The cheapest LLC package is not always the least expensive choice. A $0 filing offer can turn into a much larger bill once registered-agent coverage, an EIN, an operating agreement, subscriptions, and state charges enter the picture.
Both companies prepare and submit formation documents, but they are built for different buyers.
LegalZoom has the stronger name, a much wider legal-services catalog, and access to attorney consultations through a subscription. Bizee is the leaner formation specialist. It gives budget-conscious founders more practical formation extras, especially a free first year of registered-agent service.
For straightforward LLC formations, Bizee offers better first-year value. LegalZoom makes more sense when you want a larger legal platform, expect attorney guidance, or prefer dealing with a long-established national brand.
Brand Overview: LegalZoom
LegalZoom launched in 2001 and became a well-known US online legal-service company. It also handles trademarks, wills, legal forms, registered-agent service, and attorney subscriptions.
Its personality is polished and broad. The website guides a beginner through a structured questionnaire and then presents related services. That feels reassuring if legal paperwork makes you nervous. It can feel sales-heavy if you already know exactly what you need.
Its advantage is the surrounding system: phone and chat support, document products, and optional access to attorneys. That broad catalog also creates its weakness. There are many add-ons and subscriptions to assess.
Brand Overview: Bizee
Bizee began in 2004 as Incfile and adopted its current name in 2023. It focuses on formations, registered agents, compliance filings, EIN applications, and amendments.
The vibe is more practical than LegalZoom’s. Bizee competes hard on price. Its entry package has no service fee, and a year of registered-agent service is included with its formation packages. That inclusion is meaningful, not decorative. A commercial registered agent often costs well over $100 per year.
Bizee is not a law firm and does not offer the same attorney-access experience as LegalZoom. If your ownership structure is unusual or members are in conflict, a filing platform is not a substitute for your own lawyer.
Pricing and Packages
The prices below are service charges. Your state will add its own mandatory filing fee. That fee can be modest in one state and several hundred dollars in another.
| Tier | LegalZoom | Bizee | Main inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Basic: $0 | Basic: $0 | Formation document preparation and filing; Bizee also includes one year of registered-agent service |
| Middle | Pro: $249 | Standard: $199 | Both add an operating agreement and EIN service; inclusions around documents and support differ |
| Top | Premium: $299 | Premium: $299 | LegalZoom adds bookkeeping tools; Bizee adds faster handling and a larger business-document bundle |
LegalZoom Basic: $0 plus state fees
Basic covers the core filing work. LegalZoom checks the proposed business name, prepares the Articles of Organization, submits them to the state, and supplies a digital welcome packet after formation.
It does not include an operating agreement, EIN service, or registered-agent service. You may serve as your own registered agent if you meet your state’s rules, but your address may become public and you must be available during business hours to receive official papers.
Basic works if you can handle the remaining setup. The danger is assuming $0 means the LLC costs nothing. You still pay the state, and optional services raise the total.
LegalZoom Pro: $249 plus state fees
Pro adds an operating agreement and EIN application. It also includes access to customizable legal documents and e-signatures for stated periods, plus a 30-day business attorney-plan subscription.
Watch that attorney benefit closely. The included period converts to a paid plan at $49 per month unless canceled. Attorney consultations are useful, but this is not unlimited representation for every legal dispute. Consultations generally cover new legal topics and come with plan conditions.
Pro is convenient, but $249 is steep for a simple LLC. You can get an EIN free from the IRS and prepare an agreement yourself.
LegalZoom Premium: $299 plus state fees
Premium includes the Pro features and adds bookkeeping functions such as invoicing, expense tracking, and mileage capture. The bookkeeping subscription is included for six months and then renews at $9.99 per month unless canceled.
This tier costs only $50 more than Pro, but it is valuable only if you will use the bookkeeping product. Buyers who already use accounting software gain little.
Bizee Basic: $0 plus state fees
Bizee Basic prepares and files the formation paperwork and includes one year of registered-agent service. That makes it one of the stronger entry offers for a founder who does not want to publish a home address or remain available for service of process all day.
