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Bizee vs. ZenBusiness 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 September 6, 2022
Establishing a business entity is a vital step in starting a business. Given its complicated and laborious nature, numerous entrepreneurs prefer to hire a professional to ensure the task is done correctly. These business formation services frequently offer additional services that can be beneficial to a new business owner.
Two of the top online services to contemplate are Bizee (formerly Incfile) and ZenBusiness. To assist you in figuring out which is superior and which could be the perfect fit for you and your business, we’ve comprehensively examined their services, adopting the perspective of an entrepreneur. Continue reading to make an informed decision that will set your business on the road to success.
Services Overview
Our Verdict
Following an extensive evaluation, we’ve concluded that ZenBusiness provides the best value. Both Bizee and ZenBusiness offer complimentary plans, enjoy positive customer feedback, and provide a broad array of services for new entrepreneurs. However, ZenBusiness marginally leads due to its stellar industry reputation and superior customer support.
Both ZenBusiness and Bizee offer a robust and comprehensive suite of offerings and a la carte options. However, we give a small advantage to ZenBusiness, because of its great industry reputation, reliable customer support and good value for the money.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable, with a free plan that includes all the basics
- Unlimited name searches
- Free registered agent service for a year
- Access to an online dashboard
- Unlimited access to phone and email support
Cons
- Customer service may be less responsive than other services
- Limited legal services available
- Limited customer support hours, no weekend availability
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
Plans and Pricing — Winner: Bizee
Bizee
Bizee’s basic formation services (Silver plan) are free, except for state filing fees. It provides a year of free registered agent services, unlimited name searches, business tax consultation, business banking account, and lifetime compliance alerts. After the first year, the registered agent service renews at $119/year. The Gold ($199) and Platinum ($299) packages offer substantial features, justifying their cost.
ZenBusiness
Renowned for some of the most affordable rates in the industry, ZenBusiness offers a free LLC formation package — the 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 for both services, none of these plans include state filing fees, which vary from state to state.
Experience — Winner: Bizee
Bizee
Bizee, previously known as Incfile and established in 2004, has aided in the formation of over a million businesses.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness was founded in 2015 and has formed over 500,000 businesses.
Customer Support — Winner: ZenBusiness
Bizee
We tested Bizee’s customer service channels thoroughly, including chat, email, and phone. The response times were impressive across all platforms, with almost instant replies on chat, immediate phone pickup, and an email response in less than a day. You can contact the support team Monday to Friday.
ZenBusiness
The customer support team at ZenBusiness is accessible via phone, email, or our online chat portal, and they’re available even on Sundays.
Turnaround Times — Winner: ZenBusiness
Bizee
Bizee guarantees free same-day processing for their Premium plan, and it’s also possible to pay for expedited processing if you choose the Silver or Gold plan. The turnaround time is state-dependent, but usually, it takes around three weeks to form your business. Bizee provides a valuable comparison tool to help you estimate your turnaround time.
ZenBusiness
At ZenBusiness, formation speeds are state-dependent. For urgent requests, premium packages offer rush service. Compared to other formation services, ZenBusiness matches or slightly exceeds their speed.
Customer Reviews — It’s a Tie Between the Two
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness shines in customer feedback, with over 14,800 reviews on Trustpilot alone, most of which are positive. Clients often praise their services for being efficient and easy to use.
Bizee
Bizee has over 18,000 customer reviews on Trustpilot alone, with the majority of them sharing highly positive customer feedback.
Ease of Use — Winner: ZenBusiness
Bizee
The process of forming a business with this service is fast, simple, and user-friendly. The upgrade options provide clear and useful information rather than being pushy. However, clicking on the Back button can lead to having to start the process over.
Despite this, the website is straightforward and easy to use overall, particularly if you’re prepared to complete the entire process in one go.
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.
Additional Services — It’s a Tie Between the Two
Both ZenBusiness and Bizee present a suite of additional business services, many of which are shared between the two. Both can assist with vital tasks such as EIN acquisition, annual reports, foreign registrations, and more.
Yet, each company has carved out its own unique niche in the realm of business services. ZenBusiness stands out with its exclusive Worry-Free Compliance service, which manages annual report filings and ensures you stay informed about crucial deadlines, a service that Bizee does not offer. On the other hand, Bizee provides a unique service in the form of trademark registration, a feature not found in ZenBusiness’s offerings.
In choosing between these two, your decision should take into account which unique services best align with your business needs.
FAQs
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.
Bizee is great for entrepreneurs on a budget, as their Silver package covers the basics and includes a free year of their registered agent service. Competitors like LegalZoom and ZenBusiness have a similar suite of services but tend to be more expensive.
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.
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