Rocket Lawyer vs Tailor Brands: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026Rocket Lawyer starts at $40 plus state fees. Tailor Brands starts at $0 plus state fees. Sticker-price differences between LLC formation services rarely tell the full story, since the cheapest tier usually excludes the EIN filing and operating agreement most filers need.
The registered agent renewal is the line item that actually matters over time: Tailor Brands is $199 per year, Rocket Lawyer is $250. Over five years that delta adds up to $204, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.
Tailor Brands offers a genuine $0 formation tier; Rocket Lawyer does not. The free tier is meaningful if you only need state filing and are comfortable applying for an EIN yourself on irs.gov. It stops being free the moment you bundle the basic documents most LLCs need.
For most filers, the decision between two services is decided by three things: whether you need a $0 tier or can absorb a mid-tier to get the EIN and operating agreement bundled, how much the registered agent will cost you in year two and onward, and whether the support quality matters to you (it matters more if you're paying $200+ for the service in the first place).
Key differences at a glance
- Tailor Brands is $40 cheaper at the starting tier (one of them has a free tier).
- Tailor Brands has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($199/yr vs $250/yr). Over five years that is a $204 difference.
- Tailor Brands has a genuine $0 formation tier. The other does not.
- Tailor Brands supports non-US founders without a US SSN. The other is primarily US-resident oriented.
Where each service fits
Pick Rocket Lawyer when
Rocket Lawyer is comparable to Tailor Brands on most of the dimensions we measure. The tiebreaker is usually support quality or brand preference.
Pick Tailor Brands when
Pick Tailor Brands when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper); you want a genuine $0 formation tier (and don't need the add-ons); you're a non-US founder.
What each service offers that the other does not
Only Tailor Brands
- Free $0 formation tier
- Non-US founder support
Both services
- Operating agreement included free
- Compliance dashboard
- Phone support
- Live chat support
What it costs under your specific situation
Running the same LLC through three common scenarios. Year-1 and 5-year totals exclude state fees, which are identical for both services.
| Scenario | Rocket Lawyer Year 1 | Tailor Brands Year 1 | Rocket Lawyer 5-year | Tailor Brands 5-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just the basics: state filing, RA year 1, nothing else You file the EIN yourself at irs.gov and skip a written operating agreement. | $40 | $0 | $1,040 | $796 |
| You want EIN and operating agreement handled too Most new LLCs end up here. Assumes $70 EIN and $99 OA add-ons where the service charges for them. | $110 | $70 | $1,110 | $866 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $250 | $199 | $1,250 | $995 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | Rocket Lawyer | Tailor Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | $40 | Free |
| Registered agent year 1 | Not included | Not included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $250/yr | $199/yr |
| Free $0 tier | No | Yes |
| EIN application | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| Operating agreement | Included free | Included free |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | No | No |
| International founders | No | Yes |
| Banking partner | None | None |
| Phone support | Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT | Business hours Eastern |
| Live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.5/5 (9,717 reviews) | 4.7/5 (14,203 reviews) |
Pricing tiers side by side
Rocket Lawyer
- One-time LLC formation (non-member) — $100
- Rocket Legal (monthly subscription) — $40 · renews $40/yr
- Rocket Legal+ (annual subscription) — $240 · renews $240/yr
Tailor Brands
- Lite — Free
- Essential — $199 · renews $199/yr
- Elite — $249 · renews $249/yr
Support and ratings, interpreted
Rocket Lawyer offers phone, email, live chat. Tailor Brands offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: Rocket Lawyer is 4.5 across 9,717 reviews; Tailor Brands is 4.7 across 14,203. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
Rocket Lawyer
Phone: Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Monday-Friday business hours per vendor; vendor also offers Rocket Copilot AI chat 24/7 to members.
Trustpilot: 4.5/5 from 9,717 reviews.
Tailor Brands
Phone: Business hours Eastern.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Business hours.
Trustpilot: 4.7/5 from 14,203 reviews.
Before you pick either service
A few things apply no matter which one you choose. These catch enough first-time filers to be worth stating plainly.
The state fee is identical. Whether you use Rocket Lawyer, Tailor Brands, or neither, your state charges the same formation fee. Nothing a service does lowers that number. The fee ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts depending on where you form. See the state-by-state guide for exact numbers.
You can get an EIN for free at irs.gov in five minutes. Both Rocket Lawyer and Tailor Brands either bundle EIN filing or sell it as a paid add-on. You're never required to pay for EIN filing; the IRS charges nothing and the online form takes about five minutes. If a service is pitching "we'll handle your EIN" as a headline feature, that's convenience pricing, not necessity.
The registered agent renewal is what matters long-term. The formation fee is a one-time cost. The registered agent is what recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC open. Over five years, the RA renewal cost usually exceeds the formation fee. Compare on that number, not just the day-one sticker.
Operating agreements are separately priced at most services. Any LLC with more than one member, and any LLC relying on its liability shield, should have a written operating agreement. It governs ownership percentages, profit splits, management structure, and dissolution. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require it by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended. Don't skip it to save $99.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is cheaper, Rocket Lawyer or Tailor Brands?
Tailor Brands is cheaper at the starting tier ($0 vs $40). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $244.
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Does Rocket Lawyer or Tailor Brands have better support?
Rocket Lawyer offers phone, email, live chat. Tailor Brands offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: Rocket Lawyer is 4.5 across 9,717 reviews; Tailor Brands is 4.7 across 14,203. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
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Is Tailor Brands's free tier really free?
The $0 tier covers state filing and typically includes year one of registered agent service. It does not include EIN filing (you can still get one for free from the IRS directly) or an operating agreement, which most filers need. Once you add those, Tailor Brands's free tier ends up around $169, which is very close to what Rocket Lawyer charges for its bundled mid-tier package. Pick the free tier if you're comfortable doing the add-ons yourself; pick a bundled service if you want everything in one place.
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Can a non-US founder use Rocket Lawyer or Tailor Brands?
Tailor Brands supports non-US founders without a US Social Security Number. The other service is primarily US-resident oriented and may require additional workarounds for the EIN application, since non-US applicants need to file paper Form SS-4 rather than use the instant online path. For heavy non-US founder needs, services like Doola, Firstbase, or Stripe Atlas are purpose-built for that market.
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Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using Rocket Lawyer or Tailor Brands?
You can. The state fee is identical whether you use a service or not. What these services sell is convenience: a handled registered agent (which you can also buy standalone), a bundled operating agreement, compliance reminders, and in some cases banking and tax integrations. If your time is worth more than $50 an hour and you would rather not research your state's specific filing quirks, a service pays for itself. If you like DIY administrative work, file directly at your state's Secretary of State portal.
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How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
Rocket Lawyer renews at $250/yr. Tailor Brands renews at $199/yr. This number matters because it recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC. Over a five-year window, the registered agent renewal cost typically exceeds the formation fee, so it's worth more attention than most reviews give it.
Full reviews
Sources
- Pricing: www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Pricing page lists Rocket Legal at $39.99/month and Rocket Legal+ at $239.88/year, each with a 7-day free trial. Comparison table shows new business registration at $99.99 plus state fees for Rocket Legal, 'First one FREE, then $99.99 plus state fees' for Rocket Legal+, and full-price business filings for non-plus members (half off for Rocket Legal+). - Registered agent: www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Pricing comparison table shows registered agent services at $249.99/year for Rocket Legal monthly members and $124.99/year for Rocket Legal+ annual members. Trademark services at $699.99 plus USPTO fees, or $349.99 for Rocket Legal+. - One time: www.rocketlawyer.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Non-member LLC formation is quoted at $99.99 plus state fees. Rocket Lawyer also advertises a 7-day free trial that gives members access to the 'first one free' formation benefit, so non-members rarely pay the $99.99 in practice without first considering membership. - Features: www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/starting-a-business/form-a… · verified April 21, 2026
LLC formation product page markets online filing, legal document library (including LLC Operating Agreement template included with membership), Articles of Organization preparation, registered agent service as an add-on, and access to Legal Pros (independent network attorneys) for consultation. - Operating agreement: www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/starting-a-business/form-a… · verified April 21, 2026
Operating agreement template is part of the Rocket Lawyer document library, which is free to personalize and sign under any active membership or 7-day free trial. - Support: www.rocketlawyer.com/contact-us · verified April 21, 2026
Phone (877) 881-0947 Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT. Email support@rocketlawyer.com. Chat with us widget on contact page. Rocket Copilot AI provides additional AI-powered chat to members. - Founded: www.rocketlawyer.com/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
About page states 'Since our founding in 2008, nearly 30 million people have created Rocket Lawyer accounts.' - Headquarters: www.rocketlawyer.com/about-us · verified April 21, 2026
Rocket Lawyer does not publish a specific headquarters city or street address on its About, Careers, Contact, or Newsroom pages. Set to null per playbook rule against inventing facts. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/rocketlawyer.com · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot profile shows 4.5 out of 5 stars across 9,717 total reviews as of 2026-04-21. - Pricing: www.tailorbrands.com/product-pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Vendor's own pricing page shows three tiers: Lite $0, Essential $199 per year (popular), Elite $249 per year. All prices exclude state fees. Lite processes in 14 business days, Essential and Elite in 1 business day. Essential and Elite include 30-day trial of bookkeeping then $30 per month. Disclaimer at the bottom confirms prices are current but subject to change, with the binding price being whatever is shown at checkout. - Registered agent: www.tailorbrands.com/llc-formation/llc-cost · verified April 21, 2026
LLC cost page cites registered agent service at $199 to $400. Tailor Brands' own add-on is $199 per year. Must be selected at formation; cannot be added later. - Features: www.tailorbrands.com/llc-formation · verified April 21, 2026
LLC formation page confirms online-only filing, AI-guided (Navi assistant), operating agreement included across all tiers, branding tools (logo, digital business card, website builder) bundled. EIN application is a paid add-on. - Support: www.tailorbrands.com/product-pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Phone support listed as 332-286-2770 throughout the site. Live chat widget available on pricing and formation pages. - Headquarters: www.tailorbrands.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Tailor Brands is a dual-headquartered company with offices in New York (Brooklyn) and Tel Aviv, Israel. Founded 2014 by Nadav Shatz, Yali Saar, and Tom Lahat. Vendor's own about page does not state founding year explicitly; date sourced from the founders' public company history and capital raises. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/tailorbrands.com · verified April 21, 2026
4.7 of 5 stars from 14,203 reviews (Claimed profile, paid Trustpilot subscription).