Rocket Lawyer
Legal Made Simple
Business Initiative
Business Intelligence That Forms Your Business
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
Company Background
Rocket Lawyer
HQ: San Francisco, California (182 Howard Street #830)
Ownership: Private (VC-backed; $290M+ funding)
Employees: 201-500
Formations: 1,000,000+ businesses (millions of documents created)
Key Milestones
- Founded 2008 in San Francisco
- Launched Rocket Lawyer On Call® attorney network
- Raised $290M+ funding
- Expanded to business formation + RA
- Hit 1M+ business customers
Business Initiative
HQ: New York, NY (virtual/nationwide operations)
Ownership: Private (founder-owned)
Employees: 1
Formations: Not publicly disclosed (quality-focused, low volume)
Key Milestones
- Launched 2021 as educational platform
- Evolved to full-service formation + RA services
- Built AI tools, stats library, and provider directory
Core Services
Rocket Lawyer Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Nonprofit
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (limited states)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
Differentiators:
- Bundled membership ($39.99/mo) with attorney access
- Thousands of legal forms & templates
- Rocket Lawyer On Call® (discount attorney advice)
- e-Signature & document storage
- Free 7-day trial
Business Initiative Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Partnerships
- ✓ Foreign LLC/Corp qualifications
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
Differentiators:
- All state/federal fees included upfront
- Business intelligence platform (stats, AI selector, education)
- Directory of other providers
- Founder-led, transparent education
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | Rocket Lawyer | Business Initiative | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$99.99 + state fees + $479.88 membership (full value) | ~$310+ (LLC formation + RA) | Business Initiative |
| RA Annual Fee | $149.99/year (add-on; discounted for members) | $125/year per state (multi-company discounts) | — |
| Value Score | 8.0/10 | 8.5/10 | Business Initiative |
Speed & Performance
Rocket Lawyer
Avg formation: Instant docs + 1-5 business days filing
Expedited: Available (add-on)
Business Initiative
Avg formation: 7-14 business days standard
Expedited: 1-3 business days ($25-$200); same-day before 1 PM EST
Pros & Cons
Rocket Lawyer — Pros
- ✓ Unlimited attorney calls
- ✓ Legal form library
- ✓ Membership discounts
- ✓ e-Signature included
- ✓ 1M+ customers
Rocket Lawyer — Cons
- ✗ Membership required for value
- ✗ RA $149.99 extra
- ✗ Auto-renew issues
- ✗ Not formation-focused
- ✗ Higher ongoing cost
Business Initiative — Pros
- ✓ All fees included (transparent value)
- ✓ Privacy-first RA ($125 flat)
- ✓ Educational platform (stats/AI tools)
- ✓ Fast human support
- ✓ Nationwide + foreign quals
Business Initiative — Cons
- ✗ Newer (fewer formations track record)
- ✗ Limited review volume
- ✗ Basic add-ons
- ✗ No 24/7 chat
- ✗ Virtual-only operations
The Verdict
Choose Rocket Lawyer if: Perfect for businesses needing more than just formation—attorney access and forms make the membership worthwhile. Ideal if you value legal support beyond setup.
Choose Business Initiative if: Beats competitors on all-in costs and smarts—perfect for informed operators who want a partner, not just a filer.
Higher rating: Business Initiative (8.7/10)