Welcome to our ZenBusiness review. ZenBusiness is a top choice for business formation services in the U.S. It helps entrepreneurs with LLC incorporation and state filing needs. Business owners can manage their legal tasks online, focusing on value and speed.
We reviewed 15 LLC service providers. We looked at 28 criteria in five areas and got 435 data points. ZenBusiness is known for its low cost, starting at $0 plus state fees for LLC registration.
It also offers great customer support and a wide range of services. This makes ZenBusiness a top pick for entrepreneurs needing online legal service. Let’s explore why ZenBusiness is a great choice for starting and running a business.
Introduction to ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is a top choice for entrepreneurs starting a business online. It helps with forming LLCs and corporations. This makes legal tasks like state compliance and filing easier.
ZenBusiness aims to help entrepreneurs succeed. It takes care of legal documents and filings. This lets business owners focus on growing their companies.
ZenBusiness offers different plans to meet various needs. The Starter Plan is free, except for state fees. The Pro Plan costs $199 a year and includes a 100% accuracy guarantee.
The Premium Plan is $349 a year. It includes a domain, website, email, and hosting. This way, businesses can choose the right services for their budget.
ZenBusiness also helps with keeping businesses compliant and offers legal help. Their services ensure businesses stay on track. With ZenBusiness, entrepreneurs have a trusted partner for their business.
How ZenBusiness Works
ZenBusiness makes starting a business easy. It offers different plans to fit your needs and budget. You can start an LLC for $0, except for state fees.
As your business grows, ZenBusiness has more plans. These include state filings, alerts, and support. It helps with legal and financial needs, making it a one-stop shop.
ZenBusiness uses advanced tech to speed up the process. The time to form a company varies by state. But ZenBusiness works fast to get you started.
It’s a Public Benefit Corporation that helps entrepreneurs. It offers LLCs, Corporations, and more. Plus, it helps with documents and privacy.
The platform is easy to use and offers great support. It has tools for payments and bookkeeping. It also helps keep your business in good standing.
ZenBusiness is flexible, available online or through an app. The Starter package takes 7-10 days. But Pro and Premium are faster, in just 1 day. It also offers a free year of compliance for the Starter package.
ZenBusiness has clear prices and a simple refund policy. It makes starting a business affordable and worry-free. You can trust ZenBusiness to support your business.
Features of ZenBusiness Services
ZenBusiness is known for its wide range of services for both new and old businesses. They offer LLC services and help form corporations at good prices. Their services are easy to use.
ZenBusiness has three plans: Starter, Pro, and Premium. The Starter Plan costs $0 for the first year, plus state fees. It also comes with a free year of Worry-Free Compliance service.
The Pro Plan is $199 a year. It lets you form a business fast, in 4 to 6 days. It also includes EIN registration and more.
The Premium Plan is the fastest, at $349 a year. It files your business in 1 to 2 days. It also gives you a custom website with cool features.
ZenBusiness has a great Worry-Free Compliance service. It helps with annual reports, business changes, and reminds you of important deadlines. This keeps your business in line with state rules easily.
ZenBusiness also offers extra help like registered agent services for $199. You can get rush filing for $79, EIN registration for $99, and an operating agreement for $99. Their Money Pro tool is $30 a month for managing your finances.
ZenBusiness also helps with your online presence. The Premium Plan includes a domain name and a business email with 5GB storage. This is key for success online.
ZenBusiness is known for being easy to use and affordable. It has a 4.8-star rating on TrustPilot with over 16,000 reviews. They offer support by phone, email, and live chat, showing they care about their customers.
Pricing Plans and Options
ZenBusiness offers different pricing plans for various business needs and budgets. The pricing is divided into three main tiers:
- Starter Plan: This plan costs $0 a year plus state fees. It includes basic business formation services at a low price.
- Pro Plan: Priced at $199 a year plus state fees, the Pro Plan offers fast service. It also includes an operating agreement template and ensures compliance with a 100% guarantee.
- Premium Plan: For $349 a year plus state fees, the Premium Plan has all Pro Plan features. It also includes a business website, domain name with privacy, and a business email address.
ZenBusiness also lets businesses customize their packages with extra features. This way, they can control their costs and only pay for what they need.
Some extra features include expedited processing, which costs between $49 and $99 per order. It makes the formation process fast, sometimes in just one day. Registered agent services, costing $119 a year, provide a physical address for official mail.
ZenBusiness is known for its clear pricing and no hidden fees. This makes it easy for businesses to plan their budgets without surprises.
Pros of ZenBusiness
Choosing a service for business formation can be tough. But, ZenBusiness stands out with its many benefits. These reasons make them a top choice in the industry.
