Incfile provides business registration services for LLCs, corporations and nonprofit organizations. Its free basic incorporation package offers a year of service from a registered agent and personalized documents like an operating agreement and banking resolution.
The company also helps businesses obtain foreign qualifications, which allows them to conduct business outside their state of incorporation. Its services are rated highly by customers, with a 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot and ShopperApproved.
What is Incfile?
A full-service business filing and formation service, Incfile help entrepreneurs complete paperwork for LLCs, S-corporations, C-corporations and nonprofits. They also help clients register trademarks and provide ongoing compliance services through a service called “Worry-Free Compliance”.
Incfile is known for its low prices on a variety of key business documents. For instance, their Silver package includes an LLC formation and a year of registered agent service for free (just pay the state fee). Compared to competitors’ premium packages, it’s a solid deal.
However, the company’s cancellation and refund policies leave a bit to be desired. The refund request window is buried in the fine print and there’s a $30 cancellation fee on most services. Additionally, Incfile’s terms indicate they will automatically renew your annual services unless you opt out (with the exception of the first year of registered agent service). This could lead to a costly surprise down the road. They also don’t clearly list which partner companies they work with for things like helping you open a business bank account.
How does Incfile work?
While Incfile doesn’t have as many add-on services as some of its competitors, their primary packages still offer competitive pricing. Their Silver package can cost as little as $0 if state fees are included, while their Gold and Platinum packages offer a more complete set of LLC formation add-ons.
Some of these additional add-ons include banking resolution drafting (to allow you to open a business bank account), EIN or Tax ID obtainment, and lifetime company alerts. Additionally, they also provide a one-time business tax consultation via third party and a free year of registered agent service with their Gold and Platinum bundles.
Unlike other competitor services, Incfile includes these add-ons in their packages without adding a yearly renewal fee. However, you should note that some of these recurring costs are likely unnecessary for most small businesses. For example, EIN obtainment is a necessary process that you can do yourself for free through the IRS website.
What are the benefits of Incfile?
Incfile offers a variety of business startup services and packages. They are able to cover the basics for an LLC formation at a competitive price point. The company also boasts a robust library of resources that are free to their customers.
Their Learning Center includes a DIY email course, a business name quiz, state guides and guides on how to start an LLC. It also provides tools such as sales tax calculators, S-corp tax calculators and a payroll tax calculator.
Their Platinum package also comes with a domain name and business email service. The company also offers lifetime company alerts that provide courtesy email reminders of state filing requirements, including annual reports and renewals. These are helpful features to help small businesses avoid penalties and fines. It is worth mentioning that the company does charge a fee to cancel an order or change a service option. Additionally, their refund policy is not clearly defined. The company also advertises recurring charges for some of their annual services, although these can be cancelled if necessary.
Is Incfile right for me?
With prices starting at $0, Incfile is one of the most well-rounded business formation services. They can help you establish LLCs, S corporations, C corporations, and nonprofits. They can also file your foreign qualification (to do business in another state).
Other services that they offer include: bookkeeping services, a small business tax consultation, and drafting of banking resolutions. They can also help you get a domain name and business email, and they provide several entrepreneurial guides.
However, they do have a few drawbacks. The most significant is their customer service. On Trustpilot and Yelp, many users report severely delayed filings and hard-to-reach customer support. They also have very vague cancellation and refund policies, which are buried under legalese on their website. And some of the add-ons (like domain and email) are offered for much cheaper elsewhere. Also, they do not specify which partner companies they work with for things like accounting services. And their Platinum package does not include an operating agreement, which is required for some states.