ZenBusiness alternatives: 11 business formation services tools compared
People leave ZenBusiness because the entry price is only the start. Formation begins at a zero service fee plus state fees, but the registered agent, compliance filings, EIN and templates are priced one by one, and the three formation plans are not itemised on the pricing page. Alternatives bundle the first year, sell by speed, or specialise in agents and startup paperwork.
Short answer: Looking for a replacement for ZenBusiness? Bizee, Inc Authority and Swyft Filings come first in our business formation services ranking. Our rule for order: vendors outside the big brands go first, and the largest names are not placed in the top three. Start with Bizee if you want an independent owner and a first agent year included. The 11 entries that follow are all ranked in Best Business Formation Services in 2026; each one explains what sets it apart from ZenBusiness.
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Pricing: Formation tiers from a zero service fee plus state fees; yearly add-ons and monthly bookkeeping published
Established in: Not stated by the vendor
Built for: A first-time founder who wants planning tools and add-ons in one place.
Not for: Buyers wanting every package price visible before signing up.
01
Why buyers look past ZenBusiness
01
The zero-fee start leads to a list of extras
ZenBusiness says formation starts at 0 dollars plus state fees. Its pricing page then lists a registered agent at 199 dollars a year, Worry-Free Compliance Filings at 199, an EIN at 99 and an operating agreement template at 99. The final bill depends on which of these a founder adds.
02
The three plans are not itemised
Starter, Pro and Premium are named on the pricing page, but it shows no prices and no list of what each plan contains. State fees are not shown either; the page links to a checker. Founders who want to compare packages line by line must go elsewhere or reach the checkout.
03
Services follow the company for years
Annual reports are 100 dollars each, amendments 100 dollars, and bookkeeping is 30 dollars a month. Someone who only wanted a company filed may find a yearly fee stream attached. Some alternatives include a first agent year or state a flat renewal rate.
you will use Stripe anyway and want a Delaware startup package
#13
03
What each one does differently
1
Bizee
Not stated by the vendor · Published
Formerly Incfile, Bizee calls itself bootstrapped, founder-led and independently owned, so no investor or acquirer stands behind it. Formation tiers are paid once plus state fees, and each package includes the first year of registered agent service. Renewals are separate: agent, compliance cover and annual reports recur yearly, and the plan page does not itemise each tier.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you want an independent owner and a first agent year included.
The LLC package has a zero service fee, and the page itemises filing, a year of registered agent and the Business Tax ID at zero, apart from state fees. A custom website and bank account setup are part of it. Premium services such as trademark, trust, tax preparation and an operating agreement carry no prices on the page. It is not a law firm.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you want the filing itself at no service charge.
Speed sets the tier here: seven to ten business days, three days or one day. Every package comes with a secure document portal and a compliance trial. Express handling, same-day processing, an operating agreement and a virtual mailbox cost extra. Swyft states that it is a private filing service tied to an Arizona law firm that handles trademarks.
Switch from ZenBusiness if the date your company is filed matters more than the price.
As a registered agent, InCorp charges one flat yearly rate in every state with no rise on renewal, and prepaying several years lowers it. The agent service covers same-day service of process, a compliance calendar and entity monitoring. Formation is shown only from a starting price without inclusions. No trial or head office is stated.
Switch from ZenBusiness if a predictable yearly agent rate across states is your priority.
Four packages stack on each other: articles and a name search first, then bylaws and annual report service, then registered agent services, and finally MaintainMyBiz services. State fees from forty dollars to above five hundred are added. Business checks, print marketing and document storage are also sold, and some footer links lead to deluxe.com, leaving ownership unclear.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you like flat packages that grow in clear steps.
Doola sells yearly plans aimed at non-residents. Starter files an LLC or C Corp in one to two business days with an EIN and a US address, while higher plans add tax filing and compliance. Its bookkeeping tier is quoted at two slightly different yearly prices on one page. Banking runs through Mercury and partner banks, and state fees are extra.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you live outside the United States and need an address and EIN.
A one-time Start bundle forms a Delaware or Wyoming company with an expedited EIN, a partner bank account and lifetime expert support. Later services are priced separately: registered agent yearly per state, mailroom and accounting monthly, tax filing yearly. Those later tiers cost far more than the entry bundle suggests, so budget the whole stack.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you want one vendor for banking, mail and accounting.
