LegalZoom LLC Review, Features, Pricing, Alternatives And More.

LegalZoom LLC is a trusted and reliable provider of LLC formation and legal services for small business owners and entrepreneurs. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, they have helped millions of businesses with their services, establishing a reputation for excellence and reliability.

What Is LegalZoom?

LegalZoom is a trusted and reliable provider of LLC formation and legal services for small business owners. LegalZoom’s LLC formation services are designed to be affordable, efficient, and easy to use. They offer a range of packages that cater to the unique needs of different businesses, including a comprehensive package that includes registered agent services and annual report filing.

In addition to LLC formation, LegalZoom offers a wide range of legal services that cover everything from contract review to intellectual property protection. Their team of experts is available to answer any questions and provide guidance throughout the process, making it easy for clients to access the legal support they need.

LegalZoom LLC Pros

Industry Experience:

LegalZoom LLC is a trusted leader in the online legal services industry, having been in operation for over 20 years. In that time, the company has assisted over 2 million entrepreneurs and small business owners in making their dream of forming a company a reality. With such extensive experience and a proven track record, LegalZoom is well-equipped to handle a variety of legal needs for businesses of all sizes.

LegalZoom’s experienced legal professionals can help guide business owners through the process of incorporating, filing for trademarks or patents, drafting and reviewing contracts, and more. They also offer legal advice and support as needed

Inexpensive Business Consultation Strategy:

LegalZoom’s Business Advisory Plan is an excellent solution for business owners who need year-round legal assistance. This plan offers affordable, flat monthly fees for access to experienced attorneys who can help with a range of legal needs. Whether it’s assistance with contracts, agreements, legal forms, copyrights, or just general legal advice, the Business Advisory Plan provides ongoing support and protection for businesses.

The cost-effectiveness of the Business Advisory Plan and excellent customer service is one of its key features. Rather than paying for individual legal services on an ad-hoc basis, businesses can take advantage of this plan to get the legal help they need on an ongoing basis.

Expanded Customer Assistance Hours:

LegalZoom is known for its exceptional customer support, which sets it apart from many of its competitors. One of the key advantages of using LegalZoom is its extended support contact hours, which means that you can get in touch with the support team seven days a week.

The US-based support team is available via phone, email, and live chat from 5 am to 7 pm (PT) Monday through Friday, and from 7 am to 4 pm on weekends. This makes it easy for customers to get help and support when they need it, even if it’s outside of normal business hours. For this reason, there are a good amount of LegalZoom LLC formation customer reviews.

Superb Client Assistance:

LegalZoom has been working hard to improve its customer support in recent years, and it shows. While there were some complaints in the past about inconsistent and disappointing support, current customers consistently report excellent experiences with LegalZoom’s support team.

Customers often commend their support representatives by name, indicating a strong connection between customers and the support team. The support team is known for being friendly, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable, which is exactly what you want from a support crew.

Lengthy Warranty Period:

LegalZoom is also offered a unique satisfaction guarantee that sets it apart from other online legal service providers. While many providers offer some kind of satisfaction guarantee, LegalZoom gives its customers an impressive two months to leverage the offer.

If you’re unsatisfied with LegalZoom’s services and the scope of their duties, they’ll correct the situation or provide a 100% refund on its services, no questions asked. This guarantee demonstrates LegalZoom’s commitment to customer satisfaction and its confidence in the quality of its services.

LegalZoom LLC Cons

Excessive Upsells:

When using LegalZoom to form your business, be prepared to face several upsells before reaching the package selection screen. This process can be cumbersome and assumes that you will use LegalZoom’s registered agent service, without clear advice on the costs involved. Some of the upsells, such as an operating agreement and EIN, are things that other providers already include in their packages, which may make LegalZoom less cost-effective.

Extended Response Time:

LegalZoom’s business formation turnaround times are relatively slow compared to its competitors. While some providers can deliver your formation documents within 7 business days, LegalZoom takes up to 30 days to complete the process. Even their “expedited” services are relatively slow, with the quickest turnaround being 10 business days.

Expensive Registered Agent Services:

This content presents a comparison between LegalZoom and its competitors in terms of registered agent services. It notes that LegalZoom’s registered agent services are more expensive than most of its competitors, with a yearly fee of $299 compared to the average of around $150 per year. Additionally, it highlights that some providers such as Incfile and ZenBusiness offer registered agent services for free for the first year of business.

