Incfile Review: 7 Pros & Cons You Should Know (2023) (2024)

In this review, we will cut to the chase and go over what you really need to know about Incfile:

• True pricing of Incfile’s LLC formation services
• Expected formation turnaround time
• Incfile’s reliability, customer reviews, support offerings, and much more

Plus, we’ll provide clear explanations of the many other relevant, formation-related services that Incfile offers.

Below is a quick summary of our findings. Further down, you’ll find our more comprehensive review, which details our conclusions and also explains everything you need to know about Incfile.

Is Incfile the Right Choice for You?

Incfile’s biggest draw is its competitive pricing. Not only are its most basicLLC formationandincorporationpackages free, but it also includes a free full year of the company’s registered agent service. The company’s easy-to-use website should make filing for your LLC or corporation less intimidating, even if it’s your first time.

Incfile does have some customer service issues, though. Its service options are more limited than other, larger companies. Incfile also has average to poor ratings on several review sites, with many reviewers complaining about it being difficult to get through to a real person.

VisitIncfile.com to form your business with them. To learn more about the metrics we used to review Incfile’s service, read on!

Incfile Quick Overview

Incfile is a business formation andregistered agent companybased out of Houston, Texas. They offer a large suite of formation, compliance, and filing services.

Founded in 2004, the Incfile has focused heavily on efficiency in their processes. Incfile’s website states that, since its inception, the company has “used technology to streamline the business formation process.”

Incfile offers many services related tostarting an LLCand running a business. Among its core services are:

• An easy-to-use formation service, offered for LLCs in all 50 states
• A registered agent service, offered for businesses in all 50 states
• Compliance services, including the filing of annual reports
• Bookkeeping and accounting services

Incfile Pricing

Incfile’s services are offered through a three-tiered package system.

Incfile’s Silver Plan: $0 + State fees

• Your business’ articles of organization prepared and filed with your state’s secretary of state office
• A free year of Incfile’s registered agent service

Note that this package does not include an operating agreement, which we deem essential to any functioning business.

Incfile’s Gold Plan: $149 + State fees

Incfile’s Gold Plan is a big step up from its Silver plan and includes many extra services. Some of these will probably be very helpful to new business owners, while others don’t add much value.

With Incfile’s Gold plan, you get everything from Silver, plus:

• Operating Agreement drafting:Operating agreements are documents that outline the basic structure of an LLC, including what the business does, who its member(s) are, and how profits are distributed. Many states require you to have an Operating Agreement. We deem this an essential document.
• Business Tax Number (EIN) filing:An EIN is like a business’ social security number, and most businesses are required to have one.
• Banking Resolution drafting:Banking resolutions are used to authorize the opening of a company bank account – you’ll need one if you want to start an account for your business.
• Lifetime Company Alerts:Incfile will alert you on upcoming filing dates and will update you on the status of documents sent to state and federal authorities.
• Online Access Dashboard:Incfile’s online dashboard is a convenient place to view alerts, check on Incfile order statuses, and review any documents you’ve already drawn up.
• Unlimited Phone & Email Support:“Unlimited” phone and email support are included with the gold package, although it’s unclear how this support is any different from the customer support Incfile already offers.
• IRS Form 2553 filing, otherwise known as an S-corp election:This service won’t apply to everyone, but it may be helpful for those who are trying to form an S-corp instead of an LLC. S-corps may confer tax advantages to some, but not all, small businesses.
• Business Banking Account:Incfile offers to set up a business bank account through one of their banking partners.
• Business Tax Consultation:Incfile offers a one-time business tax consultation through a third party. They can help answer some of the basic tax questions you might have when starting your business.

Incfile’s Platinum Plan: $299 + State fees

Incfile’s Platinum plan includes everything that’s offered in their gold plan, plus a few extras.

We don’t recommend choosing this plan, as the added value does not justify double the price tag.

The contract templates, domain name, and business email services can all be bought much cheaper elsewhere.