Capbase forms a Delaware corporation and then keeps the equity records: founder shares with vesting, 83(b) elections, options, SAFEs, convertible notes, an exportable cap table and a document room. The yearly price is stated to hold until a priced round such as a Series A. No head office, country or legal entity is named, and no trial appears.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you are raising money and need a cap table from day one.
Clerky offers a lifetime package that covers Delaware incorporation plus its standard fundraising, hiring and maintenance documents, or a cheaper pay-per-use incorporation. It is a bonded legal document assistant, not a law firm, and gives no advice. Foreign qualification in California and New York is priced on top, and no trial is mentioned.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you plan a Delaware startup and want the paperwork in one purchase.
A legal membership first and a filing service second. Plans include unlimited contract reviews, documents and e-signatures, with attorney access rising from twelve questions to unlimited. Registering the first company is free, later ones are priced plus state fees, and EIN and agent are add-ons on higher plans. A seven-day trial opens the monthly and yearly memberships.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you expect ongoing contracts and want attorney questions included.
For one fee that includes government charges, Atlas sets up a Delaware C corporation, LLC or subsidiary with a first year of registered agent service, an EIN application, founder shares, an 83(b) election, SAFE generation and board consents. A Stripe-linked Treasury account and product credit come with it. Only Delaware is possible, and the owner is a Stripe-branded payments business.
Switch from ZenBusiness if you will use Stripe anyway and want a Delaware startup package.
You want an independent owner and a first agent year included
Bizee: It describes itself as bootstrapped and independently owned, and every package includes a first year of registered agent service.
02
You want a predictable agent bill across states
InCorp: One flat yearly agent rate applies in every state, with no increase on renewal and discounts for prepaying.
03
You live outside the United States
Doola: Yearly plans include an EIN and a US address, and the Starter plan files in one to two business days.
04
You are raising money and need equity records
Capbase: It keeps founder shares, options and SAFEs in an exportable cap table, at a yearly price that holds until a priced round.
05
You expect to need a lawyer's help after filing
Rocket Lawyer: Memberships include contract reviews and attorney questions, and a seven-day trial applies.
04
When ZenBusiness is still the right choice
ZenBusiness is a sensible choice for a founder who wants to start with no service fee and see add-ons priced openly. The pricing page itemises the agent, compliance, domain, website and bookkeeping products, free planning tools such as a name generator and entity type quiz are on offer, and a free tax savings consultation is included in all packages. Check state fees first, then decide which extras you need.
05
What moving off ZenBusiness involves
01
Registered agent and filings switch mid-year
The agent of record is filed with the state, so a change means appointing a new agent and confirming the date it takes effect. Check what ZenBusiness has already charged for the year, and whether a compliance subscription renews automatically.
02
Documents and website sit with the vendor
Operating agreement templates, certificates, a domain, business email and website are tied to the account. Download formation documents before leaving and transfer the domain, which is sold at 25 dollars a year, rather than letting it lapse.
06
Questions about replacing ZenBusiness
6 answers
How much does ZenBusiness charge for an LLC?
The pricing page says formation starts at 0 dollars plus state fees. Starter, Pro and Premium are named but not priced on that page, so the checkout shows the real total.
What does the registered agent cost?
ZenBusiness lists the registered agent service at 199 dollars a year, renewing yearly. Bizee includes the first year in each package, and InCorp states one flat yearly rate in every state.
Which alternative suits a startup raising money?
Capbase adds a cap table and data room, Stripe Atlas generates SAFEs and an 83(b) election, and Clerky bundles fundraising documents. All three lean towards Delaware corporations.
Is there an option for non-US residents?
Doola sells yearly plans for non-residents with an EIN and a US address, and Firstbase forms Delaware or Wyoming companies with a partner bank account.
Do these services give legal advice?
Several say they are not law firms, including Clerky, Inc Authority and Swyft Filings. Rocket Lawyer is the one built around attorney access, with question limits that rise by plan.
Can I compare prices fairly?
Add the formation fee, state fee, registered agent after the first year, EIN and compliance filings for each vendor. ZenBusiness lists these separately, so a like-for-like total is the only fair test.
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Sources
Checked 9 November 2026
ZenBusiness pricing: Formation from 0 dollars plus state fees, agent 199 dollars a year, add-on prices, plan names, free tools.
Founder of The Knowledge Engineers and of 2 Steps Ahead, an AI search visibility agency. Editorially responsible for every page on this site; research and drafting are AI-assisted.
Sebastiaan Smits wrote and checked this page, most recently on 9 November 2026. See how we review.
