Small Business HQ

Table Content

7 ZenBusiness Alternatives & Competitors You Need to Check Out in 2024

Word Count: words | Est. Reading Time: 62 mins

Looking for the best ZenBusiness alternatives? There are so many reasons why ZenBusiness is a great choice for new businesses looking for an online incorporation service.

In addition to its affordable plans, ZenBusiness offers many services such as bookkeeping, compliance alerts, and registered agent service that you need.

However, if you’re shopping around for LLC services that are more affordable and offer added services in their free plan, it’s time to explore ZenBusiness alternatives.

Read on to find a suitable alternative to ZenBusiness.


Start Your Business for FREE

About ZenBusiness

image2 2Image via ZenBusiness

Knowing what ZenBusiness offers is the first step to exploring its alternatives such as Incfile and Inc Authority. Here’s a closer look at the features, pros, and cons of ZenBusiness.


Start Free with ZenBusiness

What We Love About ZenBusiness

The Texas-based LLC formation services provider is one of the most well-established companies in the industry.

Here are the aspects of this company that stand out.

Affordable Plans

Most business formation services are priced at $290 to $350 per year. While ZenBusiness has three tiers of plans, it offers a Pro plan that is priced at just $199 per year.

This plan offers expedited filing in addition to Worry-Free Compliance and guided operating agreement.

The free Starter plan includes standard filing and expense tracking. ZenBusiness also offers a lot of a la carte services that are ideal for small businesses looking to add on other services as they grow.


Get Started for Free

Comprehensive Features
ZenBusiness offers all the features that new business owners need including registered agent services, accounting, banking, and business planning.

Here are the helpful list of features:

  • LLC, C-Corporation and S-Corporation formation services
  • Registered agent services
  • Worry-Free Compliance
  • EIN
  • Articles of Organization
  • Operating Agreement
  • Annual reports
  • Certificate of Publication in New York
  • Expedited filing

Smart Financial Tools

In addition to incorporation services, ZenBusiness helps you plan your finances with smart tools. For a monthly fee of $5, you can get various money management tools, including tax saving and expense tracking tools.

Here are the financial tools and services it offers:

  • Invoices and payments
  • Expense tracking
  • Tagging of tax deductions
  • Mileage tracker to save money
  • Business checking account with no minimum deposit requirement

What We Don’t Like About ZenBusiness

While ZenBusiness has one of the most affordable business formation services, it does not offer a free registered agent service.

You will need to purchase most services such as EIN, license report, and Worry-Free Compliance — some of which have one-time and recurring annual fees.

This can end up making it an expensive option for small businesses.

And so, we have compiled this list of ZenBusiness alternatives to help you find a suitable service that fits your budget.

7 ZenBusiness Alternatives and Competitors

While there are plenty of service providers out there, here are seven solid ZenBusiness alternatives, based on customer reviews and our own research.

1. Inc Authority

Inc authority 2Image via Inc Authority

There are many reasons to consider Inc Authority as one of the top ZenBusiness alternatives.

Not only do they offer 100% free LLC services, including one year of registered agent services, but they have a suite of holistic services that cater to the needs of new business owners.

Limited liability companies can get a range of services including credit coaching, funding solutions, business bank account, website design, and marketing, under one roof.

This makes Inc Authority the ideal LLC formation provider for small to medium businesses seeking the best value from their investment.

Features

  • Free limited liability company and corporation formation
  • Free registered agent services for the first year
  • Business name check
  • Free tax consultation
  • Digital document storage
  • Business funding
  • Exclusive online client portal
  • Compliance notifications
  • Bylaws and operating agreement
  • Business credit analysis
  • Domain name and email addresses
  • Employer identification number (EIN)
  • Expedited filing
  • Bank account and private banking specialist
  • Business planning

Other Services Offered

  • Trademark search, registration, and monitoring
  • Stock/ownership certificate
  • Revocable living trust
  • Marketing and website design

Where Inc Authority Excels

Unlike most ZenBusiness alternatives, Inc Authority’s incorporation services are completely free, making it one of the best LLC services for startups and small businesses.

As one of the top ZenBusiness competitors, Inc Authority has received 5-star ratings on Trustpilot for its responsive customer service to ensure the ease of LLC formation.

In addition to 7-day live customer support, they offer personalized business advice to help remove any confusion and fear linked to setting up a business.

Where Inc Authority is Lacking

Inc Authority has not listed the pricing for its Starter and Fasttrack bundles unlike other ZenBusiness alternatives.

While many services are free, users may find it difficult to understand which services need to be renewed annually and which ones need a one-time payment by visiting the website.

