Starting a business from scratch is no easy task and running it smoothly is even harder. That’s why many small business owners opt for business filing services offered by companies like IncFile (now Bizee) and LegalZoom.
If you are planning on starting your own business, then undoubtedly you’d be facing the IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom dilemma.
Which one should you opt for? Why should you pay for business formation to LegalZoom when IncFile (now Bizee) offers the service for free? Is IncFile (now Bizee) a legitimate business if it’s offering a free service?
Don’t worry! In this post, we will not only help you overcome your IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom dilemma but also provide you with all the information you need to make the right choice.
|
|
|
| IncFile, now Bizee, is a free business formation service that you can use to quickly register your business and get it up and running. Its packages come with free registered agent services for the first year. | LegalZoom is a premium business services provider that offers a suite of services, including business formation, ongoing legal guidance, and more. |
| IncFile (now Bizee) | LegalZoom | |
| Overall | ||
| Support | ||
| Features | ||
| User-Friendliness | ||
| Value for Money |
| IncFile (now Bizee) | LegalZoom |
| Free business formation | All-in-one business services |
| Free registered agent service for 1 year | 100% money-back guarantee |
| Unlimited free name searches | Easy-to-use interface |
| Phone and email support even with the free plan | Ongoing legal support |
| IncFile (now Bizee) | LegalZoom |
| Paid plans are a bit expensive | Slightly on the expensive side |
| Slow customer service response | Long order processing time (consider expedited processing for faster results) |
| IncFile (now Bizee) | LegalZoom | ||
| Plan | Cost (Per Month) | Plan | Cost (Per Month) |
| Basic | $0 | Basic | $0 + State fees |
| Standard | $199 | Pro | $249 + State fees |
| Premium | $299 | Premium | $299 + State fees |
| – | – | DBA | $99 + State fees |
| Registered agent service is free for 1 year with all plans | Registered agent service is available for $299/year | ||
If you want a hassle-free way to start your business for free, then IncFile (now Bizee) is a great option. They will register your business for free and only charge for additional services if you need those.
LegalZoom, on the other hand, is a premium service provider that offers all kinds of business services. If you need a company that will help you throughout the business formation and post-formation stages, including compliance services and annual report service, this is the right choice for you.
| IncFile (now Bizee) | LegalZoom |
| Solopreneurs | Midsized businesses and enterprises |
| Small businesses | Anyone who wants premium and hassle-free legal services |
| Mid-sized businesses |
| Incfile (now Bizee) | LegalZoom | ||
| Business Formation | Business Name Check | ☑ | ☑ |
| Registered Agent Services | ☑ | $299 per year | |
| Business Tax Consultation | ☑ | ❌ | |
| Other Paid Services | Annual Report | ☑ | ☑ |
| Contracts & Agreements | ☑ | ☑ | |
| EIN/Tax ID | ☑ | ☑ | |
| DBA | ☑ | ☑ | |
| S-Corporation Election | ☑ | ☑ | |
| Legal Documents Templates | ☑ | ☑ | |
| Domain Registration | ☑ | ☑ | |
| Expedited Filing | ☑ | ☑ | |
| Business Licenses | ☑ | ☑ | |
| Trademarks &Patents | ☑ | ☑ |
Image via Bizee
In this section of this IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom review, you’ll find an in-depth review of the various services offered by IncFile (now Bizee).
Let’s get started.
IncFile, now Bizee, is an LLC service trusted by over 800,000 businesses across the states. It is especially popular among small businesses and first-time entrepreneurs due to its free package for business formation.
In this IncFile (now Bizee) review, we’ll take a look at all the services it offers and whether these are worth your money. Let’s get started.
Incfile (now Bizee) offers unlimited free name searches for anyone who wants to check the availability of their chosen business name. This service is available even with the free plan, making it really convenient for you to complete this step before you go on to register your business.
How does it work?
