LegalZoom was founded in 2001 and has established itself as the most recognized brand in consumer legal services, having assisted in the formation of over 5 million businesses. The platform offers LLC and corporation formation in all 50 states, registered agent service, trademark applications, estate planning documents, and ongoing legal services through subscription plans that provide access to attorney consultations. The business formation product starts at $0 in service fees — the customer pays only state filing fees, which vary from $50 to $500 depending on the state. At the zero service fee tier, the offering is comparable to ZenBusiness Starter and Bizee. LegalZoom’s value proposition is brand recognition and legal service depth. Unlike pure formation services, LegalZoom provides a pathway to ongoing legal support — trademark filings, legal document templates, business compliance services, and attorney access through Business Legal Advantage subscription plans. For businesses that anticipate ongoing legal needs alongside formation, LegalZoom offers more in one relationship than a pure formation competitor. Where LegalZoom has faced criticism is upselling during the formation process. The checkout flow presents multiple add-ons including registered agent, operating agreement, EIN filing, and compliance packages — each presented as important but each carrying a separate charge. The formation process that starts at $0 can quickly reach $300-500 with standard add-ons. Registered agent service at $249 per year is more expensive than Northwest Registered Agent ($125) and ZenBusiness Pro ($199). LegalZoom is the right choice for first-time founders who want the confidence of the most recognized legal brand and anticipate needing ongoing legal services beyond formation.
LegalZoom
ZenBusiness includes registered agent and compliance reminders in its paid plans at lower total cost than LegalZoom's equivalent services — better value for pure formation needs
Filing Specs
- Filing Time: 3-30 business days depending on state
- Most recognized brand in US business formation — 5+ million businesses formed since 2001
- Pathway to ongoing legal services — trademark filings, attorney consultations, and compliance through one platform
- $0 service fee formation available — pay only state filing fees for the most basic LLC setup
- Aggressive upselling during checkout — the $0 formation can easily reach $300-500 with standard add-ons
- Registered agent at $249/year is more expensive than Northwest ($125) and ZenBusiness Pro ($199)
- Customer service quality rated inconsistently — some users report delays on formation status updates
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Frequently Asked Questions
LegalZoom's service fee starts at $0, but you always pay the state filing fee to form an LLC — these range from $50 to $500 depending on your state. The $0 service fee tier includes basic LLC formation but does not include operating agreement, registered agent, or EIN filing. These are presented as add-ons during checkout, and most businesses need at least registered agent service.
Both offer LLC formation with a $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness includes a worry-free guarantee, and its Pro plan ($199/year) includes registered agent service at a lower total cost than LegalZoom's equivalent. LegalZoom has stronger brand recognition and provides ongoing legal services (trademark, attorney access) that ZenBusiness does not offer directly.
Registered agent service is available as a paid add-on at $249/year. It is not included in the $0 formation service fee. Registered agent service (a physical address in your state to receive legal correspondence) is required by law to maintain an LLC in good standing. If you do not use LegalZoom's registered agent, you must provide your own registered address.
Yes. Trademark filing is one of LegalZoom's core services alongside business formation. LegalZoom assists with trademark searches and USPTO trademark applications. Pricing varies by trademark package. For businesses concerned about brand protection, this in-house trademark service is a genuine differentiator over pure formation competitors.
Business Legal Advantage is a subscription plan providing access to attorney consultations, legal document templates, and ongoing compliance support. Plans start at $7.99/month for document templates and range to $34.99/month for attorney Q&A access and document review. It is designed for businesses that want ongoing legal support without the cost of a traditional law firm retainer.
Advertiser Disclosure: Pricing verified April 2026 from LegalZoom's official pricing page. State filing fees vary and are not included in service fee pricing.. We may receive compensation for clicks or purchases on this site.