Head-to-Head

LegalZoom

Legal Solutions Trusted By Millions

VS

Registered Agents Inc

Simple Registered Agent & Business Formation

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

Founded
LegalZoom: 2001
Registered Agents Inc: 2008
Rating
7.8/10
7.4/10
First Year Cost
~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra)
~$99 + state fees (RA included)
Formation Speed
1-5 business days standard
1-5 business days standard
RA Annual
$249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy)
$99/year (flat, simple)

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

Registered Agents Inc

HQ: Sheridan, Wyoming (45 E Loucks St, STE 301)

Ownership: Private (founder-led: Dan Keen)

Employees: 51-200

Formations: Hundreds of thousands (high volume in WY; 266k+ companies used address 2019-2024)

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2008 in Pacific Northwest by Dan Keen
  • Expanded to offices in all 50 states + DC
  • Became major WY incorporation hub (40% of new entities)
  • Launched wholesale services for other providers
  • Built nationwide RA network

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

Registered Agents Inc Services

Formation types:

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

Differentiators:

  • Simple, no-frills RA + formation
  • Wholesale model for incorporation services
  • Nationwide offices with local experts
  • Secure platform for compliance
  • Focus on small business support

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

Pricing & Value

Category LegalZoom Registered Agents Inc Winner
First Year Total ~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra) ~$99 + state fees (RA included) Tie
RA Annual Fee $249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy) $99/year (flat, simple)
Value Score 7.5/10 7.5/10 Tie

Speed & Performance

LegalZoom

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Same-day ($20+)

Registered Agents Inc

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Available (varies)

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

Registered Agents Inc — Pros

  • Simple & straightforward
  • All 50 states RA
  • Wholesale model
  • $99 RA
  • Easy formation

Registered Agents Inc — Cons

  • ✗ Low Trustpilot (2.9)
  • ✗ Billing complaints
  • ✗ Support variability
  • ✗ Not accredited BBB
  • ✗ Basic features

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 Registered Agents Inc if: Solid for no-frills RA and formation—great if you need simple nationwide service. Watch reviews for billing/support; better for wholesalers than direct consumers.

Higher rating: LegalZoom (7.8/10)