LegalZoom LLC Additional Features With Price:

1. LLC Operating Agreements For $99:

LegalZoom offers a service to create an LLC Operating Agreement for you for $99. They will ask you a few questions about your company to generate the agreement. If you prefer to save $99, you can find an operating agreement template online. However, keep in mind that the type of operating agreement your business requires depends on its functions, and not every template will be appropriate. So, it’s important to be careful and choose a template that’s suitable for your business.

2. LLC Operating Agreement + EIN Bundle For $159:

LegalZoom provides a convenient business formation bundle that includes the preparation of an LLC Operating Agreement and obtaining an EIN for your company for $159. This can be helpful if you’re extremely busy and don’t have the time to fill out a template and request an EIN from the IRS. However, it’s important to note that both of these things can be obtained for free.

You can download an LLC Operating Agreement template and complete it at home. Additionally, you can request a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS online.

3. LLC Operating Agreement + EIN + Business Licenses Bundle For $199:

LegalZoom’s business formation package for $199 includes the preparation of an LLC Operating Agreement, obtaining an EIN for your LLC, and acquiring business licenses if necessary. However, you can create your own LLC Operating Agreement for free, and you can also apply for an EIN at no cost.

Additionally, LegalZoom collaborates with a third-party firm to determine whether your company requires a license to operate. They will provide you with a report indicating which applications you need to file (if any), but they don’t assist you in completing them or cover any filing fees.

4. Registered Agent Services $299 Per Year:

LegalZoom offers LLC Registered Agent services for $299 per year. While this service is available early in the registration process, it’s important to note that many LLC formation businesses provide this service for free during the first year.

5. Annual Report For $55 Annually:

LegalZoom offers to file your LLC’s Annual Report for a fee of $55 plus state filing fees per year. However, Annual Reports are typically straightforward and can be completed easily by verifying your LLC’s details (company address and registered agent information) and paying the charge. It’s important to note that you can complete this process on your own and avoid this extra charge.

6. Compliance Calendar $69 Per Year:

LegalZoom offers a Compliance Calendar service for LLCs for $69 per year, which is designed to keep track of important dates and deadlines for your business. However, it’s important to note that LLCs have very few deadlines to adhere to. The only deadlines for an LLC are typically the Annual Report and federal, state, and local tax filings. Paying $69 for a calendar that only tracks a few dates may not be necessary for most LLCs.

7. Minutes Manager $99 Per Year:

LegalZoom’s Minutes Manager product costs $99 per year and provides templates and processes for holding business meetings. However, it’s important to note that LLCs are not required by law to keep formal meeting minutes as corporations do. The meetings of an LLC can be informal, and the minutes can be documented in a simple document. As an LLC owner, you should document all changes in control or structure, but this can be done without the need for expensive templates or processes.

8. Legal Forms:

LegalZoom’s legal forms library is a popular service that provides auto-completed legal forms based on a questionnaire. You can pay for a single document or a monthly subscription to access and download multiple forms. The forms are only available in PDF format and cannot be edited. If you need to make changes, you’ll need to fill out the questionnaire and pay the fee again.

9. LegalZoom Lifetime Customer Support

While LegalZoom advertises lifetime customer support service, the quality of the support may vary. In our experience, representatives may prioritize sales over answering specific questions and may require detailed information about your business before providing helpful support

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it Easy to Cancel LegalZoom?

It’s worth noting that cancellation policies may vary depending on the specific plan or service you have with LegalZoom, so it’s always a good idea to review the terms and conditions or contact customer service for more information.

What are the Legal Shield Program and the Business Consultation Plan?

The Legal Protect Plan offers 30-minute consultations with an attorney and access to a limited selection of legal documents from LegalZoom’s library, while the Business Advisory Plan includes tax advice, attorney assistance, access to a broader selection of legal documents, and other features such as a business evaluation tool and a business health checkup.

When Is the Best Time to Contact LegalZoom Customer Support?

if you need to contact LegalZoom customer support, the best time to do so is during their working hours. LegalZoom customer support is available by phone and online chat from Monday to Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT, and on weekends from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Is LegalZoom worth it?

While LegalZoom may not be the most cost-effective option for forming a limited liability company, it does offer some benefits such as convenience and customer support. However, it’s worth considering other services or doing it yourself if you’re looking to save money in the long run. It’s important to weigh the benefits and costs of each option to determine the best fit for your needs.

Is LegalZoom a good way to start an LLC?

LegalZoom is a well-known and established brand that offers a range of services for business formation and legal needs. While it may be a good option for some people who are willing to pay the additional cost for professional guidance and services, there are also other options available that may be more cost-effective. It ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences.