Inc Authority LLC Service Review
ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Active Filings LLC Service Review
Read the Active Filings LLC service review below or choose ZenBusiness today.
Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
About Active Filings
Active Filings was founded in Miami, Florida, in 2001 by an Argentinian immigrant. On its website, Active Filings says that it has served more than 100,000 customers with business services over the years.
Pros and Cons of Active Filings
Pros of Active Filings
✔ Like us at ZenBusiness, Active Filings offers an LLC formation service package that’s free of service charges — all you need to pay is your state’s fee.
✔ Active Filings includes one year of its ongoing compliance assistance with every LLC service package. This feature includes the filing of your annual report and notifications of upcoming filing deadlines.
✔ Each Active Filings LLC formation plan also includes one year of registered agent service, even the free (+ state fee) option.
Cons of Active Filings
✖ Unlike some competitors (like us at ZenBusiness) that have thousands of positive reviews online, we were unable to find more than just a small handful of customer feedback for Active Filings.
✖ Active Filings’ top-tier LLC formation package (The Finisher) costs $150 more than its mid-tier package (The Sprinter) but adds no valuable features. All you’ll get with The Finisher that you don’t get with The Sprinter is a three-ring binder and a decorative seal.
✖ You can only reach Active Filings’ customer support team from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on weekdays. These are among the shortest hours of operation in this industry.
Active Filings LLC Formation Packages
Active Filings offers three different LLC formation service packages, each with its own set of features. Take a look at the details below.
The Starter: $0 + state fee
➢ Preparation and Filing of the Articles of Organization: This document includes some basic information about you and your business. It officially forms your LLC with the state. Active Filings will draft and file this document with your state.
➢ Ongoing Compliance Assistance: If your state requires annual reports, Active Filings will track your filing deadlines and submit the reports on your behalf.
➢ Registered Agent Service: Every LLC needs a registered agent to receive service of process and other important document deliveries from process servers and the state government. Active Filings outsources this service to a company called Registered Agents Inc. After the included year of service, you can renew this feature for $99 per year.
The Sprinter: $100 + state fee
Everything from The Starter package, plus…
➢ Business Address: You can use Active Filings’ business address as your own address on your LLC formation documents. You can also use this address for your members’ addresses. Especially for home-based businesses, this could help you maintain your privacy.
➢ Tax ID Number (EIN): An employer identification number (EIN) is essentially a Social Security number for businesses. It allows you to hire employees, open business bank accounts, file taxes, and more. Active Filings will acquire your company’s EIN from the IRS.
➢ Faster Processing: Active Filings will prioritize the filing of your Articles of Organization over customers who choose The Starter package.
The Finisher: $250 + state fee
Everything from The Sprinter package, plus…
➢ LLC Kit and Seal: You’ll receive a three-ring binder and a decorative seal with your LLC’s name, state, and date of formation on it.
ZenBusiness LLC Packages
Compare Packages
Identify the LLC package and services that fit your needs and then get started.
Starter
Premium
Starter
$0
Top Features
We do everything needed to file your application with the state and make your business official. Standard LLC Filing
We’ll file your paperwork quickly and accurately. If there are any errors with your filing, our team will do what’s needed to make it right. 100% Accuracy Guarantee
Keeps you compliant with all state-required annual report and amendment filings to maintain LLC protections and avoid fines. Worry-Free Compliance
This essential document is like the constitution for your business. Operating Agreement
Our fastest service puts you to the front of our line of filings. Our Fastest Filing Speed
Our team will secure your EIN from the IRS so you can open a business bank account, hire employees, and pay taxes. EIN
Includes over 25 templates for contracts, service agreements, waivers, and more. Business Documents
Get online with a website builder tool optimized for traffic and customers. Business Website Builder
Build and protect your brand by registering a private domain name that matches your business name. Domain Name with Privacy
Stay organized and give your business more credibility with a business email. Business Email Address
File in 2 to 3 weeks **
1 year free, then $199/yr*
+$99
+$79
+$99
+$99
+$15/mo
+$35/yr
+$25/yr
*SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.
**These filing times are averages and include our processing times and Secretary of State turnaround times which vary by state.
In-Depth Active Filings Review
Active Filings Overall Pricing and Value
It’s hard to complain about the value in Active Filings’ baseline Starter package, as it includes one year each of registered agent service and ongoing compliance assistance. That said, we’re less impressed by their premium packages, as the price points don’t seem to align with the value of the added features.
Track Record
Active Filings has been around since 2001, and it has served more than 100,000 customers since then. It claims to be the “third-oldest incorporation service” in America and the only one of those three services that’s still independent. We were unable to find many reviews of Active Filings’ services, however, as we only dug up a few dozen reviews on any given site.
