FortitudeLegal as a LegalZoom Alternative

Below we will be comparing FortitudeLegal to LegalZoom apples to apples.
The main factors to look at are costs, hidden costs, turnaround time, additional services.

Based off of LegalZoom's pricing page, let's do the best comparison we can:
https://www.legalzoom.com/business/business-formation/llc-pricing.html

FortitudeLegal - $299 + $300 Texas Filing Fee ($599 Total)
We're using Texas as our example

• 2 business day turnaround
• Documents emailed instantly
• Ongoing Compliance Reminders
• Certificate of Formation
• Operating Agreement
• EIN (Tax ID)

LegalZoom Economy Package - $149 + $301 Texas Filing Fee + $9.95 Shipping ($459.95 Total)

• 30 business day turnaround (6 weeks)
• Documents mailed via "Standard Shipping" in unstated amount of days
• Certificate of Formation
• Operating Agreement

Economy Package Comparison - you save $139.05, but you need to wait 6-8 weeks to do business. When you go to open a Business Checking Account or Credit Card, the bank likely requires an EIN which you don't have and now need to obtain yourself (or pay LegalZoom another $70 to get you).

LegalZoom Standard Package - $289 + $301 Texas Filing Fee + $9.95 Shipping ($599.95 Total)

• 15 business day turnaround (3 weeks)
• Documents mailed via "Standard Shipping" in unstated amount of days
• Certificate of Formation
• Operating Agreement
• Company seal & binder
• 20 customized membership certificates

Standard Package Comparison - well that price escalated quickly! You're now paying the same price as FortitudeLegal, but you're not getting an EIN and you still have to wait 3 weeks (plus a mystery number of shipping days) to do business or open a bank account. You also get a Company seal & binder as well as 20 customized membership certificates. We honestly do not know the purpose of this. The Operating Agreement lists who the Members/Owners are already, but maybe it's to make each Member feel special inside. The seal and binder you simply don't need.

LegalZoom Express Gold Package - $359 + $301 Texas Filing Fee ($660 Total plus $39.99 in hidden monthly charges)

• 7-10 business day turnaround (1.5-2 weeks)
• 2-day shipping
• Discounted EIN for $49
• Certificate of Formation
• Operating Agreement
• Company seal & binder
• 20 customized membership certificates

Express Gold Package Comparison - greedy is the only word I can think of here. For $660, you still don't get an EIN included, you still have to wait 2 weeks (including shipping), AND they have the nerve to sneak in a $40 monthly service that charges your card automatically every month UNTIL YOU CALL THEM ON THE PHONE TO CANCEL (see screenshot below). If you spring for the EIN, you get the privilege of paying LegalZoom over $700 to begin running your business in 2 weeks and an additional $40 a month for some unknown legal and tax advice. To be fair, I don't know what is really included in the $40 a month and how useful it is, but knowing the going rate for a lawyer is $200-$500 an hour, I'm very skeptical.

This comparison doesn't include the time saved by our ad free forms. What I didn't mention above are the hundreds of dollars worth of services that LegalZoom attempts to confuse and upsell you during the form filling process.

A great example is the $69 annual compliance calendar (see screenshot below). In Texas that $69 buys you a notification that your Texas Franchise Tax filings are due on May 15th.

At FortitudeLegal, you'll receive compliance reminders via email for free.