Is FilingDesk cheaper than LegalZoom?

For forming a single-member LLC and keeping it compliant, yes — meaningfully. FilingDesk is one flat $99 plus your state's filing fee, with the registered agent, EIN, and operating agreement already included. LegalZoom advertises a lower “starting at” price, but that price excludes the registered agent and most of the pieces FilingDesk bundles, so the fully-loaded Year-1 cost lands materially higher once you add them. The gap widens at renewal, because LegalZoom's registered agent renews on its own each year while FilingDesk keeps it inside the flat $99/yr.

What does FilingDesk include that LegalZoom charges extra for?

The registered agent for Year 1, your EIN, and an operating agreement are all in FilingDesk's single $99 price, along with annual-report auto-filing and a compliance calendar. On LegalZoom these are typically add-ons or reserved for higher tiers, which is why two prices that look similar at the top can diverge a few hundred dollars by the time you actually have a working, compliant LLC.

Does someone actually review my filing?

At FilingDesk, yes — a human specialist reviews every filing before it's submitted to the state. LegalZoom's formation flow is largely self-service software; you can add attorney help through its paid legal plans, but a person isn't checking each standard formation by default.

When is LegalZoom the better choice?

When you need breadth FilingDesk doesn't offer. LegalZoom has strong brand recognition, an attorney add-on network, 50-state coverage, and a wide catalog of legal documents — trademarks, wills, contracts, and more. If you want one vendor for a range of legal needs, or you're forming in a state FilingDesk isn't live in yet, LegalZoom's range is a real advantage.

Which states can FilingDesk file in?

FilingDesk is live for filing in Wyoming, Florida, and Delaware today. The all-in cost is $199 in Wyoming ($99 + $100 state fee), $224 in Florida ($99 + $125), and $209 in Delaware ($99 + $110). Separate from formation, Delaware also charges a flat annual LLC tax (its "franchise tax") — $400 for the 2026 tax year under House Bill 400, up from $300, due each June 1 — so budget for it in Year 2. More states are being added.

Comparison

FilingDesk vs LegalZoom

Last updated: July 2026

LegalZoom is the name most people think of first for forming an LLC — it practically invented the category. FilingDesk is newer, narrower, and built around one idea: a single flat price with everything you actually need already inside it. This page lays out the real difference honestly, so you can pick the one that fits — not the one with the best marketing.

The short version: FilingDesk is one flat $99 plus your state's fee, with the registered agent, EIN, and operating agreement already included and a human reviewing every filing. LegalZoom is a broader platform with tiered pricing, a deep legal-doc catalog, and an attorney network — but its low advertised price excludes the pieces that make an LLC actually work, so the fully-loaded cost lands materially higher.

The pricing difference, plainly

The gap isn't about the sticker price — it's about what the sticker price leaves out. FilingDesk has one number and it's all-in:

FilingDesk: $99 + your state's filing fee. That's the whole thing. Name check, state filing, EIN, operating agreement, registered agent for Year 1, annual-report auto-filing, and a compliance calendar — all included. It renews at a flat $99/yr, registered agent still included.
LegalZoom: a tiered model. The headline “starting at” price is the state filing and basic paperwork. The registered agent, EIN, and operating agreement are generally add-ons or higher tiers, and the registered agent then renews on its own each year (commonly around $249/yr).

Add the pieces back and the two prices separate. A single-member LLC formed with the registered agent and the typical add-ons runs materially higher on LegalZoom — often into the ~$400+ range on top of the state fee — where FilingDesk stays at $99 plus the fee. LegalZoom's exact prices move with promotions and plan changes, so check its current pricing page; the structure — a low base plus paid add-ons plus a separate registered-agent renewal — is the part that holds steady.

Where the renewal cost really shows

Year 1 is where people compare prices. Year 2 is where the models diverge for good. FilingDesk renews at a flat $99/yr with the registered agent and annual-report filing included — one line, one number. On LegalZoom, the registered agent is its own annual subscription and any other plans renew separately, so the ongoing cost stacks rather than staying flat. Over a few years, that compounding registered-agent renewal is usually the biggest single difference.

What you get for the price

FilingDesk bundles the whole formation into one flat price and one conversation — you describe your business in plain English, and a specialist reviews the filing before it's sent to the state. That human check is a deliberate part of the product, not an upsell.

