Starting a business is exciting, but the paperwork? Not so much. That’s where LLC formation services like Tailor Brands and ZenBusiness come in, making it easier to get your business off the ground.
Both are popular choices, but they cater to slightly different needs. In this in-depth comparison, I’ll break down their features, pricing, customer support, and more to help you decide which one fits your entrepreneurial dreams.
Let’s dive in!
What Are Tailor Brands and ZenBusiness?
Before we compare, let’s get to know these platforms.
ZenBusiness (founded in 2015) is all about simplifying the legal side of starting a business. It focuses on LLC formation, compliance, and ongoing support, with a reputation for affordability and great customer service. Over 800,000 businesses have trusted ZenBusiness to handle their formation needs.
Tailor Brands (also founded in 2015) started as an AI-powered branding platform, famous for its logo maker, but has since expanded into LLC formation.
It’s ideal for entrepreneurs who want to build a strong brand identity alongside their legal setup. Millions have used Tailor Brands for branding and business formation.
Both offer LLC formation services, but their strengths lie in different areas. ZenBusiness is your go-to for compliance and efficiency, while Tailor Brands shines in branding. Let’s compare them across key factors.
Pricing: Which Offers Better Value?
Pricing is often the first thing entrepreneurs look at, so let’s see how these two stack up.
ZenBusiness Pricing
ZenBusiness keeps things simple with three plans, all of which include LLC formation (you’ll still need to pay state filing fees, which vary):
- Starter ($0 + state fees): Includes basic LLC formation, standard filing speed (7–10 business days), and a 100% accuracy guarantee. You also get a free accounting consultation.
- Pro ($199/year + state fees): Adds rush filing (1–5 days), an Employer Identification Number (EIN), an operating agreement, and worry-free compliance for the first year.
- Premium ($349/year + state fees): Includes everything in Pro, plus a business website, domain name, email, and expedited compliance support.
ZenBusiness’s $0 Starter plan is a big draw for budget-conscious entrepreneurs, though add-ons like registered agent service ($199/year) can increase costs.
Tailor Brands Pricing
Tailor Brands also offers three plans, but their pricing is less transparent—you often need to fill out a form to get exact costs. Here’s what we know:
- Lite ($0 + state fees): Covers basic LLC formation with standard processing (up to 14 business days).
- Essential ($199/year + state fees): Includes an operating agreement, annual compliance support, expedited processing (2 days), and access to customer support.
- Elite ($249/year + state fees): Adds branding tools like a logo maker, 8 free logos, a website builder, a free domain for one year, and social media design tools.
Tailor Brands’ Lite plan matches ZenBusiness’s free offering, but their higher-tier plans are slightly cheaper (Elite is $100 less than ZenBusiness’s Premium).
Pricing Verdict
Both offer a $0 base plan, which is great for startups on a tight budget. ZenBusiness wins for transparency, as their pricing is clear upfront, while Tailor Brands requires you to dig a bit. If you just need basic LLC formation, either works. But if you want premium features, Tailor Brands’ Elite plan offers more branding tools for less than ZenBusiness’s Premium plan.
Features: What Do You Get?
Let’s look at what each service brings to the table beyond just filing your LLC paperwork.
ZenBusiness Features
ZenBusiness focuses on making LLC formation and compliance as smooth as possible. Key features include:
- Fast Processing: Standard filing takes 7–10 days, with rush options (1–5 days) in higher plans.
- Worry-Free Compliance: Their compliance service (free for the first year in Pro and Premium plans) helps you stay on top of annual reports and other state requirements.
- Operating Agreement and EIN: Available in Pro and Premium plans, these are essential for most LLCs.
- Additional Services: ZenBusiness offers registered agent service ($199/year), business banking, bookkeeping, and tax support. They also provide a user-friendly online dashboard to manage all your documents.
- Scalability Tools: Premium plans include a website, domain, and email, but these are basic compared to Tailor Brands’ offerings.
ZenBusiness is ideal if you want a no-fuss, compliance-focused service with solid add-ons for managing your business.
Tailor Brands Features
Tailor Brands stands out for its branding capabilities, blending LLC formation with tools to create a professional business identity:
- AI-Powered Branding: Their logo maker, social media tools, and website builder are top-notch. The Elite plan includes 8 free logos, a free domain, and digital business cards.
- LLC Formation Basics: Like ZenBusiness, they handle state filings, name availability checks, and operating agreements (in Essential and Elite plans).
- Expedited Processing: Higher plans offer 2-day processing, faster than ZenBusiness’s standard but slower than their rush option.
- Compliance Support: Annual compliance is included in Essential and Elite plans, but registered agent service ($199/year) is only available as an add-on with LLC formation.
- Business Name Search: Tailor Brands has its own name availability tool, while ZenBusiness redirects you to state websites.
Tailor Brands is perfect for entrepreneurs who want to launch a visually cohesive brand alongside their LLC.
