Getting a new business off the ground can be a daunting task. One of the most important things you can do upfront is to ensure that all your paperwork and required business filings are completed accurately with your state. Fortunately, there are various services that can help with business formation services.
Incfile and BizFilings are two very popular options. These companies are basically middlemen between you and your state’s Secretary of State department, which is generally the department which handles incorporation and LLC formation. In this article, you can learn all about the features, pricing, and services of these two options, to see which makes most sense for you.
Incfile vs BizFilings: Quick look
Both of these companies offer LLC formation services and incorporation services. This means that they can help you register a new LLC, corporation, or even nonprofit, with your state. While the basics are similar, there are some differentiators to consider between BizFilings vs Incfile.
Similarities between Incfile and BizFilings
- Both are user-friendly and make it much easier to form a new business entity
- Both are compatible with rules in all US states
- Both conduct the business formation process completely online
- Both help you draft and file all the necessary business formation documents
- Both can serve as your Registered Agent
- Both help you choose a company name with a business name availability search tool
- Both can help you obtain extras: Doing Business As (DBA) names, Employer Identification Numbers (EIN), and more
- Both can assist with ongoing business filing needs, such as Annual Reports
Differences between Incfile and BizFilings
- Incfile has plans from $0 + state fees; BizFilings starts at $99 + state fees
- Incfile includes Registered Agent free for a full year; BizFilings offers it for 6 months
- BizFilings has more robust features for ongoing business compliance
- BizFilings has a useful tool to compare business structures and decide which is right for your situation; Incfile only has some basic written information to compare
Incfile basics
Incfile is a popular business formation service that was founded in 2004. Since then, they have assisted with the formation of more than 250,000 new business entities, in all US states. With the service, you can start a new:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Corporation (C-corp by default; S-corp election available)
- Partnership (LLP or LP)
- Nonprofit corporation
Incfile’s focus is on the initial business registration process. In fact, their tagline is “Where Business Begins”. They offer a relatively simple selection of services, designed to help entrepreneurs and nonprofit founders get off on the right foot. They do offer some ongoing services, as well, such as Registered Agent.
One of Incfile’s most striking features is their “free” plan, dubbed the Silver Package. This plan costs $0 + state fees, making it the cheapest way to start a new LLC or corporation online. The state fees go directly to the state, so you truly aren’t paying anything extra with this plan. The reason Incfile is able to offer this plan is because they have partner services, including web hosting providers and business banking providers, that they partner with to recommend services to clients.
See the
full review of Incfile here.
BizFilings basics
BizFilings was founded in 1996, and is a division of Wolters Kluwer, a Dutch-American conglomerate. They have served hundreds of thousands of business owners, helping them navigate the complex world of incorporation and LLC formation. With BizFilings, you can form the following business types:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Corporation (C-corp or S-corp)
- Partnership (LLP or LP)
- Nonprofit corporation
BizFilings also focuses on initial business formation - but they also offer a somewhat wider array of ongoing services. They can serve as your Registered Agent, help you file annual reports, help you search trademark and patent libraries, and more.
One unique aspect of BizFilings is their BizComply feature, which is included with Registered Agent service in all plans. This service provides company alerts for upcoming filing requirements, helping to keep your business in good standing with state and federal agencies.
See the full review of BizFilings here.
Incfile vs BizFilings: Pricing
The packages offered by these two services are relatively similar, as each offers three tiers of service. The main differences between these formation packages are in processing speed/turnaround times, and included features. Here’s a breakdown.
Incfile pricing
- Silver Package - $0 + state filing fees - Standard business formation features, and standard filing/processing speed. Includes a full year of free Registered Agent service (which renews for $119/year after first year)
- Gold Package - $149 + state filing fees - All features of Silver plan, plus express shipping, Employer Identification Number (EIN), LLC operating agreement, and banking resolution.
- Platinum Package - $299 + state filing fees - All features of Gold plan, plus expedited process and shipping. Adds additional templates, a business email address, business domain name, and more.
BizFilings pricing
- Basic Package - $99 + state filing fees - Standard business formation features, with standard filing speed. Includes ongoing compliance support with BizComply. Includes 6 months of Registered Agent service (renews for $174 per year).
- Standard Package - $229 + state filing fees - All the features of the basic package, plus expedited filing speed. Adds additional business forms, like LLC operating agreement. Also includes LLC/Corporation kit and a custom seal
- Complete Package - $359-$434 (depending on state) + state filing fees - All the features of the Standard package, plus expedited filing and overnight shipping of documents. Adds federal tax ID number (EIN), state business tax ID number (if needed), certified copies of formation documents, and more.
As you can see, Incfile is cheaper than BizFilings across the board. This is largely because Incfile relies on revenue from their partners. They have more upsells and add-ons available, such as business bank accounts, business website hosting, etc. If you don’t mind these offers (you don’t have to take any of them), then Incfile is a good option. If you’d avoid partner offers and data sharing, BizFilings may be a better option, despite the higher price point.
Overall, pricing on these two services is in-line with industry averages. You’ll find similar, tiered offerings at competitors like LegalZoom, Northwest, ZenBusiness, MyCorporation, etc.
Incfile vs BizFilings: Features
In their basic functionality, BizFilings and Incfile are fairly similar. They support the same business structures (LLC, C-corporation, S-corporation, partnership, and nonprofit), and they provide similar services in their business formation plans. The available features in each plan do vary, though, so you’ll want to compare package options side-by-side. Both also offer similar ease of use, making it relatively simple to register your new company online.
When it comes to ongoing services, BizFilings offers a bit more variety. Their BizComply feature is a good example. This service (included with Registered Agent) helps keep you on top of compliance requirements, by reminding you of upcoming due dates for reports, tax returns and more.
BizFilings also offers more guidance on which company structure is right for you. They have an automated Wizard that helps you choose between LLC, corporation, etc., based on your individual situation.
BizFilings vs Incfile: Customer service
Both of these companies offer dedicated support for life, whether you keep ongoing services active or not.
- BizFilings customer support offers both phone support and email support. Representatives can be reached Monday through Friday from 8am to 7pm Central Time (CST)
- Incfile customer support also offers phone and email support. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm CST.
If you look at custom feedback, you’ll notice that many people have had some issues with Incfile’s customer support. The service is rated mediocre at best, in average review scores. BizFilings is a bit harder to judge. Although the company has been active for decades, they do not host customer reviews on their website, and they do not have active review profiles on common sites like Better Business Bureau (BBB) and TrustPilot.
Which should you choose?
Taking into account all we’ve learned about these two services, what’s the bottom line? Which is the best option for you?
Choose Incfile if…
- You want to save money. Incfile is the best LLC formation option for those on a tight budget, thanks to their $0 plan.
- You need Registered Agent services. Incfile includes one year free (compared to 6 months from BizFilings), and also costs less on renewal.
Choose BizFilings if…
- You are not sure which business entity is right for you. BizFilings has a useful Incorporation Wizard to help you choose between LLC and Corporation.
- You want compliance reminders and company alerts. The BizComply service from BizFilings is included in all plans, and helps keep your company in good standing.
