ZenBusiness Review 2023: Features, Pros And Cons
ZenBusiness has a wide range of tools for new businesses for filing, compliance, finance and marketing. Their affordable pricing helps new business owners access the tools they need to make their LLC or corporation legitimate.
ZenBusiness Pros and Cons
ZenBusiness offers business formation services and a slate of other tools for small business owners to get started. Review the following pros and cons for ZenBusiness to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.
Pros
- Affordable business formation service (just pay state filing fees)
- Great customer service
- Comprehensive tools for new business owners
- Good reputation with customers
Cons
- Website builder could be more robust
- Registered Agent service only as an add-on
How ZenBusiness Works
ZenBusiness has tools to assist business owners from initial launch to running and growing their company. Their comprehensive set of business formation tools includes a filing service to help owners with LLC filing. They have additional services like a business web building tool, logo design and accounting services to help run and scale businesses once they’re officially formed.
ZenBusiness Services
There is a wide range of services offered by ZenBusiness to help business owners launch and navigate the first year of operations. Here are some of the most useful services offered by ZenBusiness.
Name Availability Search
ZenBusiness offers a free LLC name search service. This helps you check to see if the name you want for your business is available, or is already in use by a registered business.
Business Formation Service
If you want to know how to start an LLC, you can use ZenBusiness to form your business and make it official. They have options to help you form an LLC, S-Corp or C-Corp. The ZenBusiness team handles the filing of all official documents with the Secretary of State’s office and prepares the Articles of Incorporation for the new business.
Registered Agent Services
Both new and existing businesses can appoint ZenBusiness as their registered agent. ZenBusiness will handle all correspondence between your business and the state in a timely and confidential manner.
Articles of Organization
ZenBusiness will create and file your Articles of Organization with the appropriate Secretary of State’s office. Their team will make sure that your business has met all the requirements to legally form and operate as an LLC.
Online Document Access
You can easily access vital formation documents such as Doing Business As (DBA), Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization from your online ZenBusiness dashboard if you are using their registered agent services.
Business Operation Services
There are additional tools available through ZenBusiness to help launch and run a business aside from their formation services. They help owners access the tools they need to operate and grow their operations, including these services:
- Business domain name registration
- Domain name privacy
- Business email addresses
- Business website creation
- Business banking
- Online payment processing
- Tax consultation services
ZenBusiness Pricing and Plans
| Starter: $0 + state fees | Pro: $199/yr + state fees | Premium: $349/yr + state fees |
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Starter Package
The ZenBusiness Starter plan is free, and you’ll only need to pay for the state filing fees where you’re forming your business. This plan includes basic business formation services, with ZenBusiness filing all necessary LLC formation documents on your behalf to make your business official.
ZenBusiness will walk you through online forms to provide them with the information they need to file, and they offer a 100% accuracy guarantee. This plan includes a standard filing speed of two to three weeks. So, if you’re on a quicker timeline and need your formation done faster than what this plan offers, you may need to price up to the Pro plan.
If you choose to have ZenBusiness as your registered agent, you will need to pay an extra $199 per year. But, this means they will receive all legal documents your business receives and forward you any legal notices. There is also a free 30-minute tax consultation included in all plans, including the Starter package.
Pro Package
The next-tier package from ZenBusiness is the Pro package, which costs $199 per year, plus any state filing fees where you’re starting your business. This plan includes all the features of the Starter plan, with additional features and perks.
One of the biggest advantages of the Pro package is that it includes ZenBusiness’s fastest filing speed, which is about one to five business days. If you need to do a rush filing, this is the plan you’ll need. An additional feature that is included in the Pro package is the Employer ID Number (EIN) that every LLC will need to operate and open a business bank account.
Businesses using the Pro package from ZenBusiness can also take advantage of the operating agreement template, which would otherwise be an add-on feature for those with the Standard package. A chatbot walks users through the template, helping them outline the key structure and ownership of their business.
Premium Package
The highest-tier plan available from ZenBusiness is the Premium package at $349 per year. This plan has all the features of the other two formation packages, including the filing speed of the Pro plan.
The additional features of the Premium package include access to the ZenBusiness business document templates library, which was created by legal experts. This is where you’ll find helpful customizable templates for documents your business may need like liability waivers, contracts, proposals, employment agreements and others.
Aside from the formation and compliance features of the Premium package, users with this plan will also get a business domain, a business website and a business email address. For the lower tiers, these are available only as add-ons.
Add-Ons
There are a number of different add-on services available through ZenBusiness aside from the three plans listed above. Depending on the formation plan you selected and the additional needs of your business, you can still take advantage of the wide variety of services offered by ZenBusiness. Here are some of their most popular add-ons:
| Add-On Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Registered Agent Service | $199/yr |
| Operating Agreement | $99 one-time fee |
| Worry-Free Compliance | $199/yr |
| Business Documents Template Library | $99 one-time fee |
| Certificate of Good Standing | $100 one-time fee |
| Domain Name Registration | $25/yr |
| Business Email Address | $25/yr |
| Business Website | $129/yr |
| Business Banking | $5/mo |
ZenBusiness Customer Service and Support
One bonus is that ZenBusiness offers a 60-day money-back guarantee if customers wish to cancel a subscription or add-on service. They also make it easy for existing and interested users to get in touch with their support team, which is available via chat, phone or email.
