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Monday, July 14th
Harbor Compliance was founded in 2012 by a team of experts in government licensing and technology. Since then, the company has become a leading provider of compliance solutions for businesses of all sizes and industries. With over 35,000 clients served, Harbor Compliance has helped companies obtain, protect, and manage licenses.
Incorporation service starts at $99
Harbor Compliance advertises a starting fee of $99, but the actual cost of their services will only be revealed after you answer a series of questions. For our business location, we were quoted $99 for checking name availability and preparing and filing articles of incorporation. Harbor Compliance also offers registered agent services for an annual fee of $99, which is more affordable compared to some competitors. Other services include obtaining an EIN for $99 and bylaws for $99.
Improved pricing
While it is possible to get your incorporation done for under $100 with Harbor Compliance, compared to other companies they may seem expensive, especially for additional services that are often included in a package elsewhere. However, they have significantly reduced their pricing from their previous packages priced at $399 and $799, which makes them more comparable to their rivals.
Comes with support after you incorporate
Once your company is incorporated, Harbor Compliance will review your compliance status and recommend any regulatory filings that may be necessary in your state for companies similar to yours. However, the company doesn't provide a lot of information on its incorporation page about what those services might entail. In the past, these services were included in the comprehensive packages that the company offered, but now clients have the option to pay for only the services they need. While we appreciate the flexibility this new pricing structure offers, it's important to note that the details of Harbor Compliance's post-formation support are not clearly outlined.
Client feedback is declining
During our research, we noticed that Harbor Compliance's client feedback has declined since our last review. Although there are still satisfied clients who commend the customer service and attention to detail, there are also an equal number of clients who report that their Harbor reps were unreliable, and processes that were supposed to take weeks took months to complete. We suggest checking out the Google ratings link that is conveniently provided on Harbor Compliance's incorporation homepage, and focus on the most recent reviews at that time. During this review, Harbor Compliance maintained an "A+" rating and accreditation from BBB, so any of those issues we found mentioned outside of the BBB may not be widespread enough to significantly affect their reputation there.
Not our favorite choice for company incorporation
Despite Harbor Compliance's efforts to become more affordable, their reliability has suffered, leading us to drop them in our rankings. While some clients have had positive experiences with the company's attention to detail and customer service, others have had negative experiences, including long delays and dropped communication. One reviewer even suggested that Harbor Compliance focuses on pleasing a select few clients while neglecting others. While Harbor Compliance still holds an "A+" rating and BBB accreditation, we cannot overlook the mixed customer feedback to be able to recommend them as highly as other incorporation services.
Incorporation is the process of legally creating a corporate entity, which can be a separate legal entity from its owners, with its own rights and responsibilities. As a business owner, incorporation can offer you a range of benefits, including limited liability protection, tax advantages, and increased credibility. However, there are also various considerations and requirements that you need to be aware of when incorporating your business.
The first step for business owners is to decide what type of corporation to form. In general, there are two main types of corporations: C corporations and S corporations. C corporations are subject to corporate income tax, while S corporations are not taxed at the corporate level, but rather have their income and losses passed through to their shareholders to report on their personal income tax returns.
Once the type of corporation has been decided, you'll need to follow the legal requirements for incorporation, which vary depending on the state in which your corporation is formed. Some of the common requirements include filing articles of incorporation, appointing a board of directors, holding annual meetings, and maintaining corporate records.
So, once you've determined that you want to incorporate, what's next? You could jump in and try to wade through all of the requirements and paperwork on your own - or you could take advantage of a service that can do all of the heavy lifting for you, often at no cost beyond what you'll pay to file your paperwork in your state. Hmmm, do it yourself for free or have someone else do it for free? Easy choice.
When it comes to choosing a service for incorporating your company, it's crucial to get it right on the first try. The process can be complex, so it's important to keep some key factors in mind when deciding how to proceed with your business. Here are some of the criteria to consider when taking the next step:
At Top Consumer Reviews, we understand that company incorporation can be a crucial step in safeguarding your personal assets and limiting your liability as a business owner. To assist you in this process, we have assessed and ranked the most widely used incorporation services. With the help of our comprehensive reviews, we are confident that you will find the right provider to guide you through this important step.
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