ZenBusiness Review 2024
Looking for the best LLC service in 2024? We used ZenBusiness to form an LLC (limited liability company), and explored the platform’s features.
In our ZenBusiness review, we go over its pros, cons, pricing, and more. Read on to determine if it's the right formation service for you.
Recommended: Check out our list of the best LLC services.
Is ZenBusiness Right For You?
Based out of Texas, ZenBusiness is a platform dedicated to helping entrepreneurs launch, maintain, and grow their businesses. It was founded in 2015 by a team of entrepreneurs who experienced the barriers that others continue to face today; ZenBusiness simplifies and accelerates the small business formation process for aspiring founders.
We used ZenBusiness to form an LLC ourselves and analyzed the platform’s features. Overall, we determined that although it is a decent choice for LLC formation, there are other options on the market that offer a large number of features at a more affordable price.
Need a little more information on ZenBusiness? Here’s a list of its main pros and cons:
PROS
- Worry-free compliance free first year (Auto-renewal price: $199/yr)
- Free expense tracking and tax deduction tagging
- Lifetime support by phone or chat
- Thousands of excellent customer reviews
- 100% accuracy guarantee
CONS
- If you're looking for more personalized, premium customer support, there are better options out there
- You’ll have to pay extra for other essential features such as an EIN and registered agent service
Still having trouble making a decision? Continue reading for a more in-depth review!
Our Approach
For our ZenBusiness LLC review, we kept the following questions in mind:
- Is it a good deal?
- Is there a better deal for business formation services?
- Who uses the platform and how did they review their experience?
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ZenBusiness Pricing & Features
Similar to other business formation services, ZenBusiness offers multiple LLC plans: Starter, Pro, and Premium. We break down and review the differences between each pricing plan below.
ZenBusiness Starter: $0* + State Fees
The Starter package offers basic LLC services, beginning at just $0* plus state fees. Competitors charge $25 to $100 more to form your LLC.
Features:
- Filing Articles of Organization
- Unlimited name availability searches
- Customer support through phone and email
- Online dashboard to access to important documents and paperwork for your limited liability company
- Free accounting consultation
- Free automatic expense tracking
- Free tax deduction tagging
- Worry-free compliance free first year (Auto-renewal price: $199/yr): Includes annual report service (state fees may apply), two free filing changes per year (excludes state fee if applicable), and insurance on document filings to maintain good standing if documents are not submitted on time.
Who should purchase ZenBusiness Starter?
Competing service providers charge hundreds of dollars extra for these LLC services and benefits. Starter will appeal to customers who want an affordable way to file their LLCs and receive annual report service. This package is all you need if you don't mind putting in a little time for other necessities like registering for an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
ZenBusiness Pro: $199 + State Fees
Pro includes all the services in the Starter package and some additional business formation features.
Features:
- Custom operating agreement template
- Filing speed (1 - 2 business days) - business formation documents completed and posted on dashboard within a week
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Who should purchase ZenBusiness Pro?
The Pro package is ideal for new business owners who are interested in the necessary services to get their business up and running.
ZenBusiness Premium: $349 + State Fees
Premium covers all of the business formation services listed above and some additional ones
Features:
- Rush Filing Speed - documents completed and posted within a few days (normally $100)
- Online tools (business domain name, email, business website)
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Business Document Templates
Who should purchase ZenBusiness Premium?
The Premium LLC formation package is great for a stress-free experience. ZenBusiness will handle a lot of the details needed to run a business so you don’t have to and instead can focus on growing your business. It's also an excellent choice if you're looking for a business domain name and business website to boost your brand.
ZenBusiness Alternatives & Competitors
One of the best ZenBusiness alternatives is Northwest Registered Agent. Northwest offers affordable LLC packages starting at $29, as well as extremely knowledgeable customer support and premium registered agent service.
If you’re looking for legal services beyond company formation, we recommend checking out Rocket Lawyer.
If you're seeking powerful brand-building tools in addition to LLC formation, we recommend Tailor Brands.
LegalZoom is another competitor that holds more brand power; however, if you're looking for more affordable, high-quality LLC and registered agent services, we recommend ZenBusiness. For a more in-depth comparison, check out our ZenBusiness vs LegalZoom review.
For more alternatives, you can also visit our review of the best LLC services.
Need more details? Read on for a more in-depth breakdown and review of our research on ZenBusiness LLC services.
ZenBusiness Customer Reviews
A plethora of positive ZenBusiness reviews from small business owners and entrepreneurs can be found online. Here are some ZenBusiness LLC reviews (from Trustpilot) by customers who used the company's formation services to help launch their businesses:
“I am extremely happy with the service. They are reasonably priced and professional and really make things easy for you to form an LLC . They also offer a variety of services. They completed my order much quicker than I had planned. I really think if you are starting a business, there is no better way to go! I will be using their services again!”
"Zen was extremely easy to use. I must admit, I was skeptical because the price was so low, but I was able to ask questions online via chat and was answered immediately. The process was extremely easy and fast. I definitely recommend Zen Business to anyone!"
“I thought this was too good to be true, but it was completely legit. I was very pleased with how quick and easy ZenBusiness made the process of becoming an LLC. They offer plenty of helpful add-on options that you can pay for, but they don't push them on you. It's also nice that everything is conveniently in a dashboard on their site for me. When I want to get an EIN or make amendments or anything, I can do it super easily from their site. Definitely would recommend.”
"Setting up my LLC was so simple. I didn't need to go crazy trying to understand lots of legal jargon as their online portal streamlined the whole process. I was up and running in under a week with everything that I needed to start my business."
Best LLC Formation Services
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
LegalZoom ($0 + State Fees)
ZenBusiness ($0 + State Fees)
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)
Bizee ($0 + State Fees)
Swyft Filings ($0 + State Fees)
Rocket Lawyer ($99 + State Fees)
ZenBusiness Review Ratings
We further reviewed what you should keep in mind before choosing ZenBusiness. We’ve separated these points into four topics which are outlined below.
Cost Value - 4.3/5
ZenBusiness offers carefully created LLC packages with small business owners in mind. In addition, they provide other helpful products (e.g., business website, custom operating agreement template, annual report service, etc.) that take into account businesses of all sizes.
However, there are more affordable options for basic LLC formation services, such as our top-rated, Northwest Registered Agent.
Customer Service - 4.9/5
ZenBusiness's friendly staff is quick to offer state-specific guidance that’s simple and clear to understand. Additionally, in ZenBusiness reviews online, entrepreneurs rave about the quality customer support during the business formation process. This is especially useful if you’re a new business owner.
If you really value expert, knowledgeable customer service, competitors such as Northwest Registered Agent also excels in this area. Their experienced Corporate Guides offer personalized support and help throughout the business journey.
Ease of Use - 3.9/5
Our main complaint with ZenBusiness is the user experience when it comes to the checkout process. The service uses a chatbot to guide customers through the LLC formation journey. While this may seem innovative, this type of checkout process takes longer than simply filling out a few pages of information, due to all the messages sent by the chatbot.
For instance, Northwest’s quick checkout process involves filling out a few pages of information and choosing which LLC features you’d like added on. The details are all there for you to see; you don’t have to wait for a chatbot to send you more information on features and pricing.
Included Features - 4.9/5
ZenBusiness offers a Worry Free Compliance Guarantee, which is a great option for busy entrepreneurs. This guarantee includes the following:
- Annual filing report alerts
- Documents submitted on your behalf (you will only be responsible for state filing fees).
- Two free changes to your filings per year (state filing fees may still apply).
- Covers the costs required to regain good standing if your company should miss a deadline or state requirement.
Business website, business email address, and domain privacy are add-on features that are included in the Premium package. These are great services that can help your business so your clients can easily contact you, gain visibility, and protect your private information.
One of the downsides is that the platform does not include free registered agent services for a year like some competitors.
Learn how to cost-effectively start your LLC on our How to Save Money Forming Your LLC page.
Summary
All things considered, ZenBusiness is a good choice for those who:
- Want premium-level LLC service, registered agent service, and customer support.
- Want ongoing alerts and reminders about upcoming filing deadlines.
- Enjoy the benefit of an annual filing and submittal through a worry-free compliance guarantee.
- Value companies who believe in paying it forward.
FAQ
You can learn everything about starting an LLC — and form one on your own — by following the steps outlined in our comprehensive state-based guides!
Yes, it is a good service for small businesses! However, there are other LLC formation companies that offer additional features at a more affordable price, such as Northwest Registered Agent.
No, it is not free; however, no service is actually free when you take into account the state filing fees.
It is worth it if you are looking for a convenient formation service. They aren't the cheapest option, but they also aren't the most expensive one.
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Written By
The TRUiC Team
TRUiC’s team of researchers, writers, and editors dedicate hours to ensure howtostartanllc.com’s articles are accessible and actionable for both established and aspiring entrepreneurs. The team is made up of experts on a variety of topics from company formation to business growth. They consistently optimize the website’s content to ensure that all of the information is accurate and up-to-date.
