LegalZoom Vs. Incfile (now Bizee): 2024 Comparison (2024)

When looking at any comparison of Bizee vs. LegalZoom, it’s important to take a closer look at how they stack up, side by side. Bizee can be easier to get started since you may not have to pay more than the state filing fees and the service offers a free registered agent for a year if you end up paying. LegalZoom charges an additional $249 per year for registered agent services but offers a lower initial fee of $60 for all services and you can pay for legal advice. The right option will depend on what you’re looking for.

Bizee vs. LegalZoom [Side-by-Side Comparison]

Both Bizee and LegalZoom can get the job done when it comes to registering your LLC business and taking the complication out of the process. It is the extras that you’re paying for that you need to pay close attention to make sure you’re getting what you need.

Bizee, for example, advertises a free service to register your business (as any business type) but that only includes the filing of the articles of organization, a name search and free registered agent service for a year. LegalZoom, on the other hand, includes a bit more for its free package. You will get the filing of all your entity paperwork, a digital welcome packet that includes a step-by-step checklist for you and a customizable website.

LegalZoom isn’t offering much more, other than a website, and you will need to pay for your registered agent. LegalZoom’s customer service team is also available more hours than Bizee and customer reviews point to them being more helpful overall. If you want to form a business type other than an LLC you will pay a fee with LegalZoom.

Business Formation Services

Now, let’s take a look at a more detailed comparison of the business formation services of Bizee vs. LegalZoom. Both offer the ability to register your LLC, corporation, nonprofit or doing-business-as (DBA) through a simple online process. However, there are some important differences between the two options that could cause you to lean one way or another for your unique situation.

Bizee

Bizee claims to have helped register more than 1 million businesses over the past 20 years. One of the best things about Bizee is its offer to register your business without any additional cost beyond the state filing fees that you would have to pay if you did the work on your own, plus a free registered agent. The company makes its money through premium services and not the registration itself. It is notable that all business formation services are free with Bizee, whether you are starting an LLC, corporation or DBA.

Bizee does make you go through the process of providing business and personal information as well as asking you what services you want before giving you a final price, however. While it advertises no hidden fees, this does create a few hoops to make sure that what you’re getting won’t cost more than you’re expecting.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom is more upfront about exactly what it is offering and what it costs. While an LLC doesn’t cost any additional fee beyond the state filing fees, there are fees for corporations ($149 plus state fees), nonprofits ($99 plus state fees) and DBAs ($99 plus state fees). However, you do get some additional services, if you need those services. For example, you can get legal advice for an added fee through the service, and registered agent services cost an additional $249 per year.

The overall customer support is offered for business formation services for longer times than Bizee’s Monday through Friday support, with LegalZoom offering support on the weekend while Bizee does not. If you’re looking for better support hours, then LegalZoom has more options for you in that regard.

Cost

While registering a simple limited liability company (LLC) is straightforward and free with either company, there are some differences in what premium services they offer and what those cost. Basic Plans

The basic plan for each only includes the base LLC business registration. For Bizee, this involves registering any type of business. You’ll just pay state filing fees. You do not get any advanced features but the company does throw in a full year of registered agent services for the business you register.

For LegalZoom, the basic plan only involves registering an LLC business, and along with Bizee, you will only pay state filing fees. It includes a digital checklist and a customizable website. The registered agent service is not included with this plan and costs an additional $249 per year for any business type. The plan for both service options includes a filing binder.

Advanced Plans

Bizee does not provide an advanced plan, just premium plans. For LegalZoom, the second-tier plan costs $249 and includes an operating agreement, EIN, a guide to business licenses and phone consultations about insurance and taxes. The top tier costs $299 and includes all of the second-tier features plus a one-day processing time.

Add-Ons

Bizee offers premium plan features that you can add on to your filing. You can include an EIN registration for $70 or additional years of registered agent services beyond your first free year. It also offers premium features such as annual report filings, foreign qualifications, certificates of good standing, business license research and even tax consultations.

LegalZoom also offers a variety of add-ons. The most common are EIN registration for $79, registered agent services for $249 per year and legal advice for an undisclosed fee. Other premium options include business license registration, annual report filings, compliance calendar, minutes manager for company meetings, trademark search and registration and business advisory plans.

Customer Support

Now let’s look at the comparison of Bizee vs. LegalZoom as it relates to their customer support offerings. Both offer phone and email support but the availability of the two is different. Before overanalyzing the offering though, make sure you have a good grasp on how much you may need customer support based on the services you’re looking to buy. A one-off business registration with no additional service isn’t likely to require much customer support, if any at all.

Bizee Support

Bizee offers phone and email support but only on weekdays. You can reach out with your questions Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time. It claims to respond “as quickly as possible” but there is no specific guarantee of response time if you submit via email instead of calling. You can also fill out an online form to submit an email support request.

LegalZoom Support

LegalZoom offers a similar customer support option as Bizee but with expanded hours. You can reach out via phone or email seven days per week. Monday through Friday, the support hours are 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific Time. On Saturdays and Sundays, it will also take support inquiries from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time. There is no guarantee of a specific response time if you submit via email, and you can also submit an email ticket through its online form.

Customer Reviews and Reputation

Both Bizee and LegalZoom offer a service that is well-respected online by their past customers. Here is how each performs when it comes to reviews and reputation.

Bizee Reviews

Bizee has received more than 9,700 reviews on Trustpilot and has maintained a 4.7 out of 5 rating from those reviews, with 84% being 5 stars. There are some complaints about the slowness of its customer support but overall Bizee is well-reviewed and has a strong reputation.

LegalZoom Reviews

LegalZoom has significantly fewer reviews on Trustpilot, with only around 2,300 at the time of writing. Its score is high as well, though, with a total score of 4.6 out of 5 and 82% of its reviews received 5 stars. However, 14% of its reviews received 1 star. The bad reviews come with a variety of reasons that include slow processing, unapproved fees, and less-than-ideal customer support.

While both companies seem to have a strong online reputation, Bizee has received many more positive reviews.

Bottom Line

All business formation services can get the job done by filing the appropriate paperwork and getting your business entity off the ground. However, the right option for you will depend on how much help you need and what additional services are right. If you just need someone to file your paperwork, then Bizee can do a great job and it offers a fee-free option.

However, if you’re looking for more help and guidance than just filing the paperwork, then LegalZoom is a better option. From providing a welcome packet with a step-by-step guide as your business gets going to additional services such as the registered agent service and legal advice, LegalZoom can help your business entity get started but can also provide support long after you’ve been receiving sales.

Who Is Bizee Best For?

Bizee is typically best for those registering an LLC on a budget as it will throw in a year of registered agent services for free. It’s also a safe bet with a strong reputation.

Who Is LegalZoom Best For?

LegalZoom might be best for more complex registrations and needs as it offers a legal advice service that can provide better insight and a more personalized experience.