When launching a business, is it really possible to get everything — from formation services to logo design — in one seamless platform? Enter ...
ZenBusiness vs BizFilings Comparison
Written by: Carolyn Young
Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on August 31, 2022
Business entity formation is a crucial element of launching a business, and because it’s often complex and tedious, many entrepreneurs hire a professional to do the job right. These business formation services also offer additional services that can be helpful to a new business owner.
Two of the leading online services to consider are ZenBusiness and BizFilings. And to help you determine which is best and which might be best for you and your business, we have thoroughly reviewed their services by putting ourselves in the shoes of an entrepreneur. Read on to make the choice that will put your business on the highway to success.
Services Overview
Our Verdict
After a thorough assessment, we have determined that ZenBusiness offers better value. By choosing ZenBusiness instead of BizFilings, you will save some money and likely receive higher quality customer service and equally fast turnaround times. While both services have excellent offerings, we prefer the quality and reliability of ZenBusiness.
ZenBusiness offers a better overall value, has better customer support, and a great industry reputation. Therefore, it’s our recommendation over BizFilings business formation service.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Competitively-priced packages offer good value ($0 business formation plan)
- Great and helpful customer support
- Positive customer reviews
- Quick and easy purchase process
- Company is socially responsible and active
Cons
- Registered agent service not included in the plans (available as an add-on)
- Cancellation can be a lengthy process
- Some information is difficult to find on the website
Pros
- Quick and easy purchase process
- Additional resources for entrepreneurs
- Positive customer reviews
- Quick and easy purchase process
- Over 20 years of experience and an A+ rating with the BBB
- Good customer support
- Part of Wolters Kluwer company, a global leader in expert solutions
Cons
- No free business formation plan; slightly expensive services compared to competitors
- Some customers had issues cancelling recurring services
- Lack of online customer reviews
Plans and Pricing – Winner: ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
Renowned for some of the most affordable rates in the industry, ZenBusiness offers a free LLC formation package — Starter plan.
For those desiring more comprehensive features, the $199 Pro package offers continuous compliance support, an EIN, an operating agreement, and rush processing.
Additionally, the $349 Premium plan includes rush processing service, a business website package, and a domain name.
Please note that none of these plans include state filing fees, which vary from state to state.
BizFilings
BizFilings pricing begins at $99 for the Basic package, which includes three months of registered agent service (priced at $220/year thereafter). However, their pricing leans towards the higher end compared to other service providers, and the Standard and Complete packages, which vary in cost depending on the state, often fail to offer enough beneficial features to warrant their prices.
Experience – It’s a tie between the two
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness, established in 2015, has created more than 500,000 businesses. Despite being nearly 20 years newer than BizFilings, they’ve managed to form approximately the same number of businesses.
BizFilings
BizFilings has managed more than 500,000 business formations since its inception in 1996.
Customer Support – Winner: ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
The customer support team at ZenBusiness is accessible via phone, email, or our online chat portal, and they’re available even on Sundays.
BizFilings
BizFilings offers support through phone, email, and an online chat feature on their website. However, the online chat doesn’t operate over the weekends. We promptly received professional and comprehensive responses via both phone and email. During workdays, we were able to get immediate answers to our questions from the online chat representative.
Turnaround Times – Winner: ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
At ZenBusiness, formation speeds are state-dependent. For urgent requests, two top-tier packages offer rush service. Compared to other formation services, ZenBusiness matches or slightly exceeds their speed.
BizFilings
BizFilings’ processing times are contingent on the selected service level. Their most affordable package offers a 4–6 week turnaround, but their pricier plans can reduce this to 7–10 days. An additional $60 can expedite processing for the Basic plan, but it does not hasten state processes.
Customer Reviews – Winner: ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness shines in customer feedback, with over 12,000 online reviews on Trustpilot alone, most of which are positive. Clients often praise their services for being efficient and easy to use.
BizFilings
In comparison to ZenBusiness, there were very few BizFilings reviews available online – less than 30 were found on third-party review platforms. Analyzing such a limited dataset is not significant, so all we can comment on is that it’s peculiar for a company that has executed over 500,000 business filings to have so few online reviews.
Ease of Use – Winner: BizFilings
ZenBusiness
Purchasing a business formation service from ZenBusiness is a breeze. You begin by choosing the desired incorporation package, then provide basic personal and business information, and select any additional features. It’s a simplified process designed to avoid any confusion.
BizFilings
BizFilings’ incorporation wizard is a useful tool for deciding between forming an LLC or a corporation. The application process presents upselling opportunities, but they are subtly integrated and not overly aggressive. An order number is automatically assigned to your application for easy reference during customer support interactions.
Additional Services – Winner: ZenBusiness
Regardless of your choice between ZenBusiness and BizFilings, a broad array of supplementary business services will be available to you. These include but are not limited to registered agent service, acquiring an EIN, filing annual reports, and providing certificates of good standing. They even facilitate publication services in states where it’s required.
Nevertheless, each company does offer unique services. BizFilings alone can assist with sales tax registrations, whereas ZenBusiness uniquely provides accounting and bookkeeping services.
FAQs
Using a business formation service to start your LLC frees you up to focus on growing your business. These services handle the filing process for you and offer additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner.
When assessing whether or not a business formation service is right for you, it’s important to dive into the following four categories: included features, customer service, pricing, and turnaround time.
To learn more about the customer experience at a particular business formation service, check out the reviews and ratings on the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot websites.
Most of the BizFilings plans and services are a good value. Their site is easy to use, and they offer a great customer service experience. They don’t offer as many services as some competitors, but if you’re just looking for a business formation service, they are a good option. However, we’ve also reviewed ZenBusiness and feel that they offer a better overall value.
ZenBusiness vs BizFilings Comparison
- Services Overview
- Our Verdict
- Pros and Cons
- Plans and Pricing – Winner: ZenBusiness
- Experience – It’s a tie between the two
- Customer Support – Winner: ZenBusiness
- Turnaround Times – Winner: ZenBusiness
- Customer Reviews – Winner: ZenBusiness
- Ease of Use – Winner: BizFilings
- Additional Services – Winner: ZenBusiness
- FAQs
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