ZenBusiness Review for 2026
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ZenBusiness may not be run by Buddhist monks, but its stress-free business-formation service is as calming as 30 minutes of meditation and a cup of green tea. If you’re looking to form a company, hand your worries to ZenBusiness and relax. You’re in good hands.
1-day processing is included in Pro and Premium
Fortunly Rating
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Strengths
- Low prices
- Business operation services
- Great customer care
- Easy-to-use platform
- Wide variety of additional services available
- Reliable service
- Altruistic company values
Weaknesses
- Fees for faster turnaround
- Premium is relatively expensive if you mainly need basic formation
ZenBusiness Overview
It takes four main statements to put ZenBusiness into focus.
First, although ZenBusiness can help you set up any kind of corporation, the focus is on limited liability companies, which account for about 90% of ZenBusiness’s business. That focus is why ZenBusiness has gained a reputation as a leading online LLC and business formation service.
Second, the company is exploring ways to capitalize on its relationship with clients to provide ongoing business-management services, to continue working together after your business is incorporated. That strategy is now clearly visible in the company’s compliance tools, registered agent service, templates, web tools, and other post-formation add-ons.
Third, ZenBusiness has fine-tuned its formula of great customer care, affordable prices, and ease of use. The company was founded in 2015 by Ross Buhrdorf and Shanaz Hemmati and says it has helped more than 850,000 customers.
Finally, ZenBusiness is a socially conscious company. It is incorporated as a public benefit corporation according to Texas law, and it makes regular contributions to Kiva.org, a nonprofit that lends money to small businesses owned by women and minorities. ZenBusiness plans to continue making a profit, but it also intends to help make the world a better place.
Available Plans
Zen Business offers three LLC-formation packages: Starter, Pro, and Premium. Although the packages are designed with small businesses in mind, larger companies shouldn’t disregard them. One of the ZenBusiness packages might offer everything you expect from a corporate legal team that’s helping you set up a subsidiary – at a much lower cost.
Starter is a one-time formation package, while Pro and Premium renew annually because they include ongoing services.
Starter Package
With an eye-catching price of just $0 + state fees, the Starter package blows the competition away. This package may be the market’s most affordable LLC service. The package is perfect for entrepreneurs who want access to critical business formation services without exhausting the budget. This package represents exceptional value. Here’s what you get:
Preparation and filing of formation documents. Government paperwork is intimidating, and it’s easy to miss a requirement in the fine print. That’s why companies like ZenBusiness exist. They specialize in preparing and filing startup paperwork. They know what information is needed and what documents must be submitted.
Name availability search. Before filing your business formation documents, ZenBusiness will check to see if the name you’ve chosen for your new company is available. If not, Zen will contact you so you can come up with a replacement.
Online document access. Once the company reviews your paperwork and sends your application to the secretary of state, you can monitor your order’s status on a personalized online dashboard. Later, you will be able to use the dashboard for viewing and printing documents as well as requesting new services.
Free CPA assessment. All pricing plans include a free accounting and tax assessment by a certified public accountant who makes recommendations and provides helpful information.
Registered agent services. Every incorporated business in America is required to have a registered agent to receive official documents on the company’s behalf. Zen’s annual fee for a registered agent service is $199 per year. This is easily amongst the most generous offers available today.
Operating agreement/corporate bylaws. An operating agreement lays out an LLC’s structure and sets rules for how it will operate. Corporate bylaws perform the same function for corporations. ZenBusiness helps you create these important documents, with a standalone price of $99.
Worry-free compliance. Starter includes an optional discounted first year of Worry-Free Compliance, and it renews at $199/year if you keep it.
Pro Package
Priced at $199 annually (plus state filing fees, of course), Zen’s Pro package includes everything in the Starter package plus several useful additional services. The Pro package is an affordable LLC formation option for entrepreneurs who’d like to set up their businesses faster and prefer a little more than the basic coverage.
The additional services are:
Worry-free guarantee. This feature was one of the first to catch our eye when comparing the company's formation packages. Zen’s Worry-Free Compliance includes annual report filing plus up to two amendments per year, compliance alerts, and tools that help you stay on top of deadlines.
If you miss a deadline, ZenBusiness’s support team will assist you in redeeming yourself to the state. Zen will even pay late fees and penalties if necessary. That stronger money-back and penalty protection is now tied more closely to Advanced Compliance Protection than to standard Worry-Free Compliance.
Employer ID number. You can view your EIN as a Social Security number for your business. And ZenBusiness will file all necessary paperwork for you.
Rush filing speed. The company offers quick paperwork turnaround. Pro includes 1-day processing.
Pro also includes an operating agreement template, a logo builder, and access to the 30-day Web Tools Bundle trial.
Premium Package
The Premium package focuses on the online side of operating your business.
Today, it also leans heavily on compliance coverage, registered agent service, and support extras.
Developing an online presence is a costly endeavor, which accounts for this package’s price: $399 plus state fees, renewing at $399 per year.
The high price means that the Premium package might not be everyone’s first choice, but considering the services you get – including faster business formation services and the online kit – we recommend it.
Premium includes registered agent service, Advanced Compliance Protection, business document templates, a business advisor consultation, and a 60-day trial of ZenBusiness Money Pro.
Customer Service
The company's customer service agents are available through chat and phone from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Central time, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time, and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time. You can also send them an email. ZenBusiness lists [email protected] as a support contact.
Even if Zen’s services were only average, the customer support team would make it one of the best we’ve seen in this industry. Team members are knowledgeable and quick to respond, no matter the nature of your question.
Ease of Use
Setting up your business is fast and easy. Once you select your business type and state, the page reloads to show your overall price and services. It’s the same with any add-on options you click on. After you’ve compiled your package, simply fill out the necessary information about your business and you’re done.
ZenBusiness also highlights a personalized dashboard, live support, and ongoing compliance tools as part of the user experience.
Turnaround Time
The system ZenBusiness has in place is simple: The more you pay, the greater the odds of opening your business in a few days instead of a few weeks. The company examines your order and prioritizes it based on your chosen package. Of course, all turnaround times are affected by how quickly the state reviews and approves your documents.
Extra Services and Features
Worry-Free Compliance
If you already have a business and are finding it difficult to stay compliant with the state paperwork requirements, you can purchase the Worry-Free Compliance feature as a stand-alone service and have ZenBusiness deal with it. It’s $199 per year.
Registered Agent
ZenBusiness’s registered agent offer is $199 per year. If you don’t want to get it as part of a company-formation package, you can subscribe to the service separately for $199 per year.
EIN Service
Another feature that you can obtain individually through ZenBusiness is your employer ID number. Zen will file the necessary paperwork and acquire your EIN for $99. EIN service is included in Pro and Premium plans.
New York Certificate of Publication
New York is one of the few states that require a Certificate of Publication from new LLCs – a regulation left over from times when newspapers were the only way of informing the public of new companies.
The process involves a lot of hassle that even some of the leading LLC services don’t want to deal with, which is one reason ZenBusiness is our favorite. For $200 plus publication fees, Zen will take on the attorneys, newspapers, county clerk, and the Department of State for you.
Our Verdict
The great thing about ZenBusiness is that even though the prices are low, the services are top-notch. Every one of them has a purpose – the packages aren’t padded with a lot of fluff to give you the illusion of abundance. It’s refreshing.
If you’re in the market for an affordable LLC formation service, you won’t go wrong with ZenBusiness.