As you start your business in Virginia and look into the future, you want to rest assured that you have put your hopes in the right people and companies. Is ZenBusiness one such company in Virginia you can trust to help you get ahead? We cover this and more in this detailed ZenBusiness LLC services review:
For you to remain in the state’s good books, you need an intermediary to act as your primary point of contact. However, an agent service can do more than receive your mail. It can also help you get your paperwork right from the start, as is the case with ZenBusiness.
ZenBusiness came about in 2015 and bases its operations in Austin, Texas. Not only does it help its customers in starting their entities but it also enables them to manage their businesses going forward. All this is possible thanks to their cutting-edge solutions regarding identity theft, compliance, and business management. Their costs are friendly to the average consumer, enabling them to secure a top spot when it comes to agent services. If their 3,700+ reviews are anything to go by, ZenBusiness LLC formation service might as well be one of the best bets in the market.
Today, we will look at whether this service could be the best option for you and what has earned it such a great reputation in the industry.
Packages
There are various selections for customers, based on your preferences. Please have a look below at the options:
Starter
This is the cheapest option of the 3, costing $39, exclusive of the state fees. You should expect approval of the articles of organization in about two to three weeks under this setup. Services included in this ZenBusiness Starter package include:
- A Name Check. The first thing after deciding on the best entity is to do a name check. This site can have this handled for you by comparing your selection with those in its database. From the very start, you can have an idea of what you can or cannot use for your business, doing away with the need for similar checks in other websites.
- Articles of Organization. This document is essential in the approval of your business. Not only does this agent prepare this document on your behalf but it also files them with the right state. That means that you can work on other aspects of the business, knowing that they have this covered.
- Free registered agent services. We earlier mentioned that you will need a primary point of contact to operate in your state. This agent service also does this for you under this basic package such that they will receive and forward all necessary documents to your business. The deal gets even better. For the first year, you will not pay a dime, provided you formed your entity under this package. Subsequent years will attract an annual fee of $119, giving you great cost value.
- Operating Agreement. Not many agent services will throw this in with a basic package but ZenBusiness in Virginia has you covered in this aspect. This agreement enables you and other members of your organization to have laws by which you can abide. The site provides you with a template you can customize as you best deem for your operations, reducing your workload.
- Fiscal Assessment. The site has licensed professionals who can go through your formation and advise you based on your accounting and tax needs. The good thing with this advice is that it is in-house such that you will not have to pay to access it. With most other agents, you find that the cost attached to this service is separate from the formation fees.
Pro
This tier is the next level, which is priced much higher than the starter. Its base is $149, exclusive of state fees. You should get your approval ready in about 5-8 business days. Under this ZenBusiness Pro package, you have access to everything available to people on the starter package, plus the following additional services:
- An EIN. Depending on the nature of your operations, you might require a federal tax ID number. You can use this to hire people to help with the operations and it also comes in handy when paying taxes and operating business bank accounts. While getting the ID is free, you can always skip the hassle by having a licensed agent handle this on your behalf.
- Worry-free compliance. Once you have the business up and running, you must keep up with annual report filings as well as some essential paperwork over time. Missing such deadlines can lead to the loss of your license. This company ensures that you are on track by preparing as well as filing selected paperwork on your behalf.
- Resolution. To keep your money safe, you need to decide who can access the money in your account. ZenBusiness LLC Virginia provides you with a banking resolution which you and the members of your organization can use when opening accounts and granting access to persons.
Premium
If you are in a rush and would like to get things done fast, this ZenBusiness Premium packagemight appeal to you. Paperwork should be filed and approved in about 2-4 business days, which is quite an improvement compared to the packages in the lower tiers. This added convenience will set you back $249, exclusive of the state fees.
Under this setting, you get everything available to people using starter and pro packages, with the following additional services:
- Domain Name. While you might not want to start a website now, the idea could come up in the future. This agent service helps you get things started by registering a domain name using your preferred business name. You can manage it using your online dashboard for ease of administration. Additionally, you also get to enjoy domain name privacy such that you can safeguard your personal information.
- Speedy Processing. Your documents will have priority over those of people in the starter and pro setups, enabling you to get your business started much faster.
- Email Address. You can also benefit from a professional email address with up to 5GB of storage space for an added professional aesthetic.
- Website. Not only do you get a domain name but you also get a website, helping you get a head start in your business operations.
You can get more information about these ZenBusiness Virginia LLC packages here.
Pros & Cons
ZenBusiness has been in operation for half a decade now and customers have had quite a lot to say about it as follows:
Pros
- Affordable Pricing. If you look at what most other services charge for their features, you will see that this company offers quite the bargain. With its basic plan starting at $39, this service is as much as $60 cheaper compared to some alternatives that offer fewer features. It is thus a great option for people looking to stick to a budget while getting value for their money.
- Ease of Use. This company does not try to make entity creation feel or look complex to its customers, no matter how inexperienced they may be. Instead, it offers customers what they need when they need it as opposed to pushing offers down their throats. The entire process feels quite welcoming rather than abrasive, making this a good choice for newbies.
- Positive Reviews. Most people who have gone through this formation process have a lot of good to say about it. It is clear that the company prides itself in customer service and strives to stand out in this regard.
- Maintenance. The company not only helps you start your business but also maintain it by taking care of annual reports and other filings. Under the pro setup, you get reminders as well as document prep to help you stay on track.
- Societal Focus. As much as making profits is important, the company also works in uplifting the society by embracing partnerships that help those in need. A good example would be their work with Kiva.
- Variety. This company does not focus solely on formation but it also helps one move past these stages by looking into operating agreements, EINs and other important documents.
Cons
- The agent services in the basic package are subject to an annual recurring fee. Customers who are not aware of this can experience frustration when they see deductions they did not know were there.
- The packages also include services that a business may not need, yet these incur additional costs.
Should You Start an LLC With ZenBusiness?
You must choose ZenBusiness:
- If you want to start your business without incurring huge initial costs.
- If you want to start a business fast without paying high costs.
- If you would like to receive reminders on deadlines.
Do not choose ZenBusiness or find a suitable alternative:
- If you would rather work with a company that has been in operation for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
You need to come up with a name, file your articles of organization, draft an operating agreement, get an EIN, start an operating bank account and comply with license and tax laws. You can do all these on your own. However, if you want or need help, you can always talk to a registered agent service.
This company ranks high among its competitors due to its exemplary customer support and range of services at affordable pricing. It is thus one of the best LLC services.
Yes. The company offers both registration and maintenance services at affordable pricing, enabling a small business to find its footing.
The best option depends on what you want from a package. If speed is your priority, the premium package would be the best.
The customer service from Zen Business is superb! The people are very friendly and knowledgeable and quick!
had such great customer service our agent Jessie was super responsive and helpful and resolved our issue very quickly
Awesome job done by Jessie in helping me figure my issues with my LLC. She was clear, responded fast and was kind. Great service thus far.
Very professional and kind service from Melissa today, she answered a bunch of questions that have been gnawing at me and made me feel much better about going forward with this. Will be recommending Zen to other people in the future for sure.
Jenna from customer service helped a lot! I recommend zenbusiness, they make it easy for business owners!
Lynn, an online chat helper, just gave me outstanding customer service! What a relief–clear, professional, personable. Highest marks! Please give her a fruit basket or theatre tickets, or your job? Whatever works! Thanks again!