BizFilings Review

BizFilings is one of the most experienced business formation services today. But does it offer the high-quality services you need? Find out here.

If you're looking for a professional service to help form your business, BizFilings might come to mind. It's formed thousands of businesses in the past 28 years. Plus, its add-on services could help you run and grow your business.

However, several providers offer similar or even more comprehensive services at competitive prices. Take a deeper look at what sets BizFilings apart.

What Is BizFilings?

BizFilings is an online business formation service founded in 1996.^[1] Originally founded by two entrepreneurs, BizFilings is now part of Wolters Kluwer, a global company providing professional software solutions.^[1]

According to BizFilings, it has helped form over 500,000 businesses. These businesses include limited liability companies, incorporations, and nonprofits.

That said, there's much to learn about BizFilings before deciding if it's the best business formation service for you. For instance, how does it work? Find out below.

How BizFilings Works

Since BizFilings is now part of Wolters Kluwer, you need to go to its site to purchase BizFilings' packages and services.

Here are the steps if you want to form an LLC with BizFilings:

1. Find BizFilings under Wolters Kluwer's 'Compliance' services.
   
2. Select your state and the type of business you want to form.
   
3. Select a package (Basic, Standard, or Complete).
   
4. Select add-on services (optional).
   
5. Provide basic information about your business.
   
6. Choose a yearly plan for registered agent services.
   
7. Review your information.
   
8. Pay and create your BizFilings account.

All business formation packages include 3 months of free registered agent services. But before you check out, you'll be asked to choose a yearly plan.

The pricing is invoiced after the free 3 months:^[2]

• 1-year plan: $220 per year
  
• 2-year plan: $320 ($160 per year, save $120.00)
  
• 3-year plan: $420.00($140 per year, save $240.00)

Unlike some competitors, BizFilings' registration process is not filled with aggressive upsells. The add-ons are just listed on one page with tick boxes so you can select which ones you want. This is acceptable compared to how others do it (you have to click through one page per add-on service).

Once you reach check out, the total bill will include state fees.

Who Should Use BizFilings?

BizFilings has been forming businesses since 1996, so it's a good option for people who prefer well-established companies.

Additionally, BizFilings offers special packages for charities. Its expertise in forming tax-exempt nonprofit corporations might benefit you.

Why Choose BizFilings?

BizFilings offers free registered agent services for three months. However, that's not the most competitive benefit since others offer it free for one year.

That said, there are still some benefits worth mentioning:

• Various Compliance Services
  Aside from filing services, BizFilings also specializes in helping businesses stay compliant with government rules. You can get add-on services like business license research and annual reporting.

• Extended Customer Support Hours
  BizFilings' office hours are from 8 AM to 6 PM Central Time during weekdays.^[4] That's two hours longer compared to other business formation service providers.

• Free Compliance and Business Formation Tips
  BizFilings provides guides to forming businesses and complying with state rules for free. You can access these on its website without logging in or creating an account.

• BizFilings' Guarantee
  If BizFilings makes an error on your filing documents, it will be corrected at no cost.^[5] This is a lifetime guarantee, which is a better offer compared to competitors' limited-time guarantees.

Besides the benefits above, BizFilings has more downsides than strengths. These are discussed below.

Why Look Elsewhere?

BizFilings' benefits are nothing to write home about. However, its downsides are strong indicators that there's a lot of room for improvement:

• No Free Business Formation
  The most competitive business formation services offer a free basic formation package. BizFilings' cheapest formation package is not free, yet it offers the same features.

• Inconsistent Fees per State
  The total amount you'll pay for BizFilings' services depends on which state you want to do business in. The pricing can be confusing if your business operates in several states.

  For comparison, most business formation providers offer the same price for their services across all states.

• Mandatory Registered Agent Services
  All of BizFilings' business formation packages include registered agent services. It's only free for 3 months, and your card will be automatically charged after.

  Unlike other competitors, this doesn't allow you to appoint a registered agent who isn't affiliated with BizFilings.

• Processing Fee for Refunds
  BizFilings has a strict refund policy. There's a $70 fee if you request a refund before the preliminary name check. The fee increases to $95 if you request a refund after the preliminary name check.^[7]

  For reference, other competitors offer free refunds even after the preliminary name check, as long as your formation documents haven't been submitted to the state yet.

• Slow Turnaround Time
  BizFilings' standard processing time for business formation services is 4 to 6 weeks.^[8] Even if you pay for expedited services, it could still take 1-2 weeks.^[8] This doesn't include the time it takes the state to process your documents after BizFilings files it.

• Deceptive Wording
  BizFilings offers expedited services to help form your business faster. However, the wording used could be misleading for some. The expedited fee only covers the processing time by BizFilings, not by the state.

Additionally, BizFilings only has a handful of customer feedback online. This might be a put-off if you want to read more about customer experiences.

Plans and Pricing

BizFilings offers three types of business formation packages. Notably, none of these packages are free:^[9]

BizFilings' BizComply is included in all business formation packages. It's an online business compliance management calendar and tool that helps you comply with government requirements.

You won't need this service if you already know when your annual reports are due. The state's website always provides due dates for annual reports.

Meanwhile, the LLC Kit & Seal feature is part of the Standard and Complete packages. It includes a customized binder with your company's name on the spine and a handheld seal for stamping documents.

Only the Complete package includes a Compliance DVD. The DVD's contents guide you through the basic requirements imposed by the state after you form your business.

The expedited processing included in the Standard and Complete packages may seem deceptive. This service only speeds up the time it takes for BizFilings to submit your business formation documents to the state.