Features Verdict
ZenBusiness excels in compliance and legal support, making it great for those prioritizing the nuts and bolts of business formation.
Tailor Brands, however, steals the show for branding, offering tools that help your business look polished from day one. If you need both compliance and branding, Tailor Brands’ Elite plan gives you more bang for your buck.
Ease of Use: Which Is Simpler?
Starting a business is stressful enough—you don’t want a clunky platform slowing you down.
- ZenBusiness: Their platform is straightforward, guiding you through the LLC formation process in 5–10 minutes. You pick your business structure, enter details, and choose add-ons. The online dashboard is intuitive, letting you access documents and track compliance easily.
- Tailor Brands: Tailor Brands offers a sleek, modern interface that feels more like designing a brand than filing paperwork. The process is equally quick, with clear steps for selecting your entity and add-ons. Their AI-driven branding tools are seamlessly integrated, making it fun to create logos and websites.
Ease of Use Verdict
Both platforms are user-friendly, but Tailor Brands edges out slightly with its visually engaging interface and branding focus. ZenBusiness is no slouch, though—its dashboard is a lifesaver for managing documents and compliance.
Customer Support: Who’s Got Your Back?
Good customer support can make or break your experience, especially if you hit a snag.
- ZenBusiness: Known for stellar customer service, ZenBusiness offers phone, email, and chat support with responsive, knowledgeable reps. They have thousands of positive reviews on Trustpilot (4.9/5 rating), with users praising their speed and helpfulness.
- Tailor Brands: Also offers phone and email support, plus a contact form. Their reps are courteous, but response times can vary, and their hours aren’t clearly listed. They have a decent 3.8/5 rating on Trustpilot, but reviews are more mixed, with some complaints about refunds and add-on clarity.
Customer Support Verdict
ZenBusiness takes the crown here. Their consistent, high-quality support and glowing reviews make them a safer bet if you need reliable assistance.
Turnaround Time: How Fast Can You Start?
Speed matters when you’re eager to launch your business.
- ZenBusiness: Standard processing takes 7–10 days, with rush filing (1–5 days) available in Pro and Premium plans. Note that state processing times vary and can add weeks.
- Tailor Brands: Basic plans take up to 14 days for processing, while Essential and Elite plans offer 2-day expedited filing. Again, state timelines apply.
Turnaround Verdict
ZenBusiness is faster for standard processing, and their rush option (1–5 days) beats Tailor Brands’ 2-day expedited filing. If speed is critical, ZenBusiness has the edge.
Customer Reviews: What Are People Saying?
- ZenBusiness: With over 12,000 reviews, ZenBusiness boasts a strong reputation. Customers love their affordability, ease of use, and customer support. Negative feedback is rare, often tied to state delays rather than the service itself.
- Tailor Brands: Reviews are more mixed. Their branding tools get high praise, but some users find their LLC formation pricey or complain about refund issues. Their Trustpilot score of 3.8 reflects this split.
Reviews Verdict
ZenBusiness has a stronger, more consistent reputation, especially for LLC formation. Tailor Brands shines for branding but falls short in customer feedback for their formation services.
Who Should Choose ZenBusiness?
ZenBusiness is your best bet if:
- You want a budget-friendly, reliable LLC formation service.
- Compliance and legal support are your top priorities.
- You value excellent customer service and a proven track record.
- You’re okay with basic branding tools or plan to handle branding separately.
Example: A freelancer starting a consulting LLC who needs quick, affordable formation and compliance support would love ZenBusiness’s Starter or Pro plan.
Who Should Choose Tailor Brands?
Tailor Brands is ideal if:
- You want to build a strong brand identity alongside your LLC.
- You’re launching a business that relies on visuals (e.g., e-commerce, lifestyle brands).
- You prefer an all-in-one solution with logo design, website building, and social media tools.
- You’re willing to pay a bit more for premium branding features.
Example: A small business owner launching a boutique clothing brand would benefit from Tailor Brands’ Elite plan, which combines LLC formation with logo creation and a website.
Final Verdict: Tailor Brands or ZenBusiness?
Both Tailor Brands and ZenBusiness are excellent choices, but they serve different needs:
- Choose ZenBusiness for a no-nonsense, affordable LLC formation experience with top-notch compliance support and customer service. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs focused on getting the legal stuff right without breaking the bank.
- Choose Tailor Brands if you want to hit the ground running with a professional brand identity. Its AI-powered branding tools and all-in-one packages are a game-changer for businesses that need to look polished from day one.
If you’re torn, ask yourself: What’s more important—legal compliance or branding? If it’s the former, go with ZenBusiness. If it’s the latter, Tailor Brands is your pick. Either way, both platforms make starting your LLC easier than doing it alone, saving you time and stress.
Ready to start? Check out ZenBusiness for compliance-focused formation or Tailor Brands for branding magic. Let me know if you have more questions—I’m here to help!
