Independent comparison • Updated 2026
By Srikanta M.Reviewed against FTB / SOS sources: September 2026Methodology

Us vs LegalZoom

The best-known legal-services brand: LLC formation packages bundled with attorney plans, legal documents, and bookkeeping upsells. Prices from LegalZoom's public pages, checked September 2026: verify at purchase.

Quick answers

How does StateDues compare to LegalZoom?
The best-known legal-services brand: LLC formation packages bundled with attorney plans, legal documents, and bookkeeping upsells.
LegalZoomStateDues
Formation$0 Basic, $249 Pro, $299 Premium + state feesNot offered: plan here first
EIN & operating agreementIncluded from the Pro planExplained in our formation guides
Legal helpBusiness Attorney Plan (30 days free on Pro, then monthly)Statutory explainers, no legal advice
Tax modelingNot offeredCA/WY/DE/TX/NV/NY/FL engines + nexus checker

What LegalZoom does well

Brand familiarity and breadth. Its Pro plan adds an operating agreement, EIN filing, a trial of its attorney subscription, and document templates, which suits founders who want a single company handling legal paperwork and occasional lawyer access. The Basic plan is $0 plus state fees for the Articles alone.

Watch the recurring add-ons

The formation price is only part of the bill. Registered agent service, compliance subscriptions, the attorney plan, and bookkeeping renew separately after their trial periods. Add them up for year two before choosing a plan, and check whether you actually need each one: many founders only need the Articles, an EIN (free from the IRS), and a registered agent.

Where StateDues fits

We don't form companies. Use our calculators to decide which state and entity type to form and what it will cost to keep: California's $800 plus fee tiers, Delaware franchise tax under APV, nexus from remote hires, then buy formation from whichever provider you prefer.

Before you buy any formation service

State fees are the same whichever provider files for you, and they usually cost more than the provider. Check the five-year cost by state, whether your team creates nexus elsewhere, and what a registered agent should cost.

By Srikanta M.Reviewed against FTB / SOS sources: September 2026Methodology

Other comparisons

Sources

  • LegalZoom public pricing pages (checked September 2026)
  • State fee schedules cited in the linked guides