The free year is temporary. Coverage renews at Bizee’s then-current rate, commonly listed around $119 per year, unless you cancel or appoint a replacement. Changing agents may involve a state fee.
Basic does not bundle EIN preparation or a full operating-agreement package. Still, a hands-on founder can get an EIN free from the IRS and create an agreement separately.
Bizee Standard: $199 plus state fees
Standard is the practical middle package. It adds an EIN application, an operating agreement, banking resolution, organizational minutes, and related business documents. It keeps the included first year of registered-agent service.
For a typical LLC, this bundle covers the documents most owners expect. Whether it is worth $199 depends on how much you value convenience.
Bizee Premium: $299 plus state fees
Premium adds expedited Bizee order handling, a domain and business email offer, and a broader document or contract library. Exact third-party and promotional inclusions can change, so judge this tier by what appears in your checkout cart.
Expedited handling does not guarantee fast state approval. The Secretary of State controls government processing, and state rush fees may be separate.
Key Features Head-to-Head
Ease of Use and Dashboard
LegalZoom has a polished questionnaire and explains unfamiliar terms well. That helps first-time founders. Its dashboard can also become a central place for formation records, legal documents, trademarks, and subscription services.
The tradeoff is a longer buying path with more recommendations. Read the final cart line by line and identify every recurring charge.
Bizee’s dashboard tracks orders, stores documents, and displays compliance information. Its simplicity suits owners who only want an LLC filed.
Speed of Formation
There are two clocks in an LLC filing. The first is the service’s internal handling time. The second is the state’s processing time. Marketing language often blends them together.
Bizee gives higher-tier customers faster internal handling. LegalZoom also processes and submits orders based on its workflow and available state options. Neither company can force a state office to approve an LLC immediately.
Before paying, ask when the company will transmit the filing, what the state’s turnaround is, and whether a government expedite charge is separate.
Registered-Agent Services
A registered agent receives lawsuits, subpoenas, and official state notices for the LLC. The agent needs a physical address in the formation state and must generally be available during normal business hours.
Bizee includes this service for the first year with its LLC packages. That is the biggest financial difference between the entry plans. It provides privacy and keeps official mail from relying on your daily schedule.
LegalZoom sells registered-agent coverage separately rather than including it in the LLC packages. Its advertised pricing and promotions can vary by order and term, so confirm the checkout total and renewal rate before buying. LegalZoom may offer additional compliance features, but founders primarily seeking a low-cost agent will usually find Bizee more attractive.
The service becomes recurring. Before canceling, appoint a new agent and file any required state change.
Operating Agreement
An operating agreement sets the LLC’s internal rules. It can address ownership percentages, voting rights, profit distributions, management powers, member exits, and what happens when owners disagree.
It is especially important for a multi-member LLC. A generic template may not handle unequal investments, intellectual property, buyouts, or a deadlock.
LegalZoom includes an operating agreement in Pro and Premium. Bizee includes one in Standard and Premium. Bizee’s comparable middle tier is $50 cheaper and includes the first registered-agent year.
EIN Service
An Employer Identification Number is the federal tax ID used to identify a business. You may need it to hire employees, open a business bank account, work with payment processors, or file certain tax returns.
LegalZoom includes EIN preparation in Pro and Premium. Bizee includes it in Standard and Premium. The service is convenient because the company completes the application from your answers.
The IRS does not charge for an EIN. Eligible applicants can apply online and often receive it during the session. A formation company’s charge is for convenience.
Customer Support Quality
LegalZoom offers phone and chat support. Its wide service menu helps when a question crosses into trademarks, documents, or attorney-plan access.
Negative review themes include busy-period waits, renewal confusion, repeated transfers, and a gap between sales support and legal advice. LegalZoom’s size can make the experience feel less personal.
Bizee’s support focuses on business filings. Positive feedback points to low costs and the free agent year. Criticism often concerns delayed responses or order status.
