Clerky vs ZenBusiness: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026Clerky starts at $427 plus state fees. ZenBusiness starts at $0 plus state fees. Sticker-price differences between LLC formation services rarely tell the full story, since the cheapest tier usually excludes the EIN filing and operating agreement most filers need.
The registered agent renewal is the line item that actually matters over time: Clerky is $125 per year, ZenBusiness is $199. Over five years that delta adds up to $296, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.
ZenBusiness offers a genuine $0 formation tier; Clerky does not. The free tier is meaningful if you only need state filing and are comfortable applying for an EIN yourself on irs.gov. It stops being free the moment you bundle the basic documents most LLCs need.
For most filers, the decision between two services is decided by three things: whether you need a $0 tier or can absorb a mid-tier to get the EIN and operating agreement bundled, how much the registered agent will cost you in year two and onward, and whether the support quality matters to you (it matters more if you're paying $200+ for the service in the first place).
Key differences at a glance
- ZenBusiness is $427 cheaper at the starting tier (one of them has a free tier).
- Clerky has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($125/yr vs $199/yr). Over five years that is a $296 difference.
- Clerky includes EIN filing in its default price; ZenBusiness sells it as a paid add-on. You can always get an EIN directly from the IRS in five minutes for free.
- ZenBusiness has a genuine $0 formation tier. The other does not.
- ZenBusiness offers live chat support; the other relies on phone and email only.
- Clerky supports non-US founders without a US SSN. The other is primarily US-resident oriented.
Where each service fits
Pick Clerky when
Pick Clerky when you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper); you're a non-US founder.
Pick ZenBusiness when
Pick ZenBusiness when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you want a genuine $0 formation tier (and don't need the add-ons); you want live chat support.
What each service offers that the other does not
Only Clerky
- EIN included free
- Non-US founder support
Only ZenBusiness
- Free $0 formation tier
- Banking partner integration
- Live chat support
Both services
- Compliance dashboard
- Phone support
What it costs under your specific situation
Running the same LLC through three common scenarios. Year-1 and 5-year totals exclude state fees, which are identical for both services.
| Scenario | Clerky Year 1 | ZenBusiness Year 1 | Clerky 5-year | ZenBusiness 5-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just the basics: state filing, RA year 1, nothing else You file the EIN yourself at irs.gov and skip a written operating agreement. | $427 | $0 | $927 | $796 |
| You want EIN and operating agreement handled too Most new LLCs end up here. Assumes $70 EIN and $99 OA add-ons where the service charges for them. | $427 | $169 | $927 | $965 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $0 | $99 | $0 | $495 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | Clerky | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | $427 | Free |
| Registered agent year 1 | Included | Not included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $125/yr | $199/yr |
| Free $0 tier | No | Yes |
| EIN application | Included free | Paid add-on |
| Operating agreement | Not offered | Paid add-on |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | No | No |
| International founders | Yes | No |
| Banking partner | None | Thread Bank |
| Phone support | Business hours; no explicit hours published on the contact page | Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT |
| Live chat | No | Yes |
| Trustpilot rating | Not published | 4.8/5 (28,984 reviews) |
Pricing tiers side by side
Clerky
- Pay Per Use (Delaware C-corp Incorporation) — $427
Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr - Company Lifetime Package — $819
Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr
ZenBusiness
- Starter — Free
- Pro — $199 · renews $199/yr
- Premium — $399 · renews $399/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $199/yr
Support and ratings, interpreted
Clerky offers phone, email. ZenBusiness offers phone, email, live chat. ZenBusiness is the only one of the two with live chat, which matters if you anticipate back-and-forth questions during filing.
Clerky
Phone: Business hours; no explicit hours published on the contact page.
Email: yes.
No live chat.
ZenBusiness
Phone: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 from 28,984 reviews.
Before you pick either service
A few things apply no matter which one you choose. These catch enough first-time filers to be worth stating plainly.
The state fee is identical. Whether you use Clerky, ZenBusiness, or neither, your state charges the same formation fee. Nothing a service does lowers that number. The fee ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts depending on where you form. See the state-by-state guide for exact numbers.
You can get an EIN for free at irs.gov in five minutes. Both Clerky and ZenBusiness either bundle EIN filing or sell it as a paid add-on. You're never required to pay for EIN filing; the IRS charges nothing and the online form takes about five minutes. If a service is pitching "we'll handle your EIN" as a headline feature, that's convenience pricing, not necessity.
The registered agent renewal is what matters long-term. The formation fee is a one-time cost. The registered agent is what recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC open. Over five years, the RA renewal cost usually exceeds the formation fee. Compare on that number, not just the day-one sticker.
Operating agreements are separately priced at most services. Any LLC with more than one member, and any LLC relying on its liability shield, should have a written operating agreement. It governs ownership percentages, profit splits, management structure, and dissolution. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require it by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended. Don't skip it to save $99.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Which is cheaper, Clerky or ZenBusiness?
ZenBusiness is cheaper at the starting tier ($0 vs $427). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $131.
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Does Clerky or ZenBusiness have better support?
Clerky offers phone, email. ZenBusiness offers phone, email, live chat. ZenBusiness is the only one of the two with live chat, which matters if you anticipate back-and-forth questions during filing.
