The honest comparison.
LegalZoom vs. the rest.
You searched for a LegalZoom alternative — which means you're already asking the right question. Here is a factual side-by-side of what each service actually delivers, what it costs all-in, and where Semper Facilis is genuinely different.
What should you compare between LLC formation services?
LegalZoom, Northwest Registered Agent, and ZenBusiness are document processors. They file your Articles, hand you a document folder, and the relationship ends there. That is a legitimate service — if all you need is a filed entity. Most business owners need more than that.
- The Document-Only Problem
- Filing Articles of Organization takes about 20 minutes on the Secretary of State website. The value of a formation service is everything that surrounds that filing: the operating agreement that protects you in disputes, the EIN that unlocks banking, the registered agent that keeps you compliant, and the guidance that helps you actually use the entity you just created. Most formation mills stop at the filing.
- The Upsell Problem
- LegalZoom's advertised starting prices ($79–$149) are entry points, not real costs. Operating agreements, EIN service, and registered agent are typically sold as add-ons. Most clients end up paying $300–$600 before state fees. Semper Facilis publishes flat all-in service fees: $499 (AZ), $599 (WY), $699 (NV) — everything included, state fees separate and passed through at cost.
- What Semper Facilis Offers That Others Don't
- No formation service outside of Semper Facilis offers Common Law Trust formation, a structured business credit program, or ongoing PMA membership access. These are not add-on packages — they are part of a system for building a business that is properly structured from day one: entity + trust + credit + operations.
How does Semper Facilis compare to LegalZoom?
Prices below reflect what most clients pay in practice, not advertised starting prices. State filing fees are excluded from all columns — they are government fees that every service must pass through.
| Feature | Semper Facilis | LegalZoom | Northwest RA | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation (AZ) — All-In Service Fee | $499 | $300–$500+ | $164–$289+ | $199–$349+ |
| Articles of Organization | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Operating Agreement | ✓ Included | Add-on ($99+) | ✓ Included | Higher plans only |
| EIN Obtainment | ✓ Included | Add-on ($79) | Add-on ($50) | Higher plans only |
| Registered Agent (Year 1) | ✓ Included | Add-on ($299/yr) | $125/yr (bundled) | First yr included on some plans |
| Wyoming LLC Formation | $599 | $300–$500+ | $164+ | $199+ |
| Nevada LLC Formation | $699 | $300–$600+ | $164+ | $199+ |
| Common Law Trust Formation | ✓ Available | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Business Credit Program | ✓ Available | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| PMA Membership (ongoing support) | ✓ $49/yr | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Done-With-You Onboarding | ✓ | ✗ Self-service | ✗ Self-service | ✗ Self-service |
| Transparent Flat Pricing | ✓ | Tiered + add-ons | Low base + add-ons | Tiered + add-ons |
Competitor pricing based on publicly available pricing as of 2026. Add-on costs are estimates based on typical upsell flows. State filing fees are excluded from all columns. Semper Facilis prices are fixed service fees — all deliverables included as listed.
Which LLC formation service is right for you?
No formation service is the best choice for every client. Here is where each competitor genuinely wins — and where Semper Facilis is the better fit.
LegalZoom's biggest advantage is their attorney review and consultation add-ons. If you want a licensed attorney to review your operating agreement or answer specific legal questions on the same order, LegalZoom's network makes that possible in ways a non-attorney service cannot.
Choose LegalZoom if: You need attorney advice bundled into your formation and are willing to pay for it.
Northwest is genuinely excellent for registered agent renewal service and privacy practices. Their $125/year RA renewal is competitive, they use their own addresses rather than selling client data, and their customer support is well-reviewed. If you already have an entity and just need ongoing RA service, Northwest is a strong choice.
Choose Northwest if: You already have an LLC and need registered agent renewal at a competitive rate.
ZenBusiness offers a lower entry price and has improved their platform UX significantly. For a first-time business owner who only needs Articles filed and is on a very tight budget, ZenBusiness can work. The trade-off is that the all-in cost with required add-ons often approaches Semper Facilis pricing without the post-formation support.
Choose ZenBusiness if: You want the lowest possible entry price and don't need operating agreement, EIN, or post-formation guidance.
