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Can You Really Start an LLC for $0?

Ivelina Dineva
By Ivelina Dineva
Published on 23 Apr 2024 Updated on 26 Dec 2024 3 min read Updated on 26 Dec 2024
Can You Really Start an LLC for $0?

Disclaimer: The prices and offerings of competitor services mentioned in this article are accurate as of the publication date. These prices and offerings are subject to change at the discretion of the respective companies. We recommend verifying the current prices and offerings directly with the competitors for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

You’ve probably come across ads from popular companies like ZenBusiness, Bizee, and LegalZoom advertising $0 formations. So you might be wondering why doola’s upfront price is $297 + state fees, and you are most likely even thinking that it’s way more expensive and you’d rather go with a company offering $0 formation.

While the promise of launching a business without any initial financial investment is alluring, is it really true?

LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness

In this article, we’re going to do address the untold truth behind $0 formations, expose the hidden costs and complexities of formations and ultimately, explain why these ads are extremely misleading.

We will also compare their pricing packages to doola to see which one offers the best deal.

Let’s dive in!

doola vs ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness claims to offer $0 formation + state fees. Let’s take a look at how much it would cost to form an LLC with ZenBusiness vs. doola.

ZenBusiness Pricing 💰

  • Base Price: Starts at $0 + state fees for their basic package
  • EIN & Operating Agreement: Not included in the basic package, available for an additional $224
  • Registered Agent Service: Not included in the basic package, available for an additional $199
  • Assistance in Setting Up a US Bank account: $5 per month
  • Mailing address, Virtual Mailbox: Not included
Total cost to form a company = $428 + state fees

doola Pricing 💰

  • Base Price: $297 + state fees
  • EIN & Operating Agreement: Included in the package
  • Registered Agent Service: Included in the package
  • Assistance in Setting Up a US Bank account: Included in the package
  • Mailing address, Virtual Mailbox: Included in the package
  • Preparing and filing the Articles of Organization: Included in the package
  • Statement of Organizer: Included in the package
Total cost to form a company = $297 + state fees

doola vs ZenBusiness

As you can see, at doola we are transparent about our pricing from the start. There are no hidden costs in our package, which is why we say $297 + state fees right from the start, instead of $0.

We give the full amount upfront, and it is still cheaper than other alternatives like ZenBusiness.

doola vs LegalZoom

Alright, but what about LegalZoom?” we hear you saying.

Here is a pricing comparison between LegalZoom and doola.

LegalZoom Pricing 💰

  • Base Price: Starts at $0 + state fees
  • EIN & Operating Agreement: Not included, available for an additional $159
  • Registered Agent Service: Not included, available for an additional $249
  • Assistance in Setting Up a US Bank account: Not included
  • Mailing address, Virtual Mailbox: Not included, available for an additional $348
Total cost to form a company = $756 + state fees

That’s actually double the price of using ZenBusiness and triple the price of using doola! Below is doola’s pricing.

doola Pricing 💰

  • Base Price: $297 + state fees
  • EIN & Operating Agreement: Included in the package
  • Registered Agent Service: Included in the package
  • Assistance in Setting Up a US Bank account: Included in the package
  • Mailing address, Virtual Mailbox: Included in the package
  • Preparing and filing the Articles of Organization: Included in the package
  • Statement of Organizer: Included in the package
Total cost to form a company = $297 + state fees

doola vs LegalZoom

doola is once again the cheapest and fastest option. No hidden surprises here. All of the same services that LegalZoom offers for $806 + state fees cost only $297 + state fees with doola.

doola vs Bizee

So you’ve also seen those Bizee $0 formation ads – but are they true and how do they compare with doola?

The moment of truth below.

Bizee Pricing 💰

  • Base Price: Starts at $0 + state fees for their basic package
  • EIN & Operating Agreement: Not included in the basic package, available for an additional $110
  • Registered Agent Service: Included in the basic package for the first year, then $119 annually
  • Assistance in Setting Up a US Bank account: Included in the basic package
  • Mailing address, Virtual Mailbox: Not included in the basic package, available for an additional $348
Total cost to form a company = $458 + state fees

doola Pricing 💰

  • Base Price: $297 + state fees
  • EIN & Operating Agreement: Included in the package
  • Registered Agent Service: Included in the package
  • Assistance in Setting Up a US Bank account: Included in the package
  • Mailing address, Virtual Mailbox: Included in the package
  • Preparing and filing the Articles of Organization: Included in the package
  • Statement of Organizer: Included in the package
Total cost to form a company = $297 + state fees

doola vs Bizee

Once again, doola is cheaper (and transparent about our pricing). What would cost you at least $458 + state fees with Bizee, is offered by doola for $297 + state fees.

In addition to that, doola also offers assistance with setting up a US bank account, which is typically a massive hurdle for international business owners who want to have a US-registered business.

There’s nothing else to be said here – it’s clear we have a winner!

$0 Formations: Another Myth Busted

As you can see, there is no such thing as $0 formations, as nice as that would be! Always do your research properly before choosing a formation partner, and make sure that you know what the full cost will be before you make that final leap.

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Can You Really Start an LLC for $0?