IncFile vs BizFilings: Which Legal Service is Better?

Last Updated on April 22, 2023 by Ewen Finser

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If you want to start a company, you might look at a legal service to help you out – in our IncFile vs BizFilings review, we’ll be looking at two great services to see how they compare to each other.

Bottom Line Up Front Summary: All things considered, the more affordable service with the longer track record is definitely IncFile here. They don’t hold your hand, but the interface is intuitive and dead simple to use. 

Main Differences Between Incfile vs BizFilings

The main differences between Incfile vs BizFilings are:

• IncFile has a more modern interface, whereas BizFiling’s interface is a bit more outdated
• IncFile offers one free year of Registered Agent Services, whereas BizFiling offers six months free Registered Agent Services
• IncFile’s ‘Plus’ price option is cheaper, whereas BizFiling’s ‘Standard’ option is more expensive
• IncFile offers to file your personal or business taxes for an extra cost, whereas BizFiling doesn’t offer this
• IncFile offers Foreign Qualification to run your business in another state, whereas BizFiling doesn’t
• IncFile doesn’t offer Apostille/Seal of Approval for documents to be used in other countries, whereas BizFiling does
• IncFile has sixteen years of experience, whereas BizFilings has twenty-four years of experience
• IncFile’s customer service number can be difficult to get through to, whereas BizFiling’s customer service has been described as ‘excellent’.

A legal service can help you to deal with the difficult paperwork that is involved with starting a company.

Whether that’s navigating licenses, staying state-compliant, sorting your Registered Agent, or filing taxes, a legal service can help you to deal with this, saving you time and hassle – and hopefully preventing potential disasters if you forget a crucial piece of paperwork.

In our review, we’ll be looking at the main differences and similarities between IncFile and BizFilings. We’ll look at them in more detail, including their features, pricing, and pros and cons. And finally, in conclusion, we’ll look at the service we think is the best.

Let’s start with the differences between them.

There are a few differences there in terms of what they have to offer and the pricing. The most common price option – the Plus plan on IncFile – is cheaper than BizFiling’s equivalent. Plus, IncFile offers a whole year of Registered Agent Services for free, whereas BizFilings only offers six months.

However, one crucial advantage that BizFilings has is good customer service and years of experience – over twenty years, in fact.

IncFile vs BizFilings – The Similarities

They also have a lot of similarities.

• They have similar pricing for their basic and extra plans
• Their individual services are similarly priced
• They both offer EIN obtainment, business license research, and Certificates of Good Standing
• They both have online dashboards to view documents
• They’re both fairly simple to sign up with
• They both have free information and resources on their websites for business owners

Let’s take a look at each one in more detail to see how they compare.

IncFile vs BizFilings – What is IncFile?

IncFile is a service that can help you to incorporate a business – essentially, they take care of the tricky paperwork allowing you to get to work starting your business.

Whether you’re starting an LLC (LLC formation), a nonprofit organization, a C-Corp or an S-Corp, they can deal with the legalities. They are great for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

IncFile vs BizFilings – What is BizFilings?

BizFilings call themselves ‘Business Formation Experts’. They can help businesses, including LLCs, C-Corps, S-Corps, and nonprofits to deal with the legal paperwork to start their company in a state-compliant way, whether a Deleware Registered Agent or other states (and associated state fee and legal documents).

They are aimed at any sized business but are particularly useful for small-to-medium sized businesses who may not have access to their own legal advisors.

IncFile – Main Features

Business Formation & Incorporation Service

LLCs (LLC formation), S-Corps, and C-Corps all come with their own legal hoops to jump through – including tax liabilities. IncFile can help you to file Articles of Organization for your LLC, or assist you with Articles of Incorporation if you want to start a C-Corp or an S-Corp.

The bonus of going with IncFile for a business formation plan is the fact that you get a free year of their registered agent services (more on that shortly). You also get lifetime customer support and free business tax consultation.

Ease of Use/Registration

Signing up involves filling out a form online. This isn’t too difficult – IncFile takes care of the tricky bits, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Once completed, IncFile gives you access to a dashboard where you can track the status of your orders and see your documents. It’s a fairly simple to navigate platform.

Other Services

Business License Research – $99

A key feature is their assistance with business license research. A business license is a top priority – but it’s a difficult process.

Each state varies with the licenses required, as well as the business type (a bar will need a different license than other types of businesses, for example). Typically, you will need at least two licenses depending on your individual circumstances.

This is where IncFile comes in. They research the licenses that you need, filing all the paperwork for you so that you don’t have to worry about it.

Then they send you all the relevant documents within 5 business days. This is great for peace of mind – you don’t have to worry about missing crucial legal requirements.

Registered Agent Services – $119 per year (or free for the first year)

As we mentioned, you get a free year of registered agent services when you sign up to IncFile. Every LLC or corporation must have an official Registered Agent. This provides your business with a physical presence, and acts as the contact point for any government correspondence.

