Incfile vs. ZenBusiness 2023

Which Is Better for LLC Formation?

Searching for the right service to help you start an LLC? Here at TRUiC, we make business accessible and actionable for everyone; that’s why we partnered with ZenBusiness to design LLC formation packages that offer the best deal for our users.

We spent hours researching LLC formation providers such as ZenBusiness. In this ZenBusiness vs. Incfile review, we answer three simple questions to help guide you through choosing the best service for starting your business.

Recommended: Check out our list of the best LLC services.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS: ZENBUSINESS VS. INCFILE

When we started researching ZenBusiness and Incfile, we focused on three main questions:

  • Is this a good deal?
  • Is there a better deal?
  • Who uses this service and how was their experience?

Answering these questions will boost your confidence so you can choose the best service to get your business formed and running.

Is This a Good Deal?

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness offers a decent deal when it comes to LLC formation. However, there are more affordable options out there that include additional features.

ZenBusiness is quite transparent with all the options they offer. They have different tiered plans for your specific needs: Starter, Pro, and Premium. If these plans aren’t what you’re looking for, you can pick and choose a plan specifically tailored for your business’s needs. ZenBusiness also provides all your documentation online with an easy to use dashboard. The Worry Free Compliance Guarantee provides peace of mind, how-to support, and covers costs when regaining good standing due to missed compliance paperwork deadlines. It also covers annual filing alerts and submittal for your convenience.

Incfile

Short answer, yes. Along with ranking high across our other criteria, Incfile provides a good value in its basic features. Although their Silver formation package is free for the first year, there are some additional fees to consider, such as state fees. Incfile offers a free website with their packages, but you end up paying more in the long-run even within the first year; to be exact, you will pay an additional $240 for web hosting for the year at $20 per month. That is a significant amount of cash if you’re trying to be more conservative with your expenses, while starting a new business. Additionally, you will have to pay for a domain name, since this is not included with the website either.

Incfile will also include a free registered agent for the first year, renewing at $119/year after.

Above all, Incfile offers great features in its middle and top tier packages*. Another reason to consider Incfile is that you're only offered additional services relevant to the tier you select.

Note: A more inclusive breakdown of each company's basic, middle, and top tier service packages is featured at the end of this review.

Who Uses ZenBusiness and Incfile?

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is used by anyone interested in starting a business. They service Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), LLCs with S-Corp election, Corporations, etc.

Here are some verified reviews (from Trustpilot) by people who used ZenBusiness to help launch their businesses:

“I am extremely happy with the service.They are reasonably priced and professional and really make things easy for you to form an LLC . They also offer a variety of services. They completed my order much quicker than I had planned. I really think if you are starting a business, there is no better way to go! I will be using their services again!”

“I thought this was too good to be true, but it was completely legit. I was very pleased with how quick and easy ZenBusiness made the process of becoming an LLC. They offer plenty of helpful add-on options that you can pay for, but they don't push them on you. It's also nice that everything is conveniently in a dashboard on their site for me. When I want to get an EIN or make amendments or anything, I can do it super easily from their site. Definitely would recommend.”

Incfile

Incfile is for business owners starting their own LLC, S-Corporation, C-Corporation, etc. 

Here are some verified reviews (pulled from Better Business Bureau) by people who used Incfile to help launch their businesses:

“Quick and simple. Also the dashboard they provide makes it easy to stay up to date and current on any business issues having to do with the LLC."

"This company is definitely in my list of trusted companies by now. The services are quick and provided in an extremely professional manner allowing me to focus on my business. The UX of the online dashboard is clean and easy to understand. Highly recommended.”

Is There a Better Deal to Form My LLC?

Yes, there are better deals out there. For instance, Northwest Registered Agent offers a highly affordable LLC package that includes registered agent services for a full year, data privacy protection, knowledgeable customer support, and more for only $29 plus state fees.

Takeaway

Although ZenBusiness and Incfile are both well-known, reliable services, there are better LLC formation companies to choose from that provide more features at a lower price.

Need more details? Read on for a more in-depth breakdown of our research on ZenBusiness and Incfile.

