LLC service comparison
Bizee vs ZenBusiness (2026)
Last updated · Research verified from provider pages and third-party review sources.
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Bizee and ZenBusiness both advertise budget-friendly LLC formation. The difference is the registered agent math. Bizee currently bundles the first year of registered agent service with formation, while ZenBusiness charges extra for it on Starter.
Short answer: Bizee is the better choice for most people.
Bizee is the better choice if the goal is the lowest real year-one LLC formation cost. ZenBusiness has a tidier brand, but the registered agent add-on makes the Starter plan more expensive for the founder who needs privacy.
| Compare | Bizee | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0 + state fee | $0 + state fee |
| Real year-1 cost | $0 + state fee | $99 + state fee |
| Registered agent included | Yes | No |
| Registered agent renewal | $119/yr after year 1 | $199/yr renewal |
| Upsells during checkout | Heavy | Light |
| Processing speed | Varies by state and checkout selections | 7-10 business days on Starter |
| Privacy protection | Yes | Yes |
Why we recommend Bizee over ZenBusiness
Bizee wins on the number that matters for a first-time founder: real year-one cost before state fees. Its entry offer is $0 plus state fee and currently includes registered agent service for the first year.
ZenBusiness still advertises a $0 Starter package, but the registered agent is not included on that path. Once the registered agent is added, the practical year-one cost moves above Bizee.
Registered agent renewal also favors Bizee in the current LLCAtlas data. Bizee lists $119 per year after year one, while ZenBusiness renews at $199 per year.
The tradeoff is buying friction. Bizee is cheaper, but the user needs to stay alert and avoid extras that do not solve a real formation problem.
Detailed feature comparison
The year-one and year-two totals are the numbers to watch. The teaser price matters less than what you pay after the registered agent is included.
| Feature | Bizee | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Formation price | $0 + state fee | $0 + state fee |
| Registered agent year 1 | Included free for year 1 | $99 on Starter |
| Registered agent renewal | $119/yr | $199/yr |
| Checkout pressure | Higher; more upgrade-driven | Moderate |
| Best reason to choose it | Lowest real year-one cost | More familiar platform feel |
| Main drawback | More upsell friction | Registered agent adds cost |
| Real year-1 total | $0 + state fee | $99 + state fee |
| Real year-2 total | $119 | $199 |
Where Bizee wins
Bizee wins the registered agent math
The first-year registered agent bundle is the difference. If the user wants an LLC service partly to keep a home address off public filings, Bizee gives that privacy layer at a lower year-one cost.
The renewal gap matters too
Bizee renewal is currently $119 per year in the LLCAtlas data. ZenBusiness renewal is $199 per year. That gap compounds if the user keeps the service for several years.
Where ZenBusiness wins
This is still a real comparison. The losing service can have good reasons to exist.
ZenBusiness has the cleaner platform story
ZenBusiness can feel more polished and familiar to a user who wants one branded dashboard for formation add-ons. That may be worth paying for, but it is not the cheapest path.
ZenBusiness is still a viable budget provider
This is not a warning page. ZenBusiness loses because of the registered agent math, not because the service is disqualified.
Narrow exception
When to pick ZenBusiness instead
Pick ZenBusiness if you want a more familiar platform-style brand and are comfortable paying more once registered agent service is included. It is reasonable, just not the cheapest real path.
The real cost comparison
The clean way to compare these services is to walk through what a normal founder actually pays.
Bizee starts at $0 plus the state fee and currently includes one free year of registered agent service. For a home-based founder who wants privacy, that bundle matters.
ZenBusiness Starter also starts at $0 plus the state fee, but registered agent service is not included on Starter. LLCAtlas currently tracks that first-year registered agent cost at $99, with renewal at $199 per year.
That makes the first-year comparison simple: Bizee is $0 plus state fee before optional extras, while ZenBusiness is $99 plus state fee if you add the registered agent most founders are comparing.
If you skip registered agent service entirely, both headline offers look similar. But most first-time founders comparing services are doing it partly for the registered agent and privacy layer.
Research notes
How we researched this comparison
We compared real year-one cost, registered agent inclusion, registered agent renewal, checkout pressure, and whether the advertised $0 formation path is enough for a normal first-time founder.
What we checked
- We count registered agent service because privacy is one of the main reasons a home-based founder uses a formation service.
- We rank real year-one cost above homepage teaser pricing.
- We do not count optional EIN, operating agreement, or rush processing add-ons unless they are required for the cheapest practical path.
- Affiliate relationships do not change the recommendation. If ZenBusiness becomes cheaper on the registered agent bundle, this page should change.
Primary sources
FAQ
The questions people ask when they are already down to these two options.
Is Bizee cheaper than ZenBusiness?
Yes, based on current LLCAtlas service data. Bizee is $0 plus the state fee with first-year registered agent service currently included. ZenBusiness Starter is $0 plus the state fee, but registered agent service costs extra.
Is ZenBusiness bad?
No. ZenBusiness is a reasonable budget formation service. It loses this matchup because the Starter plan is not as cheap once registered agent service is included.
Which has cheaper registered agent renewal?
Bizee is cheaper in the current data: $119 per year after the first year versus ZenBusiness at $199 per year.
Which one should a first-time founder choose?
Choose Bizee if lowest real year-one cost matters most. Choose ZenBusiness if you prefer its platform and are comfortable paying more for the registered agent path.
Final verdict
Bizee is the better pick
Bizee is the better pick for budget-first founders comparing these two. ZenBusiness is still a viable service, but once you enforce a real-cost comparison instead of stopping at the $0 headline, Bizee wins.
Related guides
Use these next if you want the broader service ranking or state-specific filing rules.