Customer Support
You can reach Active Filings’ support representatives by phone at 800-609-2521, or you can fill out the contact form on their website, and they’ll respond via email. Overall, we have no complaints about the quality of their support, as we’ve received prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable assistance from their reps. However, their hours of operation are very short (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays).
Ease of Placing an Order
The process of ordering LLC formation services from Active Filings is pretty simple. You’ll start by selecting your state and your business entity type (LLC, corporation, or nonprofit). Then, you choose which of Active Filings’ three LLC formation packages you’d like to purchase. From there, you only have one screen left to complete, where you’ll enter some basic information about yourself and your business and pay for the order.
Should you start an LLC with Active Filings?
When it comes down to making a choice, Active Filings may have more advantages than disadvantages. Here are some scenarios where you should or shouldn’t use Active Filings for LLC formation service.
✔ When to Form an LLC with Active Filings
If you’re looking for a free LLC formation service package that doesn’t skimp on included features, Active Filings could be a good fit.
✖ When NOT to Form an LLC with Active Filings
Do you prioritize using a company with lots of positive customer reviews? Maybe you want to purchase a premium package with advanced features, or you care about extended customer support hours? These are all good reasons to look elsewhere.
Start your LLC with ZenBusiness
Pricing starts at just $0 + state fee
Frequently Asked Questions About Active Filings
Active Filings has helped more than 100,000 customers since opening its doors back in 2001. While it doesn’t have a high volume of customer feedback, most of the reviews we did find for its services are positive.
It’s normal to be uncertain about which online LLC formation service is the right choice for your unique business. After all, there are a ton of options out there, and each of them has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
However, we’ve done countless hours of research on this topic, reviewing and comparing all of the best LLC formation services. Take a look at how Active Filings stacks up.
ZenBusiness vs. Active Filings: Like Active Filings, we also have a free LLC formation service (just pay your state’s fee). We think the most noteworthy difference between our services is the fact that we have more than 12,000 positive customer reviews available online, compared to a small handful for Active Filings. In addition, we’re a Public Benefit Corporation that donates money to underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Northwest Registered Agent vs. Active Filings: Northwest charges $225 to form an LLC, while Active Filings offers a similar service for free (you’ll pay your state’s fee either way). However, Northwest’s personalized customer service is a step up compared to Active Filings’ support, especially considering the latter’s short hours of operation. Northwest also has a higher volume of positive customer reviews, albeit not nearly as many as we have at ZenBusiness.
LegalZoom vs. Active Filings: LegalZoom is another company offering a $0 (+ state fee) LLC formation service package. LegalZoom is also one of the most experienced companies in this industry, with millions of business formations under its belt. This company also has several thousand positive customer reviews, earning it another important advantage over Active Filings. However, LegalZoom’s $0 package is relatively threadbare compared to Active Filings’ similarly priced plan.
You can get ahold of Active Filings by phone, or you can fill out the contact form on their website and wait for them to get back to you. Our experiences with their support reps have been pleasant and helpful, although we will say that their hours of operation are disappointingly short (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays).
With Active Filings, you’ll have access to a refund policy that’s quite similar to ours at ZenBusiness. They have a 100% satisfaction guarantee that lasts for 90 days — you can request a refund anytime in those 90 days, and they’ll grant it.
That’s always an option, and some entrepreneurs do just that. The problem with the DIY route is that it can take quite a bit of time due to state-specific compliance requirements. On the other end of the spectrum, some people hire lawyers to form their LLCs, but that’s usually far more expensive than online LLC services are.
In general, reserving a business name before entering the formation process is unnecessary. The only times when you would need to do this are if you’re located in a state like Alabama that requires a name reservation or if you’re not ready to form your business yet, but want to make sure that your name is available when you are.
Yes. There are very few restrictions on who can form an LLC in the United States. You don’t need to be physically present in this country to form one, you don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or resident, etc. If you want to own and operate your own LLC, there aren’t many restrictions to doing so.
Yes, they do, although you’ll need to contact them to get a pricing quote because this service operates on a variable pricing model. If you want another option, check out our New York publication service.
You can contact Active Filings by phone at 800-609-2521. If you’d rather communicate via email, fill out the contact form on their website and they’ll get back to you.
With Active Filings, turnaround times depend on two things. First, each state has its own timelines for processing LLC formation paperwork. Secondly, Active Filings processes LLC formations a bit quicker if you order one of their premium packages as opposed to the free version.
We think Active Filings’ biggest advantage is its offer of a free (+ state fee) LLC formation package that also includes valuable features. Its biggest disadvantage is either the lack of value in its premium packages or its short hours of customer support availability.
The answer to this question is less of a “yes” or “no” and more a matter of your personal preferences. If convenience is a major priority for you, $100 may be worth it to have Active Filings acquire your EIN on your behalf. However, you can also obtain your own EIN from the IRS for free.
Yes. Active Filings includes both registered agent service and ongoing compliance assistance with every LLC formation service package.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
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