In the short time ZenBusiness has existed, it has secured a position as one of the best LLC formation services available.
It has formed thousands of businesses and garnered many positive reviews over the years.
In this ZenBusiness review, we'll discuss what the company brings to the table - its key features, pricing, pros and cons, ease of use, and more.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our comparisons and recommendations. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
Highlighted below are some interesting features of the ZenBusiness service.
- Domain name privacy: ZenBusiness protects its clients' business entity by including a domain name privacy.
- New York publication service: ZenBusiness can help its clients with this service if it's one of the requirements to create an LLC.
- Inexpensive: It’s one of the cheapest LLC formation services available but maintains high quality.
Table of Contents
ZenBusiness overview
ZenBusiness was established in 2015 and has quickly grown in popularity. The company is considered one of the best LLC services in the industry, and it's notable for its inexpensive pricing.
It offers clients services through an automated system that includes everything the customer needs, fast and affordable services, and expert support.
Some of the essential services and products that can be purchased from ZenBusiness are registered agent services, annual report filing, operating agreements, and a worry-free compliance guarantee.
Key features
ZenBusiness offers its clients incredible features, some of which are highlighted below.
Registered Agent services
Surprisingly, ZenBusiness offers this service - most inexpensive LLC formation services do not add it to their LLC formation packages.
Even the company's smallest package includes a registered agent service.
It covers all correspondence with the secretary of state and other agencies to ensure the privacy of its clients' documents at all times.
Also, the company receives essential documents on behalf of clients, scans them, and uploads them to the online portal so they can access them anywhere.
LLC formation service
an LLC formation service is the core business that ZenBusiness offers. Once a client selects a filing package and add-on services that suits their businesses' needs, ZenBusiness's team proceeds to file the documents with the state.
Confirming the customer's business with the state could take a few days or weeks. The process above depends on the filing speed the client wants and the internal processes and formation backlog of the state.
ZenBusiness delivers all the clients' business documents in their personalized dashboard. Also, it keeps its customers' business compliant with the state's requirements by offering ongoing services.
Worry-free compliance guarantee
ZenBusiness includes a ‘worry-free guarantee’ in its pro and premium package. The worry-free service sends ZenBusiness clients alerts related to their annual report filing so they can meet deadlines of compliance requirements.
Meeting compliance requirements deadlines and filing annual reports helps the customer's company keep a clean record with the state.
The interesting part is that if ZenBusiness makes an error, it will also assist its clients in covering the costs required to ensure their businesses maintains good standing. Think of it as a form of cheap insurance.
Annual reports
This service goes well with the worry-free compliance service. Annual reports are one of the state government's requirements. The annual reports ascertain that the firms comply with state laws.
Failure to file a yearly report for your company could lead to revoking the business license or steep fines. ZenBusiness helps its clients file an annual report promptly and expertly. It'll make it easy for the entrepreneurs to remain in good standing with the state's government.
DBA name registration
A client may decide to operate under a different name. For such clients, they will be using a DBA ( doing business as) name.
ZenBusiness helps its clients with their DBA name registration while complying with the guidelines and particular requirements of the clients' formation state.
Pricing
Starter package
The starter package offers its clients a free registered agent service for a year and a template for creating an operating agreement. The package also includes other services like name availability search, organization filing, and worry-free assessment preparation.
The company charges $39 annually plus the state fee for the package (the price is usually set at $49, but there's an exclusive discount).
Pro package
The pro package offers everything in the starter package, including a banking resolution, worry-free guarantee, and a federal tax ID number (EIN). The company charges $149 annually plus the state fee for this package.
Premium package
The premium package offers everything in the pro package, plus domain name registration, domain name privacy, business email address, business website, and rush filing speed. It charges $249 per year for this package plus the state fee.
Add-on services
EIN (Employer’s identification number)
Obtaining an EIN is essential when forming an LLC. It helps in the registration of a business entity, opening a business bank account, getting a business loan, etc.
ZenBusiness pro and premium packages provide clients with an EIN. You can also get an EIN by paying a one-off fee of $75.It files the necessary paperwork with the IRS, receives the EIN on your behalf, and delivers the EIN through the online portal it maintains.
Banking resolution
The ZenBusiness pro plan provides its clients with a banking resolution template. A banking resolution template is an important document used for authorizing someone in your company to open a business bank account and also provide a signature.
It also stands as a piece of official evidence that only an authorized person acts for your company. With the service, clients have a proven banking resolution that’ll get the job done. to open a business bank account efficiently and promptly. The company charges $30 for the service.