Simply search for your chosen business name in their search bar and you will find if any other businesses are using the name that you plan to use. If your chosen business name is unique, you can go ahead and register it while registering your business.
Image via Bizee
IncFile (now Bizee) offers free company formation services that help you form an LLC (limited liability company), corporation, or S-corporation quickly and efficiently. All you need to do is pay the state filing fees, and they’ll do the rest of the busy work for you for free. This filing service is part of its basic package.
Image via Bizee
If you take the free plan, they’ll prepare and file your application and register your business with the state.
With paid plans, you’ll also get your employer identification number (EIN) along with business registration. Additionally, they will also file your articles of organization.
Pro Tip: If you just want quick and free business formation, then you can end your IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom dilemma right here and choose IncFile (now Bizee). If you need more services, then keep reading.
Every business needs a registered agent to receive all legal notices and documents on its behalf. And a registered agent needs to be available at a physical address during regular business hours on all working days.
As a business owner, you may already have too much on your plate and this extra hassle may not be something you would want to take on. That’s where companies like IncFile (now Bizee) can help you.
IncFile (now Bizee) offers a free year registered agent service with all plans. After one year, it is a paid service that costs $119 per year.
Image via Bizee
Sometimes business owners do not want to run their businesses using long and complex legal business names. After all, these names may include words like “LLC”, “incorporated”, or even the owner’s full name.
If you want a short, relevant, and unique name to run your business, you can file for a DBA. This is basically a fictitious name or assumed name that you can use for day-to-day business purposes. This is one of the additional services offered by IncFile (now Bizee) and LegalZoom.
Choose a name that your customers and prospects can easily remember and search for online. Also, make sure that it is relevant to your business and conveys what it does.
If you want multiple location-specific names, IncFile (now Bizee) can help you get that as well.
This is a paid service and the processing fee changes depending on your state.
Image via Bizee
Incfile (now Bizee) offers complete business accounting and bookkeeping services at a nominal cost.
They start by giving you a free tax consultation to help you understand where you can save money.
If you choose to leverage their services, they’ll prepare and file taxes for you, track and record business transactions, do bank reconciliation, and more. This is particularly helpful for small business owners who may not be familiar with all the tax implications of their business structure.
Image via Bizee
If you need to change your business name, address, member information, or any other important information, you need to inform the authorities.
This requires filing an article of amendment with the state and that would require some paperwork and legal hassles. Luckily for you, IncFile (now Bizee) provides this service.
This service by IncFile (now Bizee) costs $99 plus state filing fees. It’s part of their worry-free compliance offerings to ensure your business stays up-to-date with all legal requirements.
Image via Bizee
Sometimes during the course of business, you may need to prove that your business is compliant with state and federal laws and regulations and is in good standing with the government.
This can be done by obtaining a certificate of good standing from the government. IncFile (now Bizee) can help you quickly get one, as and when needed for a nominal fee of $49 plus the state fees. This is just one of many business documents it can help you obtain.
Image via Bizee
If you’re doing business in a state other than your home state, you will need to obtain a Certificate of Authority by filing for foreign qualifications. This allows you to legally operate your business outside of your state.
Please note that you will need a separate certificate for each foreign state in which you operate your business.
The charges for this service are nominal—$149 plus state fees.
Image via Bizee
If you want your LLC to be treated as an S-Corporation for tax benefits, then you need to fill out the S-Election Form 2553.
IncFile (now Bizee) can take care of the process for you for a fee of $50, in addition to the state fees. This is another example of how its LLC services extend beyond just formation.
Please note that this is only for treating an LLC as an S-corporation. If you want to form an S-Corporation right from the start, then that service is free, just like corporation and LLC formation services.
Image via Bizee
When you run a business, you want to protect your brand assets like name, logo, tagline, etc.
These are brand identity elements that help consumers recognize your brand and if someone else starts using them, they’re practically stealing your brand identity. Of course, you can’t let that happen.
