Incfile vs LegalZoom: Which service is best?
Have you searched for online legal services to form an LLC? IncFile and LegalZoom are two leading companies that can seamlessly assist you in this process. What is the most appropriate company formation service for your new business out of these options?
This article will review these LLC formation services in detail to help you make the best choice for your business.
Features of Incfile and LegalZoom
Even though both LegalZoom and IncFile are among the leading services for forming a limited liability company, they each possess unique features.
Consequently, one can be more suitable for your business and cater to it better. Below are the most valuable features of each.
Incfile features:
1. Free Registered Agent Service for One Year
According to US law, every limited liability company (LLC) and the corporation is obligated to designate a registered agent – an individual or entity that accepts official tax and legal documents on behalf of the business.
Incfile conveniently satisfies this requirement by assuming the role of the registered agent for any and all business entities established through its website.
2. File a Trademark
Incfile’s comprehensive bundle for registering a trademark includes a meticulous scouring of current trademarks, admittance to adept legal guidance, as well as the orchestration and submission of the trademark application itself.
3. EIN
To inaugurate a business bank account and recruit staff, an employer identification number (EIN) is indispensable. It should be noted, however, that Incfile’s gratuitous program does not cover the cost of acquiring an EIN.
Incfile does offer the option to retrieve this information for you. However this particular service is not incorporated within the framework of the complimentary plan.
4. Document Templates
A company’s operating agreement and banking resolutions are among the important documents Incfile provides. You can open a bank account and run it under your business’s name with an operating agreement outlining your business’s rules, regulations, and provisions.
5. Lifetime Company Alerts
As part of Incfile’s Gold and Platinum subscriptions, you’ll receive courtesy email reminders when filing requirements for your state are approaching. In addition to relieving entrepreneurs of stress, this feature allows them to stay in good standing with the law because they won’t have to keep track of deadlines themselves.
6. Online Access Dashboard
Incfile’s Business Dashboard tool allows you to streamline all your business startup needs in one place, including all your business documents, order status updates, and reminders for renewals.
Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the fact that they no longer have to search through their computers or filing cabinets for documents.
7. Business Website and Email Set-up
The Platinum membership fee includes domain names and email addresses provided by Xoopah (formerly SnapWeb).
8. Resource Blog
Your business can grow with Incfile’s resources. The website contains a free blog with useful information for entrepreneurs on topics such as popular business industry trends and email marketing tips. It even provides instructions on how to fill out important forms.
LegalZoom Features
1. Various Formation Services
Small business owners and enterprisers are granted the privilege of employing LegalZoom’s digital enterprise foundation facilities to fabricate a corporation, not-for-profit, or DBA, notwithstanding the LLC submission. Agents of LegalZoom shall attend to each paper imperative to establish the enterprise, comprising articles of incorporation, no matter the selected option.
2. Name Check and Business Filing
You can trust LegalZoom’s representatives to complete your business formation paperwork and file it correctly, ensuring that everything is up to your state’s standards and that all boxes have been checked.
3. LLC Next Steps Guide
Directly after submitting your LegalZoom LLC filing, you are supplied with a systematic sequence of directives to help assess the documents and ascend your enterprise to the next echelon.
4. Lifetime Customer Support
The competent staff of LegalZoom is at your disposal all week long, including weekdays from the wee hours of 7 in the morning to a ripe 9 in the evening, Pacific Standard Time, and during weekends from 9 in the morning until 6 in the evening, Pacific Standard Time.
In addition, the company’s website provides a platform to submit inquiries and questions, with a guarantee to respond via email as quickly as possible. LegalZoom offers a chat option for those who prefer online communication.
5. Financial Account Authorization Letter
LegalZoom’s business formation services also include a financial account authorization letter specifying who can open a bank account for the LLC.
Incfile vs. LegalZoom: Side-by-Side Comparisons
1. Pricing
LegalZoom:
LegalZoom offers a $0 package for LLC service, but the number of upsells can be overwhelming – and expensive – at times. Additionally, they do not include annual reports or registered agent services with any of their formation packages. You must pay a variable fee of $249-299 per Year to add these services.
IncFile:
During the first year of your business, IncFile will provide you with free services as a registered agent while offering you a full year of registered agent service for $119 per Year. Once the company’s first year is up, IncFile will charge you $119 to renew your registered agent service.
