Tool profile
ZenBusiness: cost, fit and limits
ZenBusiness is an online company formation service made by ZenBusiness, Inc that files LLCs and other entities and sells registered agent, compliance filing and bookkeeping products, with Velo AI guidance and an AI name generator for new owners.
What to know first
ZenBusiness starts formation at $0 plus state fees, then charges for the pieces most owners need next: registered agent at $199 per year, compliance filings at $199 and an advanced tier at $299 that adds 24/7 AI monitoring. Velo AI guidance is free to use. The pricing page shows no tax filing figure and names no hosting region, so those answers come from the vendor directly.
ZenBusiness at a glance
| Maker | ZenBusiness, Inc, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | $0 plus state fees for LLC formation |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Business Formation Services in 2026, rank 1 of 12 |
| Website | zenbusiness.com/ |
Who ZenBusiness is best for
First-time LLC owners
The formation price starts at $0 plus state fees, and the follow-on costs for agent, compliance and bookkeeping are printed, so a first-year budget is easy to sketch.
Owners who want guided help
Velo AI guidance is free to use and the AI name generator is listed as free, which helps people who are unsure what to file or what to call the company.
Owners worried about missed filings
The Advanced Compliance Protection tier adds unlimited amendments, 24/7 AI monitoring and a penalty money-back guarantee, aimed at people who fear missing a state deadline.
ZenBusiness plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Start an LLC | Starts at $0 plus state fees | Formation of an LLC with Velo AI guidance included. State fees are paid to the state and are not part of the price. |
| Registered Agent Service | $199 per year | Handles state correspondence and legal notices for the company at its registered address in the state of formation. |
| Worry-Free Compliance Filings | $199 per year | Prepares and files the annual report and amendment filings, so the owner does not track each state deadline alone. |
| Advanced Compliance Protection | $299 per year | Everything in Worry-Free plus 24/7 AI monitoring, advanced support, unlimited amendments and a money-back guarantee on penalties. |
| Money Pro Bookkeeping | $30 per month | Expense tracking, invoicing, payments and tax deduction tracking for small businesses that want books kept alongside the company. |
Checked November 2026.
What ZenBusiness does
- Velo AI guidance
- Velo is the vendor's AI guidance layer for new owners and is listed as free to use inside the formation flow, which suits people who need orientation before choosing an entity.
- AI business name suggestions
- A business name generator offers AI-powered suggestions and is listed as free, so owners can brainstorm names before the availability check and the filing itself.
- AI monitoring on compliance
- The $299 per year Advanced Compliance Protection tier names 24/7 AI monitoring together with unlimited amendments and a penalty money-back guarantee. The page does not explain what the monitoring watches or how alerts reach the owner.
- Document add-ons
- An operating agreement template costs $99 one time and EIN handling another $99 one time, so these are paid extras rather than parts of the formation price.
- Tax savings consultation
- Every package lists a free 30-minute Tax Savings Consultation with a partner tax expert, though tax filing itself shows no figure on the page. Tax filing itself is a separate product with no printed price.
How ZenBusiness handles your data
The pricing page we read links a Trust Center but names no certification, so the vendor's policy was not checked for certifications from that page. It does not say whether customer data trains AI models, where data is hosted or how long it is retained. Because formation requires names, addresses and sometimes tax identifiers, ask ZenBusiness in writing how Velo AI uses your answers and what it keeps after you cancel.
Where ZenBusiness falls short in practice
- Tax filing price is hidden. The tax filing section of the pricing page shows no figure and offers only click-through options, so a buyer cannot add tax work to a first-year budget without starting a checkout.
- Costs stack after formation. A $0 formation price grows once agent service at $199, compliance filings at $199 and an operating agreement at $99 are added to state fees, so the first-year total is much higher.
- Trial terms are not stated. The page lists a trial status without describing its length or what it covers, and no hosting region or certification is named in the text we read.
Alternatives to ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness: common questions
How much does ZenBusiness charge to form an LLC?
Formation starts at $0 plus state fees as of November 2026. State fees go to the state, and they vary by state. Registered agent service, annual compliance filings, an operating agreement and EIN handling are priced as separate products, so a realistic first-year cost is above the headline.
What is Velo AI at ZenBusiness?
Velo is the AI guidance ZenBusiness names on its pricing page, listed as free to use and included with Start an LLC. The pages we read do not describe what model sits behind it or how it uses your answers, so treat it as guidance and confirm legal choices separately.
Does ZenBusiness include a registered agent?
Not in the formation price. Registered Agent Service is listed at $199 per year and handles state correspondence. The cheaper Worry-Free Compliance Filings plan is also $199 per year but covers annual report and amendment filings, so check which of the two you actually need.
What does Advanced Compliance Protection add?
At $299 per year it adds 24/7 AI monitoring, advanced support, unlimited amendments and a penalty money-back guarantee on top of the Worry-Free filings tier. The page does not explain what the monitoring watches, so ask before relying on it as protection against a missed state deadline.
Does ZenBusiness offer bookkeeping?
Yes. Money Pro Bookkeeping is listed at $30 per month with expense tracking, invoicing, payments and tax deduction tracking. Tax filing is listed too, but the page shows no price for it, only click-through options, so confirm the cost before committing.