Email support is available at any time and a ZenBusiness representative will respond to your inquiry within one business day. Chat support is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Central Time or Sunday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Central Time. Phone support is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. or Sunday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Central Time.
ZenBusiness Support Contact Information
There are a few ways to contact the ZenBusiness support team through your preferred channel. This is how you can reach them:
- Contact Email: sales@zenbusiness.com
- Contact Phone Number: 1-844-493-6249
- Chat on ZenBusiness website
Compare ZenBusiness Alternatives
There are more options for online business formation services aside from ZenBusiness. It’s important to consider what’s available, so take a look at how ZenBusiness stacks up against other service providers.
| | ZenBusiness | Incfile | LegalZoom | Swyft Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $0 + state filing fee | $0 + state filing fee | $0 + state filing fees | $0 + state filing fees |
| Turnaround Time | About 2-3 weeks | Varies by state | About 5-10 business days | 10 days |
| Registered Agent | $199/year | Free for 1 year when forming a business through Incfile, $119/year afterward | $249/year | $199/year |
| Operating Agreement | Included in Pro and Premium plans, $99 one-time fee as an add-on | Included in Gold and Premium packages | Included in Pro and Premium packages | $35 one-time fee |
| EIN Application | Included in Pro and Premium plans, $99 one-time fee as an add-on | Included in Gold and Premium packages, $70 one-time fee as an add-on | Included in Pro and Premium packages | $79 one-time fee |
ZenBusiness vs. Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings is another service provider offering business formation support to new business owners. Both ZenBusiness and Swyft Filings are quite similar on LLC formation pricing and turnaround times. However, Swyft Filing’s add-on services like their operating agreement template or EIN application are priced lower than ZenBusiness.
One of the main differences between the two is that Swyft Filings can help users set up a nonprofit organization, while this is not a service that ZenBusiness offers. However, ZenBusiness has more services supporting money management, including a free tax consultation included with each package and add-on services like business banking.
ZenBusiness vs. Incfile
ZenBusiness and Incfile are both popular choices for business formation services. They have similar pricing on formation plans. Incfile offers one year of free registered agent services for a year for users who form their business through the site, but this is only available as an add-on through ZenBusiness.
Another key difference between the two is that ZenBusiness offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on its services and plans. Incfile typically charges a $30 cancellation fee and may only be able to provide refunds within 24 hours after the order was placed.
ZenBusiness vs. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is another popular provider for LLC formation, in addition to the wide range of legal services they offer. ZenBusiness offers more affordable business formation plans and registered agent services.
But, if you have more advanced needs, you may like the added legal services that LegalZoom offers. LegalZoom offers year-round business advisory services from their team of experienced attorneys, which are not available through ZenBusiness.
Who Is ZenBusiness Best For?
ZenBusiness is best for anyone who needs help with launching a business. They offer one of the most affordable and best LLC formation services, with packages starting at $0 plus state filing fees. The formation process is easy with ZenBusiness, as they guide users through simple prompts and forms to gather the necessary information to file the proper paperwork.
The company’s refund policy is also a plus and not a feature you’ll find with most other business services providers. Their additional services and tools for winning more customers and managing money can help entrepreneurs get their new businesses off the ground. Overall, the added convenience of being able to access all of these tools from one platform is a big draw for ZenBusiness.
Frequently Asked Questions About ZenBusiness
Is ZenBusiness good for LLC services?
ZenBusiness is a good and reputable provider of LLC formation services. They have earned great customer reviews, and their affordable pricing and 100% accuracy guarantee give startups and new business owners peace of mind while forming their LLCs.
Is ZenBusiness a good registered agent?
ZenBusiness has a good registered agent service, though this is only available as an add-on and not included in any of their packages. As your registered agent, ZenBusiness will receive all legal documents on your behalf and ensure any legal notices are handled promptly and confidentially.
How much does ZenBusiness cost?
ZenBusiness services for LLC formation start at $0 plus state filing. You may face additional yearly or one-time fees to access other ZenBusiness add-ons and higher-tier packages.
How long does ZenBusiness take?
Turnaround times for forming an LLC with ZenBusiness will depend on which package you select. The Standard plan includes a standard filing speed of about two to three weeks. The Pro and Premium plans both include the fastest filing speed, which is about one to five business days. Be aware that filing times can vary state by state.
Do I have to renew my ZenBusiness plan annually?
The Pro and Premium plans will renew automatically each year. The Starter plan is just a one-time service for business formation and will not renew annually.
What is worry-free annual compliance?
Worry-Free Compliance through ZenBusiness is an add-on service they provide that assists business owners with meeting ongoing compliance requirements. This compliance service includes filing an annual report and amendment filings to help businesses stay compliant with state filing requirements.
What is the difference between an LLC and a corporation?
The main difference between an LLC and a corporation is in how they’re structured. An LLC is owned by one or more members, while a corporation is owned by shareholders.
What kind of tax flexibility does an LLC provide?
Businesses that form as LLCs have some flexibility when it comes to how they are taxed. Owners can choose if they want the LLC to be taxed as a pass-through entity, like a partnership or sole proprietorship, or if they want it to be taxed as a corporation like a C-corp or S-corp.
How do I cancel my ZenBusiness account?
You can cancel your ZenBusiness account by contacting their support team via phone or email during business hours Monday through Friday. There are no fees or penalties for canceling.