That’s where a trademark comes into the picture. You can register a trademark to protect your brand assets. IncFile (now Bizee) offers this service for $199 plus filing fees. It’s an important step in protecting your brand, and IncFile (now Bizee) makes the filing process straightforward.
Image via Bizee
IncFile (now Bizee) also helps you prepare and file your annual reports for just $99 plus state filing fees. This annual report service helps you stay compliant with state regulations and stay in good standing.
Image via Bizee
Image via LegalZoom
LegalZoom is one of the most popular LLC formation companies trusted by over 2 million businesses. From business formation to filing for patents, it can help you with everything you need to start and run your business successfully.
LegalZoom can help you form an LLC, a Sole Proprietorship, Corporation, or a Non-Profit for a certain fee. Let’s check out the costs and plans for each.
Image via LegalZoom
There are 3 LLC formation packages catering to different business needs. The price starts at $0 plus state fees for the LLC service. Each package includes different levels of customer support and additional services.
Image via LegalZoom
The plans for forming a corporation start at $149 plus state fees. Here is an overview of the packages it offers, each designed to meet different needs and budgets.
Image via LegalZoom
Starting a nonprofit requires a lot of paperwork and legal forms, and a single mistake can get your application rejected. LegalZoom makes the business filing process easier and simpler for you, starting with a nominal fee of just $99 plus state fees. Check out its plans and what they offer.
Image via LegalZoom
Unlike IncFile (now Bizee), the registered agent service offered by LegalZoom is not free. It is a paid service that will cost you $249 per year. However, having a professional registered agent can be crucial for ensuring you never miss important legal documents or deadlines.
Image via LegalZoom
As mentioned earlier, business owners file DBA for various reasons. Irrespective of why you need an assumed name or how many DBAs you need to file, LegalZoom can help.
LegalZoom offers this service for $99 plus state filing fees as part of its basic package. The Premium plan costs $119 plus state fees and includes a 14-day trial of legal advisory services.
Image via LegalZoom
LegalZoom can help you register all kinds of trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Apart from Trademark search and registration, it also offers trademark monitoring to look for infringements.
IncFile (now Bizee), by comparison, offers only trademark registration, which is a win for LegalZoom in the IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom comparison.
Trademark registration costs $649 plus federal fees.
Image via LegalZoom
Trademark search pricing starts at $199 and monitoring services start at $175 per year.
Filing for copyright via LegalZoom costs $114 per year, while a provisional patent application costs $199 plus filing fees.
Image via LegalZoom
When combined with copyrights and patents, LegalZoom offers all the services you need to protect your brand and business assets. This comprehensive approach is particularly valuable for small businesses looking to establish and protect their intellectual property.
Filing annual reports is mandatory for certain types of businesses and optional for some. The exact requirements vary from state to state and may also depend on your business type and structure.
However, if you do have to file annual reports, you need to ensure that these are 100% accurate, in the correct format, and filed on time. Failure to meet these requirements will remove your business from good standing with the state and may harm your reputation.
Luckily for you, LegalZoom can help you prepare and file your business annual reports on time and in compliance with government regulations. It charges just $99 plus filing fees for this service, which is comparable to the annual report service offered by IncFile (now Bizee).
Image via LegalZoom
Simply registering your business is not enough for you to start operations as you also need to obtain business licenses and permits. These requirements vary for different types of businesses and also vary from state to state.
LegalZoom can help you find out the exact requirements and obtain the necessary permits for your business. This service will cost you $99 with the starting plan. It’s an essential part of their compliance services offering.
Image via LegalZoom
LegalZoom offers tax preparation and filing, and tax advisory services through LZ Tax™.
They do more than file tax returns for your business; they tell you how to save money. You get the chance to talk one-on-one to tax experts who will help you optimize your tax returns to get maximum benefits. This level of customer support can be invaluable for small business owners.
The exact price will depend on the kind of services you need, so call their team directly to learn more about the pricing plans.
