BizFilings LLC Service Review

BizFilings has been around since 1996, and they’ve formed 500,000+ businesses in that time. The company is a subsidiary of the information services company Wolters Kluwer.

On its website, BizFilings shares its mission statement as follows: “Our single focus is to help entrepreneurs and business owners start, run, and grow their companies. We work with companies of all sizes and offer products, services, and tools that provide companies the support they need throughout the life of their business.”

BizFilings Pros and Cons

Pros of BizFilings

✔ If your state has additional steps involved with your LLC formation, like an initial report or publication requirement, BizFilings can handle these state-level compliance items, just like ZenBusiness can. Many competitors don’t offer these services.

✔ No matter which LLC formation package you choose, BizFilings includes three months of registered agent service.

✔ Their Business Owner’s Toolkit is a valuable resource including info regarding LLC formation, compliance tips, taxation guides, and much more.

Cons of BizFilings

✖ BizFilings charges at least $99 + state fee for an LLC formation. By contrast, you can form an LLC for free (just pay your state’s required fee) by using us at ZenBusiness.

BizFilings LLC Formation Packages

BizFilings offers three packages of LLC formation service: Basic, Standard, and Complete. Take a look at how they break down below.

Basic = $99 + State Fee

➢ Articles of Organization (Preparation and Filing): BizFilings will draft and file this document, which is submitted to your state of formation to officially create your new limited liability company.

➢ Name Availability Searches: They’ll search state business databases to ensure that the name you want for your business is available.

➢ Three Months of Registered Agent Service: Registered agents are required for every LLC in the U.S. This is a person or entity that you designate to receive important government documents and service of process on behalf of your company. BizFilings will serve as your registered agent for three months, after which they charge $220/year.

➢ Three Months BizComply Tool: This online compliance management tool helps you keep track of state-specific rules, regulations, and filing deadlines. This tool is included with registered agent service, so like that feature, this only lasts for three months until you have to pay for a registered agent subscription.

Standard = Price Varies ($159-244 [$229 in Most States]) + State Fee

Includes everything from the Basic package, plus…

➢ LLC Kit and Seal: A binder with your LLC’s name printed on the spine, along with a decorative seal, custom membership certificates, and a membership transfer ledger.

➢ LLC Template Forms: You’ll receive a CD that includes customizable templates of business documents like operating agreements, meeting minutes, resolutions, and more.

➢ Expedited BizFilings Processing: BizFilings will prioritize the processing of your order before any Basic package orders received at the same time.

Complete = Price Varies ($199-434 [$359 in Most States]) + State Fee

Includes everything from the Standard package, plus…

➢ Federal Tax ID Number (EIN): This number, also called an employer identification number (EIN), is like a Social Security number for your LLC. You’ll need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, and more. BizFilings will acquire your EIN from the IRS.

➢ “Now That You’re Formed” Compliance DVD: This is essentially a video instruction manual for your LLC formation.

➢ Certified Copy of Your Documents with Overnight Shipping: They’ll acquire a certified copy of your Articles of Organization from your state after they’re filed, then overnight it to you.

➢ State-Specific Features: Depending on which state you’re forming your business in, this package may include additional features. For example, in the state of Washington, the Complete package also includes an initial report, a certified copy of your filed formation papers, and a state tax ID form. But in some other states, there are no additional features.

In-Depth BizFilings Review

BizFilings Overall Pricing and Value

BizFilings offers a handy tool that helps entrepreneurs figure out which entity they should form. However, their packages are all more expensive overall than some competing formation services (for instance, ZenBusiness offers a free LLC package that only requires you to pay your state’s fee).

At $99, the BizFilings Basic package includes three months of registered agent service. The Standard and Complete packages vary in price from state to state, even before factoring in the state fee. For example, in some states, the Complete package is priced at $199, but in others, it costs up to $434, and then you add your state fee on top of that.

Track Record

BizFilings got its start in the online incorporation services industry in 1996. The formation company was established by two entrepreneurs who later sold the company to Wolters Kluwer, a global compliance firm that offers a multitude of business services.

To date, BizFilings has completed more than 500,000 business filings. However, we were only able to track down a total of 18 customer reviews on third-party review websites.

Customer Support

BizFilings offers phone and email support, and there’s also a “leave a message” feature on their website. We called the listed phone number, and we were quickly able to navigate through their phone tree to speak with a real person.

When we emailed, we received a response the same day after sending it early in the morning. Both their phone and email responses were professional, and they answered our questions thoroughly. You can reach BizFilings representatives from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET every weekday.

Ease of Placing an Order

The point of using an incorporation service is to save time and make the formation process simple. With some online services, it can still feel like you’re basically filing on your own, but with BizFilings, the process is straightforward.

As you navigate the order form itself, BizFilings leads you through seven pages that take you from selecting your formation package through the final payment step. There are opportunities for upsells along the way, but they’re mostly unobtrusive.

From the moment you start filling it out, they automatically assign an order number to your application, so you can reference it with customer service if you need assistance.

Overall Turnaround Time

BizFilings doesn’t have conveniently listed estimates for their turnaround times listed on their website. They do offer in-house expedited processing, which is a $60 upcharge for them to “prioritize your order above non-expedited orders.”

They have official state expediting fees tied in with that expediting option, but again, we couldn’t find any indication of how much this will speed up your turnaround time. If you’re curious about how long it will take to form an LLC or corporation in your state, we suggest contacting their customer service department.

Is BizFilings right for you?

BizFilings won’t be the perfect fit for every business, so let’s discuss a couple of scenarios that might help you decide whether or not to use their LLC formation service.

✔ When to Start an LLC with BizFilings

If your state of formation has extensive local compliance requirements, and you’d rather have some assistance with those than go the do-it-yourself route, BizFilings and ZenBusiness are two of the only major service providers that even offer to take care of these steps.

✖ When NOT to Start an LLC with BizFilings

If you want to save some money or if you feel more comfortable using a company that has lots of available feedback from their customers, BizFilings may not be the answer for you.

Final Verdict

The main way BizFilings stands out is if you want help with state-specific compliance requirements, in which case ZenBusiness and BizFilings are two of your only options.

BizFilings has a reasonable base rate of $99 (plus your state’s required fee). However, some competitors like ZenBusiness offer LLC formations for free + state fee.