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Saturday, November 9th
BizFilings calls itself "the pioneers of the online incorporation space”, founded in 1996 and later becoming a part of Wolters Kluwer's CT Corporation. This service has been used in more than 500,000 filings, helping entrepreneurs and business owners with companies of all sizes.
Helpful tools
There are several tools on the BizFilings homepage that could help you before and after you form your LLC. We recommend trying out the Incorporation Wizard if you're still not sure whether your best next step is an LLC or a corporation. You can also compare business types, or use the License Wizard to see if your particular business will need licenses and/or permits.
Straightforward and useful
We appreciate that BizFilings has no hidden fees: you won't get to the checkout and find anything unexpected here. You'll also be protected against any filing defects for the lifetime of your LLC, so in the event of an error on BizFilings' part, they will cover any fees or costs required to fix the mistake promptly. Additionally, you can utilize the BizComply web-based interface to monitor all essential due dates for filing documents and ensuring compliance, as well as access a repository of materials on LLC establishment for more comprehensive insights.
More expensive than rivals
But, BizFilings' LLC formation services are much more expensive than its rivals. For example:
Other services are available as a la carte options as desired, like Payroll Tax Registration or rush filing in your state (also keep in mind that BizFilings' fees in your state may vary; the ones we listed are accurate for most locations, but we found slight differences that brought the Basic package as high as $174 and the Complete up to $434).
Registered agent service fees can catch you off guard
Despite the promise of "no hidden fees”, we found several clients who complained that one of the included services felt a little sneaky. Which one? Every LLC formation package comes with three months of free Registered Agent Service - that sounds nice, right? Three months for free! But, you're not able to opt out if you'd rather get that service somewhere else, and the annual fee after the complimentary period is $220. That's definitely NOT free, and while it's not exactly hidden information, you won't see it unless you click on the plus sign to expand the details of that particular component of your LLC formation package.
Where's the client feedback?
Reputation-wise, BizFilings leaves us scratching our heads a bit. With over 500,000 filings, we expected several thousand client reviews. We were hard-pressed to find more than a handful. Even at the Better Business Bureau, where the company has an "A+” rating and accreditation, there were no ratings and just two complaints filed over the last three years. Trustpilot, Google, all the places we typically find clients leaving feedback for LLC formation services? i>Nope.
Doesn't quite compete
There's no issue with BizFilings being a trustworthy option for forming your LLC. But with higher fees and that pesky required commitment to their registered agent services, this company doesn't compete with rival options whose client feedback is much more abundant. BizFilings isn't a bad LLC formation service, but it's got room to improve if it wants to move higher in our rankings next time.
LLC formation is a common way for small business owners to limit their personal liability while operating their company. A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a hybrid business entity that combines the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the liability protection of a corporation. LLCs are a popular structure for many small businesses because they offer many of the benefits of a corporation without the same level of complexity and formality.
Forming an LLC typically involves filing articles of organization with the state in which the business will operate. Your specific process and requirements for forming an LLC may vary depending on the state where you're doing business, but it generally requires selecting a unique business name, designating a registered agent, and paying a fee. Some states may have additional requirements such as issuing an operating agreement or publishing a notice of formation in a local newspaper.
There are many services that can help with LLC formation for small businesses. Many of these services offer a range of options for businesses at various price points, from basic do-it-yourself kits to more comprehensive packages that may include assistance with obtaining tax identification numbers, preparing and filing annual reports, and ongoing compliance support.
Which of these services should you choose? You want to get it right the first time, and forming an LLC can be complicated. Here are some of the most important criteria you should keep in mind as you choose how to take that next step for your business:
Because forming an LLC can be an important step to protect your personal assets and limit your liability as a business owner, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked today's most popular services. We're confident that our comprehensive reviews will help you choose the right provider to help you navigate the process.
Select any 2 LLC Formation Services to compare them head to head