LegalZoom Business Registration Services Review

Entity Types

LegalZoom can assist you in setting up a limited liability company (LLC), S-Corporation, C-Corporation, nonprofit or sole proprietorship. Some business registration services only work with LLCs, so LegalZoom is a great place to begin if you're interested in another business entity type or aren't sure which entity type is right for your business. Whatever you decide upon, LegalZoom can help you get started.

Services

LegalZoom will help you verify that your business name is available and create and submit the appropriate paperwork to your state. It also goes a step further and offers services like business tax assistance, compliance, operating agreements and more. Whatever paperwork you need to get your company off the ground, LegalZoom can probably help. You can purchase these extra services individually or add them to your package for an additional fee.

Because LegalZoom has real lawyers on its payroll, it's also able to offer a unique document review service. If you'd like to save yourself some money, you can try to draw up your business registration documents yourself and then have it reviewed by an attorney to ensure that everything's correct and doesn't leave you exposed to undue risk. This isn't an option most other business registration services offer, so it's worth considering for those interested in taking on the challenge of setting up their business on their own.

Cost

LegalZoom offers three packages -- Economy, Standard, and Express Gold. Each charges a flat fee plus state taxes, which vary depending on where you're setting up your business. Here's a look at the fees for each type of business:

These fees are slightly above average compared to some business registration services, but you also get some additional services that LegalZoom's competitors don't provide, like a free tax savings analysis, unlimited customer support, and a free trial of ClientBooks, an online bookkeeping platform. LegalZoom will also handle any and all communications with your Secretary of State so you can focus on what you do best -- running your business.

Time

The time it will take to submit your business paperwork depends on the package you choose and the state you're filing with. Some states have faster processing times than others, and this is beyond LegalZoom's or any other business registration service's control. Other business registration services enable you to add expedited shipping to any package for an additional fee, but LegalZoom structures it differently. If you want your paperwork completed and filed more quickly, you must pay to upgrade your package. It should indicate how many days it will take LegalZoom to file your paperwork with each of the packages once you start filling out the online form.

Educational Resources

LegalZoom has a knowledge center covering basic legal topics as well as special resources specifically catering to new business owners. There are resources to help you decide which business entity type to choose, which is great for companies just getting off the ground that may not know exactly what they need.

What sets LegalZoom apart in this category is that users can also speak to real lawyers for personalized advice if they don't find what they need in any of the help articles. Customers of other business registration services don't have this opportunity, so move LegalZoom up on your list if you like the idea of having professional help at hand.