ZenBusiness vs Incfile: Detailed Comparison

If you’ve been researching LLC formation services, you’ve probably run into these two names constantly. They’re both aimed at the same customer: someone who wants to skip the DIY paperwork headache but doesn’t want to pay a lawyer $1,500 to file a simple LLC. Here’s what you actually need to know before picking one.

One quick note up front: Incfile rebranded to Bizee in 2024. Same company, same underlying service, new name. We’ll refer to it as Incfile/Bizee throughout since that’s still how most people search for it.

The Quick Verdict

ZenBusiness is the better fit if you want a modern, well-designed dashboard and don’t mind paying a bit more for ongoing compliance support. Incfile/Bizee is the better fit if you’re formation-cost-sensitive and want the cheapest possible registered agent renewal price. Both companies operate on the same basic model — get you in the door with a free or near-free filing, then earn revenue on annual add-ons — and neither is going to blow you away on customer service. If your LLC is genuinely simple, you can save money going a more transparent, straightforward route instead.

What This Service Offers

ZenBusiness launched in 2017 out of Austin, Texas, and has grown quickly by leaning into a friendlier, more modern user experience than older competitors. The company has formed hundreds of thousands of businesses and markets itself heavily on “worry-free” compliance.

Incfile has been around since 2004, making it one of the older players in this space, before rebranding as Bizee. It built its reputation on a $0-plus-state-fee formation offer that undercut nearly everyone else for over a decade.

Here’s roughly how each breaks down its packages:

ZenBusiness tiers:

Starter ($0 + state filing fee): Basic articles of organization filing (the document that creates your LLC), name check, and standard processing. No registered agent included.
Pro (around $199/year + state fee): Adds a full year of registered agent service, an operating agreement template, an EIN (Employer Identification Number, the tax ID your LLC needs from the IRS), and faster filing.
Premium (around $299/year + state fee): Adds a business domain, business email, expedited state filing, and a few extra compliance tools.

Incfile/Bizee tiers:

Silver ($0 + state fee): Formation filing plus one free year of registered agent service — this has historically been their signature deal.
Gold (around $199 + state fee): Adds EIN, operating agreement, and a compliance alert tool.
Platinum (around $299 + state fee): Adds expedited filing, a domain, and banking resolution documents.

What’s not included with either: the state filing fee itself (this ranges from $50 to $500 depending on your state and is non-negotiable — you pay it no matter who files for you), a business bank account, a physical business address if you need one separate from your registered agent, and any ongoing legal advice.

Both companies file in all 50 states. Standard processing typically runs 1 to 3 weeks depending on how backed up the state’s filing office is — this varies by state, not by which formation company you use, since they’re both just submitting paperwork to the same government offices. Expedited filing (an upsell) shaves a few days to a week off that, depending on the state.

What We Like

Genuinely low entry price. Both companies let you form an LLC for the cost of your state filing fee alone. If you’re extremely budget-conscious and comfortable doing some of the legwork yourself (like writing your own operating agreement), this is real savings compared to full-service competitors.

ZenBusiness’s dashboard is well-built. Once you’re inside their platform, tracking your filing status, accessing documents, and understanding what’s next is more intuitive than most competitors. This matters more than people expect — a confusing dashboard means missed deadlines.

Incfile/Bizee’s registered agent renewal is cheaper. A registered agent is the person or company designated to receive legal and state documents on your LLC’s behalf — every state requires one. Incfile/Bizee’s renewal pricing has historically landed lower than ZenBusiness’s, which adds up if you keep the LLC open for years.

Both offer a free year of registered agent service. This is standard in the industry now, but it’s still worth noting — you’re not paying for this critical requirement in year one with either provider.

Compliance reminders are included. Both platforms will alert you about annual report deadlines (the yearly or biennial filing most states require to keep your LLC in good standing). Missing these deadlines is one of the most common ways new business owners accidentally get their LLC administratively dissolved, so this feature has real value.

What Could Be Better

The free tier isn’t really free. Both companies advertise “$0” formation, but the free tier is deliberately stripped down to push you toward the paid tiers. You’ll often find yourself needing the operating agreement or EIN service that’s gated behind the $199 package, even though you could get an EIN directly from the IRS for free in about ten minutes.

