LegalZoom Review 2026: Is It Worth the Price?

LegalZoom is the 800-pound gorilla of online legal services. With over 4 million businesses formed and a public company valuation in the billions, they are the most recognized name in the industry. But recognition does not always mean value. Let's look at what you actually get — and what you actually pay — in 2026.

LegalZoom LLC Pricing in 2026

LegalZoom offers three LLC formation tiers:

• Basic: $0 + state fees — includes Articles of Organization filing only.
• Standard: $249 + state fees — adds operating agreement template and EIN filing.
• Premium: $399 + state fees — adds 30-minute attorney consultation.

Sounds reasonable on the surface. But here's where it gets expensive:

The Upsells

• EIN filing: $70 on the Basic plan (free from the IRS)
• Operating agreement: $99 on the Basic plan (generic template)
• Registered agent: Free for 30 days, then $299/year
• Compliance calendar: $99/year
• Business licenses report: $99
• Annual report filing: $55/year + state fees

If you add the registered agent (which you need) and the EIN (which you need) to the Basic plan, you are looking at roughly $468 in year one and $299+ annually just for the registered agent.

What You Actually Get

The Good:

• Name brand with a long track record
• Their filing accuracy is generally reliable
• The Premium plan includes an actual attorney consultation
• Their dashboard is decent for tracking your business filings

The Bad:

• Customer service is slow. Many reviews cite long hold times and delayed responses.
• Processing times are slower than competitors. Expect 2-4 weeks for standard processing.
• The operating agreement is a basic template, not customized to your situation.
• Pre-checked add-ons during checkout add costs you may not want.
• The registered agent renewal price ($299/year) is 2-3x what independent agents charge.

Who Should Use LegalZoom?

LegalZoom makes sense if you want the Premium plan and actually need the attorney consultation. For complex business structures, having 30 minutes with a lawyer can be genuinely valuable.

For straightforward LLC formation? You are overpaying. Services like Sedes, Northwest Registered Agent, and ZenBusiness offer the same (or better) formation services for a fraction of the cost.

The Verdict

LegalZoom is not a scam — they are a legitimate service that has helped millions of businesses. But their pricing model relies on upsells that make a "$0 formation" cost $400-$500 in practice. If you are cost-conscious and forming a straightforward LLC, there are better options.

With Sedes, you get formation, EIN filing, operating agreement, and registered agent for $29. No upsells, no pre-checked boxes, no $299 registered agent renewal. Just what you need at a fair price.