On this page13 sections
LegalZoom is a reasonable choice if you want a known brand to file an LLC, will or trademark and like having optional access to independent attorneys. It is legitimate: it has operated since 1999, trades on Nasdaq as LZ, has been BBB accredited since 2001 with an A+ rating, and had formed over 5 million businesses by the end of 2025. The catch is cost creep: the $0 LLC package files only your articles, registered agent service is $249 a year, attorney plans auto-renew after free trials, and refunds stop once a filing is submitted, so you can often do the same filing yourself with your state for just the state fee.
- Company
- LegalZoom.com, Inc., Mountain View, California; founded 1999; Nasdaq: LZ9
- LLC formation
- Basic $0, Pro $249 or Premium $299, plus state filing fees, as listed October 20261
- Registered agent
- $249 a year2
- Wills and trusts
- Wills $149 to $299 for one person; living trusts $399 to $549 for one person, $499 to $649 for couples3
- Trademark
- $899 plus USPTO fees of at least $350 per class for attorney-led registration4
- Attorney access
- Business Attorney Plan $469 a year or $259 every 6 months; Pro and Premium LLC packages include 30 days, then $49 a month5
- Refunds
- Within 60 days if your filing hasn't been submitted to a government agency; 7 days after completion for estate plans; 30 days for subscriptions6
- Size
- Over 5.0 million businesses formed by December 31, 2025; about 1.9 million subscription units; $205.3 million revenue in the second quarter of 20267
- SEC 10-K (legal proceedings)
- None material; LegalZoom's 2025 annual report says it is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings7
Pros
- Long track record, Nasdaq listed and BBB accredited since 2001
- Wide range of business, estate and trademark products in one account
- Optional access to independent attorneys
- Clear 60-day refund window before a filing is submitted
Cons
- The $0 LLC package covers only the articles of organization
- Registered agent at $249 a year costs more than some competitors
- Free trials of attorney and bookkeeping plans renew automatically
- No refund once documents reach a government agency
- 1,402 BBB complaints in three years
Best for: People who want a known brand to handle an LLC, will, trust or trademark online, with attorney help available if questions come up.
Skip it if: You're comfortable filing directly with your state and the IRS, which costs only the government fees.
LegalZoom vs. competitors
| Company | LLC formation fee | Registered agent | Estate plans | Attorney access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LegalZoom | $0, $249 or $299 plus state fees | $249 a year | Wills from $149; trusts from $399 | Plans from $469 a year |
| Inc Authority (owned by LegalZoom) | $0 plus state fees | Free first year; renewal price not published | Not offered | |
| ZenBusiness | $0 plus state fees (Starter) | $199 a year | ||
| Rocket Lawyer | First registration free with membership, then $99 plus state fees | Documents included in membership | Membership $149 to $349 a year; advice sessions from $149 |
LegalZoom pricing at a glance
LegalZoom prices, as listed October 20261
| Product | Price | What's included or renews |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Basic | $0 plus state fee | Articles of organization and name check only |
| LLC Pro | $249 plus state fee | Adds operating agreement, EIN, 30 days of attorney consults (then $49 a month) |
| LLC Premium | $299 plus state fee | Adds 6 months of bookkeeping tools (then $9.99 a month) |
| Registered agent | $249 a year | Renews yearly |
| Will (individual) | $149 Pro, $299 Premium | Pro includes 30 days of attorney consults (then $25 a month); Premium includes 1 year (then $199 a year) |
| Living trust (individual) | $399 Basic, $549 Premium | Couples pay $499 or $649 |
| Trademark registration | $899 plus USPTO fees | USPTO charges at least $350 per class |
| Business Attorney Plan | $469 a year or $259 every 6 months | Unlimited 30-minute consults on new topics |
Several packages include free trials of subscriptions that renew automatically unless you cancel online or by phone.
LegalZoom, step by step
Pick a product and package
Choose a formation, estate plan, trademark or attorney plan. Compare what each package adds, since the cheapest tier often covers only the filing.
