Incfile is one of the most popular business formation services out there. And for good reason. With a free package and a free year of Registered Agent services, who wouldn’t go for it?
But is it the best option? Not exactly.
There are lots of Incfile alternatives that’ll provide the same perks Incfile offers, such as free LLC formations, and more.
Some will even go as far as providing tools to create your logo, access to reliable lawyers, and plenty other services to not just set up your business, but make it thrive.
That’s why we’ve created this roundup of 5 Incfile alternatives that you should consider before making a final choice.
About Incfile
Image via Incfile
Before we move on to the best Incfile alternatives, here are the upsides and downsides of using Incfile’s services that will help you identify and choose the best replacement for it.
What We Love About Incfile
A few things stand out about Incfile.
Fair Pricing
Incfile has some of the most affordable packages you’ll find on offer and charges a one-time payment.
- Silver: $0 plus respective state fees
- Gold: $199 plus respective state fees
- Platinum: $299 plus respective state fees
With the Silver plan, you get the bare minimum, which includes preparation and filing the business formation documents with your state. You also get a free year of Registered Agent services and unlimited business name searches.
For essentials like EIN business tax number, you’ll need to either upgrade or pay for these services separately.
Still, this is a good deal. Not many business formation service providers can provide great service for free.
A Feature-Rich Package
In addition to a free business formation package, unlimited name searches, and a year of free Registered Agent Service, Incfile’s premium packages come with a wide variety of services.
These include:
- EIN
- Operating agreement or Corporate Bylaws
- Banking resolution
- IRS Form 2553
- Business banking account
- Free tax consultation
- Online order status tracking
- Fictitious name or DBA filing (Doing Business As)
- Online access dashboard
- Accounting and bookkeeping services
- Reminders of compliance requirements
- Business contracts and other legal templates
- Domain name
- Business email
Lots of Other Services
With Incfile, you can form a Limited Liability Company (LLC), C-Corporation, S-Corporation, or non-profit. And once your business is up and running, you can still use Incfile to get other ongoing support services you may need such as:
- Company name change
- Filing Articles of Amendment
- Certificate of Good Standing (COGS)
- Research on business licences and permits
- Company dissolution
- Trademark registration
What We Don’t Like About Incfile
Incfile is notorious for aggressive upsells through email, phone, and text. There’s a lot of marketing for their third-party offers as well.
Their customer support leaves a lot of room for improvement too. Although they’re available, they aren’t as knowledgeable as you would want them to be.
The language on the website is also not so clear, especially on areas like the refund policy.
These shortcomings inspire our list of Incfile alternatives.
5 Incfile Alternatives and Competitors
Here are the top Incfile alternatives in the market.
1. ZenBusiness
Image via ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is one of the best Incfile alternatives in the market.
It comes with an interactive chatbot that you can use to get the services you require.
What you’ll love about ZenBusiness is its Worry-free Compliance Package. It takes the burden of making annual reports off your back, among other things.
It’s available in the paid business formation packages, but you can also get it as a separate service for $199 per year.
Features
- Automatic expense tracking and deduction tagging
- Name search
- Free tax consultation
- Online access of your documents
- Expedited filing speed
- Operating agreement or Corporate bylaws
- Annual report filings
- Two yearly amendments
- Website, domain name, and email address
- A reliable Registered Agent service
- Employer ID number (EIN)
- Annual report filing
Other services offered
- A report of the required business licence and certifications
- Certificate of Good Standing
Where ZenBusiness Excels
This Incfile alternative has a more helpful customer care team than Incfile.
In addition, ZenBusiness has a 60-day refund policy. Incfile’s refund policy only applies if the money has not been forwarded to any government agency. And there’s a $30 cancellation charge.
Where ZenBusiness is Lacking
Incfile provides a one-time fee for its services, while ZenBusiness uses a subscription model for most of its services.
It can get confusing about which service ZenBusiness offers at a one-time fee and which one needs annual renewal.
Price
Here are the prices for ZenBusiness:
- Starter: $0 plus respective state filing fees
- Pro: $199 per year plus state filing fees
- Premium: $299 per year plus state filing fees
2. Inc Authority
Image via Inc Authority
If you’re looking for Incfile alternatives with a focus on LLC formations, Inc Authority is worth considering.
Based in Nevada, Inc Authority is passionate about helping entrepreneurs start their business and partnering with them to make them successful. It does this by offering a free LLC formation service.
You can also get help with the foundational paperwork and other legal requirements at a fee.
Features
- Business name check
- A free year of Registered Agent service
- Operating agreement or Corporate bylaws
- Deluxe record book
- Ownership certificates
- Stock certificates
- Tax ID number
- Tax consultation
- Private banking specialist
- Initial meeting minutes and resolutions
- Credit and funding analysis
- S-Election
- Digital storage and delivery of your formation documents
Other services offered
- Revocable Living Trust
- Business funding
- Business and financial plans
- Trademark
- Website designing and marketing
Where Inc Authority excels
Inc Authority has excellent customer service with 24/7 live US-based support. A dedicated team of experts is always available to help you with the business formation.
Here is a comprehensive review of Inc Authority vs. Incfile.
Where Inc Authority is lacking
Like Incfile, brace yourself for lots of upsells from the Inc Authority customer support team.
Inc Authority also lacks a refund policy of any kind. Once you pay for a service, that’s it.
If you’re contemplating between ZenBusiness and Inc Authority as alternatives to Incfile, here is a detailed Inc Authority vs. ZenBusiness comparison that can help.
Price
Inc Authority prepares and files your LLC formation documents for free. And you get a free year of Registered Agent service. Additional services, such as EIN filing come at a fee.
