Head-to-Head

LegalZoom

Legal Solutions Trusted By Millions

VS

incorporate.com

Long-Established Business Formation & Compliance

Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.

Founded
LegalZoom: 2001
incorporate.com: 1899
Rating
7.8/10
7.2/10
First Year Cost
~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra)
~$334+ (formation + mandatory RA; state fees extra)
Formation Speed
1-5 business days standard
1-5 business days standard
RA Annual
$249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy)
$235/year (mandatory; no free year; can't opt out easily)

Company Background

LegalZoom

HQ: Glendale, California (101 N Brand Blvd)

Ownership: Public (NASDAQ: LZ)

Employees: 964+

Formations: 4,000,000+ businesses

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2001 in California
  • Pioneered online LLC formation
  • Went public (NASDAQ: LZ) in 2021
  • Acquired law firm operations
  • Expanded to 4M+ formations with attorney-backed services

incorporate.com

HQ: Wilmington, Delaware (2711 Centerville Road)

Ownership: Private (subsidiary of Corporation Service Company - CSC)

Employees: 100+

Formations: 750,000+ businesses

Key Milestones

  • Founded 1899 as The Company Corporation
  • Rebranded to incorporate.com
  • Expanded to 50 states + DC
  • Integrated with CSC Navigator compliance tools
  • Served Fortune 1000 & law firms

Core Services

LegalZoom Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • Privacy-focused RA (uses company address)
  • Attorney-backed legal forms & reviews
  • All-in-one legal ecosystem
  • Corporate Veil protection guarantee
  • 24/7 chat during formation

incorporate.com Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • 120+ years legacy (CSC)
  • CSC Navigator compliance platform
  • Corporate Veil Guarantee ($75k)
  • Mandatory RA integration
  • Full-service for law firms & corps

Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.

Pricing & Value

Category LegalZoom incorporate.com Winner
First Year Total ~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra) ~$334+ (formation + mandatory RA; state fees extra) LegalZoom
RA Annual Fee $249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy) $235/year (mandatory; no free year; can't opt out easily)
Value Score 7.5/10 6.8/10 LegalZoom

Speed & Performance

LegalZoom

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Same-day ($20+)

incorporate.com

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Same-day (add $20)

Pros & Cons

LegalZoom — Pros

  • 4M+ businesses formed
  • Privacy-first RA
  • Comprehensive legal ecosystem
  • 24/7 chat support
  • Trusted since 2001

LegalZoom — Cons

  • ✗ RA $249/year
  • ✗ No free Year 1 RA
  • ✗ High overall costs
  • ✗ Aggressive upsells
  • ✗ Basic for simple needs

incorporate.com — Pros

  • Longest track record (1899)
  • 750k+ formations
  • Enterprise compliance tools
  • All 50 states coverage
  • Corporate Veil Guarantee

incorporate.com — Cons

  • ✗ RA $235 mandatory
  • ✗ No free Year 1 RA
  • ✗ High overall costs
  • ✗ Mixed reviews
  • ✗ Restrictive policies

The Verdict

Choose LegalZoom if: The go-to for comprehensive legal services with privacy focus—ideal if you want forms, attorneys, and RA in one trusted place. Pricey but reliable for those valuing the brand.


Choose incorporate.com if: The granddaddy of formation services—reliable for complex needs, but overpriced and restrictive for most founders. Use only if you need full CSC ecosystem.

Higher rating: LegalZoom (7.8/10)