Price

Here are the pricing details:

  • Basic package: $0 (+ state filing fee)
  • Starter Business Bundle: Contact sales
  • Fasttrack Business Bundle: Contact sales
  • Additional Services: Contact sales

Read this review of Inc Authority to gain more insights into this service.


Choose Inc Authority’s Free Plan

2. Incfile

Incfile 2

Image via Incfile

If you’re looking for ZenBusiness alternatives that can help you set up businesses in multiple locations, Incfile is a great choice.

They even offer ‘foreign qualification’ services where they take care of all the paperwork related to doing business in ‘foreign’ states, making the LLC formation process hassle-free.

Incfile is also one of the ZenBusiness alternatives that offer free business formation services in addition to other valuable solutions such as accounting, Certificate of Good Standing, and more.

Features

  • Free LLC, Corporation, and non-profit formation
  • Free 1-year RA services
  • Filing paperwork for foreign qualification
  • Doing Business As (DBA)
  • Amendments
  • Certificate of Good Standing
  • Filing articles of amendment
  • Annual reports
  • Business name change
  • Contract templates
  • Trademark services
  • Free tax consultation
  • Business license research package
  • Employer Identification number

Other Services Offered

Where Incfile Excels

As expected from top ZenBusiness alternatives, Incfile offers free online formation services and has a transparent pricing structure so potential customers know what to expect.

Apart from LLCs and corporations, Incfile also offers tailored non-profit formation solutions such as helping get the approval for tax-exempt status.

As one of the best ZenBusiness alternatives, Incfile also offers add-on service options that are valuable to new business owners such as bookkeeping and contract templates.

Where Incfile is Lacking

Incfile does not offer multiple customer support options unlike most other ZenBusiness alternatives. Its refund policy is also not very clear.

Many users report that the customer support is not as knowledgeable as expected of the best ZenBusiness alternatives.

Also, expedited (next-day) filing services are only available in the Platinum plan.

Price

Incfile has three types of plans:

  • Silver: $0 (+ state filing fee)
  • Gold: $199 (+ state filing fee)
  • Platinum: $299 (+ state filing fee)


Start Business for Free with Incfile

3. LegalZoom

Legalzoom

Image via LegalZoom

LegalZoom helps you register your LLC, corporation, or non-profit in the US.

Plus, they offer all the services that ZenBusiness offers, such as RA, contract templates, and DBA.

Over the years, they have helped over 2 million businesses get registered.

Their expertise, as the name suggests, lies in offering legal help for all aspects of running a business. Find out how it compares with other ZenBusiness alternatives.

Features

  • Incorporation services for LLCs, non-profits, corporations, and sole proprietorships
  • Annual reports
  • RA
  • Foreign qualification
  • DBA
  • Business licenses
  • Corporate amendment
  • Tax services
  • Business dissolution
  • Business advisory plan
  • Compliance calendar
  • Corporate kit

Other Services Offered

  • Legal forms package
  • Corporate name change
  • Trademark search, monitoring, and registration
  • Copyright and patents

Where LegalZoom Excels

Unlike most ZenBusiness alternatives, LegalZoom has a network of legal experts who can guide on all aspects of forming and running your business.

Apart from extensive resources, they offer additional tools to help you get started, including legal forms and corporate supplies.

LegalZoom also offers a 60-day refund policy, clearly stated on their website’s home page.

Where LegalZoom is Lacking

While it is an established business formation services provider, LegalZoom is one of the more expensive ZenBusiness alternatives.

While they do offer a basic LLC formation package that is free, it includes limited services such as a business name check and preparation of Articles of Organization.

RA services are not free and you may need to purchase certain services, such as DBA, separately for an additional cost.

Price

Unlike most ZenBusiness alternatives, LegalZoom has different pricing tiers for each type of business structure. Only the LLC formation service offers a free plan.

LLC

  • Basic: $0 (+ state filing fee)
  • Pro: $249 (+ state filing fee)
  • Premium: $299 (+ state filing fee)

Corporation

  • Economy: $149 (+ state filing fee)
  • Standard: $329 (+ state filing fee)
  • Express Gold: $349 (+ state filing fee)

Non-profit

  • Economy: $99 (+ state filing fee)
  • Standard: $239 (+ state filing fee)
  • Express Gold: $359 (+ state filing fee)

Here’s a detailed blog post comparing Inc Authority and LegalZoom.


Form Business with ZenBusiness

4. Tailor Brands

Tailor brands 1

Image via Tailor Brands

Tailor Brands has helped over 30 million entrepreneurs form their businesses since its inception.

But what makes Tailor Brands one of the top ZenBusiness alternatives?