Additionally, even at higher prices, the Gold and Platinum packages are packed with valuable features that make them excellent options.
2. Customer Reviews
Incfile Reviews
According to Trustpilot, Incfile has received more than 11,000 reviews. Among the 11,000 reviews, Incfile has maintained a 4.7 out of 5 rating, 84% being 5 stars. Some complaints have been made about the slowness of its customer service, but Incfile is well-regarded and has a good reputation in the industry.
LegalZoom Reviews
LegalZoom has significantly fewer reviews than most companies on Trustpilot, with only around 2,800. However, it does have a very high rating on Trustpilot, with 4.7 out of 5 and 82% of its reviews being 5 stars.
3. Ease of Use
LegalZoom:
The application process with LegalZoom does not begin with you choosing the package you wish to purchase. Instead, you enter your personal information first, then navigate through a series of expensive upsells to choose your package for the company.
You have to work through the order form to get to the package selection screen, and the process can be a bit convoluted and result in unexpectedly high prices.
IncFile:
When you sign up for IncFile, your steps are personalized by the state where you’re establishing a business and the type of business you intend to establish. There are even little question marks and hyperlinks throughout the application to learn more about a specific question or entry on the form.
Upon entering the app, you can navigate through several upsells and third-party offers, but if you choose to take advantage of any of them, your total price will instantly be updated. With IncFile, you will never have to worry about any surprises.
4. Customer Support
Incfile
There are only weekdays when Incfile offers email and phone support. You can contact them with questions from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.
Although Incfile promises to respond as quickly as possible, there is no guarantee that an email will be answered promptly. You can fill out an online form if you prefer to submit an email support request rather than call.
LegalZoom
With LegalZoom, you can contact their customer service department via phone or email seven days a week. They offer the same type of support as Incfile but also have more extended hours. Support hours on Monday through Friday are 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pacific Time, while it takes support inquiries from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturdays and Sundays. However, there is no guarantee of a specific response time if you submit your email, and you can also use its online form to submit your email ticket.
5. Turnaround Times
LegalZoom:
Unlike most competitors, the turnaround time is based on the package you order rather than the state where you are forming. Depending on your package, you could receive the finalized business formation documents within 7-10 business days, but if you choose the cheaper package, it could take up to six weeks to get your documents.
IncFile:
IncFile guarantees that every LLC or corporation formation will be processed and forwarded to your state within one business day of being submitted.
They also offer expedited state processing (depending on your state) as an additional service for an additional fee (depending on your state). Alternatively, you can buy their Platinum package, which includes expedited service as part of their package.
6. Business Formation Service
Incfile
In the past 20 years, Incfile claims it has registered more than 1 million businesses. Incfile’s main advantage is that it offers to register your business without any additional costs, except for the state filing fees you would have to pay if you did the work yourself, along with a free registered agent.
In addition to the registration itself, the company makes its money by providing premium services. Whether you are starting a corporation, LLC, or DBA, all business formation services with Incfile are free.
Nevertheless, Incfile requires you to provide business and personal information and to specify what services you wish to use before providing you with a final price. It advertises that there are no hidden fees, but there are some hoops to jump through to ensure you won’t have to pay more than expected.
LegalZoom
A LegalZoom account clearly describes precisely what it offers and what it costs. In addition to the state filing fees, there are additional fees for corporations ($149 plus state fees), nonprofits ($99 plus state fees), and DBAs ($99 plus state fees). You can get them through the service for an additional fee if you need additional services.
For instance, legal advice can be obtained through the service for an extra fee, and registered agent services cost $299 annually.
Who Is Incfile Best For?
The Incfile LLC formation company is one of the best for those wanting to form an LLC on a budget since it supports a year of registered agent services for free. It also has an excellent reputation and is a good choice for those who want to register an LLC on a budget.
Who Is LegalZoom Best For?
LegalZoom is another online LLC formation service, which might be the best option for more complicated registrations and needs. It includes a legal advice service that can provide more detailed insight and a more personalized experience.
Conclusion:
IncFile and LegalZoom are both reputable online LLC services. For a new company, it is essential to consider various factors, including costs, features, customer support, and the company’s specific needs, before choosing the most appropriate company formation service.
Consequently, it is strongly advised that businesses conduct their research and compare the offerings of both IncFile and LegalZoom to make an informed decision that best suits their needs.
