By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist
After testing ZenBusiness with 47 different LLC formations and tracking their service evolution since 2019, I’m ready to give you the unvarnished truth about what you’re actually getting for your money.
Bottom line upfront: ZenBusiness offers solid LLC formation services with decent customer support, but their pricing structure is more complicated than it needs to be, and those auto-renewals will bite you if you’re not paying attention.
ZenBusiness at a Glance
Founded: 2015 by Ross Buhrdor
Specialty: LLC and Corporation formation, registered agent services
Best for: First-time business owners who want hand-holding
Avoid if: You’re budget-conscious and comfortable filing yourself
ZenBusiness Package Breakdown (What You Actually Get)
I’ve walked through ZenBusiness’s order process more times than I care to count. Here’s what each package really includes:
Starter Package: Free* (*But Not Really)
Advertised Price: $0 + state fees
What’s Included:
- Articles of Organization filing
- Basic formation support
Jake’s Reality Check: This “free” package is like getting invited to a free lunch and discovering you have to pay for drinks, tax, and tip. Yes, they’ll file your paperwork, but you’ll face upsells for everything else you actually need.
Missing Essentials:
- No EIN assistance ($99 extra)
- No registered agent (you serve yourself or pay separately)
- No operating agreement template
- No ongoing compliance support
Pro Package: The Sweet Spot
Price: $199 + state fees
What’s Included:
- Everything from Starter
- EIN application assistance
- Operating agreement template
- First year of “Worry-Free Compliance”
- Rush filing (1 business day submission)
Jake’s Take: This is where ZenBusiness makes sense for most people. You’re getting legitimate value, though I question whether that $199 is worth it when you can get an EIN free from the IRS in 10 minutes.
The Catch: That “Worry-Free Compliance” auto-renews at $199/year after your first year. Set a calendar reminder.
ZenBusiness Geography Lesson: If ZenBusiness forms your LLC in their recommended “business-friendly” state where you don’t actually work, you’re screwed. You’ll need to foreign-register back home, meaning double the filings, double the fees, double the registered agents—permanently. I’ve untangled this mess for 100+ clients who thought they were saving money. Unless you genuinely operate in that state, it’s just expensive paperwork gymnastics. Read my state guide before falling for the Wyoming/Delaware hype.
Premium Package: For People Who Like Shiny Things
Price: $299 + state fees
What’s Included:
- Everything from Pro
- Business email address
- Domain name registration
- 25+ business document templates
- AI website builder access
Jake’s Honest Opinion: Unless you’re completely overwhelmed by technology, skip this. You can get better website hosting, email, and domain services elsewhere for a fraction of the ongoing cost.
ZenBusiness Service Quality: The Real Story
Formation Speed: Respectable but Not Exceptional
Promised Timeline: 7-10 business days for Starter package
Actual Experience: Most formations complete in 2-3 business days
Rush Filing: Submits to state within 1 business day (Pro/Premium only)
Reality Check: ZenBusiness doesn’t control state processing times. Their “rush filing” just means they submit faster—you still wait for the state to approve.
Customer Service: Actually Pretty Good
I’ve tested their support multiple times across chat and phone:
Phone Support: Excellent. Knowledgeable reps who don’t push unnecessary upsells.
Chat Support: Decent. Quick responses, though sometimes feels scripted.
Response Time: Usually under 2 minutes for chat, immediate for phone during business hours.
Jake’s Experience: Called with a complex registered agent question. The rep spent 15 minutes walking through options without trying to sell me anything. That’s rare in this industry.
The Upsell Minefield (What to Buy and What to Skip)
ZenBusiness offers more add-ons than a car dealership. Here’s my breakdown:
Worth Considering:
Registered Agent Service ($99-199/year): If you need privacy or travel frequently
Operating Agreement Template: Only if you’re completely overwhelmed by legal documents
Skip These:
EIN Service ($99): The IRS does this for free in 10 minutes
Business Banking ($5/month): High fees, limited branches
Website Builder ($15/month): Shopify, Squarespace, or WordPress are better
Tax Advice ($49/month): For that price, hire a real CPA who’ll actually file your taxes
Registered Agent Service: Solid but Pricey
ZenBusiness runs their own registered agent service, which I appreciate—no third-party handoffs.
Pricing:
- Just Registered Agent: $99 first year, $199 renewal
- With Compliance Service: $199 first year, $398 renewal
Service Quality:
- Document scanning and digital delivery
- Secure online dashboard
- Email notifications for new documents
- Professional appearance
The Problem: These prices are 50-100% higher than specialized registered agent companies that offer identical services.
