LegalZoom
Legal Solutions Trusted By Millions
Van Buren Financial
Delaware Registered Agent & Full-Service Financial Solutions
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
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
Van Buren Financial
HQ: Wilmington, Delaware (615 West 18th Street)
Ownership: Private (founder-led: James Van Eperen, CEO)
Employees: 11-50
Formations: Not publicly disclosed (focus on RA clients; hundreds served)
Key Milestones
- Founded 2008 in Wilmington, DE
- Grew as full-service CPA/financial firm
- Expanded registered agent services (10+ years)
- Integrated tax/accounting with RA for DE entities
- Became go-to for DE LLCs needing financial tie-in
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
Van Buren Financial Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (Delaware focus)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
Differentiators:
- Delaware specialist with in-house CPAs
- Financial services bundled with RA (taxes, payroll, accounting)
- Local Wilmington office (staffed business hours)
- One-stop for DE entity + financial needs
- Personalized for small business owners
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | LegalZoom | Van Buren Financial | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra) | ~$99 + state fees + RA bundle | Van Buren Financial |
| RA Annual Fee | $249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy) | $129/year (call for DE quote; bundled discounts) | — |
| Value Score | 7.5/10 | 7.9/10 | Van Buren Financial |
Speed & Performance
LegalZoom
Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard
Expedited: Same-day ($20+)
Van Buren Financial
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
Van Buren Financial — Pros
- ✓ Delaware specialist
- ✓ RA + accounting bundle
- ✓ Local Wilmington office
- ✓ Financial planning tie-in
- ✓ Personalized service
Van Buren Financial — Cons
- ✗ DE-focused (limited nationwide)
- ✗ Low review volume
- ✗ Call-to-quote pricing
- ✗ Smaller scale
- ✗ Basic tech
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 Van Buren Financial if: The perfect DE partner for businesses wanting RA + full financial/accounting support in one local firm. Ideal if you're forming in Delaware and need tax expertise built-in.
Higher rating: LegalZoom (7.8/10)