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Is ZenBusiness's free tier really free?
The $0 tier covers state filing and typically includes year one of registered agent service. It does not include EIN filing (you can still get one for free from the IRS directly) or an operating agreement, which most filers need. Once you add those, ZenBusiness's free tier ends up around $169, which is very close to what Clerky charges for its bundled mid-tier package. Pick the free tier if you're comfortable doing the add-ons yourself; pick a bundled service if you want everything in one place.
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Can a non-US founder use Clerky or ZenBusiness?
Clerky supports non-US founders without a US Social Security Number. The other service is primarily US-resident oriented and may require additional workarounds for the EIN application, since non-US applicants need to file paper Form SS-4 rather than use the instant online path. For heavy non-US founder needs, services like Doola, Firstbase, or Stripe Atlas are purpose-built for that market.
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Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using Clerky or ZenBusiness?
You can. The state fee is identical whether you use a service or not. What these services sell is convenience: a handled registered agent (which you can also buy standalone), a bundled operating agreement, compliance reminders, and in some cases banking and tax integrations. If your time is worth more than $50 an hour and you would rather not research your state's specific filing quirks, a service pays for itself. If you like DIY administrative work, file directly at your state's Secretary of State portal.
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How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
Clerky renews at $125/yr. ZenBusiness renews at $199/yr. This number matters because it recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC. Over a five-year window, the registered agent renewal cost typically exceeds the formation fee, so it's worth more attention than most reviews give it.
Full reviews
Sources
- Pricing: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Clerky pricing page shows two formation options: Pay Per Use at $427 one-time and Company Lifetime Package at $819 one-time. Both are Delaware C-corp incorporation. Clerky does not offer LLC formation. This is editorially important: readers comparing Clerky to Bizee or ZenBusiness should be aware it is not the same product category. - Registered agent renewal usd: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
First-year Delaware registered agent fee of $125 is bundled with both formation packages. Renewal pricing beyond year one is not explicitly published on the pricing page; $125/yr is used as the reasonable standing estimate based on year one. - Registered agent only: www.clerky.com/formation · verified April 21, 2026
Registered agent is bundled inside Clerky formation, not sold as a standalone SKU. - Features: www.clerky.com/formation · verified April 21, 2026
Formation product includes post-incorporation setup (bylaws, stock issuance, IP agreements) and an EIN Application workflow including support for non-US founders via pre-filled IRS forms and in-house fax submission. No LLC-style operating agreement (C-corp uses bylaws). No general mail scanning or banking partner integration (corporate bank account opening supported via partner banks as informational guidance). - Free filing tier: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Entry price is $427 one-time; there is no $0 formation tier. This is intentional per Clerky positioning for fundraising-track startups. - Support: www.clerky.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Contact info on the site lists email support@clerky.com and phone 650-440-5449. Area code 650 maps to the San Francisco Peninsula, consistent with the founders' Orrick Menlo Park background. No live chat. - Headquarters: www.clerky.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Business address listed as 440 N. Barranca Ave. #1881, Covina, CA 91723 (Clerky is a bonded legal document assistant registered in Santa Clara County, LDA258). - Founded: www.ycombinator.com/companies/clerky · verified April 21, 2026
Y Combinator company profile and third-party sources (Tracxn, press coverage) place Clerky's founding in 2011 by Darby Wong (CEO) and Chris Field, both former startup attorneys at Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/clerky.com · verified April 21, 2026
Clerky has a limited Trustpilot footprint (well under 100 reviews). Per playbook policy, rating and review count are left null because the sample is not representative. The Trustpilot URL is kept for reference. - Pricing: www.zenbusiness.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage 'Compare and select a package' section lists Starter at $0 plus state fees, Pro at $199 plus state fees renewing at $199 per year, and Premium at $399 plus state fees renewing at $399 per year. Only Premium bundles Registered Agent Service in the formation package. - Registered agent: www.zenbusiness.com/registered-agent/ · verified April 21, 2026
Page headline 'SPECIAL OFFER: 50% OFF REGISTERED AGENT' with fine print '$99 + state fees for the first year. Renews at $199/yr.' The $199 figure is treated as the regular annual rate. - Features: www.zenbusiness.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Package comparison table confirms online filing, free formation tier, paid EIN and Operating Agreement at Pro and above, ongoing state-required filing compliance, and an online dashboard with compliance tracking. - Banking partner: www.zenbusiness.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage and footer disclaim: 'ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.' - Velo: www.zenbusiness.com/velo/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage 'Say Hello to Velo' section introduces Velo, the ZenBusiness AI assistant that automates filings, tracks deadlines, and builds a website. - Founded: www.zenbusiness.com/about/ · verified April 21, 2026
About page: 'In 2015, Ross Buhrdorf and Shanaz Hemmati founded ZenBusiness.' - Headquarters: www.zenbusiness.com/contact-us/ · verified April 21, 2026
Contact FAQ states 'The ZenBusiness headquarters are in Austin, Texas, and we offer services in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.' The company is fully remote. - Support: www.zenbusiness.com/contact-us/ · verified April 21, 2026
Contact page lists phone (844) 493-6249 and a chat option with matching hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/www.zenbusiness.com · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot profile shows 4.8 stars across 28,984 reviews on the date of verification.