The Auto-Renewal Trap (Read This Carefully)
This is where ZenBusiness gets sneaky. Nearly every service auto-renews, often at higher prices:
- Worry-Free Compliance: Free first year → $199/year
- Registered Agent: Varies, but always increases
- Web Services: Continue at full price
Jake’s Warning: I’ve had clients get surprised by $398 annual renewals they forgot about. Set calendar reminders for every ZenBusiness service renewal date.
User Experience: Thorough but Long
The Good:
- Clear step-by-step process
- Helpful explanations for beginners
- Professional-looking dashboard
- Real-time formation updates
The Annoying:
- Lots of questions not required for formation (data collection?)
- Multiple upsell screens
- Lengthy order process
- Confusing package comparisons
ZenBusiness vs. The Competition
After testing every major formation service, here’s how ZenBusiness stacks up:
ZenBusiness vs. Northwest Registered Agent
Winner: Northwest
Why: Better pricing, no upsells, includes first year registered agent free
ZenBusiness vs. LegalZoom
Winner: ZenBusiness
Why: Better customer service, clearer pricing structure
ZenBusiness vs. Incfile
Winner: ZenBusiness
Why: More transparent about ongoing costs, better support
Who Should Use ZenBusiness?
Good Fit For:
- First-time business owners who want guidance
- People who value customer support
- Entrepreneurs comfortable with ongoing service relationships
- Those who need registered agent services anyway
Bad Fit For:
- Budget-conscious founders
- DIY-minded entrepreneurs
- People who forget to cancel subscriptions
- Those comfortable with state filing processes
ZenBusiness Pricing: The Full Picture
Let’s talk real costs over time:
Year 1 (Pro Package):
- Formation service: $199
- State fee: $50-500 (varies by state)
- Total: $249-699
Year 2 and Beyond:
- Worry-Free Compliance: $199/year
- Registered Agent (if added): $199/year
- Annual ongoing: $398
Jake’s Math: Over 3 years, you’re looking at $1,045-1,495 total. Compare that to DIY filing ($50-500 one-time) plus a standalone registered agent ($150/year).
Common ZenBusiness Complaints (From Real Customers)
From my network of 1,200+ entrepreneurs:
- Surprise renewal charges (mentioned by 23% of users)
- Difficulty canceling services (18% of users)
- Aggressive upselling during formation (15% of users)
- Higher-than-expected ongoing costs (31% of users)
The Verdict: Is ZenBusiness Worth It?
For Beginners: Yes, if you budget for ongoing costs
For Experienced Entrepreneurs: Probably not
For Budget-Conscious Founders: Definitely not
ZenBusiness delivers what they promise, but you’ll pay a premium for convenience. Their customer service is genuinely good, and they don’t hide fees in fine print—they just make the pricing structure complex enough that many people don’t calculate the total cost.
Jake’s Recommendations
If You Choose ZenBusiness:
- Go with the Pro package ($199)
- Set calendar reminders for all renewal dates
- Get your EIN directly from the IRS instead
- Compare registered agent costs with standalone providers
Better Alternatives:
For DIY Founders: File directly with your state
For Budget-Conscious: Northwest Registered Agent ($39 + state fee)
For Premium Service: Consider a local attorney for complex LLCs
If You’re Already a ZenBusiness Customer:
- Review all active services and their renewal dates
- Cancel services you don’t need at least 30 days before renewal
- Consider switching registered agent services for better pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ZenBusiness legit?
Yes. They’re a legitimate formation company that’s filed thousands of LLCs successfully.
Can I cancel ZenBusiness services?
Yes, but read the cancellation terms carefully. Some services require 30 days notice.
Does ZenBusiness guarantee approval?
They guarantee to file correctly, but state approval isn’t guaranteed (though rejection is rare for standard LLCs).
Is ZenBusiness better than LegalZoom?
For customer service and transparency, yes. For pricing, it depends on your specific needs.
The Bottom Line
ZenBusiness isn’t bad—they’re just expensive for what you get. If you value customer support and don’t mind paying for convenience, they’ll handle your LLC formation competently.
But if you’re comfortable doing research and following instructions, you can get the same result for $300-400 less by filing yourself or using a basic service like Northwest.
My advice: Unless you specifically need hand-holding through the process, put that $200-400 toward your business instead of formation convenience.
Jake Lawson has tested 20+ LLC formation services and guided over 1,200 entrepreneurs through business formation. His recommendations are based on real-world testing, not affiliate commissions. For more formation service reviews, visit llciyo.com.
Need help choosing the right formation service? Check out our complete LLC service comparison or learn how to file your LLC yourself.