Choosing between LegalZoom and Bizee is not just about deciding who will submit your LLC paperwork. Both companies can handle that basic job. The real question is what happens at checkout, what you receive after the state approves your business, and how much you will pay over the next year.
LegalZoom is the larger and more recognizable company. It offers LLC formation, attorney consultations, legal documents, trademarks, estate planning, registered agent service, and ongoing compliance help. That broad service catalog can be useful. It can also make the buying process feel crowded with add-ons and subscriptions.
Bizee, formerly known as Incfile, takes a narrower approach. Its biggest selling point is affordable business formation. The company’s Basic package costs $0 plus the state filing fee and includes one year of registered agent service. That is a valuable inclusion, especially for an owner who does not want to publish a home address.
Neither company is a law firm. Buying a formation package does not replace advice from an attorney or accountant. Both services prepare documents using the information you provide and submit those documents to the appropriate state agency.
For a straightforward LLC, Bizee usually offers better first-year value. LegalZoom becomes more attractive when you want access to legal support and plan to purchase several business services from one provider.
The cheapest advertised price, however, does not tell the whole story. Here is what you need to know before paying.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom launched in 2001 and helped turn online legal document preparation into a mainstream service. It has since served millions of customers and built one of the best-known brands in the formation industry.
Its size is a major advantage. LegalZoom handles far more than LLC filings. You can use it for contracts, trademarks, registered agent service, annual reports, business licenses, wills, trusts, and consultations with independent attorneys in its network.
The overall experience feels polished. Its website asks guided questions, explains unfamiliar terms, and directs you toward services based on your answers. A first-time owner who feels nervous about filing may find that structure reassuring.
There is a downside. LegalZoom’s ordering process creates several opportunities to buy more. A $0 formation package can become expensive once you add an operating agreement, EIN assistance, registered agent service, compliance support, or a legal subscription.
LegalZoom’s reputation is generally strong, particularly among people who value phone assistance and want a recognizable provider. Negative feedback often concerns unexpected renewals, cancellation difficulties, long support waits during busy periods, or customers misunderstanding which services were included.
The company is best viewed as a broad legal-services platform, not simply a low-cost LLC filer.
Bizee
Bizee started in Houston in 2004 under the name Incfile. It rebranded as Bizee in 2023 but kept its main focus: helping entrepreneurs form and manage business entities.
The company says it has helped form more than one million businesses. Its services include LLC and corporation formation, registered agent coverage, annual report filing, amendments, foreign qualification, certificates of good standing, and tax-related filings.
Bizee’s personality is more startup-focused than LegalZoom’s. The dashboard centers on formation documents, order status, company tasks, and compliance reminders. It does not offer LegalZoom’s wide range of personal legal services or attorney consultations.
Its strongest advantage is the Basic package. You pay no Bizee formation fee, although the state filing fee remains mandatory. Bizee also includes one year of registered agent service. LegalZoom charges separately for comparable registered agent coverage.
Bizee is not free of sales pressure. During checkout, you may see offers for tax consultations, business banking, licenses, websites, virtual addresses, bookkeeping, or expedited services. Some products renew automatically.
Customer feedback is largely positive, with frequent praise for helpful representatives and an easy filing process. Critical reviews commonly mention delays, trouble reaching support at busy times, confusion over recurring services, or frustration when an order cannot be refunded after processing begins.
Bizee is built mainly for cost-conscious founders who want formation help without paying for a large legal-services ecosystem.
Pricing & Packages
Both companies advertise a $0 entry package. You must still pay the filing fee charged by your state. Depending on the state, that government fee may range from roughly $40 to several hundred dollars.
State fees are not controlled by LegalZoom or Bizee. They are also normally nonrefundable once an application has been submitted.
| Package level | LegalZoom | Bizee | Main inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 plus state fee | $0 plus state fee | Preparation and filing of formation documents |
| Mid-level | Pro: $249 plus state fee | Standard: $199 plus state fee | Operating agreement, EIN assistance, and added business documents |
| Premium | $299 plus state fee | $299 plus state fee | Higher-tier tools, templates, and post-formation extras |
| Registered agent | $249 per year | First year included, then $149 per year | Receipt and forwarding of legal and state documents |
LegalZoom Basic
LegalZoom Basic costs $0 plus the state fee. It includes a business name check, preparation of your articles of organization, state filing, and access to formation documents after approval.