Lastly, you'll notice that add-on service costs are the same across all packages. Some competitors offer discounts on add-ons if you get a higher-tier package.

Other Services

Aside from filing services, the majority of BizFilings' noteworthy services focus on helping your business stay compliant with government rules.

Here are some of the additional services you might find useful:

• Sales Tax Registration: Starts at $219^[10]
  BizFilings will prepare and file all sales tax records your business needs. This includes state permits at the state, county, and municipality levels.

  You may be charged more for this service depending on the complexity of your sales tax requirements.

• Payroll Tax Registration: Starts at $219^[11]
  Like the sales tax registration service, BizFilings will handle all the preparation and registration processes. You just need to provide basic information about your business.

  You may be charged more for this service depending on the payroll tax requirements of your state and/or local place of business.

• Business License Research: Starts at $99^[12]
  BizFilings will research permits and licenses for your business needs. Then, you'll receive a detailed report and the necessary application forms. You just need to fill out and submit them.

  If your business belongs to a highly regulated industry, BizFilings could charge more for this service.

• Registered Agent Service: $220/yr.^[13]
  A registered agent receives important business documents on behalf of your LLC. BizFilings' registered agent will also email and digitally scan Service of Process documents to you for instant viewing.

  If you already have a registered agent and want to switch, BizFilings will shoulder the Change of Registered Agent filing fee payable to the state.

BizFilings offers more services, like helping you get a Certificate of Good Standing or filing a reinstatement form if your LLC is in bad standing. However, startups with modern needs like website domains and email addresses might find BizFilings' offerings lacking.

BizFilings Customer Reviews

While BizFilings has a high rating on Trustpilot, it's interesting to note that the average rating comes from only 50 reviews. Although there are few reviews, BizFilings claims it has helped form over 500,000 businesses.

That said, some positive reviews praise BizFilings' support for thoroughly guiding and helping customers with their inquiries:

Additionally, BizFilings received the highest possible rating from the BBB. An A+ rating suggests that BizFilings has transparent business practices and responds to customer complaints with satisfactory resolution.

But like positive reviews received on Trustpilot, an A+ rating from BBB does not guarantee BizFilings' reliability or performance.

How BizFilings Compares

BizFilings has plenty of room for improvement. It could offer cheaper services or offer more attractive business formation packages.

See BizFilings' strongest competitors below.

BizFilings vs. Bizee

Bizee, formerly Incfile, is an online business formation company known for its quick and affordable services.

Unlike BizFilings, Bizee's basic business formation package is free. Just to give you a comparison, here are Bizee's and BizFilings' lowest-tier packages side-by-side:

BizFilings' Operating Agreement fee is more attractive since paying it will also give you access to other business document templates.

However, Bizee's basic Silver package seems like a better option overall since you don't have to pay extra other than the state fees. It also includes a free year of registered agent services and business tax consultation.

BizFilings vs. ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is a Texas-based business formation service that helps business owners start an LLC or corporation at a low cost.

Unlike BizFilings, ZenBusiness' most basic business formation package is free. Here's a comparison of their lowest-tier packages:

	BizFilingsLegalZoomNorthwest Registered AgentTailor Brands
	Learn More	Visit Site
	BizFilings	ZenBusiness
Setup Fee	Starts at $99 + state fees (Basic)	Starts at $0 + state fees (Starter)
Registered Agent	Free for 3 months then renews at $220/year	$199/year
Order Processing Time	4 to 6 weeks	2 to 3 weeks
Expedited Processing	Only if the state offers it	Available with extra costs
Cancellation	Has a satisfaction guarantee, but charges processing fee; processing fee depends on how much has been processed	60-day money-back guarantee; State fees are refundable until paid to the state
	Learn More	Visit Site

Aside from a free year of compliance alerts, ZenBusiness will also handle your annual report and amendments within that free year. In comparison, BizFilings only offers compliance alerts. Its annual filing service is a separate add-on.

Choose ZenBusiness if you want a professional to help prepare and file your formation documents for free.

But if you need add-ons like an operating agreement and EIN, you can either get ZenBusiness' higher-tier package (which already includes those) or order them from BizFilings a la carte.

Starter - $0 + State Filing Fees

Click Here to Learn More

• Includes 1 optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/year
• Standard filing speed
• 100% accuracy guaranteed
• Other services are available with additional costs

BizFilings vs. Swyft Filings

Founded in 2015, Swyft Filings is one of the newest players in the highly competitive business formation service industry.

But compared to BizFilings, Swyft Filings has thousands of positive reviews online. This makes learning more about its service quality easier for potential customers.

And unlike BizFilings, Swyft Filings offers a basic business formation package for free. Here's a comparison with BizFilings' Basic package:

Swyft Filings doesn't have a free registered agent, but it's significantly cheaper than BizFilings' annual registered agent fee. Its add-on services, like EIN and operating agreement, are a bit cheaper.

Bottom Line

If you value the reputation of a well-established business, BizFilings might be worth considering. It has been operating since 1996 and has helped form over 500,000 businesses.

If you already have an LLC or corporation, you could still benefit from their compliance services. They offer several a la carte services to help you comply with government rules.

However, BizFilings only has a handful of reviews online. Compared to its competitors' pricing and offerings, BizFilings' cheapest package, at $99 plus state fees, doesn't seem like the best choice.

Before choosing a business formation service provider, be sure to check out more reviews like Bizee, ZenBusiness, and Swyft Filings.

References