BizFilings LLC Review

Are They A Reliable Service?

BizFilings LLC Review

In this BizFilings LLC review, I’ll walk you through the important pros and cons, pricing and features, customer feedback and much more.

Are you ready to start an LLC but not quite sure where to begin? That’s okay, many business owners don’t know much about the legal processes it takes to turn your great idea into a compliant business.

Especially with how many official state websites have poor user interfaces or needlessly confusing info, it’s a good thing there are online incorporation services to help you out.

My team and I have spent hundreds of hours researching the details of every major online LLC formation service, in an effort to make these reviews as objective as possible. My intent is to help you figure out which service is right for you.

Recommended: Read our review of the best LLC services.

Recommended Step Before Using BizFilings to Form an LLC

It’s important to name your LLC before going through the business formation process with a professional service. TRUiC’s Free LLC Name Generator will help you to do the following:

  • Find the perfect name for your new LLC.
  • Conduct a name search to make sure your desired LLC name is available.
  • Help secure a domain name for your company.

Pros & Cons of BizFilings

Pros of BizFilings

  • Any LLC formation package includes 6 months of registered agent at no extra charge. Most companies need a registered agent anyway, so this is a good feature.
  • Their website is protected by Norton Web Security, which constantly scans for malware and also encrypts all data. Your private info will stay private.
  • With over 20 years of experience and an A+ rating with the BBB, BizFilings is a legitimate and well-respected provider of online formation services.
  • Their BizComply online tool is a handy dashboard that allows you to keep track of any important filing dates and compliance deadlines. No surprises!
  • Their site includes lots of useful information on LLC formation, ongoing compliance issues, tax management and more. All of these resources are available for free, whether you’re a BizFilings customer or not.

Cons of BizFilings

  • Their prices aren’t the lowest to begin with, and I feel that they don’t quite have the extra features to justify their premium packages. To see what I mean, read the Compare Section of this review.
  • The way they describe their services causes a portion of their customers to think they’re ordering something they’re not. For example, their “expedited processing service” doesn’t actually expedite your order with the state, and also doesn’t cover any applicable government expediting fees.

BizFilings Alternative

ZenBusiness is one of the best services to choose if you're forming a business on a budget but are still looking for all the essential features. Read Review

ZenBusiness

BizFilings Pricing & Features

With BizFilings, you have your choice of three LLC formation packages: Basic, Standard, and Complete. Check out the essentials in the screenshot below.

BizFilings New Pricing Table

All 3 include the simple stuff, like name check and document filing. The interesting part here is all their packages come with full BizComply access. This service provides an online dashboard where you can manage your company’s compliance deadlines and filing dates. In addition, BizComply includes a full-featured document library, meaning they really do give you a complete compliance solution.

BizFilings BizComply Pricing

Now, let’s get into the differences between these three levels of service and focus on the most important features. Keep in mind these numbers are based on Alabama, which currently has a $150 state filing fee and a $28 name reservation fee (subject to change).

Basic = $99 + State Fee

What It Includes: This package includes the formation basics, along with 6 months registered agent service and BizComply online compliance dashboard tool. You also get access to a document library with operating agreements, LLC forms, bylaws and more.

Who It’s Right For: If you’re looking for an LLC incorporation package with a solid feature-set at a reasonable price, you should be happy with the Basic package.

Standard = $239 + State Fee

What It Includes: This package includes everything in the Basic package, adding an LLC kit and seal. The BizFilings website says the Standard level also includes, “Sample operating agreements and other customizable LLC forms,” but that doesn’t add value seeing as these forms are already available in BizComply, which is included in all 3 packages.

Also, Standard includes “expedited processing service,” which unfortunately doesn’t actually expedite your order with the state. This service, supposedly a $60 value, only promises that BizFilings will “prioritize your order above non-expedited orders.” In other words, any applicable state expediting fees will still be added onto your total (up to $100 extra), and you essentially paid $60 for BizFilings to say “We promise we’ll hurry.”

Who It’s Right For: If you’re willing to pay $140 for an LLC kit and seal, it’s fine. Otherwise, considering the rest of the added features hardly represent any added value, I don’t feel the Standard package is ideal for many entrepreneurs or startups.

Complete = $349 + State Fee

What It Includes: This package includes everything from the Standard level, along with EIN, a DVD entitled “Now That You’re Formed,” a certified copy of state-filed forms and overnight shipping.

Who It’s Right For: The added features in this package do add $110 worth of value compared to the Standard package, but it is still extremely difficult to justify the $349 total for what you’re getting here.

Recommended Package

My pick is the Basic package. I believe BizFilings should scale down their price points in general, but it becomes especially hard to justify the cost at the premium levels. An LLC Kit & Seal is not worth $140, and their ambitious pricing reduces their value for most users.

BizFilings Customer Reviews

Despite being in business for 20+ years, there are few BizFilings online reviews on any site, and most of those are quite old. We try to be as comprehensive as possible with our reviews sections, but we found just 3 reviews written in the last 5 years.

Customer Reviews Section Last Updated: 7-17-17
  • BBB: A+ (1 review)
  • Yelp: 2/5 (4 reviews)

Conclusion: It’s difficult to do much analysis when there are so few reviews, but at least there isn’t a ton of criticism about BizFilings out there.

How Does BizFilings Compare?

BizFilings is a popular option for LLC formation due to their BizComply tool, and the 6 months of registered agent included with all packages. Still, it’s always a good idea to check out what the competition has to offer, so let’s take a quick look at my personal favorite, ZenBusiness.

Pricing: ZenBusiness offers their base package for $49, a savings of $50 over BizFilings Basic.

Features: ZenBusiness includes a year of Registered Agent Service with every LLC formation package ($99/year after the first year), as opposed to the 6 months offered by BizFilings.

HERE'S A QUICK Breakdown

ZenBusiness

Pricing Starts at $49

Perfect for: Anyone starting a business on a budget and need quick formation.

BizFilings

Pricing Starts at $99

Perfect for: Anyone looking for tried and tested incorporation service with decent value

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Just Form a Business Myself?

Sure, all of the services provided by BizFilings are things you could theoretically do yourself. Just know that the DIY route involves a bunch of legalese and red tape, and can be quite a hassle while starting a business. Providers like BizFilings ease those concerns, while giving you the peace of mind that everything’s done correctly. If you’re interested in forming an LLC on your own, make sure to check out our extensive how-to guide.

What’s Their Refund Policy?

BizFilings warranties their services against any filing defects they cause, and this warranty lasts for the life of your business.

Do I have to sign anything?

Yes, all legal documents need to be signed, but BizFilings will make it quick and easy for you.

Are There Any Hidden Fees?

There aren’t what we would call hidden fees, but sometimes it seems like a feature will include more than it does before you read the fine print. We doubt it’s intentional, but it isn’t a positive attribute.

Should You Use BizFilings?

BizFilings gets a 3.4/5 in my book. Their BizComply tool is a super-convenient way to track all of your compliance requirements. That being said, if this doesn’t sound like you perfect fit, check out our Top 7 Business Incorporation Services. Cheers!

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