Are you about to start your journey as a small business owner? Then you might be considering forming an LLC. While it’s not required for you to start a business, it does come with several benefits, including personal liability protection.
Knowing you want to start an LLC is only part of the equation though. You’ll also have to take the proper steps to set it up correctly. If you don’t want to handle this yourself, then you’ll want to research the various companies available that can do this for you.
This article will go over Bizee vs LegalZoom so you understand more about each business. We at Business Anywhere also offer a business registration service, which is completely FREE! But we’ll outline the key differences between these companies so you can make an informed choice.
About Bizee
Bizee was formed in 2004 and originally had the name Incfile. Its mission is to make the entrepreneurial journey as smooth as possible, and it’s proved this by being the first company to offer a free LLC service in 2019.
Since its beginnings two decades ago, Bizee has helped over one million entrepreneurs start their businesses. It’s a privately held and 100% bootstrapped company, meaning that Bizee isn’t beholden to things like investors. They’re very straightforward and have no hidden fees.
What’s great is that Bizee reaches past business formation and helps entrepreneurs with business management too. Clients can expect assistance while navigating these new chapters of their lives.
About LegalZoom
LegalZoom is just a few years older than Bizee, as it was founded in 2001. While it was initially a tech company, it now helps people with business formation. In addition, it offers online legal services, such as trademark and copyright protection and estate planning.
Since LegalZoom is an expert in the legal space, its goal is to make legal support accessible to as many people as possible. It seems like they’re on a good trajectory, as they’ve helped over four million entrepreneurs with company setups.
Bizee vs LegalZoom: Services
As you might’ve expected each business has its specializations when it comes to services. Yes, both have business formation services, but it’s their additional offerings that can make one better than the other.
Bizee
With Bizee, you can form an LLC, S corporation, C corporation, and nonprofit business. Other services they have are:
- Virtual mailbox
- EIN/tax ID
- Assumed business name (DBA)
- Business license/permit
- Trademark registration
- Corporate LLC kit
If you need help with business management, then here are your choices:
- Annual report
- Registered agent service
- Amendment
- Foreign qualification
- Certificate of good standing
- Form 2553 (S corp tax)
- Changing your registered agent
- Reinstatement
- Dissolving your company
LegalZoom
The types of businesses LegalZoom can help you create are LLC, corporation (C corp and S corp), doing business as (DBA), nonprofit, and sole proprietorship.
Should you require more assistance, then these services are available too:
- Registered agent services
- Annual report
- Beneficial ownership info report
- Business licenses
- Bookkeeping
- Virtual mailbox
- Dissolution
Also, LegalZoom can help you protect your company with the following services:
- Trademark registration
- Trademark search
- Trademark monitoring
- Provisional patent
- Copyright
Winner: We can’t really name a winner here since it all depends on what your specific needs are. However, Business Anywhere stands out against these two companies.
Why Business Anywhere Is Better
Business Anywhere can take care of most services listed above. But what makes us special is that we let you fully customize the services that you need. You won’t have to worry about paying for something you won’t use, as you can pick and choose what you want.
For example, we offer:
- Free business registration (excluding state fees)
- Free registered agent service (first year)
- Virtual mailbox services
- Online notary services
- EIN application
- Expedited filing ($57 for 5-day service)
Bizee vs LegalZoom: Prices and Packages
Like most business formation companies, both Bizee and LegalZoom have three packages for LLC formation: Basic, Standard/Pro, and Premium. Let’s explore the differences below.
Bizee
Bizee’s package prices are as follows:
- Basic: $0
- Standard: $199
- Premium: $299
The Basic package gives you compliance monitoring, one year of registered agent service ($119 per year after that), and tax consultation.
The Standard package builds on the Basic package and adds:
- EIN
- Operating agreement
- Lifetime compliance alerts
- Unlimited phone and email support
- IRS Form 2553
Then, the Premium package adds:
- Expedited filing
- Business contract templates
- Domain name and business email
- One year free for a business phone number
LegalZoom
Here are the LegalZoom LLC packages:
- Basic: $0
- Pro: $249
- Premium: $299
Do note that it offers discounts at times for a lower LegalZoom LLC cost; for instance, the Standard package was $224 and the Premium package was $269 for a period, so keep an eye out.
The services included with the Basic package are articles of organization, name check service, and tax consult from 1-800Accountant. If you’d like the Pro package, you’ll also get:
- Operating agreement
- EIN
- One-year bookkeeping tools subscription
- One-year access to 150+ customizable legal documents
- One year of unlimited eSignatures
- Customizable website powered by WIX
The Premium package is only slightly more expensive but it gives you guidance from experienced business attorneys and you can make changes to your LLC formation documents within the first 30 days. In addition, you’ll get a 30-day subscription for unlimited 30-minute attorney consultations about any new legal topics related to your business.
