Thinking about hiring an online LLC service, but dozens of available options are confusing? We suggest you consider popular companies BetterLegal or LegalZoom, which are firmly positioned in the list of the industry’s best services. Either one will make the LLC registration process simple and comfortable, but will it be the perfect choice for your business? To answer this question, we have prepared a comparison of these services in which we examine the key features of these websites such as prices, features, registered agent, reviews, etc.
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By hiring LegalZoom or BetterLegal, you will, either way, get a high-quality service of creating an LLC by an experienced and reputable online company. However, their content and prices partially differ.
In our opinion, LegalZoom is a better option if you want just a simple LLC file without overpaying for unnecessary add-ons. The cost of the basic LegalZoom package is only $79, while the BetterLegal service package will cost $299.
However, if you’re interested in additional features and long-term cooperation, BetterLegal may be a good option. Their service package provides more features such as Operating Agreement, Website, and Business Checking.
In addition, their price for registered agent service is very competitive. None of these business formation services includes a registered agent LLC in their formation packages, so you will need to order one additionally. BetterLegal charges only $10/month or $90/year, which is less than the $299/year you would have to pay with LegalZoom.
Every American LLC is required to have a registered agent to ensure consistent interaction with the government. They represent your company in the state and receive all official correspondence addressed to it: taxes, lawsuits, maintenance requirements, etc.
Unlike some competitors, neither BetterLegal nor LegalZoom includes registered agent service in their formation packages. If you want not just to form an LLC but also hire one of these companies as a professional registered agent, you have to pay for this service additionally. LegalZoom charges $299/year for a registered agent for an LLC while BetterLegal charges only $10/month or $90/year for the same service. In this category, the preference goes to BetterLegal!
Both providers make it quick and easy to create an LLC online, but their approaches are different. LegalZoom offers 3 levels of service with prices from $79 to $349. As for BetterLegal, they only have 1 package for $299, which includes the following services:
In addition, you may order support functions such as:
On the other hand, LegalZoom offers a choice of 3 options for LLC formations:
Economy package – $79:
Standard package – $329:
Express Gold package – $349:
In addition, LegalZoom can help with Intellectual Property and offer a wide variety of personal services:
While the BetterLegal formation package is much more expensive than the LegalZoom starter package, it is justified by the valuable features it includes. An Operating Agreement, EIN, and Website are relevant to most companies. Moreover, BetterLegal guarantees that your documents will be processed in 1-3 business days, which is much faster than in LegalZoom’s more expensive premium packages.
One of LegalZoom’s advantages is its great customer service with extended hours. Their representatives are available by phone or email on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends. As a rule, their agents are knowledgeable and give accurate answers.
Unlike most companies in this field, BetterLegal does not provide customer phone support, and finding their email address or working hours is also quite a difficult task. However, you can get real-time business assistance by asking any business or filing questions in the chatbot on their website.
In this category of our LegalZoom vs BetterLegal comparison, LegalZoom has the advantage.
LegalZoom and BetterLegal have numerous customer reviews on reputable and independent platforms.
Betterlegal reviews are predominantly positive. They have 201 reviews on TrustPilot and 8 reviews on BBB. Mostly, customers talk about how fast it is to register a new company using this website and also express satisfaction with the work of their responsive representatives.
On the other hand, although LegalZoom has about 2,000 online reviews, the number of their positive and negative reviews is equal. This is a fairly large company, so it’s not surprising that some customers express dissatisfaction with their communication with Customer Support agents.
BetterLegal calculates the time for opening an LLC based on the legal specificities of the state. However, unlike most competitors, they will process and file your LLC within 1-3 business days at no additional charge.
With LegalZoom you can choose when you want your LLC to be registered, as their turnaround time directly depends on the type of your formation package:
Generally, the artificial delay in processing time does not seem quite fair, but in some cases, it can be convenient.
BetterLegal offers the maximum ease of formation that customers appreciate so much. Their LLC website states that it only takes 10 minutes to submit an application, then the company’s specialists will begin preparing your LLC documents.
In comparison, LegalZoom’s LLC order process is structured slightly differently. First, you need to enter key personal and business information, and then select add-on features and a service package.
Both of these websites are among the best online services LLC in the business startup industry and provide a quality service. So to conclude this BetterLegal vs LegalZoom review, here are a few reasons why you might choose one of these providers.
If you have an adequate budget and prefer simple and efficient solutions, BetterLegal will be a good choice. They have no multi-level subscription system and very transparent pricing. When you buy their service package, you get everything you need to start an LLC successfully. Moreover, a lot of useful services will give your company a big advantage.
Also, when it comes to speed of business formation, BetterLegal is one of the best companies. According to their website, the ordering process only takes 10 minutes and your LLC documents will be sent to the state within 1-3 business days.
However, if you just want to create a business and save some money, LegalZoom is a better choice for you. Their $79 service package isn’t the cheapest on the market, but it’s a reasonable fee affordable to most entrepreneurs. It’s also a great option for those who value brand strength and company reputation.