Reviews need context. Look for repeated patterns, recent dates, and company responses rather than one dramatic complaint.
LegalZoom Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong, established national brand
- $0 Basic formation service before state fees
- Broad range of legal and business products
- Operating agreement and EIN included in paid tiers
- Optional attorney consultations through a subscription
- Phone and chat support
Cons
- Registered-agent service costs extra
- Pro costs more than Bizee Standard
- Checkout includes many add-on opportunities
- Included subscriptions may renew automatically
- Standard documents may not suit a complex company
Bizee Pros and Cons
Pros
- $0 Basic formation service before state fees
- One year of registered-agent service included
- Standard package combines EIN and operating documents for $199
- Formation-focused dashboard and ordering process
- Better first-year value for many simple LLCs
- Premium tier provides faster internal handling
Cons
- Registered-agent service renews after the free year
- Less access to legal guidance than LegalZoom
- Support complaints appear in customer reviews
- Promotional third-party features may have limited value
- Faster handling does not guarantee faster state approval
Hidden Costs and Upsells
Every package requires a state filing fee. Your state may also impose annual reports, franchise taxes, publication costs, or licensing fees.
With Bizee, watch the registered-agent renewal. The first year removes a real upfront expense, but year two is not free. Put the renewal date and current price on your calendar.
With LegalZoom, pay close attention to subscription trials included with paid packages. The Pro and Premium descriptions state that the 30-day attorney plan renews at $49 per month unless canceled. Premium’s bookkeeping service renews after six months at $9.99 per month. These services may be worthwhile, but only when you knowingly choose them.
Both checkouts offer extras. An offer is not automatically a legal requirement. Sort each into required now, useful later, or unnecessary.
Real User Verdict Based on Industry Reputation
LegalZoom wins on recognition and range. Buyers who want one account for documents, legal subscriptions, trademarks, and estate planning may value that scale.
Bizee has the sharper reputation as a budget formation specialist. Its free first agent year and lower-priced Standard package give it an advantage for routine formations.
Neither company is your personal law firm. Support can explain an order, but it cannot redesign a complicated ownership agreement or resolve member disputes.
Final Comparison Table
| Category | LegalZoom | Bizee | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry formation fee | $0 plus state fee | $0 plus state fee | Tie |
| Middle package | Pro, $249 | Standard, $199 | Bizee |
| Top package | Premium, $299 | Premium, $299 | Depends on features needed |
| First-year registered agent | Separate purchase | Included | Bizee |
| Operating agreement | Pro and Premium | Standard and Premium | Bizee on price |
| EIN preparation | Pro and Premium | Standard and Premium | Bizee on price |
| Attorney access | Subscription-based access available | No comparable core feature | LegalZoom |
| Internal rush handling | Varies by order and options | Premium priority handling | Bizee |
| Legal-service range | Very broad | Business-focused | LegalZoom |
| Best for | Owners wanting a wider legal platform | Budget-focused, straightforward LLCs | Depends on buyer |
The Verdict: LegalZoom or Bizee?
Choose Bizee if your main goal is to form a straightforward LLC at a sensible first-year cost. Its Basic package is unusually useful because it combines a $0 service fee with a free first year of registered-agent coverage. Standard is the stronger paid value when you also want EIN handling and an operating-agreement package.
Choose LegalZoom if you want a broader legal relationship. Its platform is better suited to an owner who expects to buy legal forms, seek attorney consultations, file a trademark, or manage other personal and business legal tasks through one recognizable provider. Just review every renewal and add-on before paying.
For most solo founders, start with Bizee Basic, get the EIN free from the IRS, and prepare a suitable operating agreement. Choose Standard if convenience is worth $199.
LegalZoom is not a bad service. It is simply harder to call it the better formation value. Its case becomes stronger when you will genuinely use its legal ecosystem, not merely because its name is familiar.
Before ordering, save the final cart. Confirm the service fee, state fee, agent renewal, subscription terms, and delivery estimate.