Starting a business can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges.
New entrepreneurs, for instance, may face difficulties trying to secure capital and comply with legal and regulatory requirements. Business formation services like Incfile aim to streamline this process and to ensure legal compliance, save time, offer expert guidance, and provide peace of mind.
Registered agents, in particular, are a key component when forming a business. In most states, they’re even required. Several business formation services, including Incfile, provide registered agent services as part of their packages, making it easy for entrepreneurs to fulfill this requirement. However, few companies offer the service at affordable rates. In the case of Incfile, it comes free with their business formation packages.
But what’s the fine print with Incfile’s registered agent services? And what benefits do you get when you sign up with the company?
Contents
Quick Overview
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- All business formation plans include a free registered agent for the first year
- Knowledgeable and customized support
Cons
- Lack of premium features
- Customer support response time could still be improved
Company Overview
Incfile delivers a range of services to help entrepreneurs and business owners start, manage, and grow their companies. They are particularly known for their fast and affordable business formation services, easily accessible via their website.
Established in 2004, Incfile has its headquarters in Houston, Texas. Since its establishment, the company has expanded its service base and now provides registered agent services, business compliance services, tax services, and more. With this growth, Incfile has enjoyed considerable success, often ranking as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies.
One of the key reasons for Incfile’s popularity is its commitment to making the business formation process simple and affordable. They offer a variety of packages to fit different budgets and business needs, and they provide a user-friendly online platform that makes it easy for entrepreneurs to get started with their business formation. Potential clients can also build customized packages from Incfile’s à la carte services
Pricing and Features
Incfile includes one year of registered agent service for free with any of its business formation packages. In fact, you get several free and on-on features when you avail of these plans. There are three packages to choose from: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
At $0, the Silver package is ideal for those on a budget. You only have to pay the state filing fees. But while it is free, the Silver plan includes the preparation and file of the articles of organization, unlimited name searches, and free registered agent for a year.
Meanwhile, the Gold and Platinum plans build on the Silver package. Incfile’s Gold plan costs $199 but includes an EIN, operating agreement, banking resolution, and business tax consultation. You also get company alerts, unlimited phone and email support, plus access to Incfile’s online dashboard.
Businesses that want everything covered may opt for the Platinum package. The plan includes everything on the Gold package but with the benefit of expedited filing, a domain name, and even a business email. The Platinum package costs $299.
It’s worth noting that access to an online dashboard offers several benefits. With it, you can store, draft, and track all your forms. You can also view deadlines, review submissions, and get compliance alerts.
But how much will the registered agent service cost after the first year? According to Incfile, the service costs $119 per year. While it’s a hefty sum, the fee is considerably lower than the rest of the competition.
In addition to à la carte features, Incfile offers several upgrades for your plan during checkout. At a discounted rate, clients can add a business address or a virtual mail service for business correspondence. If you want to keep your personal address off the record, these upgrades ensure a certain level of privacy.
Ease of Use and Customer Support
Forming and filing a business with Incfile is pretty straightforward. First, you don’t have to fill in a volume of information. Incfile’s online order form is also easy to navigate, thanks to its user-friendly interface. There’s even an option below at the bottom of its registration page if you’re changing agents. Incfile can facilitate this transfer.
Incfile also conveniently fills in the fees based on your filing location, displaying the exact amount you’ll be paying to avoid unpleasant surprises during checkout. You may also request specific services like name changes, amendments, or license searches, and see how much your package will cost. Incfile says there are no hidden costs in its business formation registered agent service.
According to Incfile, your formation documents are sent to state authorities the next day. The company ensures this guarantee regardless of the package you choose. However, the actual turnaround is faster for Platinum packages than for Gold and Silver. Turnaround times will also vary — shorter or longer than what Incfile promises — depending on the state.
Customer support is above-average, too. Incfile’s agents are readily available to assist clients during the weekdays. While it doesn’t offer weekend phone support hours, you’re sure someone will pick up your call. Email support is good, thanks to Incfile’s personalized approach. Other companies deliver templated responses to customer queries. Incfile’s response time can take up to a day, but the replies are more personalized and thus, helpful.
Customer Reviews
With its affordable packages, personalized support, and straightforward registration, Incfile enjoys high ratings from its customers. A common thread among reviews is the recognition of how easy it is to form a business with the company.
Incfile maintains an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars across 47,000+ reviews on Shopper Approved. Customers also praise the personalized support they receive from Incfile, although response time from agents has room for improvement.
- Better Business Bureau — 4.77 of 5 stars (2,000+ reviews)
- Trustpilot — 4.7 of 5 stars; Excellent (10,800 reviews)
- ShopperApproved — 4.8 of 5 stars (47,400+ reviews)
Customer Testimonials
“The process was great even when I messed up the first time I was able to cancel and get a refund and start over I am grateful for that by the way great easy experience!” — Mikayla P. (April 2023) via Shopper Approved
“This entire walkthrough process was simple and straightforward. This was my first time filing to open an LLC, and this process didn’t make me feel overwhelmed at all.” — Jason C. (April 2023) via Shopper Approved
“The process was quick and easy. The website was very informative and easy to navigate. The only complaint that I have is the massive amount of companies that were all contacting me after submitting my paperwork.” — Shaun (March 2023) via Trustpilot
“Great phone etiquette, customer service handle my situation perfectly and I didn’t have to wait on hold a long time to speak with somebody.” — Jason G. (January 2023) via Better Business Bureau
“Incfile has been very simple and easy to use in starting my business. I called the other day because I had a question about how to change my LLC name. No one answered and I didn’t leave a voicemail. I was surprised when I got a callback the same day from Alexander C .who was very kind and answered all my questions!” — Kelly C. (December 2022) via Better Business Bureau
Verdict
Incfile is a trustworthy and reliable option for business formation and registered agent services. The company offers competitive pricing for its business formation packages, which are customizable to suit any need or budget. However, Incfile doesn’t have an independent network of attorneys. Premium features like identity theft protection and credit monitoring are noticeably missing in their services, too.
Nonetheless, Incfiled registered agent services are at least free for the first year across all business formation plans. Customers frequently comment on the fast turnaround times for processing their formation documents. The company’s customer support team is also knowledgeable, a major selling point for first-time entrepreneurs.