Image via LegalZoom
Image via LegalZoom
During the course of your business, you will often need to prepare a variety of legal documents, including custom legal forms, contracts, and agreements.
Such documents follow specific formats and should be legally binding. LegalZoom helps you in this regard by providing you with templates for legal documents prepared by real lawyers.
You can use these templates to quickly create all types of legal documents and download or print them instantly. These business document templates can save you significant time and ensure your documents are legally sound.
Some examples of legal documents are:
LegalZoom has over 150 different customizable templates for various types of legal documents, so you will find whatever you need from their library.
Pro Tip: If you have a regular need for legal advice and documents, then end your LegalZoom vs IncFile (now Bizee) dilemma by choosing LegalZoom.
As explained earlier, you need a certificate of foreign qualification to conduct business in states other than your home state. LegalZoom can take care of the paperwork and help you get one quickly, for a fee of $229 plus state fees. This expedited service can be helpful if you need to start operations in a new state quickly.
Overall, LegalZoom offers a comprehensive suite of services that help you form and run your business. It is more than just a business formation service and can meet all your business needs in the initial stages as well as your ongoing business needs.
Image via LegalZoom
A detailed IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom comparison is not complete without a comparison of the various plans offered by each. So, let’s get right to it.
Image via LegalZoom
In this section of our LegalZoom vs IncFile (now Bizee) comparison, we’ll list the various plans offered by IncFile (now Bizee) and the services included in each plan.
When doing an IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom comparison, the biggest advantage of IncFile (now Bizee) is that it offers 1 year of registered agent service with its free plan.
Though it does not offer as many free services as Inc Authority, it’s still a plus. Read our detailed Inc Authority vs IncFile (now Bizee) post to find out other similarities and differences between the two.
Apart from the services offered in the Basic plan, here are the additional services you’ll get with this plan:
This plan offers everything that’s included in the Standard plan, plus:
The primary advantage of choosing this plan is expedited filing, which can help you get your LLC up and running quickly.
Next, in this IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom comparison, we’ll check out the various plans offered by LegalZoom.
When you compare the free plans of IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom, you’ll see that IncFile (now Bizee) offers more value with its free year of registered agent service.
It includes everything in the Basic package, plus:
This plan offers more comprehensive LLC services than the basic package.
Apart from the services offered with the Pro plan, you’ll also get:
During our IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom comparison, we found that the former is a better option if you want ongoing online legal guidance. Hiring professional attorneys for every small task can be costly and LegalZoom provides a simpler and more affordable alternative.
This brings us to the end of the detailed IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom plans comparison. Now, let’s see some customer reviews for both companies before you make your final decision.
This section of our IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom comparison guide deals with customer reviews of each company. Check these out.
| IncFile (now Bizee) | LegalZoom |
| “All-in-one package made starting my business super easy. I didn’t have to worry about making sure I filed the right paperwork or drafting documents needed to start a business. Highly recommend!.” -Melissa Campbell | “If you are just starting a new LLC and not sure how it works then I recommend LegalZoom, things are pretty much in order all you have to do is choose what suits you best.” – Rude Wayne |
| “I put my articles filing together in about half an hour the night before and the next day IncFile (now Bizee) had my complete package in the mail by 2 hours after opening. Coming from LegalZoom, I was expecting an express service to take at least a week.!” – Stratusphorm | “LegalZoom is my go-to source for many of my routine legal needs. They have assisted me in setting up numerous corporations and LLC’s over the years at a fraction of what I used to pay attorneys. Their professionalism is wonderful.” – William Stoermer |
1. Is IncFile (now Bizee) credible?
A. Yes, IncFile (now Bizee) is a legitimate and trustworthy LLC formation company that has helped over 800,000 businesses over the years.
And yes, it genuinely offers free business formation services where you just need to pay the state filing fees. Still, if you want a few other options, you can consider one of the many IncFile (now Bizee) alternatives that offer similar or even better services.
2. IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom: which is better?
A. There’s no real end to the IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom dilemma, as both of these companies are good. It’s just that one might be better suited to meet your needs than the other and only you can decide that.
Here’s our final Bizee (IncFile) vs LegalZoom verdict:
We suggest making a list of services you need and then adding up the prices offered by both to come up with the total cost. When comparing services and costs, also check the scope of services and what they offer within each plan.
Make a like-for-like comparison and then make a decision to end your IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom dilemma once and for all.
3. How does IncFile (now Bizee) offer free LLC formation?
A. IncFile (now Bizee) attracts customers via its free service but earns money from additional services that businesses inevitably need at some point. And if someone has a good experience with their business formation service, they’re likely to continue with IncFile (now Bizee) for other services as well.
There you go—that’s the trick. It’s not a trick at all, just a brilliant business strategy.
4. Is LegalZoom cheaper than hiring a lawyer?
A. Definitely! Hiring an attorney every single time you need to take care of a legal process is extremely expensive. LegalZoom offers you a complete suite of business services at a fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer and it makes things hassle-free.
However, when you compare IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom, you may find the latter to be slightly more expensive. There are, of course, factors other than price that will help you solve your IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom dilemma, so you should make comprehensive comparisons of their features as well.
5. Why do I need business formation services?
A. Forming a business requires tons of paperwork and legal hassles that many new entrepreneurs simply don’t have the time for. Companies like IncFile (now Bizee) and LegalZoom help simplify and expedite the company formation process to make things easier for you.
So, compare the services offered by IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom and pick the company that is best suited to meet your needs.
6. How trusted is LegalZoom?
A. LegalZoom is highly trusted in the industry, which is evident in over 2 million businesses it’s served since its inception in 2001. It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Moreover, it has received numerous positive reviews for its customer support and comprehensive legal services.
Its longevity and large customer base speak to its reliability in the business filing industry.
7. Has IncFile changed its name?
A. Yes, IncFile is now Bizee. The company rebranded in 2023, changing its name from IncFile to Bizee.
However, the change only goes so far as the name. It continues to offer the same quality LLC services, including its popular one-year access to registered agent service with its basic package.
8. Can I be my own registered agent?
A. Yes, you can be your own registered agent for your LLC. However, using a professional registered agent service like those offered by IncFile (now Bizee) and LegalZoom can be beneficial. It ensures you don’t miss important legal documents, maintains your privacy, and allows flexibility in your business hours and location.
Both companies offer this service, with Bizee providing a free year of registered agent service in its basic package.
There’s no real end to the IncFile (now Bizee) vs LegalZoom dilemma, as both of these companies are good. It’s just that one might be better suited to meet your needs than the other and only you can decide that.
Here’s our verdict:
If you need a basic business formation service, then IncFile (now Bizee) is the cheapest option. Its basic package comes with a one-year access to registered agent service, which is a significant advantage for new businesses. Its customer support, including phone and email support, is available even with the free plan.
If you have ongoing legal and tax advisory needs, then LegalZoom offers more comprehensive services. Its premium plan includes access to a business attorney and unlimited 30-minute consultations, which can be invaluable for businesses that frequently need legal advice.
Moreoever, it offers a wider range of additional legal services and business document templates.
Disclaimer: This content contains affiliate links, which means we’ll earn a commission when you click on them (at no additional cost to you).
As a business owner, you already know that keeping track of your finances is crucial…
An accountant for ecommerce handles the accounting responsibilities of an online business. This includes bookkeeping,…
Self-employment comes with many freedoms, but it also entails taking full responsibility for managing your…
There are many tax mistakes self-employed people make in their professional careers that cost them…
Do you often find yourself getting frustrated by delays in invoice payments? You're not alone. …
Invoicing might seem straightforward, but even minor mistakes can lead to costly consequences for small…