Can You Do Everything ZenBusiness Does Yourself for Free?

Business Formation Fact Table

The table below outlines base fees, registered agent pricing, and tax ID options for direct state filing and major filing services (listed alphabetically, not ranked).

DIY vs. Service: What You Own vs. What You Outsource

Both filing directly with your state and hiring a commercial filing service like ZenBusiness end with the exact same legal entity registered in your state. What you are choosing is how much administrative responsibility you wish to handle yourself versus paying a third party to manage on an ongoing basis.

Registering Your Entity and Obtaining an EIN

Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or corporation on your own involves submitting Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation to your Secretary of State or state business filing agency. State fees are non-negotiable costs established by state law, which you pay regardless of filing method.

After state approval, you can obtain a federal tax identifier. An EIN is free directly from the IRS. The IRS requires that you form the entity with the state before applying for an EIN. You should never pay a third party for an EIN, as commercial vendors charging $50 to $150 simply submit the same official IRS form that you can complete online in minutes.

Regarding corporate reporting requirements, US-formed companies are exempt from federal BOI reporting under the rule effective August 14, 2026. Additionally, state privacy legislation like the New York Transparency Act applies only to LLCs formed under foreign legal jurisdictions, meaning domestic state filings face no foreign transparency mandates.

The Registered Agent Decision

The main distinction between DIY registration and using a platform comes down to your registered agent choice. Every state requires business entities to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state to receive official government notices and legal service of process during normal business hours.

Serving as your own registered agent costs $0. However, your personal or office street address becomes part of public government records, and you must remain available at that physical location during business hours. Commercial agents provide address privacy and digital document scanning. ZenBusiness charges a separate $199 per year fee for registered agent coverage on every tier, discounted to $99 for the first year during initial formation.

Evaluating ZenBusiness Tiers

ZenBusiness structures its primary setup packages in 2026 as follows:

• Starter ($0 plus state fee): Delivers standard state document preparation and filing.
• Pro ($199 per year): Includes expedited processing, custom operating agreement templates, and annual report monitoring.
• Premium ($299 per year): Adds a domain name with privacy and a business email address. The website builder is offered separately at checkout rather than bundled into the tier.

Registered agent service remains a separate $199 per year add-on across all tiers ($99 for the first year). Older online pages displaying a $399 Premium plan with included agent coverage reflect obsolete pricing structures.

For owners who want automated deadline tracking, privacy, and an all-in-one portal, choosing ZenBusiness provides genuine convenience. If you prefer to manage calendar dates yourself, use your own address, and submit forms directly to state portals, filing independently saves substantial recurring subscription costs.

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Frequently Asked Questions