Customer reviews speak favorably of LegalZoom’s LLC formation services and affordable pricing, and I found it straightforward to go through the sign-up process. Services include LLC, nonprofit, corporation or sole proprietorship formation, as well as a doing business as (DBA) service and a registered agent service. They also offer bookkeeping and tax preparation through LZ Books and LZ Tax, respectively. This flexibility lets an 2021 entrepreneur scholarship offered by approveme com LLC’s members (another term for owners) find the taxation structure that works best for their finances, all while staying completely legal.
How We Evaluate the Best Business Formation Services
Although LLC operating agreements are not required in every state, it’s a smart business move to have one. This legally binding document provides clear and concise definitions of all ownership terms and rules or management decisions. An operating agreement protects owners’ personal assets and outlines ownership percentages, responsibilities, voting power, and a succession plan if an owner decides to leave the business.
From registering for payroll taxes to enrolling in payroll services, BizFilings offers an impressive range of affordable services. Every customer who signs up for Swyft Filings business formation services gets a dedicated account manager to help them set up their business, file documents, and more. You’ll even get access to their direct line for quick contact when needed. This level of support is invaluable if it’s your first time going through this process, as there’s a good chance you’ll have questions at some point.
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I compared the best LLC services on the market and ranked them based on cost, reliability and usability. Susan Guillory is an intuitive business coach and content magic maker. She’s written several business books and has been published on sites including Forbes, AllBusiness, and SoFi. She writes about business and personal credit, financial strategies, loans, and credit cards. C corporations have a structured management hierarchy with a board of directors and officers, while LLCs allow for more flexible management arrangements. C corporations (the default form of corporation) experience double taxation; profits are taxed at the corporate level and again when distributed as dividends to shareholders.
As the name implies, registered agent services are the primary focus of Northwest Registered Agent. In addition to document scanning for your business’s legal mail, Northwest Registered Agent also scans, stores, and forwards other business mail. The company charges just $125 per year, per state filing, with discounted pricing for five or more states.
Here we’ll focus on the four more common business structures listed above, but keep in mind there are others that may fit your business goals. Forming a legal entity can also make it easier to build business credit and to get home accounting and personal finance software some types of financing. Certain lenders will not lend to individuals who have not set up an entity for their business. S-Corps require a board of directors, and it takes multiple people to approve certain decisions. While S-Corps have more taxation flexibility than LLCs, you can always start an LLC and elect to be taxed as an S-Corp without having to form a corporation.
- And it’s why new businesses often turn to services that can guide them through the formation process.
- BetterLegal, for example, offers one package but allows you to tailor it to your needs with a la carte options.
- However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financing or service offer.
Swyft Filings – Best for Personalized Business Assistance
Furthermore, certain states may have unique naming conventions or restrictions and may require additional approvals for certain types of businesses. For example, New York requires LLCs to publish a notice of formation in two newspapers, which can significantly add to the cost and complexity of forming an LLC in that state. Business owners can also add registered agent services to their plans for $149 per quarter. This is another promotion that’s common in the business formation space. But Bizee offers a free what is inventory carrying cost registered agent for one year even if you use a free formation package, which isn’t something you’ll see from many other providers.
Why should I form an LLC?
Signing up for the free Starter package involves providing your business name, the name of the LLC members, your mailing address and your contact details. Depending on which package you’re signing up for, Active Filings will offer paid add-ons, such as getting a business address or EIN. I liked that the processing time is included on the sign-up page, so you can know when to expect your company to be up and running. ZenBusiness offers filing services in all 50 states plus Washington D.C. Its website includes helpful information even if you don’t use its services. It also offers a monthly $5,000 grant; customers who have used its formation services are eligible to enter. One of those decisions is what sort of business structure you choose.
The Standard and Premium packages start at $199 and $299 plus filing fees, respectively. All plans include a one-hour business filing consultation plus whenever-you-need-it access to your Business Specialist during Swyft Filings business hours. Although not all extra tools are free, Inc Authority offers its registered agent services—normally $99 per year—at no cost for your first year.