• Business Contract Templates:Incfile will include about thirty templates for commonly used contracts, helping you draw up documents quicker.
• Expedited Filing:Expedited filing with a state’s Secretary of State office will help you jump the line, getting your business formed faster.
• Domain Name + Business Email:Incfile will provide you with a domain name and a business email as a part of their platinum package. This does not include the actual setup of a business website, though.

Unlike some of its competitors, Incfile’s primary packages are fixed cost – pay once, and you’re done. Some of the services provided are one-time (e.g., filing for an EIN, or setting up a business banking account), while others are continual (e.g. lifetime company alerts).

One potential recurring cost is Incfile’s registered agent service. A free year of this service is included in all of its packages (what a registered agent service is, and why you may want it, is discussed in greater detail later).

After the first year, the registered agent service costs $119/yr. This price is in line with Incfile’s competitors, though we wish – given that it’s one of the most commonly used recurring services for those starting LLCs – that the price was more clearly listed here.

Incfile vs Competitors' Pricing

Below, you’ll find our table that compares formation prices of Incfile's main competitors.

Incfile vs. Competitors

Are you looking for a more in-depth comparison between Incfile and some of Incfile's competitors?

Check out these summaries, or read our full service comparisons in their respective articles.

Incfile vs. ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness performs significantly better than Incfile across virtually all categories. ZenBusiness offers better turnaround times, more affordable pricing, and better customer service. ZenBusiness’ level of customer satisfaction is much higher than Incfile’s. Overall, we see little reason not to pick ZenBusiness over Incfile.

Check out ourZenBusiness vs. Incfilearticle for a full comparison.

Incfile vs. LegalZoom

Both Incfile and LegalZoom have significant shortcomings in different categories – which is why we recommend neither of the two services.

Incfile’s main weakness is its poor customer satisfaction. The service is marred by frequent complaints of bad customer service and filing delays. LegalZoom’s exceptionally high costs are the main reason why Incfile still ranks slightly higher in our list of recommendations.

Check out ourIncfile vs. LegalZoomarticle for a full comparison.

Incfile vs. Northwest Registered Agent

Although Incfile offers slightly more affordable pricing, Northwest Registered Agent performs significantly better in most other categories. Northwest Registered Agent provides its customers with much better turnaround times and more responsive customer service.

Northwest Registered Agent also has a much higher level of customer satisfaction, based on available online reviews. We firmly recommend Northwest Registered Agent over Incfile.

Check out ourNorthwest Registered Agent vs. Incfilearticle for a full comparison.

Incfile vs. Swyft Filings

Incfile performs well in the pricing category – their free formation package is unmatched by Swyft Filings. But in most other regards, Swyft Filings comes out ahead.

Swyft Filings offer significantly better turnaround times and do a better job of providing customer support than Incfile. Finally, Swyft Filings scoresmuchbetter on customer review platforms – Incfile has only a few hundred reviews and mostly poor ratings.

Check out ourIncfile vs. Swyft Filingsarticle for a full comparison.

Incfile vs. Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer was the winner of this side-to-side comparison.

While Incfile can offer better pricing in some instances, Rocket Lawyer provides faster real-life turnaround times and a more helpful customer service staff. Rocket Lawyer also receives significantly more praise on major user review websites compared to Incfile.

Check out ourRocket Lawyer vs. Incfile article for a full comparison.

Incfile vs. BizFilings

Neither Incfile nor BizFilings received the highest scores in our reviews. In both cases, the main reason was poor or missing reviews from customers on online review portals.

Incfile does have a more user-friendly website and has better pricing compared to BizFilings. However, Incfile's low review scores prevent us from giving them our recommendation.

Check out ourIncfile vs. BizFilingsarticle for our full comparison.

Which bundle is the best value for money?

If you’re looking for a true bare-bones formation service, we recommend the Silver package, which is $0 + state fees. The fact that a full year’s worth of Incfile’s registered agent service is included makes this package even more attractive. The only other service offering such a great deal isInc Authority.

