ZenBusiness
AI-Powered Business Formation & Compliance
Rocket Lawyer
Legal Made Simple
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
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
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
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
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
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | ZenBusiness | Rocket Lawyer | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$0 + state fees (Starter); $199 + RA (Pro) | ~$99.99 + state fees + $479.88 membership (full value) | ZenBusiness |
| RA Annual Fee | Free Year 1 (Premium); $99 first year then $199 renewal | $149.99/year (add-on; discounted for members) | — |
| Value Score | 8.7/10 | 8.0/10 | ZenBusiness |
Speed & Performance
ZenBusiness
Avg formation: 1-3 business days (higher tiers); 7-14 days (Starter)
Expedited: Included in Pro & Premium
Rocket Lawyer
Avg formation: Instant docs + 1-5 business days filing
Expedited: Available (add-on)
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
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
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 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.
Higher rating: ZenBusiness (8.8/10)