RATING DETAILS: ZENBUSINESS VS. INCFILE

After addressing key considerations, we completed a more comprehensive analysis of ZenBusiness and Incfile based on:

  • Value
  • Customer Service
  • Ease of Use
  • Features
ZenBusiness vs Incfile Overview
ZenBusiness Incfile
Overall 4.5/5 4.4/5
Cost Value 4.3/5 4.5/5
Customer Service 4.9/5 4/5
Ease of Use 3.9/5 4.5/5
Included Features 4.9/5 4.5/5

Value

Both LLC formation companies are on the more expensive side compared to other services.

Competitors such as Northwest set themselves apart by including registered agent services for free in the first year. Although ZenBusiness and Incfile have a lot of experience forming LLCs, we recommend exploring more affordable options.

Customer Service

When it comes to great customer service, ZenBusiness holds an excellent reputation.
They are highly ranked on Trustpilot with a 9.4/10 TrustScore. Their customer feedback highlights their professional customer support and satisfaction.

Ease of Use

Both Incfile and ZenBusiness have online dashboards.
This is where all important business documents can be easily found.

Included Features

ZenBusiness's Worry Free Compliance Guarantee is a great option for busy entrepreneurs. 
This guarantee includes:

  • Annual filing report alerts
  • Documents submitted on your behalf (you will only be responsible for state fees).
  • You are allowed two free changes to your filings per year (state filing fees may still apply).
  • Covers the costs required to regain good standing if your company should miss a deadline or state requirement.

Business email, website, and domain privacy are add-on features that are included in ZenBusiness’s Premium package. 
These are great products that can help your business so your clients can easily contact you, gain visibility, and protect your private information.

See our top 7 service reviews

four point seven out of five Stars Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

four point zero out of five Stars LegalZoom ($0 + State Fees)

four point zero out of five Stars Tailor Brands ($199 + State Fees)

four point zero out of five Stars ZenBusiness ($0 + State Fees)

four point zero out of five Incfile ($0 + State Fees)

three point eight out of five Swyft Filings ($0 + State Fees)

three point seven out of five Stars Rocket Lawyer ($349.99 + State Fees)

PRODUCT COMPARISONS: ZENBUSINESS VS. INCFILE

ZenBusiness and Incfile offer additional services beyond forming your LLC. Some features can be purchased independently, offering even more pricing flexibility. Below, you’ll find a comparison of their basic packages and the features that are valuable when forming an LLC.

Please note that the service costs for each plan do not include the state filing fees which vary by state.

Basic Plan Comparison

ZenBusiness vs Incfile Side by Side Comparison
ZenBusiness Incfile
ORDER PROCESSING TIME 2-3 weeks Next business day
REGISTERED AGENT $199/year Free one one year, then $119
OPERATING AGREEMENT $125 $40 extra
EIN REGISTRATION $99 extra $70 extra
ANNUAL COMPLIANCE Included for one year Free lifetime company alerts
WEB DOMAIN Included in Online Tools Bundle (Domain, Privacy, Email, Website) for $149 $199 + $20/month hosting fees via Snapweb

Middle Plan Comparison

ZenBusiness vs Incfile Side by Side Comparison
ZenBusiness Incfile
ORDER PROCESSING TIME 3-9 business days Next business day
REGISTERED AGENT $199/year Free for one year, then $119/year
OPERATING AGREEMENT Yes Yes
EIN REGISTRATION $99 Yes
ANNUAL COMPLIANCE Yes Free lifetime company alerts
WEB DOMAIN Included in Online Tools Bundle (Domain, Privacy, Email, Website) for $149 $199 + $20/month hosting fees via Snapweb

Top Plan Comparison

ZenBusiness vs Incfile Side by Side Comparison
ZenBusiness Incfile
ORDER PROCESSING TIME 2-5 business days Next business day
REGISTERED AGENT $199/year Free for one year, then $119
OPERATING AGREEMENT Yes Yes
EIN REGISTRATION $99 Yes
ANNUAL COMPLIANCE Yes Free lifetime company alerts
WEB DOMAIN Included in Online Tools Bundle (Domain, Privacy, Email, Website) Free + $20/month hosting fees via Snapweb

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