Compared LegalZoom vs my local incorporation lawyer and the price difference was wild

I was set to use LegalZoom for my LLC filing last month, it was like $300 for the basic package. Then my accountant told me to at least talk to a local lawyer first. Found one in Portland who did the whole thing for $450 including the registered agent service for the first year. The real difference? When I asked about S Corp election timing and how it affects payroll taxes the lawyer had actual advice specific to Oregon law. LegalZoom's chat just kept sending me to their FAQ. Has anyone else found a local option that ended up being worth the extra cash?

3 comments

3 Comments

emma_lee221d ago

Yeah that local lawyer sounds like a way better deal honestly. The personalized advice alone makes the extra money worth it.

the_felix22h ago

Read a post from a small business group about this exact thing. One guy said his local lawyer caught a zoning issue that online services missed completely. Saved him from a big fine and having to move his shop. That kind of personal advice is hard to put a price on.

joseph481d ago

Hold up, the lawyer threw in registered agent service for a year on top of that price? That's a solid deal right there, most places charge extra for that separately. In my experience, that extra $150 saved you a ton of headaches down the road with local compliance stuff.