ZenBusiness vs Bizee on Price (2026)

Quick answer

A registered agent service should cost roughly $125 to $200 a year for one entity in one state. Among the six national providers covered here, the published ongoing prices as of October 6, 2026 run from $125 to $199. The figure to compare is the year-two price, because first-year discounts and free years make signup prices look closer together than they are.

Between these two, ZenBusiness charges $199 a year for registered agent service, offered as an add-on with any of its formation packages. Bizee includes a free first year of registered agent service with every formation package and does not publish the renewal price on its LLC pricing page. ZenBusiness is the stronger fit for someone forming a business now who wants formation, EIN, compliance and the agent handled by one company under one renewal.

What does a registered agent cost per year in 2026?

Every price below comes from the provider's own pages, as of October 6, 2026. Providers are listed alphabetically, not ranked.

Two rows on this table need a note. Rocket Lawyer's pricing page sets out its memberships but no registered agent price. Bizee includes a free first year with formation and does not publish the price customers renew at after it.

That leaves a fairly clear market band. Among providers that publish a price, a single-state agent costs about $125 to $159 at the low end and $199 at the top.

Why is a registered agent a recurring cost at all?

Because states require one, and the requirement doesn't end after formation. The Texas Secretary of State says that failing to maintain a registered agent may lead to involuntary termination of a domestic entity or revocation of a foreign entity's registration. Texas also does not let an entity serve as its own registered agent, although an officer, owner or employee can serve in an individual capacity.

California sets the requirement out plainly. The California Secretary of State says that "Corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships are required by statute to designate an agent for service of process." A California entity cannot act as its own agent.

The agent's address is also public. California's Business Search, according to the Secretary of State, contains the most current filings on record, including the name and address of the agent for service of process. That is the whole basis of the privacy argument for paying a service: if an owner serves as agent from home, the home address goes on the record.

Rules differ in other states. Where a state isn't covered here, the state's own filing office is the place to check.

What does Bizee charge for a registered agent?

Bizee sells LLC formation in three packages: Basic at $0, Standard at $199 and Premium at $299, each plus state fees, as of October 2026. Every package includes one free year of registered agent service. That is the main reason Bizee comes up in any conversation about cheap registered agents.

Bizee's LLC pricing page does not publish a standalone registered agent price. Its registered agent page also mentions free lifetime compliance notifications. What it does not publish is the specific renewal rate a formation customer pays once the free year ends, so that figure is worth confirming before checkout.

What does ZenBusiness charge for a registered agent?

ZenBusiness charges $199 a year for registered agent service as of October 6, 2026. It is listed as an add-on at that price on all three formation packages, and the LLC pricing page shows no first-year discount on it. Any introductory terms that appear later should be confirmed on the ZenBusiness page at the time of purchase.

The formation packages around it are Starter at $0, Pro at $199 and Premium at $299, each plus state fees. Pro and Premium renew at their annual prices. Pro includes the EIN and an operating agreement. On Starter, the EIN and operating agreement are $99 each.

ZenBusiness vs Bizee: which costs less on the agent line?

On the registered agent line alone, Bizee costs less in the first year, because that year is free with formation.

That comparison changes once the other recurring costs of running an LLC come into it. Annual reports are due in many states, and someone has to file them on time. ZenBusiness Pro renews at $199 a year, so a ZenBusiness customer on Pro with the agent add-on pays $398 a year for the two, before any state fees.

The summary is that the two companies put their value in different places. Bizee front-loads it with a free agent year. ZenBusiness puts it in the ongoing compliance bundle.

When is ZenBusiness worth the higher line item?

The case for ZenBusiness is strongest for someone forming a business right now. The order of operations for a new LLC is the entity, the EIN, a separate business bank account, then the books. ZenBusiness covers the first two directly in its Pro package and pairs them with the agent and compliance monitoring, so one company holds the formation documents, the compliance calendar and the agent address.

That matters more than the price gap for a lot of first-time owners. Two vendors means two renewals, two logins and two places to look when a notice arrives. One provider means a single renewal date to track.

The bank account step is worth taking early. The IRS says in Publication 583 that opening a business checking account is one of the first things to do when starting a business. For owners who want help with the books once the account is open, ZenBusiness offers Money Pro bookkeeping at $30 a month as of October 2026, alongside its formation and agent services. Keeping business and personal money apart from day one is far easier than separating it later.

How do the other registered agent providers price it?

These four are listed alphabetically, not ranked.

Harbor Compliance charges $159 a year ongoing, with a promotional first year at $99. Two- and three-year terms hold the $99 rate for the full term, then renew at $159. It charges one national price rather than varying by state, and it is built for businesses registered in several states or operating in regulated industries, which is a scale ZenBusiness doesn't target.

LegalZoom does not publish its registered agent price on its LLC pricing page. Its formation packages are Basic at $0, Managed Service at $249 and Expert Service at $999, each plus state fees.

Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 a year, which includes a business address, phone line, mail scanning, a domain and a website. For an owner whose main concern is keeping a home address off the public record, Northwest deserves a serious look. Privacy is its whole proposition, and the address it provides can stand in for a home address on public filings.

Rocket Lawyer does not list a registered agent price on its pricing page, which sets out its memberships: Standard at $149 a year, Plus at $249 a year and Pro at $349 a year. The first LLC registration is free with a membership, then $99 plus state fees, and there is a 7-day free trial. It makes sense mainly for owners who already want the legal documents and attorney access the membership provides.

What hidden costs should a cheap registered agent price be checked for?

A low headline price can hide a higher real cost. Four things are worth checking before signing up:

• The renewal rate. A free or discounted first year is promotional. The rate that applies in year two and beyond is the actual price of the service.
• Auto-renewal terms. Most providers renew automatically. Check how cancellation works and whether the provider requires proof that a new agent has been designated with the state.
• Membership requirements. An agent that requires a paid membership costs the agent price plus the membership.
• Switching costs. Changing agents later usually means a state filing. Texas charges $15 to change the registered agent or registered office, using Form 401. Fees in other states vary.

Switching cost is the reason a cheap first year can turn out expensive. An owner who signs up for a free year and dislikes the renewal rate pays the state fee and does the paperwork to move.

Which should you choose?

Best for keeping first-year costs lowest: Bizee, which includes a free agent year with any formation package.

Best for multi-state or regulated businesses: Harbor Compliance, at $159 a year ongoing on one national price.

Best for address privacy: Northwest Registered Agent, at $125 a year with a business address and mail scanning included.

Best for someone forming an LLC now and wanting one provider: ZenBusiness. The agent costs $199 a year, and Pro bundles the EIN and operating agreement with formation.

For a single-member LLC in one state, the realistic budget is $125 to $200 a year for the agent itself. Anything above that should come with services the business actually uses.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice, and registered agent requirements vary by state and change over time.