Domain name registration
Nearly every company is striving to build an online presence. Creating a website for your company helps with that end goal.
ZenBusiness can assist its clients' secure a domain name as part of one of the formation packages. You can also get it as an add-on for $25/year.
Certificate of good standing
The certificate of good standing proves that the client's LLC business complies with all the laws and requirements relevant in the state. The formation state issues this certificate to businesses that are duly registered. ZenBusiness charges $75 plus the state fee to help you go through the process of applying for the certificate.
Customer support
ZenBusiness provides its clients with real-time online customer support from 8 am - 8 pm on Mondays to Fridays and some Saturdays from 10 am - 7 pm.
The team is dedicated to helping its clients address preparation and filing concerns, and their professionalism is top-notch. It provides customer service to its clients by email, phone, or webchat. Its representatives give prompt and accurate information as they have in-depth knowledge about its services.
Ease of use
ZenBusiness site is relatively easy to use. It takes a few minutes to type in your details in the ZenBusiness formation service order form.
You only need to provide basic information about your business, and ZenBusiness will handle the rest. The filing is easy, and the process is fast.
ZenBusiness has a personalized online dashboard. It becomes a central location for the clients' documents and speeds up your ability to access documents.
Pros and cons of ZenBusiness
Pros
- Excellent customer support
- Registered agent services inclusion
- ZenBusiness is one of the most affordable LLC services around; its pricing starts at $39
- Provides its clients with a free operating agreement
- It offers domain name registration to its clients
- ZenBusiness offers a worry-free guarantee for clients
- It has many add-on services available
- There is a fast and simplified online application process
Cons
- ZenBusiness does not have a seal option.
- Its pricing is annual instead of one-off
Alternatives to the service
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent is considered to have some of the best customer support in the industry. The company was established in 1998, and within its 23 years of establishment, it has helped a considerable number of entrepreneurs start a company.
Northwest Registered Agent offers two core services which are LLC formation and registered agent services. There are also multiple add-on services such as certificate of good standing, mail forwarding, etc. You can read the full review here.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is the most popular incorporation service in the industry. The company has helped over a million business owners start up a company. Over the years, it has gathered many reviews, and the majority of them are positive.
LegalZoom is especially appropriate for clients with legal processes and compliance filing that they want to complete quickly. You can read the full review here.
Incfile
Incfile provides a user-friendly service to its clients - the company is one of the most complete LLC formation service providers available. One of the most attractive features of Incfile is forming a business for its clients for free (excluding the state fee).
Incfile includes a year of registered agent services in all of its packages. And it has amassed many reviews from its clients, and the majority are positive.
ZenBusiness review conclusion
Forming an LLC can be a tedious task for entrepreneurs. However, ZenBusiness can make the whole process much easier. The company provides its clients with all the essential services that are needed to start a business.
These services include registered agent service, an EIN, an operating agreement, a compliance guarantee, and outstanding customer support.
For entrepreneurs who want to incorporate their businesses but are cash-strapped, ZenBusiness is a suitable fit. Its packages are affordable, and they offer incredible value.
ZenBusiness's upside far outweighs its downsides. Its website is relatively easy to use, and its customer support team demonstrates top-notch professionalism - they're prompt and responsive. Any way you look at it, the service is a great choice.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does ZenBusiness assist its clients with ongoing compliance requirements?
ZenBusiness offers its clients registered agent services in all its packages to help them receive essential paperwork from government agencies. The company also has a worry-free guarantee feature that enables its clients to receive an alert for the annual LLC filing reports and compliance requirements' deadlines. It also provides customers with two amendments yearly.
What is the ZenBusiness refund policy?
ZenBusiness’s refund policy is a bit complicated, and the company explicitly states that:
"once ZenBusiness has submitted your business for filing with the state, under no circumstances can you chargeback or dispute the fees associated with forming your business."
However, suppose the clients contact ZenBusiness before submitting their business to the state for filing. ZenBusiness may refund the client's money. But the refund will be $50 less for a cancellation fee, that's if some requirements are met.
Is ZenBusiness a legit company?
ZenBusiness has been around since 2015, though this is relatively new compared to some of its competitors that have been in existence for a long time. However, within the few years of its founding, it has formed thousands of businesses. Its customer feedback is also one of its biggest strengths and a pointer to the business's legitimacy.
The company has over 4 000 online reviews, and it maintains a 4.8 out of the 5-star rating.