Answer the questionnaire
You fill in an online questionnaire. LegalZoom checks your business name and reviews your documents for completeness, not for legal advice.
Filing or delivery
LegalZoom files formation documents with your state, or makes estate documents available to download and ships a printed set.
Optional attorney help
Plans connect you with independent attorneys for 30-minute consultations; LegalZoom itself isn't a law firm in the US except through its Arizona entity.
Manage renewals
Track trial periods for attorney plans, bookkeeping and registered agent service, and cancel any you don't want before they renew.
LegalZoom legitimacy and licensing
Yes. LegalZoom.com, Inc. has operated since 1999, is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and trades on Nasdaq under LZ. Its 2025 annual report says it had formed over 5.0 million businesses and had about 1.9 million subscription units, and it reported $205.3 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2026. The report also says it isn’t a party to any material legal proceedings.
The BBB rates LegalZoom A+ with accreditation since 2001, though it lists 1,402 complaints in three years, and Trustpilot shows 4.6 out of 5 from about 33,500 reviews. In February 2025 LegalZoom bought Formation Nation, the parent of Inc Authority, which now serves as its lower-priced formation brand.
Is LegalZoom a law firm?
No, with one exception. LegalZoom says that apart from its Arizona alternative business structure, it isn’t a law firm in the US and can’t give legal advice through its US companies. Its attorney plans connect you with independent law firms that it pays a monthly fee. That matters because the forms and document checks you buy are self-help tools, not legal advice tailored to your situation.
How much LegalZoom costs
LLC formation costs $0 (Basic), $249 (Pro) or $299 (Premium) plus your state’s filing fee. Basic files only the articles of organization; Pro adds an operating agreement, EIN filing and 30 days of attorney consults; Premium adds 6 months of bookkeeping tools. Registered agent service is $249 a year.
For estate plans, a will costs $149 or $299 for one person and a living trust $399 or $549, with couples paying more. Attorney-led trademark registration is $899 plus USPTO fees of at least $350 per class. The Business Attorney Plan is $469 a year. Watch for trials: Pro LLC packages renew attorney access at $49 a month, Premium adds bookkeeping at $9.99 a month, and will packages renew attorney consults at $25 a month or $199 a year unless you cancel.
What customers say about LegalZoom
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Easy step-by-step questionnaires
- Helpful, patient support agents
- Fast LLC and estate document turnaround
- Convenient access to attorney consultations
Common complaints
- Upselling calls and add-ons at checkout
- Charges from subscriptions that auto-renewed after a trial
- Delays revising documents, especially trusts
- Refunds denied after a filing was submitted
- Support mistakes or limited help on complex questions
LegalZoom refund policy
Under the LZ Guarantee, LegalZoom fixes its own mistakes at no cost. For filed products such as LLCs, you can ask for a refund within 60 days only if the filing hasn’t been submitted to the state; once it’s submitted, there’s no refund, and a bundle becomes nonrefundable if any part was submitted. Non-filed products such as operating agreements can be refunded within 60 days if not completed, or 7 days after completion. Estate plans are refundable up to 7 days after the first document is completed. Subscriptions are refundable within 30 days, but legal plans aren’t once you’ve had an attorney consultation.
LegalZoom complaints and how to avoid problems
Most complaints involve add-ons and renewals rather than failed filings: subscriptions that started after a free trial, upsell calls, refunds denied after a filing was submitted, and slow revisions on trusts.
- Compare the package you need with the state’s own filing; for many LLCs the state fee is the only required cost.
- Note the end date of every free trial and cancel online or at 888-310-0151 before it renews.
- Decline registered agent service if you can serve as your own agent at a physical address.
- Get your EIN directly from the IRS for free.
- Review estate documents promptly, since the refund window is only 7 days after completion.
What you can do without LegalZoom
You can file LLC articles directly with your secretary of state, act as your own registered agent if you have a street address in the state and are available during business hours, and apply for an EIN on IRS.gov for free. Simple wills can be drafted with state-specific forms, but a will must meet your state’s signing and witness rules to be valid. For trademarks, the USPTO accepts applications directly, though an attorney can help with clearance searches and office actions.