The silver package is truly as sparse as it gets, though. It does not even include an operating agreement template, which most services do provide with their basic packages.

We recommend the gold package to those who are looking to anyone starting an actual business.

While it does include some services that add little value (e.g. EIN registering – you can do that online, for free, in minutes), the banking resolution, business banking account, operating agreement, and lifetime alerts are all solid additions.

We do not recommend the Platinum package.

It does not seem to justify its extra price tag. The domain and email services offered can be purchased much more cheaply, with specialists, elsewhere.

It’s also key to note that Incfile just registers a domain, they don’t set up a full website for you.

The business contract templates may be a nice plus if you expect to use such contracts extensively, but, again, other services offer templates at lower prices.

Canceling Incfile services

Incfile’s cancellation policies are, unfortunately, not clearly stated alongside their services. Rather, they are buried under a lot of legalese on a separate page.

As for one-time or add-on services involving filing/submission of forms to state or federal agencies, Incfile’s policy states, “An order is generally refundable until payment is forwarded to any government entity, such as a state or the U.S. federal government (typically within twenty-four hours after an order is placed), less a $30.00 cancellation fee.”

So, if you get in your cancellation quickly enough, you’ll take a $30 hit. Not ideal, especially if you were expecting to pay $0 (plus fees) for your LLC or incorporation service.

The policy also states that most yearly services are renewed automatically, so you have to be proactive if you want to cancel.

There is no prorated refund if you cancel early – once you’ve paid for the full year, you don’t get your money back, even if you don’t use the full year’s worth of the service.

In general, we like to see companies have their cancellation and refund policies be more accessible, both in terms of how easy they are to find and how easy they are to understand.

Incfile Pros

Below, we’ll discuss what we consider to be Incfile’s major pros and cons. While this list isn’t comprehensive, it should help you figure out whether Incfile is what you’re searching for.

1. Unbeatable LLC formation pricing

A zero-dollar filing is pretty tough to beat. While bare-bones, operating agreements templates can be downloaded for free online.

If you plan on using other services for your operating agreement this ultra-light package may be a great fit.

Incfile’s Gold plan, which we recommend to most first-time founders is currently offering the best pricing on the market, on par withZenBusiness.

Plus, Incfile states that your documents are usually sent to state authorities within a single business day. That’s a great turnaround time given the price.

Incfile also offers solid across-the-board prices on many of its other basic services. Its registered agent service is $119/yr, after the first free year. That is a price point in line with competitors.

The pricing of Incfile’s DBA/Fictitious Business Name, Certificate of Authority, and business license research services are also all at or below average competitors’ prices.

For other services, such as trademark registration, however, you may be better going with specialist companies, which do offer lower prices

2. Quick Turnaround Time

Whether you order the cheapest bundle or the most expensive one, Incfile states that your LLC formation documents will almost always be sent to state authoritieswithin one business day. We like that you don’t have to pay extra to be prioritized within Incfile’s internal system.

After Articles of Organization are sent in, things are out of Incfile’s hands. However, Incfile’s website does have a handy tool that shows youhow long states take to process your LLC’s application. 2-3 weeks is the average for most states.

The tool also shows the price of expedited filing times for each state, and how quickly you can expect an expedited application to be approved. For most states, that time is 2-5 business days.

3. Helpful online dashboard

There can be quite a few moving parts involved in the forming of an LLC. Many forms need to be filed, each with different agencies, and each on different timelines.

All this start-up work can be a lot to keep track of, especially if you’re trying to focus on actually setting up your new business!

Incfile customers will have access to an online dashboard that concisely provides info on order statuses, key deadlines, and stores previously drafted and submitted documents.

In addition to receiving text and email notifications, you’ll be sent “order updates and compliance alerts from your custom business management dashboard.”

Any organizational tool that can help you with formation and/or ongoing compliance is a big plus, and Incfile’s online dashboard offers some solid features.