It is enough if you only want LegalZoom to submit a standard LLC filing. It does not include registered agent service, an operating agreement, or EIN filing assistance.
LegalZoom may also offer a tax consultation through a third-party provider. Treat this as an introductory consultation, not prepaid accounting work. The provider may recommend paid tax or bookkeeping services during the call.
LegalZoom Pro
LegalZoom Pro costs $249 plus the state fee. It adds an operating agreement, EIN assistance, legal-document access, e-signature tools, and an introductory period of attorney consultations.
This package can make sense if you want to ask an attorney questions about ownership, contracts, hiring, or another legal issue. Read the subscription terms carefully. The attorney plan can renew at a monthly rate after its included introductory period unless you cancel it.
The operating agreement and EIN are useful, but the price is difficult to justify if those are the only two extras you need. Applying directly through the IRS for an EIN costs nothing.
LegalZoom Premium
LegalZoom Premium costs $299 plus the state fee. It includes the Pro services and adds bookkeeping and cash-flow tools, such as invoicing, expense categorization, and mileage tracking.
The initial package price is only $50 more than Pro, which may look attractive. The catch is that some included tools have limited introductory periods. For example, bookkeeping software may renew for a monthly fee after the included period ends.
Premium suits an owner who will actively use those tools. If you already have bookkeeping software, the additional features may simply duplicate services you are paying for elsewhere.
Bizee Basic
Bizee Basic costs $0 plus the state filing fee. It covers name availability checking, preparation and filing of the formation documents, online document access, and one year of registered agent service.
That registered agent inclusion gives Bizee a clear pricing advantage. A commercial agent receives lawsuits and official state correspondence at its address, helping you keep your home address off this part of the public record.
After the first year, Bizee’s registered agent service renews at $149 per year. You can cancel and appoint yourself or another provider, but you may need to submit a change-of-agent filing and pay a state fee.
Bizee Standard
Bizee Standard costs $199 plus the state fee. It usually includes everything in Basic, along with an operating agreement, EIN assistance, banking resolution, corporate or LLC kit, S corporation election filing where requested, and physical document delivery.
For many founders, Standard is Bizee’s most practical paid plan. The package covers the main post-formation documents without charging LegalZoom’s $249 Pro price.
Still, not every inclusion is essential. A decorative company kit does not create legal protection. An S corporation election is only useful when that tax treatment fits your business. Discuss the tax consequences with a qualified tax professional before filing Form 2553.
Bizee Premium
Bizee Premium costs $299 plus the state fee. It adds expedited company processing, a library of business contract templates, faster physical delivery, and website-related products such as a domain and business email.
This package offers convenience, but its value depends heavily on whether you need those extras. A domain or email trial should not be the reason you pay an additional $100. Check the renewal rate and confirm who controls the domain before accepting website services.
For a typical one-owner LLC, Standard delivers most of the important formation documents at a lower price.
Key Features Head-to-Head
Ease of Use & Dashboard
LegalZoom has the more polished questionnaire. It explains business terms in plain language and guides you through decisions about the entity, management structure, address, and registered agent.
The weakness is checkout length. LegalZoom introduces several optional products before you complete the purchase. New owners may assume some of these services are legally required when they are not.
Its dashboard is useful if you buy several LegalZoom products. Formation records, contracts, compliance services, and legal-plan information can sit under one account.
Bizee’s dashboard is simpler and more formation-focused. You can review order status, access filed documents, see company information, and view compliance reminders. It is easier to scan if your main goal is forming and maintaining an LLC.
Bizee also presents add-ons, but its Basic package delivers more practical first-year value. Neither dashboard replaces your own compliance calendar. State deadlines remain your responsibility even if an email reminder goes missing.