Using a Registered Agent Service allows you to hand over these responsibilities to someone else, saving you the hassle of managing government paperwork. It can also help to separate your home life from your work life, maintaining your privacy as correspondence can be sent to the Registered Agent as opposed to being set to your home.

Registered Agents can help you to stay on top of deadlines, like annual reports. You will also have access to a digital dashboard where you can see information and documents relating to your business, as well as email and text notifications when documents are received.

EIN/Tax Number ID – $70

You need an EIN for multiple reasons – it’s the business federal tax ID, like a social security number, but for your business. You’ll need it for tax returns, to open business bank accounts, and to pay wages, amongst other things.

If you have a partnership, multiple-member LLC, single-member LLC, LLC tax as a corporation, or a sole proprietorship with employees, you will need an EIN.

IncFile can take care of this for you by filing all the appropriate paperwork for you, contacting you for the relevant information and then sending you the EIN once it arrives.

File Business Taxes – $599 (business) or $299 (personal)

IncFile can take the hassle out of accounting by helping you with your tax return. This helps to take the complexity out of figuring out taxes – they will contact you for the required information and take care of the rest. It’s a pricey service but could well be worth if you’re pressed for time.

File S Corp Tax Election – Price variable depending on the state

Running an S-Corp can help you to reduce the amount of tax you pay. IncFile can help you to file an S-Corp Tax Election form, filling it out, and submitting it on your behalf.

Annual Report – $88

All businesses must file an annual report, giving details of activities throughout the previous tax year. Annual reports must be filed every year – penalties can be severe, from fines to the dissolution of your company. Annual reports can be tedious, but IncFile can do it for you, saving you time.

Corporate Business Formation Service / LLC  Formation Service Kit – From $99

If you want your official state documents to look sleek and professional, the Business Formation Kit is great. Your papers can be delivered in a professional kit with your company name stamped along the spine of the book.

Your documents are presented in a handcrafted binder with 20 Member of Stock Certificates, corporate forms, and documents, and a corporate embossing seal included. This isn’t a must-have but is definitely a nice extra.

Certificate of Good Standing – $49 + state fees

A certificate of good standing shows other companies and businesses that your company is state-compliant – establishing you as a professional organization. IncFile can do this for you.

Register a Trademark – $199 + federal fee

If you want to protect your brand, you may consider trademarking. IncFile’s partnered attorneys can research the trademark to make sure it isn’t already taken, provide legal advice, and oversee the whole process.

Foreign Qualification – $149 + state filing fees

This refers to the process of registering your company to do business in a different state. An LLC/corporation is considered ‘domestic’ in the state it was registered, but if you want to do business in another state, you need to get a Certificate of Authority – this gives you the right to do business in a different state. IncFile can take care of the paperwork for you.

BizFilings – Main Features

Business Formation

BizFilings works in a similar way when it comes to business formation. They can assist you to set up:

• LLCs
• S-Corps
• C-Corps
• Nonprofits
• Limited Partnerships
• Limited Liability Partnerships

They’ve had over 500,000 business formations since 1996 – so they are highly experienced. You get free registered agent services for six months if you choose BizFilings.

Ease of Use/Registration

The application process is pretty similar to IncFile’s – just choose the type of company you want to start and fill out a form. They do offer upsells, but not many, and they’re easy to click through – it’s about seven pages of information you’ll need to fill out.

Other Services

Business License Research – $99

BizFilings takes care of the research, so you will be able to obtain all the correct licenses at federal, state, and local/regional levels. They collect information for you, obtain the applications, and email you an application package with instructions on how to file them correctly.

Registered Agent Services – $174 per year

Just like IncFile, BizFilings can provide you with a registered agent to act as an official point of contact for government agencies.

Any forms or correspondence will go to them, allowing them to provide you with tax and annual report alerts, automatically file franchise tax and annual reports, and handle all official documents promptly and professionally.

This also gives you access to the BizComply Management Tool – this lets you track compliance events and sends you email reminders for state obligations and invoices.

EIN Obtainment – $79

This works in the same way as IncFile – they will take care of the paperwork required to get you an EIN (Federal Tax Number ID) from the IRS on behalf of your business.

This has a fairly quick turnaround time at 2-3 days after receiving approval of incorporation filing from your state. The EIN will be made available to you online and it will be emailed to you.

Annual Report – price variable

All you have to do is provide BizFilings with some information. They will create an account, notify you when reports are due, update your company information automatically, notifying you of information as it comes in, processing your annual report, and notifying you of the successful filing – saving you time and hassle.

Compliance Kit – $99

BizFilings offers a Compliance Kit and Seal. This includes a customized binder with your company’s name on the spine, a seal for stamping documents, ownership certificates (including 10 stock, membership or partnership certificates, a transfer ledger, and a digital download of all relevant documents.

Certificate of Good Standing – $39 + state fees, or $178 + state fees

You can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing in two ways. The standard service can take care of this for you, and you will receive the certificate within 4-6 weeks, or within 7-10 business days if you choose expedited shipping for an extra cost.

They also offer a Rush service, getting you the certificate in a matter of hours – but this costs $178 + state fees.