LegalZoom's strength is the opposite kind of scale: a broad, self-service catalog. Its formation flow is software-first, with attorney help available through paid legal plans. That's genuinely valuable if you want one vendor for many legal needs — it just isn't the same thing as a person checking each formation by default.

Side by side

	FilingDesk	LegalZoom
Pricing model	One flat plan — $99 + your state's filing fee. Nothing tiered, nothing to upgrade.	Tiered plans with a low “starting at” price that excludes registered agent and most add-ons.
What’s in the base price	Name check, state filing, EIN, operating agreement, registered agent (Year 1), annual-report auto-file, compliance calendar.	The state filing and basic paperwork; EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent are typically paid add-ons or higher tiers.
Registered agent	Included in Year 1. Renews with the flat $99/yr — no separate line item.	Usually a separate subscription that renews annually on its own (commonly around $249/yr).
Fully-loaded Year-1 cost	$99 + your state fee. WY $199, FL $224, DE $209.	Materially higher once registered agent and typical add-ons are included — often in the ~$400+ range on top of the state fee.
Human review	A specialist reviews every filing before it goes to the state.	Largely self-service; attorney help is available through paid legal plans and add-ons.
Renewal	$99/yr flat, with registered agent and annual-report filing included.	Registered agent and any subscriptions renew separately; costs stack.
Breadth	Narrow and deep: LLC formation and ongoing compliance. Live in WY, FL, DE.	Broad legal-doc catalog, attorney network, trademarks, wills, and 50-state coverage.
Guarantee	60-day money-back guarantee.	Satisfaction guarantee terms vary by product and plan.

Who each one is for

Choose FilingDesk if you want to form an LLC in Wyoming, Florida, or Delaware, keep it compliant, and know your total cost up front without decoding tiers and add-ons. One flat price, a human on every filing, and a renewal that doesn't creep. It's narrow on purpose — LLC formation and ongoing compliance, done well.

Choose LegalZoom if you want breadth: 50-state coverage, an attorney add-on network, trademarks, wills, contracts, and a range of legal documents from one recognizable brand. If your needs go beyond forming and maintaining an LLC — or you're in a state FilingDesk isn't live in yet — that range is a real advantage.

Frequently asked questions

Is FilingDesk cheaper than LegalZoom?: For forming a single-member LLC and keeping it compliant, yes — meaningfully. FilingDesk is one flat $99 plus your state's filing fee, with the registered agent, EIN, and operating agreement already included. LegalZoom advertises a lower “starting at” price, but that price excludes the registered agent and most of the pieces FilingDesk bundles, so the fully-loaded Year-1 cost lands materially higher once you add them. The gap widens at renewal, because LegalZoom's registered agent renews on its own each year while FilingDesk keeps it inside the flat $99/yr.
What does FilingDesk include that LegalZoom charges extra for?: The registered agent for Year 1, your EIN, and an operating agreement are all in FilingDesk's single $99 price, along with annual-report auto-filing and a compliance calendar. On LegalZoom these are typically add-ons or reserved for higher tiers, which is why two prices that look similar at the top can diverge a few hundred dollars by the time you actually have a working, compliant LLC.
Does someone actually review my filing?: At FilingDesk, yes — a human specialist reviews every filing before it's submitted to the state. LegalZoom's formation flow is largely self-service software; you can add attorney help through its paid legal plans, but a person isn't checking each standard formation by default.
When is LegalZoom the better choice?: When you need breadth FilingDesk doesn't offer. LegalZoom has strong brand recognition, an attorney add-on network, 50-state coverage, and a wide catalog of legal documents — trademarks, wills, contracts, and more. If you want one vendor for a range of legal needs, or you're forming in a state FilingDesk isn't live in yet, LegalZoom's range is a real advantage.
Which states can FilingDesk file in?: FilingDesk is live for filing in Wyoming, Florida, and Delaware today. The all-in cost is $199 in Wyoming ($99 + $100 state fee), $224 in Florida ($99 + $125), and $209 in Delaware ($99 + $110). Separate from formation, Delaware also charges a flat annual LLC tax (its "franchise tax") — $400 for the 2026 tax year under House Bill 400, up from $300, due each June 1 — so budget for it in Year 2. More states are being added.

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice, and pricing for other providers changes — verify current details on their site before deciding. FilingDesk is not a law firm and does not give legal or tax advice; talk to a professional about your specific situation. LegalZoom is a trademark of its respective owner and is not affiliated with FilingDesk.