a well-known business and legal services provider that offers an array of services for entrepreneurs. The company’s LLC formation services are competitively priced at $0 plus state filing fees, however, like ZenBusiness, this doesn’t include registered agent services.
LegalZoom’s competitive edge is their immense legal expertise and services. This provider ideally suits businesses seeking reliable legal services and support navigating the complexities of business formation, compliance, and more.
Below is a table comparing the costs of key services offered by ZenBusiness, Northwest, Tailor Brands, and LegalZoom. Keep in mind that you can always obtain an EIN for free directly from the IRS, but we’ve included the cost of getting an EIN through each provider in case you prefer the convenience of using a professional service.
Basic Plan Comparison
| Service | ZenBusiness | Northwest | Tailor Brands | LegalZoom |
| LLC Filing | $0* | $29* | $0* | $0* |
| Registered Agent | $99 (50% off first year, $199/year after) | Free for 1 year ($125 after) | $199/year | $249/year |
| Operating Agreement | $99 | Free | $29 | $99 |
| EIN | $99 | $50 | $99 | $79 |
| Total First Year Cost | $297* | $79* | $327* | $427* |
| Start Now | Start Now | Start Now | Start Now |
*does not include state fees
Is ZenBusiness Right For Your Startup?
ZenBusiness is a popular provider for business formation services. However, it isn’t for everyone. This company ideally suits entrepreneurs who value a tech-driven platform that’ll allow them to manage several aspects of their business from one convenient location. Additionally, ZenBusiness offers an extensive number of services for businesses from compliance to website building, making it a great choice for businesses that prefer customizing their plan through à la carte features.
However, ZenBusiness has some drawbacks as well. Businesses looking for exceptional value in terms of included features may be disappointed by ZenBusiness’s basic package.
It’s particularly well-suited for:
- Businesses that value customizability and flexibility.
- Entrepreneurs who may require extensive customer support throughout the formation process.
- Small businesses that prefer to control multiple aspects of their business from a central dashboard.
However, it may not be the best fit if:
- You’re looking for extensive features at a low price.
- You require registered agent services and don’t want to pay an additional fee.
The bottom line? ZenBusiness is a reliable LLC service, but it’s not the best option if you’re on a budget. Other services offer more features at a lower price. To explore those options, we recommend reading our review of the best LLC services.
Review Methodology
To provide a comprehensive and honest review of ZenBusiness, we considered several key factors:
Pricing and Value
We not only consider the cost of a service, but also carefully assess the value offered at the given price. This includes features, capabilities, and support included in the price of each plan.
Ease of Use
Business formation can be a confusing process for many. Therefore, we examine each platform to determine its usability for both new entrepreneurs and experienced business owners.
Customer Support
Top-tier customer support is invaluable throughout the formation process and beyond. We assess services for the extent of their customer support offerings, the helpfulness of their service, and any additional resources they provide for customers.
Customer Reviews and Reputation
Customer reviews provide a necessary look into the experience of working with a provider like ZenBusiness. High customer satisfaction and a reputation for reliable services are two considerations we prioritize during our review process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does ZenBusiness do?
ZenBusiness helps business owners navigate the process of forming and running a company. They provide guidance on different business structure options, as well as services like LLC formation, registered agent, compliance assistance, and more. ZenBusiness aims to simplify the legal and administrative tasks involved in starting and maintaining a business.
Does Mark Cuban own ZenBusiness?
No, Mark Cuban does not own ZenBusiness. While Cuban is a well-known entrepreneur and investor, he is just a spokesperson for the service. The company was founded by Ross Buhrdorf, and is backed by venture capital firms.
Is LegalZoom or ZenBusiness better?
The answer depends on your specific needs and budget. Both LegalZoom and ZenBusiness offer LLC formation services, but ZenBusiness’s packages tend to be a little more affordable.
However, LegalZoom has a longer track record and offers a wider range of legal services. Ultimately, it’s important to compare the features and pricing of each provider to determine which is the better fit for your business.
Is ZenBusiness really free?
No. ZenBusiness offers a free Starter plan, but this only covers the basics of LLC formation. You will still need to pay any required state filing fees, which vary by state. Additionally, the Starter plan doesn’t include a free year of registered agent services like other companies do.
How much is ZenBusiness per year?
The cost of ZenBusiness depends on the package and services you choose. The Starter plan is $0, plus state fees. The Pro plan costs $199 per year, plus state fees, while the Premium plan is $299 per year, plus state fees. Additional services like an EIN or expedited filing will incur extra one-time fees. To get an accurate picture of your total costs, be sure to factor in both the recurring ZenBusiness fees and any required state filing fees.