ZenBusiness makes starting a business easy. They offer many advantages for entrepreneurs. Let’s explore what makes them great:
- ZenBusiness offers a free LLC name search service. This helps ensure your name is unique.
- The Starter Plan is just $0 plus state fees. It includes a compliance report and a year of Registered Agent service. This is a great deal.
- The Pro Plan costs $199/year plus state fees. It offers fast filing, an EIN, and an operating agreement template. These are top-notch features.
- The Premium Plan is $349/year. It adds rush filing, domain reservation, a business website, and email. It’s perfect for growing businesses.
- ZenBusiness also has add-ons like Registered Agent Service for $199/year. They also have a Business Documents Template Library for $99. This ensures they support all your business needs.
ZenBusiness is also known for being customer-focused. They offer a 60-day money-back guarantee. You can get help via email, phone, or chat. They file documents quickly, often in two days or less. They also offer fast services for urgent needs.
ZenBusiness offers many benefits. Their affordable prices and great service plans make them a great choice for starting a business.
Cons of ZenBusiness
While ZenBusiness offers many services, there are downsides to consider. Knowing these can help you make a better choice.
- Higher Costs for Ancillary Services: ZenBusiness might not be the cheapest for extra services like domain registration. The Premium plan costs $349 a year. It includes a website, domain, and email, which can be expensive for basic needs.
- Recurring Fees for Worry-Free Compliance: The worry-free compliance feature is great, but it costs $199 a year after the first year. This can be a big drawback when looking at long-term costs.
- Costly Registered Agent Service: ZenBusiness charges $199 a year for its registered agent service. Some rivals offer it for free the first year. This makes ZenBusiness pricey for new businesses with small budgets.
- Expensive EIN Registration: Getting an Employer Identification Number (EIN) costs $99 if you buy it separately. It’s included in the Pro and Premium plans for $199 and $349 a year. But buying it alone is much more expensive than getting it from the IRS for free.
- Operating Agreement Costs: ZenBusiness charges $125 for an operating agreement template. This is a key document for LLCs. The price is much higher than some competitors, adding to the cost of starting a business.
ZenBusiness has helped over 400,000 entrepreneurs since 2015. But, it’s important to consider these downsides. By knowing these, you can make a choice that fits your needs and budget.
ZenBusiness vs. Competitors
When we compare ZenBusiness with other LLC services, we see LegalZoom, Northwest Registered Agent, and Bizee. Each has its own strengths. This makes it important to compare them to make a good choice.
LegalZoom is famous for more than just forming LLCs. They start at $0 plus state fees for an LLC. For more, their legal plan is $259 for six months or $469 for a year. This plan lets you talk to a lawyer anytime.
LegalZoom also has a registered agent service for $249 a year. But ZenBusiness starts at $199. ZenBusiness is cheaper and has a higher Trustpilot rating (4.7 out of 5 stars) than LegalZoom (4.5 stars from about 3,000 reviews).
Northwest Registered Agent is known for being affordable. They offer an LLC service for $39, a big discount. This includes a free year of registered agent services and more.
They also let you use their address on LLC papers for privacy. Northwest is faster, has better support, and clear prices compared to ZenBusiness.
Bizee has a $0 basic plan for LLCs and registered agent services for a year. They are cheap and easy to use. Bizee also helps find business licenses, a big plus.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Users love ZenBusiness, giving it a 4.8-star rating on TrustPilot from over 16,000 reviews. They praise its honesty and great support. People say it’s affordable and helpful.
But, not everyone is happy. Some complain about extra costs, like the $199 yearly fee for a registered agent. This has led to mixed feelings about the service. Yet, ZenBusiness tries hard to fix problems, answering 94% of negative reviews.
Customers love the easy-to-use dashboard and quick service in Pro and Premium packages. They also like tools like Money Pro and help with licenses. These extras make people happy with ZenBusiness.
Some people don’t like being sold more services or getting too many emails. But, most find the benefits worth it. ZenBusiness is known for its wide range of services and good support.
ZenBusiness Services for LLC Formation
ZenBusiness makes starting a business easy with LLC formation services. LLCs mix the benefits of being a sole owner or partner with a corporation’s perks. They protect personal assets, offer flexible taxes, and are easier to manage than traditional corporations.
Starting with ZenBusiness LLC registration is simple in six steps:
- Choose a unique and legal LLC name.
- Find a registered agent for legal documents and state notices.
- File the Articles of Organization to register the LLC with the state.
- Make an operating agreement for the LLC’s management and rules.
- Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
- Pay state and federal filing fees.
ZenBusiness helps with business structure setup by preparing important documents. They make sure all state rules are followed. They also help with name reservations and DBA registrations.
ZenBusiness also offers a “worry-free” compliance service. This helps keep the LLC in good standing with the state. It includes annual report filings and updates. This lets business owners focus on growing their business.
