ZenBusiness vs Bizee 2026: Which $0 LLC Service Wins?
By Frédéric Deltour, Entrepreneur and Business Consultant, 22+ years forming and operating companies.
Published: May 1, 2026 · Last updated: May 5, 2026
| ZenBusiness | Bizee | |
|---|---|---|
| Formation fee | $0 Starter / $199 Pro / $349 Premium | $0 Basic / $199 Standard / $299 Premium |
| Registered agent (year 1) | $199/year extra on Starter and Pro | Free for year 1 on all plans |
| Registered agent renewal | $199/year | $119/year |
| Processing speed | 7 to 10 days (Starter); 1 day (Pro) | 1 business day (all plans) |
| Dashboard quality | Best in industry | Functional, recently redesigned |
| Data sharing | Standard policy | Shares data with marketing partners |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.4/5 | 4.7/5 (17,000+ reviews) |
| 5-year RA total | $995 ($199 x 5) | $476 (free yr 1 + 4 x $119) |
What's on this page
Real Total Cost Over 5 Years
Both ZenBusiness and Bizee advertise $0 formation. The real cost difference lies in registered agent fees, which every LLC must pay every year.
| Year | ZenBusiness (Starter + RA) | Bizee (Basic + RA) | Northwest ($39 + RA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $0 formation + $199 RA = $199 + state fee | $0 formation + $0 RA (included) = $0 + state fee | $39 + state fee (RA included) |
| Year 2 | $199 RA renewal | $119 RA renewal | $125 RA renewal |
| Year 3 | $199 | $119 | $125 |
| Year 4 | $199 | $119 | $125 |
| Year 5 | $199 | $119 | $125 |
| 5-year total (excl. state fee) | $995 | $476 | $539 |
Formation Speed
Bizee processes and submits your formation documents within 1 business day on all plans, including the free Basic plan. This is a significant advantage over ZenBusiness's Starter plan, which takes 7 to 10 business days. On the Pro plan ($199), ZenBusiness also offers 1-day processing, putting the two services at parity for the mid-tier. ZenBusiness's Starter plan speed disadvantage is one of the strongest arguments for choosing Bizee's Basic plan if you want fast formation at zero cost.
Features Compared
| Feature | ZenBusiness | Bizee | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard / UX | Best in industry; clean, mobile app, progress tracking | Functional; recently redesigned but less polished | ZenBusiness |
| Compliance reminders | Strong Worry-Free Compliance tools | Lifetime compliance notifications (all plans) | ZenBusiness (more robust tools) |
| Year-1 RA included on free plan | No ($199/year extra) | Yes (free year 1) | Bizee |
| RA renewal cost | $199/year | $119/year | Bizee |
| Default processing speed | 7 to 10 days (Starter) | 1 business day (all plans) | Bizee |
| Operating agreement | Included in Pro/Premium; $99 on Starter | $30 add-on | Bizee (cheaper add-on) |
| EIN obtainment | Included in Pro; $99 on Starter | $70 add-on | Bizee (cheaper add-on) |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.4/5 | 4.7/5 (17,000+ reviews) | Bizee (slightly) |
| Mobile app | Yes | No | ZenBusiness |
| AI assistant | Yes (Velo) | No | ZenBusiness |
Privacy and Data Practices
Both ZenBusiness and Bizee share customer contact information with marketing partners per their privacy policies. This means signing up with either service may result in receiving marketing communications from third parties. Bizee's data-sharing practices are particularly well-documented, with multiple independent reviewers noting increased marketing communications after formation.
Neither ZenBusiness nor Bizee uses their address on your state filings by default to protect your personal address from public records. Northwest Registered Agent uses their own address on state filings for all customers, keeping your personal home address off publicly searchable business databases. For founders forming an LLC specifically for privacy reasons, this distinction matters.
Who Should Choose Which
Choose ZenBusiness if:
You want the best dashboard experience and mobile app. You value polished compliance tracking tools. You are comfortable paying $199/year for registered agent service. You want access to the Velo AI assistant for business guidance.
Choose Bizee if:
You want the lowest possible year-1 cost (free formation and free year-1 registered agent). You want 1-day default processing without paying for a Pro plan. The $119/year ongoing registered agent cost fits your budget better than ZenBusiness's $199/year. You do not mind the data-sharing practices or post-signup marketing communications.
Consider Northwest Registered Agent instead if:
Privacy is a priority. You want a service that does not sell or share your data. You want the best long-term value: $39 formation with year-1 RA included, $125/year ongoing. You want human customer support without a sales agenda.
The Better Option Both Miss
| Factor | ZenBusiness | Bizee | Northwest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year-1 total | $199 + state fee | $0 + state fee (RA included) | $39 + state fee (RA included) |
| RA renewal | $199/year | $119/year | $125/year |
| Data sharing | Standard | Shares with marketing partners | Never sells data |
| Privacy protection | No | No | Yes (their address on filings) |
| Default speed | 7 to 10 days | 1 business day | Same day to 1 business day |
| Operating agreement template | $99 on Starter | $30 add-on | Included in $39 |
Still Unsure?
If you are not sure which service is right for your situation, start with Northwest Registered Agent. $39 formation, registered agent included year one, privacy protection by default. You can always change later, but Northwest gives most LLC owners the best starting point.
Form Your LLC with Northwest ($39) →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between ZenBusiness and Bizee?
The most meaningful differences are: registered agent cost (ZenBusiness $199/year vs. Bizee $119/year), year-1 registered agent inclusion (Bizee includes it free; ZenBusiness charges $199 even on the free Starter plan), default processing speed (Bizee submits within 1 business day on all plans; ZenBusiness Starter takes 7 to 10 days), and dashboard quality (ZenBusiness has the best UI in the industry; Bizee's is functional but less polished). Bizee is cheaper long-term. ZenBusiness is a better product experience.
Is Bizee (formerly Incfile) still a good service?
Yes. The rebrand from Incfile to Bizee in 2023 did not change the core service or team. Bizee has formed over 1 million businesses, holds a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating, and delivers reliable formation at low cost. The main documented downsides are data-sharing practices and a checkout process with multiple upsells. For budget-focused founders who do not prioritize privacy, Bizee is a legitimate and effective choice.
Can I switch from ZenBusiness to Bizee or vice versa?
You cannot transfer your LLC formation between services, but you can switch your registered agent at any time. File a change of registered agent form with your state, designate the new provider, and notify the old one to cancel. State fees are typically $0 to $50. If you started with ZenBusiness and want to switch to Bizee's lower-cost registered agent ($119/year vs. $199/year), this saves $80/year with a one-time switch cost.
Related Guides
- ZenBusiness Review 2026
- Bizee Review 2026
- Northwest Registered Agent Review
- Northwest vs ZenBusiness
- Cheapest LLC Formation Service 2026
Frédéric Deltour Entrepreneur, Business Consultant & Author · 22+ years experience
Frédéric has founded and operated businesses across multiple countries, including 3 LLCs formed using Northwest Registered Agent. He writes about LLC formation, tax strategy, and business structuring based on first-hand experience.
FTC Disclosure: OnlineLLCGuide.com earns affiliate commissions when you use our links. These commissions do not affect our ratings, rankings, or editorial positions. Every recommendation reflects genuine analysis and first-hand experience.
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