Better choice for simplicity: Bizee
Better choice for a wider range of legal services: LegalZoom
Speed of Formation
There are two different clocks in an LLC filing.
The first is the company’s internal processing time. This covers reviewing your answers and preparing the documents. The second is the state’s processing time. Neither provider can fully control how quickly a Secretary of State approves an application.
Bizee includes expedited internal handling with Premium. Basic and Standard orders may receive lower priority. You may also be offered state-expedited processing, which requires a separate government fee where available.
LegalZoom’s turnaround depends on the package, state, and filing method. It may promote estimated completion dates, but these are not guaranteed state approval dates.
Do not pay for faster processing without checking your state’s website. Some states approve online filings within a few business days without an expedite fee. Others take several weeks regardless of which formation company submits the application.
Errors can also slow either service. If you enter the wrong business name, address, management structure, or registered agent information, the state may reject the filing.
Better choice for package-based expedited handling: Bizee Premium
Overall result: A tie, because state processing controls much of the timeline
Registered Agent Services
A registered agent maintains a physical address in your formation state and remains available during regular business hours to receive lawsuits, government correspondence, and other official notices.
You may act as your own registered agent if you meet your state’s requirements. Doing so costs nothing, but your address generally becomes public. You must also be reliably available during business hours.
LegalZoom charges $249 per year for registered agent service. It provides document scanning, alerts, digital storage, deadline reminders, and help changing your current agent.
Bizee includes registered agent coverage for the first year with every formation package. It then renews at $149 per year.
The basic legal function is similar. LegalZoom’s service is more expensive, and the additional dashboard features do not close the $100 annual price gap for most small LLCs.
Watch the renewal date with Bizee. The free year can cause owners to forget that a charge will arrive later. If you cancel, make sure the state has accepted your replacement agent before the existing service ends.
Winner: Bizee
Customer Support Quality
LegalZoom offers phone and online support with broader expertise across its product catalog. Representatives can help with order status, account questions, and service selection. Customers who purchase eligible legal plans may also speak with attorneys about new legal matters.
That distinction matters. A standard customer-service representative cannot give legal advice. The representative can explain LegalZoom’s product or help correct an order, but questions about ownership disputes, tax classification, or liability may require a lawyer or accountant.
Positive LegalZoom reviews often praise patient representatives who make the process feel manageable. Common complaints involve long waits, repeated transfers, cancellation problems, and charges for services customers say they did not realize would renew.
Bizee provides phone and email support Monday through Friday. Positive reviews often mention friendly representatives, quick answers, and successful help locating documents or resolving account issues.
Its negative reviews follow a familiar pattern: slower replies during high-volume periods, limited updates when a state filing is delayed, and difficulty obtaining refunds after work has begun. Bizee does not offer LegalZoom’s attorney network, so its support is more administrative.
Pros and Cons
LegalZoom Pros
- Established company with more than two decades of experience
- Guided and beginner-friendly formation questionnaire
- $0 Basic LLC filing option
- Access to independent attorneys through eligible plans
- Broad selection of legal, compliance, trademark, and estate services
- Strong document dashboard and recognizable brand
- Operating agreement and EIN included in paid formation plans
LegalZoom Cons
- Registered agent service costs $249 per year
- Frequent add-ons can make checkout feel sales-heavy
- Some included trials convert into paid subscriptions
- Pro is expensive if you only need an EIN and operating agreement
- Cancellation and renewal complaints appear in customer feedback
- Formation service is not a substitute for personal legal advice
Bizee Pros
- $0 Basic formation package plus the state fee
- One year of registered agent service included
- Registered agent renewal is lower than LegalZoom’s
- Standard package includes an EIN and operating agreement
- Straightforward formation-focused dashboard
- Strong value for simple LLCs
- More than two decades in the formation market
Bizee Cons
- Does not provide attorney consultations
- Optional products can increase the final cost
- Support is not available around the clock
- Refund options become limited once processing begins
- Free registered agent coverage renews at a paid annual rate
- Premium includes extras that many small businesses do not need
Hidden Costs and Upsells
The word “free” applies only to the provider’s basic preparation fee. It does not erase the state filing fee, annual state reports, franchise taxes, licenses, publication costs, or registered agent renewals.
