Incorporate.com LLC Review
Looking for the best service to help start your business? We used Incorporate.com to form an LLC, and then analyzed the platform’s features.
In this review, we’ll go over the details of Incorporate’s LLC formation services and explain how it compares to others on the market. Read on to find out if Incorporate is the right choice for you.
Recommended: Check out our article for the Top 5 LLC Formation Services.
Recommended Step Before Using Incorporate.com to Form an LLC
It’s important to name your business before going through the LLC formation process with a service provider. TRUiC’s Free LLC Name Generator will help you to do the following:
- Discover the perfect business name for your company.
- Conduct a business name search to make sure your desired name is available in your state and not already taken.
- Help verify the availability and secure a domain name for your LLC.
Incorporate: Key Considerations
While exploring Incorporate.com, we first focused on the three main questions that would ease any LLC owner’s worries; is it a good deal, who uses this service, and is there a better deal out there? Answering these questions will boost your confidence so you can choose the service that gets your business formed and running.
Is It a Good Deal?
Incorporate.com is among the top name brand services that can help you file your LLC online. The company’s LLC formation packages offer robust features - along with equally robust pricing. Unlike most other services, Incorporate.com provides a $75,000 Corporate Veil Guarantee. This is to help in case a plaintiff sues to go after your assets. There are stipulations worth noting that we cover in our pricing comparison.
Here's a quick list of Incorporate’s main advantages:
- Exceptional customer service and support, available by phone and chat
- Every package includes additional resources to help keep your LLC in compliance with government filing requirements and deadlines
- $75,000 Corporate Veil Guarantee (requires you also elect their Registered Agent service, more on this below)
- Packages are highly customizable through other add-on services and features
Who Uses Incorporate?
Incorporate is used by entrepreneurs who:
- Want premium level service and support
- Would like additional protection of your assets in case of a lawsuit
- Are willing to pay a little more for a well-established registered agent service
Here are some verified reviews (from Incorporate.com) by people who used the service to help launch their businesses:
“Very easy to work with. There was always someone to talk to without going through all kinds of prompts. Timely with all services and very professional.”
“I chose incorporate.com because it was a fast and easy way to protect myself and my business. Making the decision to become an LLC was the turning point in the legitimacy and profitability of my company. Incorporate.com sends me reminder emails when payments are due so it is easy to remain in good standing with the state.”
Is There a Better Deal to Start My LLC?
Yes. There are better options out there such as our highest rated, ZenBusiness.
Incorporate is higher than average in cost for services, and some state fees involve an additional charge if they don’t offer online LLC formations. The company bundles other features you may not necessarily need in their basic package, which inflates the overall cost to get started. Additionally, each advertised package price doesn’t factor in the $235 Registered Agent service, which could be misleading.
Takeaway
Incorporate.com has a lot to offer if you’re willing to pay a little more for a premium service, and if your business could use an extra layer of protection for your members’ personal assets.
You should consider an alternative LLC formation service if you are working with a limited budget to form your LLC, wish to appoint a third-party registered agent service, and need help with taxes and/or more complicated legal matters.
Best LLC Formation Services
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
LegalZoom ($0 + State Fees)
ZenBusiness ($0 + State Fees)
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)
Bizee ($0 + State Fees)
Swyft Filings ($0 + State Fees)
Rocket Lawyer ($99 + State Fees)
Learn how to cost-effectively start your LLC on our How to Save Money Forming Your LLC page.
Incorporate: Rating Highlights
We further analyzed what you should keep in mind before choosing Incorporate as your LLC service provider. We’ve separated these points into four topics, including value, customer service, ease of use, and included features, outlined below.
Customer Service - 5/5
Customer service was knowledgeable and attentive.
The agent we spoke to was friendly and didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get to the next customer. The chat representative answered our questions without any additional hold time. We weren’t redirected to call-in nor were we upsold on more expensive services. No complaints.
Included Features - 3.5/5
Although the packages run at a premium cost, some features included are quite valuable.
The $75,000 Corporate Compliance Guarantee is a unique benefit among LLC formation services. There's also a lot of freedom to pick and choose package features individually. A significant drawback though is the cost of their Registered Agent service, which is available for $235 per year. The website is quick to notify you that your order may be delayed by up to 6 weeks if you opt out of using their Registered Agent service, which felt like a scare tactic designed to capitalize on less experienced business owners.
Ease of Use - 4/5
The Incorporate.com checkout process accomplishes in around seven pages what other services do in about four.