You can also pay for a premium service bundle. There are two options available—Starter and Fast Track. You need to contact the customer care team for prices.
3. Northwest Registered Agent
Image via Northwest Registered Agent
Primarily, Northwest Registered Agent is, as the name suggests, Registered Agents with offices in all states. But they also offer excellent business formation services making it one of the best Incfile alternatives in the market.
You’ll love the data privacy that Northwest Registered Agent provides.
This Incfile alternative never lists your business physical address in any of the public filings. They use their own, which also means you’ll have less junk mail.
If you want to carry out the LLC formation the DIY way, we recommend Northwest Registered Agent as an ideal Incfile alternative for you.
All the forms you need to form and maintain your startup are available for download.
Features
- Annual report alerts
- Online dashboard to access your documents
- Registered Agent services
- Free mail forwarding services
- EIN service
- Annual compliance filing
Other services offered
- FMCSA BOC-3 registration
- FCC 499-A registration
- Trademark
- Phone service
- Payment processing
- Certificate of Good Standing
Where Northwest Registered Agent excels
Northwest Registered Agent uses very simple language in their site. They’re very honest about what they offer and the fees are transparent.
Their customer support is top-quality too and composed of subject-matter experts.
Where Northwest Registered Agent is lacking
Northwest doesn’t offer any free package like Incfile does. There’s only a DIY option where you get the documents and tools you need to do it yourself.
You don’t get a free Registered Agent service either. It costs $125 on top of a $100 filing service fee.
Price
This Incfile alternative only offers one paid package at $225 plus the respective state fees.
4. Rocket Lawyer
Image via Rocket Lawyer
If you are looking for ongoing legal support, Rocket Lawyer is a great alternative to Incfile.
Besides business formation, Rocket Lawyer provides an array of services, such as access to reliable legal documents, attorney services, and tax services.
But like most Incfile alternatives, you have to pay for membership to access these premium services.
As a Rocket Lawyer member, you’ll have peace of mind knowing every legal aspect of your new business is covered.
Features
- Annual filings
- Registered Agent service
- IRS tax filings
- Legal consulting services
- Legal templates
- Business incorporation services
- Annual filings
Other services offered
- Copyright protection
- Real estate support, including tenant screening, lease agreements, eviction notice, Quitclaim Deed, and more
- Trademark registration
- Corporate records
Where Rocket Lawyer excels
The customer support is great. And having real lawyers handle your business incorporation and offer expert advice provides peace of mind.
Where Rocket Lawyer is lacking
Paying for membership makes you eligible for free LLC formation services and an exclusive discounted price on other essential services.
But if forming a company is all you need and legal assistance is not an ongoing requirement, Rocket Lawyer is too expensive.
Rocket Lawyer is also more focused on providing online legal services than business formation.
Pricing
The membership costs $39.99 per month or $239.99 if you pay yearly. There’s a 7-day trial.
Members get free LLC formation and an exclusive discounted price for services, such as:
- 50% off tax services and trademark application
- 25% off Registered Agent Service
- 40% off if you hire an attorney from Rocket Lawyer
Incorporating a business through Rocket Lawyer as a non-member costs $99.99 plus state filing fees. You have to pay for other services separately.
5. Tailor Brands
Image via Tailor Brands
If you are looking for Incfile alternatives that will help you with your LLC formation and at the same time grow your brand using superior AI-powered tools, try Tailor Brands.
Where Tailor Brands stands out is in its features that help you create a strong online presence and look professional.
You can create a user-friendly website, get a logo, create digital business cards, and get graphic design tools that help you build your credibility and win customers’ trust.
Features
- Business name search
- Registered Agent service
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Operating Agreement
- Annual report
Other services offered
- Logo maker
- Website builder
- Domain name
- Business mailbox
- In-house website design experts
- Digital business card
- Branded merchandise
Where Tailor Brands excels
This LLC formation service provider goes the extra mile and provides branding and business-building tools.
Where Tailor Brands is lacking
You need to be ready to take full advantage of the business-building tools provided in the premium plans to justify the high cost.
Price
- Lite: $49 as a one-time payment
- Essential: $239 billed annually
- Elite: $299 billed annually
FAQ
1. Is Incfile trustworthy?
Yes. Incfile is a trustworthy online business formation service.
But you need to do careful research first about the services you want. This is because their refund policy only applies if the money has not been forwarded to any government agency. Plus, there’s a $30 cancellation charge.
There are other Incfile alternatives with a solid refund policy like ZenBusiness.
2. Why do I need Incfile?
Incfile can help you incorporate your business as an LLC, Corporation, or Non-Profit. It also provides other services that help you keep your business compliant, such as:
- EIN number
- Operating agreement or Corporation bylaws
- Banking resolution
- IRS Form 2553
- Business bank account
- Tax consultation
- Reminders of compliance requirements
3. Does Incfile have an annual fee?
Incfile charges a one-time payment for its online business formation service packages.
4. Which are the best Incfile LLC service alternatives?
Some of the top Incfile alternatives include:
- ZenBusiness
- Inc Authority
- Northwest Registered Agent
- Rocket Lawyer
- Tailor Brands
5. Is Incfile worth it?
Incfile is one of the most affordable business incorporation services. It has a range of valuable features that will come in handy when setting up your business. But it has some drawbacks as well, such as:
- Less than average customer support
- Aggressive upsells from customer support
- The language on their website isn’t straightforward, which can get confusing for new users
Best Incfile Alternatives: Conclusion
Incfile is a great business formation service, but these 5 Incfile alternatives are worth checking out.
Compare the features and services each alternative offers and map them to your business needs. And it’s always good practice to check if the service has positive customer reviews before making your selection.
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