Head-to-Head

ZenBusiness

AI-Powered Business Formation & Compliance

VS

BetterLegal

Fastest Business Formation in 2 Days

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

Founded
ZenBusiness: 2015
BetterLegal: 2017
Rating
8.8/10
8.0/10
First Year Cost
~$0 + state fees (Starter); $199 + RA (Pro)
~$419+ (formation + RA)
Formation Speed
1-3 business days (higher tiers); 7-14 days (Starter)
2 business days standard
RA Annual
Free Year 1 (Premium); $99 first year then $199 renewal
$120/year ($10/month); add-on only

Company Background

ZenBusiness

HQ: Austin, Texas

Ownership: Private (VC-backed; Public Benefit Corporation)

Employees: 600+

Formations: 850,000+

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2015 in Austin, TX
  • Raised significant VC funding
  • Became Public Benefit Corporation
  • Launched AI assistant 'Navi'
  • Surpassed 850k businesses formed

BetterLegal

HQ: Austin, Texas (1003 Rio Grande St)

Ownership: Private (founder-owned; Chad Sakonchick)

Employees: 7

Formations: 20,000+ businesses formed

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2017 in Austin, TX
  • Grew to $4.1M revenue with 7-person team
  • Pivoted to no-code (Bubble) in 2022 for rapid features
  • Expanded to full one-stop shop (formation + partners)
  • Hit 20k+ formations; AI tools launched

Core Services

ZenBusiness Services

Formation types:

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

Differentiators:

  • AI-powered platform (Navi assistant)
  • 100% Accuracy Guarantee
  • Worry-Free Compliance
  • Modern, intuitive dashboard
  • Lifetime alerts & tools

BetterLegal Services

Formation types:

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

Differentiators:

  • 2-business-day formation (fastest standard)
  • No upsells; one simple package
  • AI-powered legal translator (Chrome extension)
  • Freebies: website, tax analysis, insurance eval
  • All essentials included (EIN, docs, resolutions)

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

Pricing & Value

Category ZenBusiness BetterLegal Winner
First Year Total ~$0 + state fees (Starter); $199 + RA (Pro) ~$419+ (formation + RA) ZenBusiness
RA Annual Fee Free Year 1 (Premium); $99 first year then $199 renewal $120/year ($10/month); add-on only
Value Score 8.7/10 8.2/10 ZenBusiness

Speed & Performance

ZenBusiness

Avg formation: 1-3 business days (higher tiers); 7-14 days (Starter)

Expedited: Included in Pro & Premium

BetterLegal

Avg formation: 2 business days standard

Expedited: Included (2 days); same-day in select cases

Pros & Cons

ZenBusiness — Pros

  • AI-powered modern platform
  • 100% Accuracy Guarantee
  • Excellent support
  • Free Starter plan
  • Worry-Free Compliance

ZenBusiness — Cons

  • ✗ RA $199 renewal
  • ✗ Add-ons increase cost
  • ✗ No free Year 1 RA on lower plans
  • ✗ Some billing issues
  • ✗ Premium gets expensive

BetterLegal — Pros

  • 2-day formation (fastest)
  • Simple $299 package
  • AI translator & freebies
  • All docs/EIN included
  • No-hassle onboarding

BetterLegal — Cons

  • ✗ RA $120/year extra
  • ✗ Support issues on RA
  • ✗ Billing complaints
  • ✗ Basic vs. full suites
  • ✗ Small team scale

The Verdict

Choose ZenBusiness if: One of the strongest modern players in the space. ZenBusiness excels with its beautiful AI-powered platform, strong guarantees, and top-tier customer support. Highly recommended for founders who want a premium experience without the corporate feel.


Choose BetterLegal if: Ideal for founders who prioritize speed over hand-holding—form fast, then layer RA. Watch reviews on ongoing service.

Higher rating: ZenBusiness (8.8/10)