ZenBusiness · renewal · retrieved 17 September 2026
ZenBusiness renewal: the year-1 checkout is not the bill
“ZenBusiness renewal” usually means the registered-agent subscription, not the Starter formation line. Standalone RA is $99 in year 1, then $199/year — and that intro cannot be re-upped. Starter is $0 + state and does not renew; the RA add-on on Starter/Pro is $199 from day one, not the $99 standalone intro.
What “ZenBusiness renewal” usually means
| SKU | Year 1 | After year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Starter formation | $0 + state | Does not renew |
| Pro plan | $199/year + state | Renews at $199/year |
| Premium plan | $299/year + state; RA is a separate $199/year add-on (re-checked 2 October 2026) | Renews at $299/year; RA renews separately at $199/year |
| RA add-on (Starter / Pro) | $199 from day one | Same $199/year — not the $99 intro |
| Standalone RA | $99 promo + applicable state fees | $199/year; intro cannot be re-upped |
Standalone RA: $99 year 1 → $199 renewal
This is the page’s wedge. ZenBusiness sells standalone registered agent at $99 for the first year, then $199 each renewal year. Three years of vendor RA fees: $99 + $199 + $199 = $497. State formation and annual-report fees are not in that total.
| Vendor / product | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusinessStandalone registered agentIntro $99 year 1, then $199/year. The $99 rate cannot be re-upped. | $99Promo | $199Renewal | $199Renewal | $497 |
Formation stacks: Starter does not renew; RA still can
Starter is $0 + state and does not renew. If you add registered agent at checkout, that add-on is $199/year from day one — you never see the $99 standalone intro on that path. Pro is $199/year plus the same $199 RA add-on ($398/year combined on the locked desk). Premium is $299/year plus the $199/year RA add-on (RA not included in any package as of 2 October 2026).
| Vendor / product | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusinessStarter + RA add-onStarter is $0 + state and does not renew. RA add-on is $199/year from day one. | $199List | $199List | $199List | $597 |
| ZenBusinessPro + RA add-onPro $199/year plus RA add-on $199/year. | $398List | $398Renewal | $398Renewal | $1,194 |
| ZenBusinessPremium + RA add-onPremium $299/year + RA add-on $199/year. RA not included in any formation package (re-checked 2026-10-02). | $498List | $498Renewal | $498Renewal | $1,494 |
How that compares (without rewriting the compare page)
RA-only over three years on the same desk: Northwest $125 × 3 = $375; Bizee standalone $149 × 3 = $447; Zen standalone $497. Full side-by-side tables: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee. Two-way Northwest vs Zen: Northwest vs ZenBusiness. Arithmetic for every row: registered-agent cost.
| Vendor / product | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NorthwestRegistered agentFlat $125/year. $100/year per state if five or more. | $125List | $125List | $125List | $375 |
| BizeeStandalone registered agentStandalone $149/year. | $149List | $149List | $149List | $447 |
| ZenBusinessStandalone registered agentIntro $99 year 1, then $199/year. The $99 rate cannot be re-upped. | $99Promo | $199Renewal | $199Renewal | $497 |
Leaving or changing ZenBusiness as agent
To stop using ZenBusiness as your registered agent you still need a successor on the state record. That is a state filing (change of agent / statement of change / equivalent), not a dashboard toggle alone. Fees and forms differ by state — see change of registered agent. Northwest publishes that it files the change and pays the state fee; we did not invent the same claim for ZenBusiness on the retrieval dates.
Questions
Does ZenBusiness renew?
It depends which SKU you bought. Starter formation is $0 + state and does not renew. Pro is $199/year and renews. Premium is an annual plan on the desk’s locked pricing. Registered agent is a separate subscription on most stacks: standalone RA is $99 year 1 then $199/year; the Starter/Pro RA add-on is $199 from day one.
How much is ZenBusiness registered agent renewal?
Standalone registered agent: $99 in year 1 (intro), then $199/year. The $99 intro cannot be re-upped. If you added RA with Starter or Pro formation, the add-on is $199/year from day one — that path is not the $99 intro. Zen’s registered-agent marketing and help pages retrieved 17 September 2026 CT still publish $99 first year, then $199/year at renewal.
What is ZenBusiness registered agent year 2?
Year 2 for standalone RA is the renewal rate: $199. Three years of vendor RA-only fees are $99 + $199 + $199 = $497. State change/amendment fees are separate if you switch agents.
Can I keep ZenBusiness registered agent at $99 after year 1?
No. The desk’s locked vendor note (30 August 2026) and Zen’s help pricing language treat $99 as an introductory first-year rate for standalone RA. Renewal is $199/year. The intro cannot be re-upped.
How do I leave ZenBusiness as my registered agent?
Appoint a successor, file the state change, then call ZenBusiness support with proof Zen is off the record — RA cannot be self-canceled in the dashboard. Full steps live on our leave-ZenBusiness registered agent note. Filing Address does not file the change for you.
Related: 3-year cost · vendor compare · Northwest vs ZenBusiness · Northwest vs LegalZoom · LegalZoom renewal · change of agent · leave LegalZoom RA · leave Bizee RA · Bizee renewal · agent vs mailbox.
Sources
Official vendor, secretary of state, or statute pages. Third-party “best of” lists were not used. Retrieval dates are on each row.
- ZenBusiness — registered agent ($99 first year; renews $199/year; FAQ: separate registered agent in each state where the business is registered or qualified) Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ZenBusiness — formation plan pricing (Starter $0; Pro $199/yr; Premium $299/yr; RA add-on $199/yr on all plans) Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- ZenBusiness help center Retrieved 2026-08-30.
- ZenBusiness help / RA FAQ — registered agent pricing ($99 first year; renews $199/year) Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ZenBusiness help — formation plans (Starter / Pro / Premium cadence; RA add-on notes) Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- Northwest Registered Agent — registered agent ($125/year; $100/year per state at 5+) Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- Bizee — registered agent (standalone $149/year; free year 1 with formation packages) Retrieved 2026-10-12.