2026 Comparison

TrueFormed vs LegalZoom

The household name. Also the most expensive.

LegalZoom is the biggest name in business formation. They built their brand when online filing was novel and charged accordingly. Today the same state forms move through the same wholesale infrastructure every other site uses — LegalZoom just marks that infrastructure up 5x.

LegalZoom — Year 1
$498 /yr

Formation + Registered Agent (1st yr)

Year 2+ ongoing
$348/yr

RA renewal + annual report

Save $409 in Year 1
TrueFormed — Year 1
$89 /yr

Formation bundle (1st-yr RA included)

Year 2+ ongoing
$198/yr

Save $150/yr every year after

Line-by-line cost breakdown

Same services. Same state forms. Different markup over wholesale cost.

ServiceLegalZoomTrueFormed
Formation bundle (LLC + EIN + OA)
$249
Standard LLC package
$89
Includes 1st year of RA
Registered Agent (annual)
$249/yr
Highest in the industry
$99/yr
Year 2+ renewal
Annual Report Filing
$99
Compliance add-on + state fee
$99
+ state fee
Amendment
$149
Per filing + state fee
$99
+ state fee
Certificate of Good Standing
$100
+ state fee
$59
+ state fee
Year 1 total (formation + first year RA)$498$89
Year 2+ ongoing (RA + annual report)$348/yr$198/yr

All prices are service fees. State filing fees are separate and the same regardless of provider. Competitor prices based on publicly listed rates as of 2026.

Same infrastructure. Different markup.

LegalZoomand TrueFormed use wholesale registered agent infrastructure to do the actual filing work — that part is identical. The difference is what each brand marks that wholesale rate up to.

LegalZoom

Year 1 cost to customer$498
Year 2+ ongoing$348/yr
Approx. markup over wholesale6x

TrueFormed

Year 1 cost to customer$89
Year 2+ ongoing$198/yr
Approx. markup over wholesaleNear wholesale

Retail prices are LegalZoom's and TrueFormed's public rates. See how our wholesale pricing works.

LegalZoom— honest pros and cons

What LegalZoom does well

  • Most recognized brand in the space
  • Wide range of legal services beyond formation
  • Attorney consultations available (at extra cost)

Where LegalZoom falls short

  • Most expensive option for basic LLC services
  • Registered Agent is $249/yr — 2.5x our price
  • Heavy upselling throughout checkout
  • Auto-renewal and cancellation complaints are common
  • Amendments priced at $149 for a simple state form

LegalZoom is a real company that serves real customers. We just think you shouldn't have to pay 6x what the services cost wholesale.

Like our competitor, we don't handle everything.Federal and state income taxes, sales tax, payroll, local business licenses, and industry-specific permits aren't part of TrueFormed (or any of the providers on this page). A CPA handles taxes; your city or county clerk handles local licenses. We're upfront about our scope.

Frequently asked questions

Is LegalZoom worth the premium?+

For formation and compliance, no — you're paying for the brand, not the service. The state forms they file are the same ones any provider files through the same wholesale network. Where LegalZoom adds real value is attorney consultations and trademark work; if you need those, LegalZoom or a local attorney may make sense. For formation and RA, TrueFormed is the better deal.

How much more does LegalZoom cost than TrueFormed?+

Year 1 on LegalZoom (formation $249 + first-year RA $249) runs about $498. On TrueFormed, it's $89. That's $409 saved in Year 1, plus $150+/yr saved every year after ($348 vs $198 renewal).

Can I switch from LegalZoom to TrueFormed?+

Yes. We handle the Change of Registered Agent for free and take over your compliance tracking. Most customers complete the switch in 1-2 weeks.

Does LegalZoom offer anything TrueFormed doesn't?+

Attorney consultations, trademark filing, will preparation, and a few other legal services beyond formation. For formation and ongoing compliance, TrueFormed provides the same services at a fraction of the cost.

Ready to switch from LegalZoom?

Same services. $409 less in Year 1. $150 less every year after. We handle the Change of Registered Agent for free.

Start — $89

State filing fee is separate and paid at cost.