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LegalZoom logo - LegalZoom: US LLC formation and legal documents for freelancers
Starting a businessLegal
Freemium - LLC from $0 plus state fees, paid plans at $249 and $299

LegalZoom: US LLC formation and legal documents for freelancers

US online legal service: LLC, DBA and corporation filing, legal documents and attorney plans

Try LegalZoom

LegalZoom is a US online legal service. It files LLCs, DBAs, corporations and nonprofits, and it also offers legal documents and attorney plans.

The service creates US companies only. LegalZoom says it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, except through its subsidiary LZ Legal Services, LLC. Nothing on this page is legal or tax advice either.

Who is LegalZoom for?

Freelancers and business owners who want a US company, or a sole proprietor who needs a trade name. LegalZoom publishes a guide on starting an LLC as a freelancer. It says you are not legally required to form one if you are self-employed, and it lists the downsides: more administrative costs and potentially more complex taxes.

LegalZoom also has a page for founders in Australia who want a US LLC, with no Social Security number or residency required according to the company. That is still a US company.

Features

  • LLC formation: name check and filing of your articles of organization. LLC guides cover all 50 states.
  • DBA: a business name for your sole proprietorship, without forming a legal entity.
  • Corporations and nonprofits: S corp, C corp and nonprofit filing.
  • Legal documents: business forms, wills, trusts and powers of attorney.
  • Attorney plans: business and personal plans.

LegalZoom pricing in 2026

Prices checked on the official site in October 2026, in US dollars. State filing fees are extra and vary by state.

  • Basic: $0 plus state filing fees.
  • Managed Service: $249 plus state filing fees, with a 30-day subscription that auto-renews at $49 per month unless you cancel.
  • Expert Service: $299 plus state filing fees, with a 30-day subscription that auto-renews at $99 per month unless you cancel.

A DBA starts at $99 and a corporation at $149, both plus state fees. Check the site for attorney plan prices.

Why we recommend LegalZoom

We recommend it if you want one provider for filing and legal documents, and its freelancer guide is clear that an LLC is optional. The weak point to know about: the paid plans turn into a monthly subscription after 30 days unless you cancel.

LegalZoom or another solution?

For a filing service focused on US LLCs, compare ZenBusiness. For non-US founders, look at doola. To sign your client contracts, see PandaDoc or DocuSign.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

  • Basic LLC plan at $0 plus state filing fees
  • DBA filing from $99 plus state fees, useful for a sole proprietor who wants a trade name
  • Formation, legal documents and attorney plans from one provider
  • Has a guide written for freelancers that says plainly an LLC is not legally required

Weaknesses

  • US companies only: no help with a business registered elsewhere
  • Managed Service and Expert Service include a 30-day subscription that auto-renews at $49 or $99 per month unless you cancel
  • LegalZoom is not a law firm, apart from services through its subsidiary LZ Legal Services, LLC
  • The $0 Basic plan only covers filing your articles of organization with the state

Frequently asked questions about LegalZoom

LegalZoom is a US online legal service. It files LLCs, DBAs, corporations and nonprofits, and offers legal documents and attorney plans for business owners and families.

Its formation services create US companies, and its LLC pages cover all 50 states. LegalZoom also has pages for founders abroad, such as Australia, who want to form a US LLC. It does not form companies in other countries.

On the official LLC page in October 2026: Basic at $0, Managed Service at $249 and Expert Service at $299, in US dollars and plus state filing fees. The two paid plans include a 30-day subscription that then auto-renews at $49 or $99 per month unless you cancel.

LegalZoom's own guide says you are not legally required to form an LLC if you are self-employed. It also lists the downsides: more administrative costs and potentially more complex taxes. This page is not legal or tax advice.

No. LegalZoom says it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, except for services authorized through its subsidiary law firm, LZ Legal Services, LLC.