Related guides: LLC vs sole proprietorship · How to get an EIN · S-corp vs LLC · Accounting software for LLCs
What we did and did not do
We did not form an LLC through LegalZoom, so nothing here is a test result. We read the tiers on LegalZoom's own LLC page on 2 November 2026 and wrote down exactly what each lists. Where LegalZoom does not list something on a tier, we say "not listed", which is not the same as "not offered". Prices and features change, so check the page before you pay: LegalZoom LLC formation.
The three tiers at a glance
Only the articles of organization filed with the state, in LegalZoom's words.
- Company name check service
- State filing of the articles of organization
- Tax consult from 1-800Accountant
A dedicated business advisor plus a full business starter kit.
- Everything in Basic
- EIN and an operating agreement
- Business advisor access for 30 days
- Filing review by your advisor
- Licenses and permits report
- 150+ legal documents, unlimited eSignatures
- Advisor access auto-renews at $49 a month after the 30 days; cancel any time
A full team including a tax expert, an attorney and a business advisor.
- Everything in Managed
- Filing review by a licensed attorney
- Talk to an attorney or tax expert, no billable hours
- Business tax return preparation
- Bookkeeping consultations, invoicing, expense tracking
- Team access auto-renews at $99 a month after the 30 days; cancel any time
The price ladder, drawn
Feature by feature
A filled dot means LegalZoom lists the item on that tier. A dash means it is not listed on that tier on the page we read.
| Item | Basic | Managed | Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company name check service | Listed | Listed | Listed |
| State filing of the articles of organization | Listed | Listed | Listed |
| Tax consult from 1-800Accountant | Listed | Listed | Listed |
| EIN (federal tax ID) | Not listed | Listed | Listed |
| Operating agreement | Not listed | Listed | Listed |
| Advisor access for the first 30 days | Not listed | Listed | Listed |
| Filing review by your business advisor (not an attorney review) | Not listed | Listed | Not listed |
| Business licenses and permits report | Not listed | Listed | Listed |
| 150+ customizable legal documents and unlimited eSignatures | Not listed | Listed | Listed |
| Filing review by a licensed attorney | Not listed | Not listed | Listed |
| Talk to an attorney or tax expert, no billable hours | Not listed | Not listed | Listed |
| Business tax return preparation | Not listed | Not listed | Listed |
| Bookkeeping consultations, invoicing, expense tracking | Not listed | Not listed | Listed |
Two details from the page matter more than the headline price. First, LegalZoom says the Managed filing review is by your business advisor and is "not an attorney review"; only the Expert tier lists a review by a licensed attorney. Second, advisor and team access is included for 30 days, then LegalZoom lists auto-renewal at $49 a month (Managed) or $99 a month (Expert), cancel any time. If you kept the Managed advisor for 11 more months after the first, the renewals alone would add $539 (11 times $49). That is our arithmetic on LegalZoom's published figures, not a quote.
LegalZoom also states a filing guarantee on the same page: if a filing is rejected or incorrect because of LegalZoom's error, it says it will correct it with the government agency at no additional cost to you. We have not tested that either, so read its terms before relying on it.
What the price does not include: the state fee
Every tier is "plus state filing fees". That fee goes to your state, not to LegalZoom, and it differs by state. We are not printing state numbers here because they change; look up your own state's fee on its Secretary of State website before you compare any total. Some states also charge annual or biennial report fees after the first year, so ask what your state charges to keep the LLC in good standing.
Which tier fits whom (our reading)
This is our reading of the published tiers for a US freelancer with straightforward Schedule C income. It is not a recommendation of any service.
Other formation services
LegalZoom is one of several. Our LLC guide already names ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent. We have not re-read their current prices for this page, so we are not quoting them here; compare each one's published tiers on the day you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need LegalZoom or any service to form an LLC?
No. You can file the articles of organization directly with your state. Formation services handle the paperwork for a fee, and LegalZoom is one of them. A single-member LLC is taxed like a sole proprietorship by default, so the filing is about liability protection, not about tax.
What does the $0 Basic tier cost?
LegalZoom lists Basic at $0 plus state filing fees. The state fee is separate, set by each state, and not shown on this page. Check your Secretary of State fee schedule for the real figure.
Is the Managed tier filing review an attorney review?
LegalZoom says it is not. The Managed tier lists an LLC filing review by your business advisor and describes it as not an attorney review. The Expert tier lists a professional review of the LLC filing by a licensed attorney.
What happens after the included 30 days of advisor access?
LegalZoom lists the Managed advisor access as auto-renewing at $49 a month and the Expert team access as auto-renewing at $99 a month, with cancellation allowed at any time. Confirm the current terms at checkout before you pay.
Did CeoCult test LegalZoom?
No. We have not formed an LLC through LegalZoom. Everything on this page is read from LegalZoom's published LLC page on 2 November 2026 and from public sources, and it will change if LegalZoom changes its page.
Sources and rules behind this page
The tier names, prices and features above come from LegalZoom's own LLC page, read on 2 November 2026. The rules below are the primary sources for the disclosure and for the tax and entity points, so a reader can check a claim without taking this page's word for it.
- LegalZoom, create an LLC online lists the three tiers, their prices, features, renewals and the filing guarantee quoted here.
- IRS business structures documents how entity choice changes liability and tax treatment.
- IRS, apply for an EIN online is the free government route to an EIN.
- SBA, choose a business structure is the federal reference for comparing structures.
- FTC Endorsement Guides governs how a review or recommendation must disclose a material connection, which is why the disclosure on this page exists.
This page describes services and the rules around them. It is general information, not legal or tax advice, and your own state and circumstances decide what applies to you.