LegalZoom’s largest potential extra is registered agent service at $249 per year. Its paid packages may also include introductory access to attorney consultations or bookkeeping tools that later renew monthly. Review every recurring item before submitting payment.
Bizee’s main renewal is registered agent service at $149 per year after the included first year. Other possible purchases include expedited processing, annual report filing, tax services, a virtual address, licenses, domain services, and business email.
An EIN deserves special attention. An Employer Identification Number is the federal tax ID issued to a business by the IRS. You commonly need one to hire employees, open a business bank account, handle federal tax filings, or keep your Social Security number off certain business documents.
Both companies include EIN assistance in their mid-level and premium packages. Yet the IRS does not charge an application fee. Many US-based owners can complete the online application themselves in minutes. Paying for EIN assistance buys convenience, not special approval or faster treatment from the IRS.
An operating agreement sets rules for ownership, voting, profit distributions, management, and what happens when a member leaves. Even a single-member LLC should have one because banks may request it and it helps document that the company is separate from its owner.
A standard template may work for a simple LLC. Businesses with multiple owners, unusual investment terms, or complicated voting rights should have an attorney prepare or review the agreement.
Real User Verdict
LegalZoom has the stronger name and broader service range. It is a reasonable choice for an owner who values guided assistance and expects to need contracts, trademark help, or attorney consultations.
Its weaker point is cost control. Customers must pay close attention to subscription terms and remove services they do not need.
Bizee earns its best feedback from people who want a straightforward LLC filing at a low upfront cost. Including the first year of registered agent service makes its Basic package genuinely useful rather than merely attention-grabbing.
Bizee’s weak spot is that some customers expect the company to manage every obligation after formation. It does not. Annual reports, taxes, licenses, and renewal deadlines still require attention unless you separately purchase help.
Based on price, features, and industry reputation, Bizee is the better fit for most simple LLC formations. LegalZoom is the better platform for owners who want formation connected to ongoing legal services.
Final Comparison Table
| Category | LegalZoom | Bizee | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic formation | $0 plus state fee | $0 plus state fee | Tie |
| Mid-level package | Pro: $249 | Standard: $199 | Bizee |
| Premium package | $299 | $299 | Depends on needed tools |
| First-year registered agent | $249 | Included | Bizee |
| Registered agent renewal | $249 per year | $149 per year | Bizee |
| Operating agreement | Pro and Premium | Standard and Premium | Bizee on price |
| EIN assistance | Pro and Premium | Standard and Premium | Bizee on price |
| EIN through IRS | Free if you apply yourself | Free if you apply yourself | DIY |
| Attorney consultations | Available through eligible plans | Not offered | LegalZoom |
| Dashboard | Broad legal-service platform | Simple formation dashboard | Depends on preference |
| Filing speed | Package and state dependent | Premium adds expedited handling | Slight edge to Bizee |
| Customer support | Broader product support | Formation-focused support | LegalZoom for scope |
| Best for | Owners wanting legal services in one place | Budget-conscious LLC founders | Depends on need |
Conclusion: LegalZoom or Bizee?
Choose Bizee if you want affordable LLC formation, a simple dashboard, and registered agent service included for the first year. Its Basic package is one of the stronger entry-level offers, while Standard provides an operating agreement and EIN assistance for less than LegalZoom Pro.
Choose LegalZoom if you want access to attorney consultations or prefer keeping formation, contracts, trademarks, and other legal services under one account. You will pay more for that wider support structure.
For the average entrepreneur forming a straightforward LLC, Bizee offers better value. The first-year registered agent inclusion alone creates a meaningful cost advantage.
LegalZoom makes more sense when legal support is part of the plan, not when you only need someone to file your articles of organization. Whichever service you choose, review every recurring charge before paying. The formation price is only the first bill your LLC will face.