We want to help you make more informed decisions. Some links to products on this page will take you to a partner website and may result in us earning a referral commission. For more information, see How We Make Money. Best pricing for simple filings ZenBusiness From $0, plus government filing fees Jump to detailsLearn More externa link icon Good for Speedy Checkout Swyft Filings From $49, plus government filing fees Jump to detailsLearn More externa link icon Best for business and personal filings in one place LegalZoom From $79, plus government filing fees Jump to detailsLearn More externa link icon Best for step-by-step guidance Northwest Registered Agent From $100, plus government filing fees Jump to detailsLearn More externa link icon If you’ve gone through the joys and pains of starting a business—and you’re actually making money at it—you want to keep as much of that money as you can. That’s why every new business owner needs to confront the decision of how and when to incorporate a business and classify its tax status. There have been record numbers of new business filings in the United States since the arrival of COVID-19. The entrepreneur behind each of these applications made an important decision that you also need to make: Should your business be taxed as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), an S corporation, or something else? While it’s important to know the basics, an online tool can help you make your filing efforts much easier. Best pricing for simple filings ZenBusiness Best pricing for simple filings ZenBusiness Learn More externa link icon
Overview: When you’ve helped launch over 300,000 businesses, you know you’re doing something right. ZenBusiness is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), a type of corporation that generates services that contribute to the public good, and agrees to operate sustainably and responsibly. The Austin-based company is also a unicorn, last valued at $1.7 billion in November 2021. ZenBusiness’ website includes recommended resources for women and BIPOC business owners, along with clear statements on diversity, equity, and inclusion. ZenBusiness also has an “excellent” rating on TrustPilot, based on the average of the over 10,000 reviews it has received from customers. Most notably, however, the company’s Starter package will let you file the essentials for free, plus the cost of state filing fees. Starter package
Good for Speedy Checkout Swyft Filings Good for Speedy Checkout Swyft Filings Learn More externa link icon
Overview: Swyft Filings has helped over 250,000 business owners in all 50 states with filings since its inception in 2015. Founded by a lawyer, the company’s services assist with LLC formation, DBAs, registered agents, and S corporation elections. They also work with new and established nonprofits. Continued support or professional guidance is available after you file if you want a helping hand. The company is focused on business filings only, and does not offer personal legal counseling. Swyft Filings has a 4.8/5 rating from over 5,300 reviews on Trustpilot, a reviews aggregator service. The company has formation-specific FAQ sections, live chat, and a toll-free phone number you can call if you want to speak to someone personally. As its name suggests, Swyft Filings’ website is lightning fast and easy to navigate. Best for business and personal filings in one place LegalZoom Best for business and personal filings in one place LegalZoom Learn More externa link icon
Overview: LegalZoom helps you set up an LLC in your state quickly, easily, and entirely online. An LLC is needed for important business functions, such as opening a business bank account. Different states have different business formation requirements; LegalZoom customizes the process for you based on what state you live in, and the company helped consumers form 447,000 businesses in 2021, according to a press release. Mistakes can be made when trying to form an LLC by yourself, and business formation professionals can be expensive. If you want a cost-effective and convenient way to create your LLC (and keep more of the money you make from your side hustle or business when tax time rolls around), LegalZoom is a great option. Best for step-by-step guidance Northwest Registered Agent Best for step-by-step guidance Northwest Registered Agent Learn More externa link icon
Overview: Northwest Registered Agent became popular for its $39 LLC formation service, which it offered in its early years. It’s also well known for its commitment to customer service; the company’s tagline is “We’re just not annoying”, and the website manifesto outlines the family-owned business’ commitment to communication and transparency. Northwest Registered Agent’s website makes checkout very simple, and it automatically directs you to state-specific filing details, making it easy to customize your order. A handy feature of Northwest Registered Agent’s checkout process is that you don’t totally need to know everything you might need or want from a filings perspective when you sign up. The guided checkout process explains filings as you go, allowing you to customize your order and ensure you’ve set yourself up for success. |