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File.Business
$0 formation + paid compliance plans starting $99/yr.
5Wins
4.9★8,200+ reviews
220KFormed
Head-to-head comparison
$442 saved over 3 years on the same services
File.Business vs LegalZoom: all-in pricing, real specialists, one platform.
LegalZoom is the most recognized name in online business formation. File.Business launched to do what most LegalZoom customers wish their experience was: honest pricing, real specialists, and a real platform instead of a checkout funnel.
Pay only the state fee
60-day money-back
Free migration
LegalZoom
Brand-name service with premium pricing and aggressive add-on upsells.
vs
File.Business
Honest pricing, included compliance, full operating platform, real specialists.
File.Business vs LegalZoom
Compared across the seven dimensions that matter to a US founder: pricing transparency, compliance automation breadth, international-founder support, API and builder access, customer support depth, brand recognition, and mobile experience. File.Business leads on the first four; LegalZoom leads on brand recognition (2M+ customers), legal-document subscription library, mass-market awareness. The full line-by-line breakdown is below.
LE
LegalZoom
$249 + state
1Wins
, Public reviews
, Customers
DimensionFile.BusinessLegalZoom
Formation cost$0 + state$249 + state
Registered agentYear 1 free$159/yr
Annual reportsAuto-filed in 51 jurisdictionsAdd-on +$280/yr
BOI compliance (foreign)$99/yr included on Standard+$199/yr
Compliance dashboardYesLimited
Customer supportSOC 2, phone + chatPhone + chat
Brand recognition220K formed2M+ formed
The short version
When each one is the right pick.
Based on publicly listed pricing and feature pages as of 2026. Competitor names are trademarks of their respective owners.
Feature by feature
Every category that matters.
| LegalZoom | File.Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | ||
| LLC formation service fee | $0 to $249 + state fee | $0 |
| State filing fee | pass-through | pass-through, at cost |
| EIN obtained for you | paid add-on (~$79) | available as add-on or included on Growth |
| Operating agreement | sometimes paid | included |
| BOI report filing | ~$149 paid | available as add-on or included on Growth |
| Ongoing services | ||
| Registered Agent, first year | ~$249/yr | free year 1 |
| Annual report monitoring | paid | included |
| Compliance calendar | limited | every state, federal, local |
| Multi-state foreign qualification | paid | available, single workflow |
| Platform features | ||
| Custom-domain email | no | included on Growth |
| Document vault, encrypted + audit-trailed | no | free on every plan |
| Books and finance tool | no | free on Growth |
| E-signature | add-on | free |
| Mobile app + desktop apps | limited | web, with native mobile in development |
| Support | ||
| Real human specialists | tiered | on every plan |
| Phone support | limited hours | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm ET |
| Live chat | paid tier | every plan |
| Dedicated specialist | enterprise tier | on Scale |
| Trust + transparency | ||
| Pricing transparency | tier-locked | flat, posted |
| SOC 2 Type II certified | varies | yes |
| Renewal price increases | common | none |
| 60-day money-back | no | yes |
Switching
Moving from LegalZoom to File.Business
We handle the migration end to end. You give us your existing entity name, state, EIN, and current Registered Agent. We file the change of Registered Agent in every state where you operate, sync your compliance calendar, and import your documents into the vault.
You stay on your LegalZoom services until each one ends naturally (so nothing gets dropped). Most customers complete the full move within a billing cycle.
What we move for you, free
- Existing entity record (state, EIN, articles)
- Registered Agent in every state you operate
- BOI report status and beneficial owner records
- Annual report calendar and renewal dates
- Documents you upload from your existing provider
Most customers complete migration in 1 to 3 business days. We coordinate the Registered Agent handoff with your current provider and confirm with each state.
FAQ
Common questions.
Is LegalZoom bad?
LegalZoom is a real company that has formed millions of businesses. The trade-off is brand-name pricing and a service model designed to upsell. For founders who care about price, scope, and platform features, there are better options now.
Will I lose anything by switching?
No. Your entity stays the same entity in the same state with the same EIN. You change service providers, not your legal status.
How long does migration take?
1 to 3 business days for the Registered Agent change. Compliance calendar populates same day. Document import is on you (we provide a guided import flow).
Is there a cancellation fee?
From us, no. LegalZoom's cancellation terms are in their service agreement; most month-to-month services can be canceled at the renewal date without penalty.
What about ongoing subscriptions I have with LegalZoom?
Cancel them when each one renews. We replace them with our included features.
Are you as established as LegalZoom?
LegalZoom IPO'd in 2021 and is older. We are SOC 2 Type II, A+ BBB, 220,000+ businesses, 4.9/5 from 8,200 reviews. The point is no longer "who is older" but "who delivers more for the same money."
Phone support?
Yes. Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm ET. Live chat available outside business hours.
What if I formed through LegalZoom recently and used their attorney services?
Attorney-client relationships are between you and your attorney, not LegalZoom. If you continue with the attorney, no change. If you want to switch to our Attorney Network, we can introduce you to comparable partners.
Will my registered LLC name carry over?
Yes. The entity does not change; only the service provider supporting it changes.
Ready to make the switch?
Migration is free. Most customers move in 1 to 3 business days. Cancel anytime within 60 days.
Free migration
60-day money-back
Pay only the state fee
Bundle & save
Recommended add-ons
Most customers add these to keep their business compliant year-round.
Registered Agent
Most orderedRequired for every registered business entity in every state.
$99
/year
Add →
Compliance Monitoring
Best valueTrack every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline.
$19
/month
Add →
Annual Report Filing
RecommendedAuto-file your state annual report. Never miss a deadline.
$99
/year
Add →
Why File.Business
Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.
Trust you can verify
SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.
A compliance partner, not a transaction
Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.
Premium experience competitors cannot match
Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.