Winner: Both are winners here since you can create an LLC for $0 (minus state fees). But Business Anywhere beats them once again, since you can pick and choose the services freely!
Why You Should Go With Business Anywhere
We’ve got an a-la-carte system that’s tough to beat. Plus, you’ll get the following:
- Free business formation (minus state fees)
- One year’s worth of registered agent service for free
- Flexible, pay-as-you-go options
- Affordable expedited filing (at the low price of $57 for 5-day filing)
You’ll save the most money with Business Anywhere since you only pay for the services you need.
Bizee vs LegalZoom: Turnaround Time
Obviously, the turnaround time will depend on which package you pick. Here’s what you can expect for each.
Bizee
The filing times vary between states, but on average, Bizee will process your paperwork in a few weeks for both the Basic and Standard packages. But if you opt for the Premium plan, you can get your LLC registered in as little as one business day.
To get a better feel for things, you should explore the different states in its dropdown menu and perhaps consider other locations if you want faster filings.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom’s a bit mysterious with their turnaround times since they don’t have specific numbers for LLCs. But if you take a look at their section for nonprofit organizations, you can expect the following turnaround times:
- Economy: 35 business days
- Standard: 20 business days
- Express Gold: 15 business days
Online reviews also show that you can wait anywhere between one week to a few months for the paperwork to be processed.
Winner: Bizee is the quicker company between the two. But if you want to get bang for your buck, turn to Business Anywhere.
Business Anywhere: Fast Turnaround Times and Affordable Prices
With a standard filing, it can take between 10-15 business days to complete. However, you can pay just a little extra to get much quicker service:
- Expedited filing (5 days): $57
- Expedited filing (2 days): $77
For just a fraction of the cost of other businesses, we can get your LLC application in fast!
Bizee vs LegalZoom: Customer Service
Should things go wrong, you want to have peace of mind knowing that your service provider is there to help. In fact, the customer service quality can make or break your decision, so learn more about what each has.
Bizee
Bizee has phone support Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm CST. This can be an issue if you’re only available during the weekend. The consolation is that the company has a thorough Support section with plenty of guides that may answer your questions.
It also makes a point to not have an AI chatbot; instead, you’ll get a real person when you contact them online. Unfortunately, that also means they’re only available during the same hours for the phone line.
Whichever way you reach out, Bizee’s staff can speak to you in both English and Spanish.
LegalZoom
There’s also a phone line with LegalZoom, which operates seven days a week. During the weekdays, you can call between 5:00 am to 7:00 pm PT. On the weekends, you can call between 7:00 am to 4:00 pm PT.
Should you need assistance outside of those hours, you can refer to its FAQ section, which is accessed through the contact page.
For those who prefer online communications, there’s a live chat on the website. You’ll get a real person during the hours listed for the phone line, and a chatbot outside of those hours. What people find annoying is that if you’re a new customer, you’ll have to answer many questions before you can get to your main inquiry.
Winner: LegalZoom has better availability for both its phone and chat lines. You just have to be prepared for its pushier sales pitches.
Business Anywhere’s Customer Support
We also have a strong customer support system! Our experts are always available for a free call so we can better understand your situation and tailor a solution that fits your unique needs.
Outside of our calls, you can also reach us through:
- 24/7 chatbot
- Social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube)
LegalZoom vs Bizee: Which One’s Better?
Overall, we’d say that Bizee is better than LegalZoom for LLC formation services. Consumers seem to agree with us, as Bizee has a rating of 4.7 stars while LegalZoom has 4.5 stars.
You’re not constrained to these two companies though. As you may have noticed, we’ve shown you ways that Business Anywhere pulls ahead of its competition all throughout this article.
We also offer business registration services that cost $0, and one of our biggest strengths is that you’re in complete control of which services you use. Speaking of, we don’t just help with LLC formation. You can also use us for the following:
- Registered agent
- Virtual mailbox
- Online notary
Choose Business Anywhere Instead
In this thorough Bizee vs LegalZoom comparison, we’ve shown you the strengths and weaknesses of both companies. They may be quality choices, but there’s one that outshines them: Business Anywhere.
We’re the only platform that has a user-friendly dashboard with four services. In addition, it only takes mere minutes for you to send us your details, which means that it’ll be a stress-free process to get your business started.
So why wait? Sign up with Business Anywhere today. With our affordable services, you won’t break the bank!