4. Easy to use

Incfile boasts a solid interface that most users should find very easy to use. Filing for an LLC (or another type of business) takes only a few steps and involves the entry of only very basic information.

Incfile’s pages will auto-populate prices based on the state in which you’re filing, so you won’t receive a surprise price bump at checkout.

Ordering additional, one-off services, such as a name change/amendment or a license search, is similarly straightforward. Plus, for these services, Incfile also provides handy, easy-to-read write-ups.

Incfile’s website (Incfile.com), as a whole, is also easy to navigate. The services they offer are made clear, and you don’t have to go through page after page to get to the information or order form you’re looking for.

Incfile Cons

Here are the areas where Incfile needs to improve in our opinion.

1. Mixed customer reviews

On their Reviews & Customer Service Page, Incfile goes out of their way to highlight the 4 out of 5-star rating they have on their Facebook page.

But Incfile has average to poor averages on other sites.

The company’s average Trustpilot rating is a 3/5, their average Yelp rating is a pretty abysmal 2/5. The Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) website doesn’t even offer ratings – instead, it states that the company had its accreditation revoked in September of 2020

OnTrustpilot, a full 41% of reviewers offered one-star reviews for Incfile. That ratio was similar on Yelp. Many negative customer reviews focus on severely-delayed filings, errors with filings, or services (such as Incfile’s offered “Business Tax Consultation”) being misrepresented.

The most common complaint, though, has to do with customer service in general. Many reviewers state they had a very difficult time reaching an actual person to get help with their problems.

Given the company’s very small size, combined with its massive service area and market, this may not be particularly surprising.

2. Refund and cancellation policies not easily accessible

As mentioned earlier, Incfile’s refund and cancellation policies are not as easily accessible as we would like to see.

To figure out what your refund request window is, you have to do some digging. Once you do, you’ll find out there’s a $30 cancellation fee for most services.

Language on the terms of renewal for annual services is also not immediately accessible. Most such services appear to be renewed automatically (one exception is the registered agent service after your first free year, which you can actively opt into or out of).

While cancellation and refund policies won’t apply to most customers, we’d still prefer to see some clearer language here.

3. Average customer support

As mentioned in the “mixed customer reviews” con, many customers seem to take issue with Incfile’s customer support (or lack thereof).

The company states that it offers 9 – 6 CST phone support from Monday through Friday. Ideally, we’d like to see some weekend phone support hours too.

Incfile does point out that it has recently worked to bolster its customer support options. They mention the fact that they’ve doubled their customer support staff and that they’ve added an interactive help service as well as a live chat option.

If true, these moves may indeed improve Incfile’s customer support moving forward (although a “doubling” of customer support staff is still somewhat vague – going from one support rep to two is technically a doubling!)

Incfile Services

LLC formation and related services (e.g. registered agent service) are Incfile’s primary offerings, but they also offer a whole host of other filing and compliance services. Below, we’ll explore some of Incfile’s more popular services in greater depth.

We’ll explain the applicability of each service and when and if you may need it. Incfile’s price point for each service (sans state fees) will be put in parentheses.

Business Formation Service

$0 – $299

It can be difficult to navigate the rules and regulations involved with something as simple as forming an LLC. Trying to sort your way through the process on your own can cost you valuable time.

If you’d prefer to leave that task to the experts, you can file through an LLC formation company like Incfile. They have the expertise and experience needed to ensure your filing goes through smoothly.

EIN number

Included in Gold and Platinum packages

Registered Agent Service

Free for year one, $119/yr after

All LLCs and corporations are required to designate a registered agent when they form. A registered agent acts as a company’s point-of-contact for service of process – that includes official legal notices, such as court summons, that you’ll want to respond to quickly.

If you don’t appoint a registered agent, you may lose your certificate of good standing or face other consequences.

A registered agent must be a resident of the state your LLC is based in. They will have to be available during business hours in order to receive important legal documents if need be. Registered agents’ names and addresses are also publicly available.

