The economy is in flux. Prices keep climbing, and it often feels like wages are not keeping pace. That is a big part of why millions of people are looking to start a business of their own.
According to some figures, more than four million small businesses were created in 2020 alone, and the entrepreneurial wave has only continued since. There is no reason you cannot join it and start working for yourself. The catch is that not everyone who is capable of owning a business knows how to get one off the ground.
So if you are like the millions of people out there with a skill, a trade, or simply a big idea, but you are not sure how to get started, this review is for you. We put ZenBusiness through its paces, and it is a fast, easy, and affordable way to get a small business up and running.
What ZenBusiness Is All About
ZenBusiness was founded in 2018 to help everyday people launch a company and keep it running smoothly. The premise is simple: you already know the important stuff about your particular business. You know your customers, you know your trade, and you know your ideas will work.
What most founders do not know cold is how to file the paperwork that keeps everything above board. Bridging that gap is the entire ZenBusiness business model. They handle the administrative knowledge so you can get to work on the thing you actually set out to do.
ZenBusiness is also a Public Benefit Corporation, or PBC. That means a portion of its revenue goes toward supporting communities, and every year it awards grants to underserved founders, including businesses owned by women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
How ZenBusiness Can Help You
If you are ready to step out from under an hourly wage and start working for yourself, ZenBusiness has built a platform designed to launch you as far as you can fly. We went through the full business formation process and worked through every feature of the service.
Three things stood out as the areas where ZenBusiness really separates itself: getting started, keeping going, and service.
Getting Started
We have all heard the cliches. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," and so on. But it is true: reaching a goal starts with a few simple actions, and ZenBusiness makes those first steps painless.
From the moment you land on the site, you are met with easy-to-follow prompts and basic pricing laid out right up front.
Right away you notice three important things. First, there is a name checker. This does more than confirm whether "Jeff's Boat Repair" is already taken; it is also a genuine psychological boost. There is something powerful about typing the name you have been dreaming about into a site that can help you make it real.
The homepage also signals two other things. It shows that you really can get started for an affordable entry-level fee, and it highlights the money-back guarantee. That guarantee is a 60-day, money-back promise, which is nothing to sneeze at.
After you enter your business name, you are taken into an automated tutorial that guides you through the process. At each stage you answer simple yes-or-no questions ("Do you plan to have employees in the first year?" "Will you be serving food?"). Whenever you are unsure, a "What's this?" link is there to explain.
Every step of the way, ZenBusiness recommends relevant services, offers to explain them if you are not sure what they do or whether you need them, and stays upfront about pricing.
This kind of transparency, speed, and ease is a big part of why we enjoyed the process. It moves quickly and smoothly, but you can take your time if you get stuck. You can save your progress and step away at any point. No pressure, no rush.
Keeping Going
Once your paperwork is filed, whether for an LLC or another structure, you may want help staying on top of accounting, taxes, and ongoing legal compliance. This is where ZenBusiness really shines.
For an affordable annual fee, ZenBusiness keeps you compliant and in good standing with your state, year-round. Falling foul of government paperwork is a headache no founder needs, and the compliance guarantee frees you up to focus on building your business.
To help make sure that business pays the bills, the ZenBusiness Money feature helps you stay on top of invoices, taxes, and revenue. Unless you happen to be an accountant, you probably did not start a company because you love crunching numbers.
It simply makes sense to try the ZenBusiness Money feature and let the system do that work for you, so you can concentrate on building client relationships, doing good work, and bringing home the bacon.
Service
A good product is only part of the reason we recommend ZenBusiness. The other is the service. As mentioned, there is a 60-day money-back guarantee, but there is also a 100% accuracy guarantee.
On top of that, ZenBusiness offers a full library of free articles to help you plan your business. They cover everything from the finances you might need to why you may or may not want certain services.
ZenBusiness also offers lifetime business support. That means you can call or email for as long as you are partnered with them to get help with tax questions, revenue ideas, or any issue that comes up.
Not many companies are willing to stick with you from day one, but at ZenBusiness that is simply how they operate. The passion for helping small businesses shows in the features and in the service.
How Much Will It Cost?
As a future small business owner, you know cost matters, and when you are first getting started it may matter more than ever. The good news is that ZenBusiness offers an affordable entry point to get your formation underway.
Another advantage is that you can upgrade features over time. If you are still in the planning phase, you can start on one of the less expensive options. Then, once the hammers start swinging and the sign goes up, you can add the Money or compliance features later.
Pros and Cons
No review is complete without the good and the bad. Here they are.
Pros
- Fast and easy
- Explanations on every page for every feature
- Accuracy guarantee
- Support that lasts for the life of your business
Cons
- Not the cheapest formation service
- Some costs, such as registered agent service, are less obvious upfront
The Bottom Line
For helping just about anyone get a business off the ground, we recommend ZenBusiness across the full range of services a new founder needs. From initial paperwork to annual compliance, it offers the services you need and the guarantees you want to see.