One of the checkout pages looked stuffed with upsell offers for extra services. In total, the buying process took between 8 - 10 minutes after factoring in the time to read each upsell offer description. You’ll be able to complete the task of filing your LLC, but Incorporate.com isn’t shy about letting you know what else you can buy along the way.
Value - 2.5/5
Incorporate.com is among the more expensive LLC formation services you will find.
The basic package includes features like the Compliance Watch and Corporate Veil Guarantee. These are useful services automatically bundled into their entry-level $99 Starter package. That means you’re likely going to spend closer to $300, and potentially more, but this depends on the state of LLC formation. If your primary goal is to form an LLC, there are other services like ZenBusiness that will do this for half the price.
Incorporate: Pricing
Incorporate offers three levels of service: The Starter, The Essentials, and The Works.
Incorporate.com’s services are expensive. Our biggest complaint, however, is that no matter which package you choose, Incorporate.com automatically enrolls you in their $235/year registered agent service. This service is more than twice the average cost of other popular registered agent services. You can contact customer support to opt out of the registered agent service, but Incorporate.com may delay your LLC formation and will no longer deliver all promised benefits, such as the $75,000 corporate veil guarantee.
On the other hand, Incorporate.com gives you the flexibility to add or remove services from each service bundle, which puts you in control of costs. For example, you can get the Starter package and order the operating agreement on its own for less than the cost of upgrading to The Essentials tier. For this reason, we’ve included each tier’s benefits along with the price of individual features in bold.
The Starter: $99 + State Fees
When we formed our test LLC for this review, this is the package we went with. If you want to qualify for the $75,000 Corporate Compliance Guarantee, expect to pay another $235 for the Registered Agent service. We opted out of this service and were immediately notified this would delay our LLC formation by up to 6 weeks. To get all the bells and whistles offered at this tier, expect to pay upwards of $334 - not including the State filing fees.
The Starter package includes:
- Legal Formation of your LLC
- Online availabilityof your LLC formation documents
- CSCNavigator Online Compliance Tool (requires incorporate.com being registered agent)
- Offers alerts when your essential compliance filings are due
- Unlimited, secure online document storage
- A to-do list that keeps your business on track
- A business profile that puts your vital company information in one place
- Easy online payments and order status tracking
- $75,000 Corporate Compliance Guarantee (requires incorporate.com being registered agent)
- If your company is sued and you are held personally liable, Incorporate.com will reimburse your legal defense fees up to $75,000
- This offer is not available in North Carolina
- Registered Agent ($235 extra)
- Incorporate.com's Registered Agent service starts when your company is formed by the state. Once they receive notice from the state that your company has been formed, they’ll charge your card or checking account $235. This fee will be charged each year until you cancel the service.
Who should purchase The Starter?
If your ideal budget to form your LLC is around $400, this package offers some valuable perks. The CSCNavigator service will help you stay on top of filing deadlines. If you’re looking to get your documents in hand fast, you’ll like the electronic delivery.
The Essentials: $249 + State Fees
Incorporates mid-level offering includes all of the Starter benefits, plus:
- Employer Identification Number (EIN) ($80 separately)
- Registers an EIN for you company, which is assigned by the IRS. An EIN is commonly required to open a business bank account
- Corporate Kit (+ $99, bought separately)
- Includes a company seal customized with your business name and date of formation
- Personalized leatherette binder
- Sample corporate documents
- Stock and membership certificates
- Annual Report Preparation and Filing Service (must sign up for registered agent service)
- Incorporate.com will research your state filing requirements and take care of your annual report for you
Who should purchase The Essentials?
If you’re looking for a little extra support getting your LLC up and running as fast as possible, the Essentials should fit the bill.
The Works: $349 + State Fees
The Works includes all features available in prior tiers, plus:
- Annual Report Preparation and Filing Service (must sign up for registered agent service)
- Incorporate.com will research your state filing requirements and take care of your annual report for you
- Business License Research Package (+ $99, bought separately)
- Includes an overview of the registrations or licenses you may need
- Provides contact information for relevant licensing departments
- Includes license and permit application forms and related documents, such as ordinances, schedule statutes, etc.
- LLC Operating Agreement (+ $99, bought separately)
- Legal document that establishes the rules of governing a business owner’s - or group of owners’ - financial and managerial rights/duties
- Includes instructions for completing and returning your license applications
Who should purchase The Works?
The Works package is for the entrepreneur that makes a habit of sparing no expense. If you’re used to concierge-style service, you’ll likely find the Business Coaching particularly appealing. Choose The Works to get the closest thing to putting your LLC filing duties on auto-pilot.