Apostille/Gold Seal Service – $35 + state fees

An Apostille is required if you want to certify a document to use in another country. This is helpful if you want to open a bank account in another country.

Business Compliance Management – $75 per year

If you want to ensure the continued compliance of your business, this service checks everything for you, saving you any legal difficulties.

IncFile vs BizFilings – Pricing

As different states have different requirements and fees, we have chosen Indiana as our ‘test’ state in order to directly compare pricing. We also chose an LLC as our test company.

IncFile Pricing

IncFile offers three pricing plans:

Silver – $0

• Preparing and Filing the Articles of Organization
• Unlimited Name Searches
• Free Registered Agent Service for One Year

Gold – $149

• Everything in the Basic plan
• EIN Business Tax Number
• IRS Form 2553
• Operating Agreement
• Banking Resolution
• Express Shipping
• Lifetime Company Alerts
• Online Access Dashboard
• Unlimited Phone and Email Support
• Business Banking Account
• Business Tax Consultation

Platinum – $299

• Everything in the Plus plan
• Business Contract Templates
• Expedited Filing
• FedEx Delivery
• Domain Name and Business Email

BizFilings Pricing

BizFilings offers three price plans:

Basic – $99 + state fees

• Forms your business with the state
• Registered agent service for 6 months

Standard – $299 + state fees

• Everything in the Basic plan
• LLC Kit and Seal
• Sample Operating Agreements and Other Customizable LLC Forms
• Expedited Processing Service

Complete – $359 + state fees

• Everything in the Standard plan
• EIN Obtainment
• Compliance DVD
• Certified Copy of State-Filed Documents
• Indiana State Tax ID Form (only applicable to companies in Indiana)
• Overnight Shipping

Every plan comes with business name verification, preparation of all documents, and gives you access to BizComply (their business monitoring tool and document library).

How the Pricing Compares

It’s a close one. IncFile’s Plus plan is cheaper than BizFiling’s Standard Plan, but BizFiling’s Complete Plan is cheaper than IncFile’s Enterprise Plan – so it depends on what you need.

Perhaps crucially depending on your needs, IncFile’s Registered Agent Services are cheaper per year, plus you get a full free year if you incorporate using IncFile – whereas BizFiling only offers free Registered Agent Services for six months.

IncFile vs BizFilings – Support

IncFile

IncFile has a Learning Center, packed with guides and documentation on how to start a company. This is an excellent free resource.

In terms of contacting support, the Help Center has FAQs if you have a question, or you can phone their support team between 9 am and 6 pm CST (according to users it can be difficult to get hold of them sometimes, which is something to bear in mind). Alternatively, you can use your client dashboard to leave a message.

BizFilings

BizFilings also have free resources for business owners, including specific information for certain industries. This is a great resource but looks pretty dull – it’s not as easy to navigate or attractive to look at. It does contain a lot of useful information, however.

If you need to contact support, you can call their team between 8 am and 7 pm CST, email them or start a live chat. According to users, their customer support is excellent, which is great.

IncFile vs BizFilings – Pros and Cons

IncFile Pros

• Easy to navigate
• Great packages with useful tools
• One free year of Registered Agent Services with the incorporation
• Low prices for individual services

Cons of IncFile

• According to reviews, it can be difficult to get hold of customer services

BizFilings Pros

• Free Registered Agent Services for six months
• The BizComply dashboard is easy to use
• They are very qualified to help you with over 20 years of experience so far
• Customer service is excellent

BizFilings Cons

• The website looks a bit outdated
• It works out a little more expensive than IncFile for the most commonly chosen plan (the Standard plan)

FAQs

IncFile vs BizFilings Conclusion

So, which one is the best?

Essentially, you’ll want to pick IncFile if you want a slightly cheaper service. Presuming that most people will choose the medium price plan (the ‘Plus’ plan for IncFile), you’ll save money by going with them.

Plus, you get a whole year of Registered Agent Services, and after that, their Registered Agent Service is cheaper per year. It’s an easy-to-use platform, which is great. If you’re looking to save a little money, you’d be better off going with them.

However, if you want excellent customer service and more experience, and you can afford to pay a little extra, we’d recommend choosing BizFilings.

Although their website looks a little dated, they have the benefit of over twenty years of experience. They have glowing reviews when it comes to customer service – so you can relax in the assurance that experts will take care of your legal paperwork.

Bottom Line Summary: All things considered, the more affordable service with the longer track record is definitely IncFile here. They don’t hold your hand, but the interface is intuitive and dead simple to use. 

Do you use either of these services? We’d like to hear your thoughts – good or bad, we want to know what you think! Leave us a comment below.

Further Reading on Registered Agent Legal Services & LLC Formation:

• Inc Authority vs Incfile: Which is Best?
• Incfile vs Swyft Filings Comp
• Incfile vs Filenow Comp
• Incfile vs Legalzoom Comp
• ZenBusiness vs Incfile: Which One is Better?
• ZenBusiness vs Legalzoom
• Best Legalzoom Alternatives