
ZenBusiness
$0 + state feeSee ZenBusiness plans (opens in a new tab)- LLC Formation
- Business Website
- Annual Compliance
Updated October 29, 2026
When it comes to forming an LLC, selecting the right service provider can significantly impact the efficiency and success of your business venture.

ZenBusiness
$0 + state feeSee ZenBusiness plans (opens in a new tab)
Swyft Filings
$0 + state feeSee Swyft Filings plans (opens in a new tab)Our overall pick for a first LLC is Northwest Registered Agent: $39 + state fee, with the first year of registered agent service included (then $125/yr). Form my LLC for $39 (opens in a new tab)
Prices checked October 29, 2026. State filing fees are extra.
I personally tested and compared two prominent formation services — Swyft Filings and ZenBusiness — by working through their actual formation processes to assess real-world performance.
I'll share my insights on the features, pricing, additional services, and customer service of both companies to help you make an informed decision.

Swyft Filings is an online LLC service launched in 2015 in Houston, Texas. Ever since then, the company had helped tens of thousands of individuals and businesses.
ZenBusiness is a Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2015 that primarily offers business formation services. The company features a platform, business tools and programs designed to assist entrepreneurs.
ZenBusiness and Swyft Filings are both reputable LLC formation services. However, ZenBusiness offers more complete formation plans that cater to specific business needs.
Swyft Filings provides an automated business filing to simplify the formation process and help small entities and individuals launch their companies.

Swyft FIlings and ZenBusiness provide LLC formation services to assist you through the process and help maintain your business, as well as to remain compliant with state laws.
ZenBusiness offers a registered agent for $199 first year, then $199/yr, and Swyft Filings for $596 first year, then $596/yr (billed $149 a quarter).
The service ensures that you have a representative on hand during business hours to handle service of process on your behalf.
However, the registered agent service is not part of the basic package and can only be availed of as an additional feature.

LLCs have become the dominant choice of business structure, being formed two to three times more frequently than corporations, which suggests a higher frequency of requests for extra LLC-specific services such as DBA registration and Certificates of Good Standing among others [1].
Apart from the basic features included in the packages, both companies offer additional services necessary to maintain an LLC.
A client of mine registered a DBA name with Swyft Filings for $99 plus state fees. This allowed his company to operate under a more business-related name other than its registered title.
ZenBusiness offers DBA registration for existing LLCs in selected states as long as the company is in good standing. You can visit their website to get a price quote since the fees vary depending on the state.
Swyft Filings and ZenBusiness both offer a business licensing report to help you determine which documents are required for your specific business for a fee of $99 at Swyft Filings and $149 at ZenBusiness.
ZenBusiness disclosed that the reports will be available within 1 to 3 days after filing.
ZenBusiness offers business banking with Money Pro bookkeeping for $30 a month.
When we availed of the service, we learned that there was no initial deposit necessary to open an account and it required no maintaining balance. The feature also included tax and bookkeeping services.
Swyft Filings includes a banking resolution in their packages that feature cash flow monitoring, ATM, and mobile banking.
Both companies offer to draft a Certificate of Good Standing as long as your limited liability company is compliant with all business laws.
ZenBusiness charges $100 while Swyft Filings requires a fee of $45.

In the E-commerce sector, the standard of customer support is notably superior, attributed to extensive and rigorous training programs. A mere 0.2% of responses from customer service personnel demonstrate issues related to attitude [2].
Swyft Filing's customer support is available from 9 am to 6 pm CST, Monday to Friday.
We appreciate that their email address and phone number are prominently stated on the website and readily accessible. We tried their live web chat tool and, in a few minutes, got in touch with one of the reps.
ZenBusiness also performed admirably in terms of contact openness, since they have a phone number and a live chat feature available on their website.
Additionally, they responded to all our messages within 24 hours.
You may call ZenBusiness between 8 am and 8 pm CT on weekdays and between 10 am and 7 pm on Sundays.
"Customer service should not be a department. It should be the entire company."
- Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos
Here are some of the user testimonials of Swyft Filings and ZenBusiness, reflecting customer experiences as of our latest review.

Both services maintain strong customer feedback across independent review platforms.
Swyft Filings is frequently praised for personalized service and attention to detail, while ZenBusiness customers often highlight the comprehensive nature of its business formation packages and user-friendly dashboard.
When evaluating these services, consider reading recent reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to assess how each company handles common formation scenarios and customer support inquiries specific to your state's requirements.
Swyft Filings is slightly more affordable than ZenBusiness since its top-level package is $269 on sale (regularly $299), whereas its counterpart is $299.
Swyft Filings has a faster processing time since the turnaround for its basic plan is 10 business days, while ZenBusiness is within 2 to 3 weeks.
ZenBusiness wins this matchup: its Starter plan was $0 plus the state fee, with a 60-day money-back guarantee at checkout.
On first login, its Velo AI checked our formation status, EIN and compliance. Swyft Filings is the better fit if you want a personal business specialist and fast turnaround.
If you are still choosing a formation service, our overall pick for a first LLC is Northwest Registered Agent. A full year of registered agent service is included, then it costs $125 a year from year two.
Your home address stays off the public filing (Privacy by Default), and a basic operating agreement is included. Domain, website, business email and phone line come at no charge while the agent service is active.
We formed a real LLC with Northwest in June 2026 for $289 all in ($39 plus Alaska's $250 state fee). Forming yours costs $39 plus the state fee.
References:

Our verdict
$39 + state fee with the first year of registered agent service (then $125/yr) and business identity tools included. 90-day money-back guarantee.
Prices checked October 29, 2026. State filing fees are extra.