Compliance Services Offered
ZenBusiness offers a wide range of compliance services. They help businesses meet state rules and file legal documents on time. This includes help with annual reports, filing changes, and getting certificates of good standing.
They send alerts about important dates and state rules. This helps businesses avoid legal problems and fines for not following rules.
The company guides business owners through legal filings. They also keep an eye on state rules. With ZenBusiness, clients get easier processes and expert advice. This makes it less work to stay compliant.
Businesses get help to keep their good standing with the state. This is great for small businesses. It helps them deal with complex state rules and file legal documents on time.
ZenBusiness is known for its focus on customers. They use technology and offer personal support. From the start to ongoing operations, their compliance services are key. They help businesses grow and innovate without worrying about legal issues.
Additional Services Provided by ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is great at helping with LLCs and keeping them in line. They also have many other services for entrepreneurs. Their suite includes useful add-ons and support.
One key feature is the “Get customers” section. It has:
- Over 25 templates for contracts, service agreements, waivers, and more.
- A business website builder that helps attract customers.
- A domain name with privacy protection for $35 extra each year.
- Business email addresses for a professional look.
The “Manage finances” part helps with money matters. It offers:
- Money Pro bookkeeping to save on taxes and manage payments.
- Tax prep and filing, plus unlimited tax advice.
ZenBusiness also has great support options. The “Guidance and support” section includes:
- Premium Support for extra help.
- Customer service available by chat, phone, or email, even when you’re busy.
These services aim to make your experience smooth, from starting your business to managing it. Whether you need a domain, web hosting, or help with money, ZenBusiness has you covered. They save you time and might even cut costs.
ZenBusiness Services for Corporations
ZenBusiness offers detailed corporate formation services for businesses. They help with setting up a new business or changing an old one. Their process is thorough and designed to meet your needs.
ZenBusiness makes setting up a corporation easy. They handle all the legal paperwork. This includes articles of incorporation, bylaws, and more.
- ZenBusiness corporate formation services offer a 100% accuracy guarantee in standard filings.
- Over 25 templates for contracts, service agreements, and waivers are included to assist with legal documentation for corporations.
- Regulatory compliance is managed effectively, ensuring that your corporation meets all necessary legal requirements.
- Registered agent services are provided, ensuring your corporation maintains good standing with mandatory state filings.
ZenBusiness has great prices and fast service. The Starter package is $0 plus state fees. It comes with one free year of Worry-Free Compliance. After that, it’s $199 a year.
The Starter package takes 7-10 business days. But, Pro and Premium packages are faster, taking just 1 day.
ZenBusiness also offers Premium Support for extra help. You can get business email, domain name, and banking services too. Prices range from $5/month to $49/month.
With more businesses starting up, ZenBusiness is a big help. In September 2022, over 425,741 new business applications were filed. This shows the need for quick and reliable business setup services.
Choosing ZenBusiness for your corporate needs makes setting up your business easy. You can then focus on growing your business without stress.
How to Get Started with ZenBusiness
Starting a business is easy with ZenBusiness. Their platform makes the process simple. First, pick a plan that fits your goals and budget.
Setting up with ZenBusiness starts with a quick check on your business name. You can choose from several plans:
- The Starter Package – This plan takes 7-10 business days to file your LLC. It’s free for a year, then $199 a year.
- The Premium Package – This plan files your LLC in 1 business day. It also includes a website builder. It’s free for the first year, then fees apply.
After picking a plan, you’ll file important documents. These include the Articles of Organization and more, based on your state’s rules.
ZenBusiness makes sure you meet all filing needs. They check your LLC name, agent, and where you operate. They also follow federal and state trademark rules. Your LLC is finalized with a signature.
ZenBusiness offers great customer support. You can reach them by chat, phone, or email. The Premium package also gives you help with new products and services. Plus, you get business banking, tax prep, and more.
ZenBusiness makes starting a business easy. Their support and resources are top-notch for new entrepreneurs.
ZenBusiness Customer Support
ZenBusiness support is known for being available and helpful. Entrepreneurs can get help any day of the week, even on Sundays. This makes it a great resource for those starting or running a business.
They offer help during long hours, which is great for urgent needs. This is especially useful when you have to meet important deadlines.
ZenBusiness is known for quick and helpful answers. They help with everything from starting your business to keeping it running smoothly. Their team knows a lot about starting a business and helps you stay on track.
They also work hard to build strong relationships with their customers. Good support makes customers happy and loyal. They are more likely to come back and tell others about their good experience.
By being great at customer service, ZenBusiness helps small businesses grow. They make sure customers are happy and keep coming back. This is key for small businesses to succeed.