Semper Facilis is the only service that combines entity formation with Common Law Trust formation, a business credit program, and ongoing PMA membership. It is built for business owners who want to do this once, do it right, and have a team they can actually reach — not a ticketing system and a templated folder.
Choose Semper Facilis if: You want entity formation as the first step of a complete business setup — not just a filing.
Done with you — not just for you.
The phrase "done-for-you" is in every formation service's marketing. It usually means "we file the paper." Semper Facilis is a done-with-you service — the distinction is significant.
- Common Law Trust — Unique to Semper Facilis
- No formation service outside of Semper Facilis offers Common Law Trust formation. A Common Law Trust provides contractual-layer protections that complement statutory LLC protections — and the combination of a trust as LLC member creates a structure no LLC alone can replicate. If you've researched layered asset protection structures, Semper Facilis is the only formation service that offers both layers.
- Business Credit Program
- Filing Articles of Organization does not build business credit. Business credit requires a properly structured entity, the right EIN sequencing, a D-U-N-S number, a verified business address, and a systematic approach to opening net-30 vendor accounts. Semper Facilis's business credit program walks members through each step. No other formation service provides this.
- PMA Membership — Ongoing Access
- A Semper Facilis membership ($49/year) provides ongoing access to the member dashboard, document vault, support team, and the member community. LegalZoom closes your order when the filing is done. Your Semper Facilis membership stays active — you have a team to call when you need to add members, amend documents, or ask about your next entity.
- Transparent Flat Pricing
- Every Semper Facilis service page publishes the complete service fee, lists exactly what is included, and states that government fees are separate and passed through at cost. No upsell funnel, no add-on checkout flow, no tiered plans that withhold basic deliverables. The price you see is the price you pay.
What does LLC formation actually cost?
- Articles of Organization
- Operating agreement
- EIN obtainment
- 1-year registered agent
- Articles of Organization
- Operating agreement
- EIN obtainment
- 1-year registered agent
- Member names off public record
- Articles of Organization
- Operating agreement
- EIN obtainment
- 1-year registered agent
- Strong charging-order protection
Membership required — $49/year. Government and third-party fees are separate line items, always passed through at cost, never marked up.
Comparison FAQ.
- Is Semper Facilis cheaper than LegalZoom?
- In most cases, yes — when you compare total cost for the same deliverables. LegalZoom's base prices are lower, but the all-in cost with operating agreement, EIN, and registered agent is typically comparable or higher. Semper Facilis publishes flat all-in fees with every deliverable included.
- Is Northwest Registered Agent better for registered agent service?
- For registered agent renewal specifically, Northwest is competitive at $125/year and has a strong privacy reputation. Semper Facilis includes registered agent in year one as part of formation. If all you need is ongoing registered agent service after forming elsewhere, Northwest is a good choice. If you want the complete formation package plus ongoing support, Semper Facilis delivers more.
- Can I trust Semper Facilis for my LLC formation?
- Semper Facilis has formed entities for members across Arizona, Wyoming, and Nevada. The service fee covers a well-defined set of deliverables: Articles preparation and filing coordination, a standard operating agreement, IRS EIN obtainment, and registered agent service. All formation documents are delivered to your member vault. This is document preparation and coordination — not legal advice. State filing fees are always passed through at cost.
- What is a "cheapest LLC formation service"?
- The cheapest LLC formation service is DIY — you can file Articles of Organization directly with most Secretary of State websites for the state filing fee only ($50–$200). What a formation service adds is time savings, accuracy, and included deliverables. Among paid services, Northwest starts the lowest but charges separately for add-ons. Semper Facilis is priced at the flat rate for a complete package — it is not the cheapest entry price, but it is the most complete all-in value when you need entity + operating agreement + EIN + registered agent + ongoing support.
Comparison Disclaimer: Competitor pricing and features are based on publicly available information as of August 2026 and may change. This comparison reflects Semper Facilis's understanding of typical all-in costs for comparable deliverables. Semper Facilis is not affiliated with LegalZoom, Northwest Registered Agent, or ZenBusiness. Semper Facilis provides document preparation and coordination services — not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your legal situation.
The complete foundation.
Not just a filing.
LLC formation + Common Law Trust + business credit + PMA membership. Membership is $49/year. Formation starts from $499 service fee.
Published Last updated