As a one-stop-shop, they offer LLC formation services in addition to other tools and features such as branding, logo maker, website design, and more.

The automated platform has helped power over 50 million designs and is known for its user-friendly interface.

Features

  • LLC formation services
  • Annual compliance
  • Operating agreement
  • Expedited processing
  • Trademark application
  • 12 contracts and agreements
  • EIN
  • Registered agent
  • Logo maker
  • Free website domain for 1 year
  • Website builder

Other Services Offered

  • Business Mailbox
  • Branded merchandise
  • Social media post creator
  • Business cards tool

Where Tailor Brands Excels

Tailor Brands is one of the suitable ZenBusiness alternatives for those looking for expert assistance with business branding.

The AI-powered tools it offers help you create logos, business cards, and other graphics with ease while a website design expert can create a custom website.

When it comes to LLC formation, Tailor Brands does offer a range of services that you would expect from ZenBusiness alternatives.

Where Tailor Brands is Lacking

Unlike most ZenBusiness alternatives, Tailor Brands does not offer free LLC service or comprehensive company formation services.

The pricing is not mentioned on the website. Users can only find out the final cost on the checkout page.

Price

While pricing information is not provided, Tailor Brands mentions that its plans for LLC formation range from $199 to $300.


Launch Your Business for FREE

5. Rocket Lawyer

Rocket lawyer 1

Image via Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer is an online legal services company that provides legal documents, advice, and LLC formation services.

While it may come across as a legal services company, it offers pretty much everything that a business would need to get started and operate, right from formation to trademark.

The online incorporation service handles the paperwork while helping you register your business and reserve the business name.

Features

  • Corporation, non-profit, and LLC formation services
  • Registered agent service
  • Filing documents and forms
  • DBA
  • Articles of amendment
  • Business dissolution
  • Operating agreement
  • Trademark search and filing
  • Tax preparation

Other Services Offered

  • E-signature
  • Form builder
  • Legal services including attorney consultation

Where Rocket Lawyer Excels

Rocket Lawyer is definitely one of the most affordable ZenBusiness alternatives thanks to its low-cost yearly subscription plan.

A key feature is the direct contact businesses have with legal experts in addition to extensive legal document templates and forms.

Business owners can get all their business documents and contracts reviewed by an attorney to ensure accuracy and peace of mind.

Where Rocket Lawyer is Lacking

Unlike ZenBusiness alternatives such as Incfile and Inc Authority, Rocket Lawyer does not offer free services such as tax planning or registered agent.

While there is a discount on these services, they have to be purchased as add-ons to the basic LLC formation service.

Price

Rocket Lawyer has two types of plans:

  • Monthly: $39.99 per month (+ state filing fee)
  • Annual: $239.99 per year (+ state filing fee)


Choose ZenBusiness for Free

6. Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest registered agent 1

Image via Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent ticks all the boxes when it comes to the features and services you would expect from the best ZenBusiness alternatives.

While it offers services such as filing Articles of Organization, trademark application, annual report filing, EIN, and more, it is particularly known for its tailored registered agent services.

Businesses in Utah can also benefit from their ‘law on call’ service that gives instant access to licensed legal experts. Plus, there are no hidden fees involved in their plans.

Features

  • Corporation, non-profit, and LLC formation
  • Registered agent services including national registered agent, BOC-3 process agent, and local document scanning
  • Corporate and legal forms
  • Annual compliance reminders
  • Articles of organization
  • Trademark application
  • EIN
  • Foreign registration
  • Certificate of Good Standing

Other Services Offered

  • Virtual office and mail forwarding
  • Business formation for non-US residents
  • Corporate seal and book
  • Law on call

Where Northwest Registered Agent Excels

Northwest Registered Agent is one of the best ZenBusiness alternatives because it offers registered agent services with a difference.

In addition to giving you the option to appoint individual and bulk registered agents, the registered agent services also include scanning of documents, real-time notifications, and corporate guide service.

They have a commitment to protecting your data while their pricing is transparent. In addition, they provide precise turnaround time for LLC formation and other processes.

Where Northwest Registered Agent is Lacking

Northwest Registered Agent’s services are costlier when compared to other ZenBusiness alternatives such as Incfile and Inc Authority.

This is because Northwest Registered Agent charges additional fees for most services including EIN, trademark, and application filing.

Also, there is no free package nor is there a free trial.

