LegalZoom Review 2025
Established LLC formation service with 20+ years experience, licensed attorney access, and premium business support
Quick Facts
- Starting Price:
- $0 + state fees
- Processing Speed:
- 5-14 business days
- Experience:
- 20+ years
- Customers Served:
- 3.5+ million
- Unique Feature:
- Attorney consultations
- Best For:
- Premium legal support
Overview
LegalZoom stands as one of the most established names in the LLC formation industry, having served over 3.5 million customers across more than 20 years of operation. As a BBB-accredited company with strong brand recognition, LegalZoom has built its reputation on providing comprehensive legal services beyond basic business formation, including access to licensed business attorneys and premium support options that set it apart from budget-focused competitors.
What distinguishes LegalZoom from other formation services is their emphasis on professional legal support and comprehensive business guidance. Their Pro and Premium plans include the Business Attorney Plan with unlimited 30-minute consultations, document reviews, and copyright registrations for the first 30 days, making it particularly valuable for entrepreneurs who want expert legal guidance during their business formation process. The company also offers chat and phone customer support to help with ongoing business needs.
While LegalZoom offers a competitive free Basic plan for simple LLC formation, their true value proposition lies in the Pro and Premium tiers that include essential services like EIN registration, operating agreements, and professional legal support. However, this premium positioning comes with higher pricing than many competitors, and some services like registered agent support cost significantly more than industry standards at $249/year.
LegalZoom Pricing Plans Comparison
| Plan Name | BASIC $0 | PRO $249 | PREMIUM $299 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package Price w/o State Fees | $0 | $249 | $299 |
| Processing Speed | 5-14 business days | 5-14 business days | 5-14 business days |
| Formation & Filing Services | |||
| LLC Formation Package
| |||
| Registered Agent Service $249/year after purchase | +$249/year | +$249/year | +$249/year |
| Express Processing Same-day processing available | Additional fee | Additional fee | Additional fee |
| Business Documents & Setup | |||
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) Employer Identification Number from IRS | — | ||
| Operating Agreement Template | — | ||
| Tax Consultation 1-800Accountant consult to discuss tax savings services | |||
| Personalized Business Insurance Quote From NEXT Insurance | |||
| Small Business Specialist Consultation | |||
| Digital Services & Tools | |||
| Library of 150+ Downloadable Legal Forms | — | ||
| One Year Editor Access to Customize Legal Forms | — | ||
| One Year of Access to eSignature | — | ||
| Bookkeeping App (LZ Books) 6-month subscription included, then $9.99/month auto-charge | — | — | |
| Legal Support & Consultation | |||
| Business Attorney Plan 30-day subscription included, then $49/month auto-charge
| — | ||
| One Entity Amendment with Rush Service 30 days included | — | ||
| Customer Support Chat & phone support available | |||
| Guarantees & Policies | |||
| 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee Full refund if requested within 60 days | |||
Note: All plans require state filing fees in addition to the package price. State fees typically range from $50 to $500 depending on your state. Registered agent service is an additional $249/year and is not included in any plan.
Pros
- Free Basic plan (state fees only)
- 20+ years of experience in business formation
- Over 3.5 million customers served
- Access to licensed business attorneys (Pro & Premium plans)
- 60-day money-back guarantee (before filing only)
- Chat & phone customer support available
- BBB accredited with strong brand recognition
- Tax consultation and business insurance quotes on all plans
- Library of 150+ legal forms with eSignature access (Pro/Premium)
Cons
- Significantly higher pricing than most competitors
- Registered agent service costs $249/year (not included)
- Auto-renewing subscriptions
- Slower processing times (5-14 business days standard)
- Many essential services require paid plans
- Some customers report communication issues and incomplete services
Key Features
Licensed Business Attorneys
PRO/PREMIUMBusiness Attorney Plan includes unlimited 30-minute consultations, document reviews, and copyright registrations for the first 30 days. Professional legal guidance for complex business decisions and compliance questions.
60-Day Money-Back Guarantee*
ALL PLANSRefund available within 60 days of purchase, but only before documents are submitted to the state. Once filing begins, the guarantee no longer applies. Government fees are non-refundable.
Customer Support
Chat and phone support available for all customers. Experienced support team with extensive knowledge helping entrepreneurs navigate business formation and ongoing needs.
Tax & Insurance Consultation
Professional tax consultation provided by 1-800Accountant and personalized business insurance quotes from NEXT Insurance included with all plans. Get expert guidance on business tax obligations and protection.
Legal Forms & Business Tools
PRO/PREMIUMAccess to 150+ downloadable legal forms with one year of editor access and eSignature capability. Premium plan includes 6-month bookkeeping app subscription and entity amendments with rush service.
Established Brand Trust
BBB accredited company with 20+ years of experience and over 3.5 million customers served. Strong brand recognition and proven track record in business formation industry.
Who Should Use LegalZoom?
LegalZoom is Perfect For:
- First-time entrepreneurs wanting professional legal guidance
- Businesses needing attorney consultations and legal advice
- Companies that value established brand reputation and trust
- Entrepreneurs willing to pay premium for comprehensive support
- Businesses with complex legal questions or compliance needs
- Those who want comprehensive business formation packages
- Entrepreneurs who value brand trust and comprehensive legal support
Consider Alternatives If You:
- Are price-sensitive and want the most affordable formation service
- Need fast processing times (5-14 days may be too slow)
- Want registered agent service included (costs extra $249/year)
- Dislike auto-renewing subscriptions
Final Verdict
Based on 20+ years experience
LegalZoom earns a 4.2/5 rating for its established reputation and premium legal support services in the LLC formation space. With over 20 years of experience and 3.5 million customers served, LegalZoom has proven itself as a trustworthy choice for entrepreneurs who prioritize professional legal guidance and comprehensive business support over budget pricing. The BBB accreditation and strong brand recognition provide additional confidence for first-time business owners.
LegalZoom's greatest strength lies in its access to licensed business attorneys and comprehensive support ecosystem. Both Pro and Premium plans include the Business Attorney Plan for 30 days with unlimited consultations, document reviews, and copyright registrations that provide invaluable legal guidance to save costly mistakes. The 60-day money-back guarantee (valid only before state filing) demonstrates confidence in their service quality, while chat and phone support ensures ongoing assistance. However, this premium positioning comes with significantly higher pricing than competitors, and essential services like registered agent support cost $249/year compared to free first-year offers from other providers.
Bottom line: LegalZoom is ideal for entrepreneurs who value established brand reputation, professional legal support, and comprehensive business formation guidance over budget considerations. While it's not the cheapest option available, the peace of mind that comes with attorney access and premium support makes it worthwhile for businesses with complex needs or first-time entrepreneurs who want expert guidance. If you're willing to invest in premium legal support and want the confidence of working with an industry leader, LegalZoom delivers professional-grade service that justifies its higher pricing.
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