ZenBusiness
A United States software-as-a-service company providing business formation, compliance, and fintech services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
ZenBusiness is an American software-as-a-service and professional-services company focused on helping entrepreneurs establish and operate small businesses. Its services are centered on business formation, particularly the creation of limited liability companies and other legal entities, together with related administrative and compliance tasks. The company also offers services connected with obtaining an Employer Identification Number, maintaining business records, and managing recurring regulatory obligations. The company was founded in 2015 by Ross Buhrdorf and Shanaz Hemmati in Austin, Texas. Both founders had previously worked at HomeAway, the vacation-rental technology company; Buhrdorf served as its chief technology officer and Hemmati held an executive role. Their experience in technology and online services informed ZenBusiness's attempt to make traditionally paperwork-heavy business administration available through a digital platform. ZenBusiness initially used a product-led growth model, providing some services at no cost in order to attract prospective business owners. In 2018, it began combining its software platform with paid services. In 2020, it shifted toward an annual package model, organizing formation and continuing business-support services into recurring plans rather than relying solely on individual transactions. The company subsequently expanded beyond incorporation and compliance. In 2020, it acquired Joust, a digital-banking platform, adding financial-management capabilities to its business-services portfolio. In 2021, it launched ZenBusiness Money, its own money-management application. In 2022, it acquired Ureeka, a growth-oriented platform intended to provide entrepreneurs with additional tools and support. These moves broadened ZenBusiness's proposition from filing and compliance assistance toward a more integrated operating platform for small businesses. ZenBusiness operates as a public-benefit corporation, a structure that combines commercial activity with stated public-benefit objectives. Mark Cuban has been associated with the company as an advisor, shareholder, and spokesperson. In 2025, ZenBusiness introduced Velo, an artificial-intelligence agent and chatbot designed to automate or assist with tasks such as regulatory filings, business research, website creation, and personalized guidance. Its positioning is primarily based on convenience, digital self-service, and packaged pricing for founders and small-business owners who may lack dedicated legal, accounting, or administrative staff. The company competes in a broader market that includes online incorporation providers, registered-agent services, compliance platforms, fintech products, and small-business software. Its public profile has also included a reported cybersecurity controversy: in March 2026, the ransomware group ShinyHunters claimed that it had obtained data from ZenBusiness through vishing and threatened to release it unless a ransom was paid. The available reference material records the claim and threat, but does not establish the final outcome.
History
ZenBusiness was established in 2015 in Austin, Texas, by Ross Buhrdorf and Shanaz Hemmati. The founders had both worked at HomeAway, a vacation-rental technology company that was later acquired by Expedia. Buhrdorf had served as HomeAway's chief technology officer, while Hemmati had held an executive position there. Their backgrounds in online technology and business operations shaped ZenBusiness's effort to digitize company formation and ongoing administration. The company's initial approach followed a product-led growth model. It offered some services for free, using accessible digital products to attract entrepreneurs and small-business owners. In 2018, ZenBusiness began offering its services together with a software-as-a-service platform. This represented a move toward combining automated tools with paid assistance rather than treating incorporation as a one-time filing transaction. In 2020, ZenBusiness changed to an annual package-based model. The model grouped formation and continuing services into recurring plans, reflecting the ongoing nature of compliance obligations and business administration. That same year, the company acquired Joust, a digital-banking platform. The acquisition expanded ZenBusiness's scope into financial tools for independent workers and small businesses. In 2021, ZenBusiness launched ZenBusiness Money, a money-management application developed as part of its broader financial-services strategy. In 2022, it acquired Ureeka, a growth-engine platform. Together, these developments positioned ZenBusiness as more than an incorporation provider: the company sought to support businesses through formation, compliance, financial management, and growth-related activities. ZenBusiness is organized as a public-benefit corporation. This structure signals an effort to combine the operation of a commercial technology company with formally recognized public-benefit goals. Mark Cuban has been associated with the company as an advisor, shareholder, and spokesperson, contributing to its public profile. In 2025, ZenBusiness launched Velo, an artificial-intelligence agent and chatbot. The product was described as a tool for automating or assisting with business tasks such as filing regulations, conducting research, creating websites, and delivering personalized advice. The launch illustrates the company's continuing movement toward software-mediated assistance and automation. The available reference material also records a cybersecurity incident claim in March 2026. The ransomware group ShinyHunters said it had obtained several terabytes of ZenBusiness data through vishing and demanded payment by March 25, warning that the data would otherwise be leaked. The reference does not establish whether the claim was independently verified, whether ZenBusiness paid, or whether a data release ultimately occurred. Accordingly, the event should be treated as a reported threat and allegation rather than a fully documented final outcome.
- 2025
Velo AI assistant launched
[1]ZenBusiness launched Velo, an AI agent and chatbot for business administration and related tasks.
- 2022
Ureeka acquired
[1]ZenBusiness acquired Ureeka, a platform focused on business growth support.
- 2021
ZenBusiness Money launched
[1]ZenBusiness introduced its own money-management application.
- 2020
Annual package model and Joust acquisition
[1]The company moved to annual service packages and acquired Joust, a digital-banking platform.
- 2018
Software and paid-service model introduced
[1]ZenBusiness began offering its software-as-a-service platform alongside its business services.
- 2015
ZenBusiness founded
[1]Ross Buhrdorf and Shanaz Hemmati founded ZenBusiness in the United States, with the company headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Products and positioning
A digital, package-based business-services provider for entrepreneurs and small-business owners seeking convenient formation, compliance, financial, and administrative support.
Business formation
Business formation services
ZenBusiness provides online assistance for establishing businesses, including LLC formation and related administrative filings. The service is designed to simplify the process for founders who want to complete formation steps digitally rather than manage each filing independently. It forms the core of the company's offering and is connected to additional compliance and business-management services.
Business administration
Compliance services
The company's compliance offering supports recurring filings and administrative obligations that arise after a business has been formed. These services are presented through package-based plans and are intended to help small-business owners maintain required records and submissions without building an internal administrative function.
Fintech · 2021
ZenBusiness Money
ZenBusiness Money is a money-management application launched in 2021. It extends the company's services into financial administration for entrepreneurs and small businesses, complementing formation and compliance products with digital tools for managing business finances.
Artificial intelligence · 2025
Velo
Velo is an AI agent and chatbot introduced in 2025. It is intended to help automate or support a range of business tasks, including regulatory filing assistance, research, website creation, and personalized advice. The product represents ZenBusiness's move toward conversational and automated business support.
Controversies
2026
ShinyHunters ransomware claim
In March 2026, ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for stealing several terabytes of ZenBusiness data through vishing and threatened to leak the material unless a ransom was paid by March 25. The available source does not document independent verification, payment, or the final disposition of the alleged data.
Brand decisions
2025
Launched Velo AI assistantProduct launchBackground
ZenBusiness had increasingly positioned its platform as a technology-enabled operating and support system for small businesses.
Action taken
The company launched Velo, an AI agent and chatbot for filing assistance, research, website creation, and personalized advice.
Aftermath
Velo expanded the company's use of automation and conversational assistance in business administration.
2022
Acquired UreekaM&ABackground
ZenBusiness was extending its platform toward business growth and broader support for small companies.
Action taken
The company acquired Ureeka, a growth-engine platform.
Aftermath
The acquisition added growth-oriented capabilities to ZenBusiness's business-services ecosystem.
2020
Adopted annual package-based servicesStrategyBackground
The company sought to serve businesses beyond the initial formation transaction and address continuing administrative needs.
Action taken
ZenBusiness transitioned to an annual package model.
Aftermath
The model organized formation and continuing services into recurring packages.
2020
Acquired JoustM&ABackground
ZenBusiness was expanding from formation and compliance into financial tools for entrepreneurs.
Action taken
The company acquired Joust, a digital-banking platform.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened ZenBusiness's portfolio into digital banking and financial management.
2018
Combined software with paid servicesStrategyBackground
ZenBusiness had initially used a product-led growth approach that included free services.
Action taken
The company began offering its software-as-a-service platform together with paid business services.
Aftermath
This established a more integrated software-and-service model for its business formation and administration offering.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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