Alternatives to LegalZoom
- File with your state yourself Forming an LLC directly with your secretary of state costs only the state fee, you can be your own registered agent, and an EIN from the IRS is free.
- Inc Authority LegalZoom's own lower-priced formation brand, with a $0 service fee and a free first year of registered agent service. Read review
- Rocket Lawyer Better if you want ongoing document templates and occasional attorney help for a flat yearly membership.
- A local attorney Worth paying for a complex estate, multi-owner business or trademark dispute where tailored advice matters more than a form.
LegalZoom reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used LegalZoom, yours will be the first.
Write a reviewHow do I know I can trust these reviews about LegalZoom?
- Every reviewer confirms an email address before a review can publish.
- Our moderators read every review before it publishes.
- Companies can respond publicly but can never edit, hide or remove a review.
- Paying BestGuide never changes the reader rating or which reviews publish.
Frequently asked questions
Can you trust LegalZoom?
Yes. LegalZoom has operated since 1999, trades on Nasdaq as LZ and has been BBB accredited with an A+ rating since 2001. It had formed over 5 million businesses by the end of 2025.
How much does LegalZoom charge to form an LLC?
$0 for Basic, $249 for Pro or $299 for Premium, plus your state's filing fee, as listed October 2026. Basic includes only the articles of organization and a name check.
Is LegalZoom's $0 LLC really free?
The service fee is $0, but you still pay the state filing fee, and Basic doesn't include an operating agreement, EIN or registered agent. Those cost extra or come with higher packages.
How much is LegalZoom's registered agent service?
$249 a year, renewing annually. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a physical address in the state.
How much does a will cost on LegalZoom?
$149 for the Pro Will or $299 for the Premium Will for one person. Couples pay $249 for Pro. Living trusts start at $399.
Does LegalZoom give refunds?
Yes, within limits. Formation orders are refundable within 60 days only if not yet submitted to the state; estate plans within 7 days of completion; subscriptions within 30 days unless you've used an attorney consultation.
Does LegalZoom operate as a law firm?
No. Except for its Arizona entity, LegalZoom isn't a law firm in the US and can't give legal advice. Its plans connect you with independent attorneys.
How do I cancel a LegalZoom subscription?
Cancel online in your account or by calling 888-310-0151. Do it before a trial ends to avoid the renewal charge.
Is LegalZoom better than ZenBusiness?
Both start at $0 plus state fees for an LLC. ZenBusiness lists registered agent service at $199 a year versus $249 at LegalZoom, while LegalZoom offers a broader set of estate and trademark services.
Who owns Inc Authority?
LegalZoom. It bought Inc Authority's parent, Formation Nation, in February 2025 and uses it as its lower-priced formation brand.
Sources (14)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- LegalZoom: Form an LLC (Basic, Pro, Premium packages) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- LegalZoom: Registered agent services (accessed October 13, 2026)
- LegalZoom: Compare estate plans (wills and trusts) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- LegalZoom: Trademark registration (accessed October 13, 2026)
- LegalZoom: Attorney plans (accessed October 13, 2026)
- LegalZoom: LZ Guarantee (refund policy) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- SEC EDGAR: LegalZoom.com, Inc. Form 10-K for 2025 (accessed October 13, 2026)
- SEC EDGAR: LegalZoom second quarter 2026 results (August 5, 2026) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: LegalZoom, Mountain View, CA (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Trustpilot: LegalZoom reviews (accessed October 13, 2026)
- SEC EDGAR: LegalZoom announces acquisition of Formation Nation (Inc Authority), February 2025 (accessed October 13, 2026)
- ZenBusiness: Pricing (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Rocket Lawyer: Pricing (accessed October 13, 2026)
- IRS: Get an employer identification number (accessed October 13, 2026)
BestGuide is free to use. Some companies we review pay us when you visit their site or contact them through us. Compensation may influence which companies we feature and their order. It doesn't change what our reviews say. Advertising disclosure