Forming an LLC in New Jersey is not an easy task. It involves getting the right paperwork in order and ensuring you include all the required details. If you miss anything or make a mistake, you have to start all over again, which costs you time and money. Many entrepreneurs decide to avoid this hassle and instead, hire formation companies to handle their paperwork. Such companies hire professionals who collect the required details from you, fill the paperwork and submit it to the authorities. Additionally, they can also provide other maintenance services such as acting as your registered agent service for an LLC. In this LegalZoom LLC formation service review, we will look at one of the top service providers in the industry. In it, we will detail LLC formation packages from LegalZoom, features, LegalZoom’s pros and cons, enabling you to decide if it can work for your business.
Why use LegalZoom registered agent services in New Jersey?
When hiring a professional service such as LegalZoom to start an NJ LLC, you will want to look at the experience. This company has been around since 1999 and has more than two decades of experience in the New Jersey LLC formation process backing its claims. It currently stands as one of the best formation services in the industry. As much as there are tens of competitors, it manages to still attract millions of clients who leave good reviews as the most well-known LLC formation service.
It serves as a reliable LLC service option that not only offers formation services but also acts as a point of contact. Additionally, it boasts legal products that other basic service companies may not offer to open a business in New Jersey. People hoping to get more technical help on legal matters can consider using this giant to avoid getting into trouble with the law.
What packages does LegalZoom New Jersey offer?
You have three options to consider to start a business in NJ, all of which are detailed in this pricing and packages for LegalZoom.
LegalZoom Economy package
This first option will cost you $79 minus the state filing fees ($79 + $175 NJ filing fees). It takes about 30 business days to get your paperwork filed and approved. The package to launch an LLC in New Jersey contains:
- LegalZoom Name Search: It ensures that nobody else has used your preferred name; else, the application will not go through. The support team will also make sure that the naming follows the stipulated guidelines per the state.
- Preparation and Filing of Your Articles of Organization: The support team will collect the required details from you and fill them in the papers. After confirming that everything checks out, they will submit these to the state and notify you once you get approval.
- Support: You will have access to LegalZoom’s customer service team each day of the week. It allows you to raise concerns and requests as they arise.
- A bank resolution: To open a checking or savings account, you will need to present this document to the bank. It shows who can transact on your behalf and also authorizes the bank to accept monies to your account.
LegalZoom Standard package
This mid-tier costs $329 minus the state fees ($329 + $175 NJ filing fees) and takes 15 business days to process. In it, you get what you would enjoy from the first package plus:
- An Organizer: This deluxe organizer box comes with the name of your business and is an easy way to keep your documents in order. It’s like a welcome gift to the realm of business.
- 20 Personalized Membership Certificates: As part of the plan, up to 20 of your members will get certificates bearing their name. Additionally, you get an official company seal to get things started.
- VIP Processing: By virtue of having selected this plan, you will have priority over the people in the lower tier. Your order for creating a New Jersey LLC will take half the time it takes to process orders in the first one.
LegalZoom Express Gold package
If you would rather avoid waiting a long while before getting your approval, you can choose this top tier. It costs $349 minus the state filing fees ($349 + $175 NJ filing fees) and allows you to enjoy what’s in the first two tiers plus:
- Rush Processing with Secretary of State: Your order should be complete within 7-10 business days, which is half what people in the middle tier get
- LegalZoom’s Express Shipping: Once the documents for a New Jersey LLC registration are ready, they will be expressly delivered to your location of choice.
Pros & Cons of LegalZoom
Pros
- Experience: For a company that has operated for the last two decades, you can expect that it has handled a lot of paperwork over the years. It boasts millions of customers, both past and present, who have a lot of good to say about it. They have enabled it to create a base on which it has built subsequent operations. Anyone who wants highly trained professionals looking through their papers and making required edits can trust this company.
- A 100% Money-Back Satisfaction Guarantee: How many companies allow customers to get their money back if they are not happy? Not many. However, you are free to claim all your money within 60 days from the day of purchase. It gives you enough time to try the features in your chosen package. If you do not like the value you get for your money, you get all of it back. Not many companies are willing to stick their necks out like this.
- Free Search: Most companies require you to register with them and pay a fee before you can access their name database. However, with this service, you can go through LegalZoom’s website without signing up. It allows you to check if you can use your name or if you have to get another one. If you would like to go ahead and register the name and start a business, they will provide avenues for this. But if you’re satisfied with a search alone, you will not have to pay a dime, and you can leave it at that.
- Accessibility: The customer service boasts LegalZoom’s extended customer service hours. Unlike other companies that operate during business hours, this service is available up to ten in the night. On weekends, the service runs up to seven at night. It allows clients to raise queries as they arise, knowing that someone will be on the other end of the call, ready to help.
- Maintenance: Once you have created your company, your work will be far from over. Instead, you will have to comply with the statutory requirements and get your filing done on time. Failure to do this can render your business inactive or even dissolved. To help you stay on top of things, this service offers an annual report filing service.
Cons
- Cost: Compared to most other providers for establishing a New Jersey LLC, this company has a higher starting point. Its packages come at steeper prices and offer similar value to those charged at lower prices by competitors.
- A Large Number of Upsells: Throughout LegalZoom’s ordering process, the site keeps bringing up add-ons, prompting clients to click on them. If clients are not careful, they can end up paying ten times the initial amount.
Should you start an LLC with LegalZoom?
This service is ideal for entrepreneurs who have numerous business and personal legal needs. The company has measures to cater to legal aspects of a business and will guide you through contract templates. It’s especially important if you want to register an LLC in NJ that has a complex structure.
However, if you want to open a New Jersey LLC, you can avoid paying the high costs and instead, choose a competitor. Many other service providers offer their packages at lower costs and give you more features.