Upsells during checkout are aggressive. Reviewers on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau consistently mention feeling pressured through a checkout flow stacked with add-ons — expedited processing, compliance packages, banking tools — some of which cost more through the formation service than if you sourced them yourself.

Customer service is a mixed bag for both. Complaints about long hold times, inconsistent answers from support reps, and difficulty reaching a human being show up regularly in reviews for both companies. Incfile/Bizee in particular has drawn complaints tied to its rebrand, with some customers confused about account access or billing continuity after the name change.

Registered agent auto-renewal surprises people. Both companies auto-renew the registered agent service at full price after the first free year, and the charge sometimes catches customers off guard if they didn’t read the fine print at signup. ZenBusiness’s “Worry-Free Compliance” renewal has drawn similar complaints — customers report being charged annually without a clear heads-up beforehand.

How It Compares

Here’s how these two stack up against each other and against Northwest Registered Agent, another common comparison point known for a more privacy-focused, no-upsell approach.

ZenBusiness wins if you want the cleanest user interface and don’t mind paying more long-term for that experience. Incfile/Bizee wins on raw registered agent renewal pricing if you’re planning to keep that service for multiple years. Northwest tends to win on transparency and customer service, though it charges more upfront.

Pricing Breakdown

Let’s talk true cost, not headline cost, because this is where most people get surprised.

Say you form an LLC in a state with a $100 filing fee and pick the mid-tier package from either company (~$199). Your year-one cost is roughly $299. That seems fine.

Year two is where it changes. You no longer need the formation service — the LLC is already formed — but you likely still need a registered agent. That’s the recurring cost: $199/year with ZenBusiness, or $119-$149/year with Incfile/Bizee, indefinitely, for as long as your LLC exists. Over five years, that’s a $250-$400 gap between the two, just on registered agent fees.

Watch for these specific add-ons at checkout: expedited filing (often $50-$100 extra), a business address service if you don’t want your home address public, and annual report filing service (many states let you file this yourself for a small fee, but both companies will offer to do it for you at a markup).

Who Should Use This Service

Best for: Someone forming a single-member LLC in a straightforward industry — freelancers, consultants, small e-commerce sellers — who is comfortable navigating a slightly upsell-heavy checkout process and just wants the cheapest possible entry point. If registered agent renewal cost matters more to you than interface polish, Incfile/Bizee’s pricing edges out ZenBusiness.

Not ideal for: Business owners who want a fully transparent, no-surprise-fees process, or anyone forming a multi-member LLC or corporation who anticipates needing more guidance on entity structure, operating agreements with multiple owners, or ongoing compliance across multiple states. In those cases, a platform that walks you through entity selection and compliance without stacking upsells at every step is going to serve you better.

FAQ

Is Incfile the same company as Bizee?
Yes. Incfile rebranded to Bizee in 2024. Same service, same team, new name and updated branding.

Which is cheaper long-term, ZenBusiness or Incfile/Bizee?
Incfile/Bizee generally has a lower registered agent renewal fee, which matters most in years two and beyond. Year-one pricing is comparable between the two.

Do I need the paid tier to get an EIN?
No. You can get an EIN directly from the IRS for free at irs.gov. Both companies charge for this as part of a bundle, which is convenience pricing, not a requirement.

How fast will my LLC actually be approved?
That depends on your state, not the formation company. Both ZenBusiness and Incfile/Bizee submit to the same state offices — expedited service just moves your filing up in the queue for an extra fee.

Can I switch registered agents later if the renewal price bothers me?
Yes. You can change your registered agent at any time by filing a simple form with your state, usually for a small fee or no fee at all. You’re not locked in.

Do these services include a registered agent forever?
No. Both include one free year. After that, it renews annually at their standard rate unless you cancel or switch providers.

Our Recommendation

Both ZenBusiness and Incfile/Bizee will get your LLC filed correctly. Neither is a bad choice, but neither is fully transparent about long-term costs either, and both lean on upsells more than we’d like to see from a company handling your legal paperwork.

If you’d rather work with a platform that lays out pricing clearly upfront and helps with the full picture — choosing the right entity type, filing with your state, getting your EIN, and staying compliant afterward — that’s exactly what we built BusinessFormations.com to do. We handle the paperwork in all 50 states and walk you through each decision instead of leaving you to figure out which upsell you actually need. You can [get started here](https://www.businessformations.com/get-started/) and see the full cost before you commit to anything.