Price

Here’s the list of the pricing for different services:

  • Business formation + Registered Agent: $225 (+ state filing fee)
  • Foreign Qualification + Registered Agent: $225 (+ state filing fee)
  • Registered Agent: $125 per year
  • Trademark services: $249 (+ USPTO filing fees)
  • EIN:
  • For US residents: $50
  • Non-US residents: $200
  • EIN + incorporation + Registered Agent + business forms: $275 (+ state filing fee)


Get Free Business Formation Services

7. Corporate Creations

corporate creations

Image via Corporate Creations

With decades of experience in the field, Corporate Creations offers a wide range of services including incorporation, registered agent, and more to companies of all sizes.

Why is it one of the top ZenBusiness alternatives?

Well, in addition to the staples that most ZenBusiness alternatives offer, Corporate Creations has other tailored services such as Beacon Entity Management that helps businesses manage vital documents and functions online.

Features

  • Business name search and name reservation
  • RA services
  • Incorporation
  • Filing paperwork related to amendments, qualifications, dissolutions and mergers
  • DBA
  • Certificate of Good Standing
  • Business license filing
  • Corporate seal
  • Annual reports

Other Services Offered

  • Beacon Entity Management
  • Assistance with sales tax and payroll
  • Apostille and legalization

Where Corporate Creations Excels

Corporate Creations offers a lot of services designed to streamline their clients’ work processes and LLC formation.

The company leverages technology such as the GEMS platform to help businesses manage their documents and compliance.

There is also a digital system that helps you take your business online to manage litigation and other vital functions.

Where Corporate Creations is Lacking

Unlike popular ZenBusiness alternatives such as Incfile and Inc Authority, Corporate Creations does not have many reviews.

The pricing information is not mentioned on the website nor does the company offer a free business incorporation package.

Price

Contact sales


Start Your Business for FREE

FAQ

Q1. Is it worth using ZenBusiness?

A. Absolutely! ZenBusiness offers a complete suite of services including LLC/corporation formation, business credit card, invoicing, and Worry-Free Compliance.

They also offer a free formation package in addition to having a policy of 60-day refunds.

However, ZenBusiness does not include many services in the free package. You may have to purchase services such as Worry-Free Compliance, registered agent, EIN, and operating agreement separately.

If you are looking for comprehensive legal assistance or other business services such as one-on-one credit coaching, you might want to explore ZenBusiness alternatives such as Inc Authority or Incfile.

Q2. Is ZenBusiness a good registered agent?

A. ZenBusiness charges $199 per year for registered agent services and their services are known to be reliable.

However, you may need to consider ZenBusiness alternatives such as Northwest Registered Agent if you need nationwide registered agent or free change of agents.

Q3. Is ZenBusiness a good website to get your LLC?

A. Yes. ZenBusiness is a great website to get your LLC, as it offers an all-in-one package for businesses.

The best part is that the ZenBusiness website has a chatbot that guides you through the process of setting up your LLC.

Explore the other ZenBusiness alternatives we have listed here to compare the features.

Q4. Is ZenBusiness a subscription?

A. ZenBusiness has three types of plans that need to be renewed annually if you want to continue to avail their services. The starter plan is free of cost while the pro plan is priced at $199 and the premium plan costs $299 per year.

Q5. ZenBusiness vs. LegalZoom: Which is better?

A. Both ZenBusiness and LegalZoom are reputable incorporation service providers. The one you choose really depends on the type of business you are setting up and what your needs are.

LegalZoom is a great option for those who need more detailed legal advice and help with forming LLCs or Corporations. However, the cost of these services is higher compared to what ZenBusiness offers.

ZenBusiness provides services such as invoice, expense tracking, and Worry-Free Compliance but at a lower cost, and their streamlined process allows for quicker set-up.


Start Free with ZenBusiness

Top ZenBusiness Alternatives: The Final Verdict

We hope this article has been helpful in showing you some of the top ZenBusiness alternatives in 2024.

Each of these solutions offers its own unique set of features, so it is important to take the time to compare them and consider which one best suits your business needs.

You can also try the features with a free trial (many ZenBusiness alternatives offer a 60-day refund) to find the right solution for your business.

Choosing the best ZenBusiness alternative will help ensure that you can stay competitive and succeed in an ever-changing marketplace.


Start Your Business for Free

Disclaimer: This content contains affiliate links, which means we’ll earn a commission when you click on them (at no additional cost to you).
Brett Shapiro

Brett Shapiro

Brett is an entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in establishing and running successful businesses. Over the course of good career he has established over 10 successful businesses and SBHQ is his latest project. With SBHQ he aims to provide all the useful resources a small business owner may need to create a successful business.

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.

OTHER POSTS

POPULAR POSTS

Do you need help?

Our marketing experts and proven strategies can improve your:

Do you need help?

Our marketing experts and proven strategies can improve your: