LegalZoom.com, Inc. (LZ) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
Overview
The earnings call summary indicates a positive outlook with raised revenue guidance, strategic investments, and a focus on AI integration. The Q&A section reveals positive sentiment from analysts, despite some vague responses. The partnership with 1-800 Accountant and other strategic moves are likely to enhance growth. The market cap suggests a moderate reaction, leading to a prediction of a 2% to 8% stock price increase over the next two weeks.
Key Financial Performance
Full Year Revenue $756 million, an 11% increase year-over-year. This growth was more than double the initial outlook and included a 3% organic revenue growth and contributions from the Formation Nation acquisition.
Full Year Subscription Revenue Increased by 13% year-over-year. This was driven by a focus on higher-value customers and premium human-in-the-loop service offerings.
Full Year Adjusted EBITDA $172 million, representing a 23% margin, up approximately 100 basis points year-over-year. This improvement was achieved while continuing investments in AI and product innovation.
Fourth Quarter Revenue $190 million, reflecting an 18% growth year-over-year. This was driven by subscription revenue growth and contributions from Formation Nation.
Fourth Quarter Subscription Revenue $131 million, a 20% increase year-over-year. Growth was attributed to registered agent and compliance offerings, Virtual Mail, 1-800Accountant partnership, and Formation Nation.
Subscription Units 1.94 million units at the end of the quarter, up 10% year-over-year. Growth was driven by Virtual Mail adoption, Formation Nation subscriptions, and bundled offerings.
ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) $266 for the quarter, up 1% year-over-year. This reflects a shift towards higher-value subscriptions, offset by bundled lower-priced offerings.
Transaction Revenue $59 million in the fourth quarter, a 12% increase year-over-year. Growth was driven by Formation Nation and annual report filings, partially offset by a decline in BOIR revenue.
Transaction Units 239,000 units in the fourth quarter, a 1% decline year-over-year. Excluding BOIR and Formation Nation, transaction units increased by 5%.
Business Formations Processed 112,000 in the fourth quarter, a 17% increase year-over-year. Growth was driven by Formation Nation and partner channel formations.
Average Order Value $248 for the quarter, up 13% year-over-year. This was driven by higher-priced concierge services and the elimination of lower-value BOIR transactions.
Fourth Quarter Adjusted EBITDA $50 million, representing a 26% margin. This was achieved through strong execution and investments in concierge sales and Formation Nation.
Free Cash Flow (Full Year) $148 million, a 48% increase year-over-year. The increase was attributed to strong operational performance.
Cash and Cash Equivalents $203 million at the end of the quarter, a $34 million decrease from Q3 2025 due to share repurchases.
Share Repurchases (Full Year) $80 million returned to shareholders, reducing the share count by approximately 10% since the IPO.
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Operating Highlights
AI-powered legal and compliance solutions: LegalZoom has integrated AI into its legal and compliance solutions, enabling automation of tasks while incorporating human expertise for complex matters.
Human-in-the-loop strategy: The company has expanded its offerings to include human expertise in areas where AI cannot fully automate, such as legal advice subscriptions, trademark services, and concierge offerings.
Concierge subscription offerings: These white-glove services provide one-on-one guidance and full-service filing, priced at over $1,100 per year, driving stronger customer relationships.
Expansion into existing businesses: LegalZoom is broadening its customer base by targeting existing businesses, aiming to capture a larger share of the serviceable addressable market.
Partnerships with AI platforms and SMB brands: The company has partnered with platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and brands like American Express to expand its reach and acquire high-quality small business customers.
Subscription revenue growth: Subscription revenue grew by 13% in 2025, driven by higher-value offerings and improved retention.
Cost management and efficiency: LegalZoom reduced headcount by 5% to improve operating leverage while maintaining investments in growth areas.
Shift to free flagship product: In 2023, LegalZoom made its automated formation product free to adapt to market changes and focus on higher-value services.
Focus on high-value customers: The company reoriented its strategy to prioritize high-value subscription products and human-in-the-loop services for durable growth.
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Risk or Challenges
AI reliance and automation limitations: While AI tools are being leveraged to expand the addressable market and improve efficiency, the company acknowledges that long-term growth cannot rely solely on automation. There is a risk that over-reliance on AI could fail to address nuanced, judgment-based tasks that require human expertise, potentially impacting customer satisfaction and retention.
Regulatory and compliance challenges: The company’s service offerings, particularly in compliance and legal advisory, are tied to regulatory requirements. Any changes in regulations or failure to meet compliance standards could adversely affect operations and customer trust.
Economic uncertainties: The company’s growth is partially tied to U.S. business formations, which have shown recent acceleration. However, some of this growth is considered anomalous, and economic downturns or reduced entrepreneurship rates could negatively impact revenue.
Competitive pressures: The company faces competition from other AI platforms and legal service providers. Failure to differentiate its offerings or maintain its competitive edge could result in loss of market share.
Headcount reduction risks: The recent 5% reduction in headcount to improve operating leverage could lead to operational inefficiencies or reduced capacity to execute high-growth initiatives effectively.
Customer acquisition costs: Increased investments in customer acquisition marketing (CAM) and partner channel initiatives could strain financial resources if these efforts do not yield the expected high-value customer growth.
Dependence on partnerships: The company’s strategy heavily relies on partnerships with AI platforms and SMB-focused brands. Any disruption or failure in these partnerships could hinder growth and market expansion.
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Guidance & Outlook
Revenue Growth: For the full year 2026, LegalZoom expects revenue in the range of $805 million to $825 million, representing approximately 8% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. This is an acceleration compared to 3% organic growth in 2025.
Adjusted EBITDA: LegalZoom projects adjusted EBITDA for 2026 to be in the range of $190 million to $200 million, reflecting growth of 13% at the midpoint. This includes improved gross margins and disciplined cost management.
First Quarter 2026 Revenue: Revenue is expected to be in the range of $200 million to $203 million, representing 10% growth at the midpoint.
First Quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $34 million to $36 million, representing a 5% year-over-year decline at the midpoint due to front-loaded marketing investments.
Subscription Revenue Growth: LegalZoom anticipates subscription revenue growth driven by higher-value offerings, including legal plans, compliance, and concierge services. ARPU is expected to increase as the customer mix shifts toward these premium services.
Transaction Revenue Growth: Transaction revenue growth in 2026 is expected to benefit from higher-value customer acquisition and growth in the concierge suite.
AI and Human-in-the-Loop Strategy: LegalZoom plans to leverage AI and human-in-the-loop services to drive growth, focusing on high-value subscription products and expanding its ecosystem to serve established businesses.
Partnership Expansion: In 2026, LegalZoom aims to deepen relationships with existing partners, expand embedded integrations, and onboard new SMB-focused brands to drive growth.
Cost Management and Workforce Optimization: LegalZoom recently reduced headcount by 5% to improve operating leverage while maintaining investments in high-growth initiatives.
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Shareholder Return Plan
Share Repurchase Program: During the quarter, LegalZoom repurchased approximately 4.3 million shares of its common stock for approximately $42 million. For the full year, the company returned approximately $80 million to shareholders through share repurchases, repurchasing 8.3 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $9.71 per share. Since its IPO, LegalZoom has reduced its share count by approximately 10%. As of December 31, 2025, the company had approximately $70 million authorized and available under its share repurchase authorization. Additionally, in Q1 2026, the Board of Directors approved a $100 million increase to the existing share repurchase authorization.
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Key Q&A
Q:Are there any early metrics on how the concierge product is doing? And to what extent is that factored into your 2026 expectations?
A:Jeffrey Stibel stated that there are early proof points and green shoots, which have been factored in conservatively. The success seen is encouraging, and the product is expected to become one of the biggest growth drivers.
Q:Given the strength of the business formation environment, do you see any likeliness of sizing up customer acquisition marketing throughout the year?
A:Jeffrey Stibel mentioned that they do see this, as evidenced by Q1 marketing acceleration. They focus on acquiring the right types of customers and have improved targeting and marketing strategies. Noel Watson added that Q1 incremental marketing spend was driven by brand, and marketing is performance-based, adjusting to demand strength or softness.
Q:On the revenue growth guide and cadence throughout the year, why does it imply a step down for the full year?
A:Noel Watson explained that the deceleration is due to comping challenges from successful 2025 initiatives like Formation Nation and tax partnerships. Jeffrey Stibel added that the guide shows organic acceleration, and the focus is on expanding the serviceable addressable market and leveraging AI opportunities.
Q:Can you update us on the mechanics of being a last-mile delivery provider for legal services for LLMs?
A:Jeffrey Stibel stated that while the exact mechanics are still being determined, the focus is on being the solution for the last mile. LegalZoom is uniquely positioned with its infrastructure and partnerships to address this need.
Q:Could you talk to the contribution from Formation Nation to both subscription and transaction revenue in Q4?
A:Noel Watson reported that Formation Nation contributed $9.8 million in transaction revenue and $5.7 million in subscription revenue in Q4. The business has performed well and is expected to continue growing in 2026.
Q:How do you think about the additional investments needed to ramp up the human-in-the-loop and last-mile services within the business?
A:Jeffrey Stibel mentioned significant investments are being made, offset by material savings from AI-driven efficiencies. Noel Watson added that these efficiencies are reflected in their guide, balancing revenue growth and profitability.
Q:Have you seen any material change in the top of funnel metrics as you focus more on acquiring existing businesses?
A:Jeffrey Stibel noted proof points and growth within their base and early success with partner channels. The real opportunity is expected in 2026 and beyond. Competitive intensity has not significantly changed, and competitors are seen as potential partners.
Q:Can you quantify the impact of compliance pricing and bundling strategy changes over the last year?
A:Noel Watson stated that growth acceleration came from multiple fronts, including bundling, pricing actions, and improved retention. Bundling helped drive quality share and impacted SKU mix, but no single factor was the clear driver of growth.
Q:How should we think about your pursuit of share versus customer LTV going forward?
A:Noel Watson emphasized a focus on quality share, targeting serious customers who sustain longer and create more LTV opportunities. The macro environment has been supportive, and the business is expected to meet guidance regardless of macro conditions.
Q:How are you thinking about the potential impact of agentic legal tools and software on key workflows or billing terms?
A:Jeffrey Stibel stated that these tools are accelerants, driving internal efficiencies and expanding the serviceable addressable market.
Q:Can you share any trends on how AI search is impacting traffic and conversions?
A:Jeffrey Stibel noted a shift from traditional search engines to AI queries, with higher qualified traffic converting better. Noel Watson added that this trend results in better conversion rates.
Q:What tools are being used to reorient to higher-value clients and broaden the customer base?
A:Jeffrey Stibel mentioned leveraging AI systems and a human-in-the-loop strategy to scale cost-effectively. Noel Watson highlighted the use of brand messaging through diversified channels to drive growth.
Q:How is Formation Nation driving growth in subscription units?
A:Jeffrey Stibel stated that Formation Nation is converting customers to subscriptions, though progress is slower than desired. The focus is on value-priced services for lower-cost customers.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided giving a direct answer to the question about the mechanics of being a last-mile delivery provider for legal services for LLMs, stating that the exact mechanics are still being determined. Additionally, responses to questions about the impact of compliance pricing and bundling strategy changes and the pursuit of share versus customer LTV were somewhat vague, with no specific quantification or detailed breakdown provided.
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Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
AI LegalZoom
AI business
AI expert
AI human
AI level
AI nuance
AI opportunity
AI platform
AI tailwind
AI term
AI work
CEO AI
ChatGPT Gemini
Defense AI
Full Conference
Gemini Perplexity
IP service
LegalZoom CEO
LegalZoom Full
LegalZoom Today
LegalZoom anniversary
LegalZoom others
Officer Risk
Perplexity information
Relations reminder
Today AI
accountability expertise
accountability year
business share
expert compliance
foundation
human loop
insight
judgment
layer
mile
product term
review
share market
task
trust
LZ Transcript
Altus Group Limited (AIF:CA) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive2-19
LegalZoom's earnings call and Q&A reveal several positive indicators: increased revenue guidance, strategic investments in AI and new product offerings, and a promising partnership with 1-800 Accountant. Despite some ambiguities in management's responses, the overall sentiment is optimistic. The company's expansion beyond business formation and focus on higher-value products suggest potential for growth. Given the market cap of approximately $1.6 billion, these factors are likely to result in a positive stock price movement, within the 2% to 8% range, over the next two weeks.
LegalZoom.com, Inc. (LZ) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive2-19
The earnings call summary indicates a positive outlook with raised revenue guidance, strategic investments, and a focus on AI integration. The Q&A section reveals positive sentiment from analysts, despite some vague responses. The partnership with 1-800 Accountant and other strategic moves are likely to enhance growth. The market cap suggests a moderate reaction, leading to a prediction of a 2% to 8% stock price increase over the next two weeks.
LegalZoom.com, Inc. (LZ) Presents at Barclays 23rd Annual Global Technology Conference Transcript
Neutral12-11
LegalZoom.com, Inc. (LZ) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive11-5
The earnings call summary presents strong financial performance with increased revenue guidance, double-digit subscription growth, and strategic acquisitions. The Q&A section highlights positive developments like partnerships and successful integrations. Despite some uncertainties, the overall sentiment is positive, supported by strong financial metrics and optimistic guidance. Considering the market cap, a positive stock price movement (2% to 8%) is expected over the next two weeks.
LZ Slides
LZ Report
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