You can act as your own registered agent or you can use a professional service. You may have good reason to hire a registered agent service if:

• You travel frequently and are not always at a single address
• You are not a resident of the United States
• Your business operates in multiple states
• You don’t want your name and address to be publicly available

Operating Agreement

Included with Gold and Platinum packages

An operating agreement is a basic but vital document. In it, the member(s) of an LLC set out the rules regarding how the LLC will operate and what rights the members have. It may specify:

• How the LLC will be managed
• How ownership is divided among members
• How profits are paid out
• What happens if a member would like to exit the LLC, or if a member passes away
• …and many other important questions

You don’t have to file your operating agreement with the state, it should just be kept on hand.

Annual Reports

$99

S-Corp Tax Election

$50

Business License Search

$99

Depending on your business’ size, structure, and industry, you may be subject to anywhere from a few to many regulations. Licenses and permits may be required at the local, state, and federal levels.

Keeping up with regulations can be burdensome, but it’s necessary. You don’t want to put your business’ future in jeopardy by running afoul of the law.

Incfile offers a “Business License Search” for a fixed fee. After entering information on your business, this service will research and compile a package of relevant permits, licenses, tax registrations, and application forms.

Incfile claims that their research package will be sent to you within five days of your company being filed with the state.

It’s important to note that while Incfile’s business license search will provide you with necessary documents, as well as information on how to fill them out, you still need to fill them out yourself. Nevertheless, this service may be a solid deal for those not wanting to sink time into research themselves.

Foreign Qualifications

$149

A “Foreign Qualification” is not as international as it sounds. In fact, a Foreign Qualification is necessary when you’re doing business in a state(s) that you’re not formed in.

Through filing for a Foreign Qualification, you can receive a “Certificate of Authority”, which, essentially, gives you permission to operate in a “foreign” state (i.e., a state other than the one your business was formed in).

Expanding businesses may have to file several Foreign Qualifications, as you need a Certificate of Authority for each new state you operate in. For a one-time fee, Incfile will file your Foreign Qualification for a single state. Incfile’s price is relatively in line with those of its competitors.

Amendments and Name Changes

$99

Sometimes, amendments may need to be made to your business’ Articles of Incorporation. Maybe your business is changing its name, or its address, or adding new members.

For significant changes such as these, you’ll need to file an amendment to your Articles of Incorporation with your state’s Secretary of State office.

Incfile can file such an amendment for you. After entering in the info that needs to be changed, they’ll send off the relevant documentation to your state authority. Amendments are typically much slower to process than Articles of Incorporation, so even if Incfile sends your forms over quickly, you may have to wait several weeks, or more, before you get confirmation of your alterations.

Certificates of Good Standing

$49

Issued at the state level, a Certificate of Good Standing is a document stating that your business is up to date with all of its filings, fees, and other similar requirements.

While this document is not strictly necessary to keep operating your businesses, it is necessary if you want to expand to other states or if you wish to dissolve your business. Sometimes, clients will also ask to see a Certificate of Good Standing, so they know you’re on the up-and-up.

For a small flat fee, Incfile will file for a Certificate of Good Standing with the state of your choosing (it must be a state in which your LLC does business). Incfile’s price point for this service is solid, being comparable, or somewhat less than, its competitors.

DBA / Fictitious Business Name

$99

A Fictitious Business Name – also variously called a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name, a Trade Name, or an Assumed Business Name – allows you to conduct your business under a name that’s not the same as the one on your articles of organization.

There are several reasons people take on Fictitious Business Names for their LLCs, including protecting their privacy, enhancing their name recognition, or accounting for a shift or expansion in their business.

Say, for instance, that you started a custom cabinet-building business under the name Superb Cabinets LLC. As your business expands, you start taking on other carpentry jobs. To reflect your expanded offerings, you may want to file for a Fictitious Business Name, such as Superb Home Carpentry LLC.

For a flat fee, Incfile will file your DBA/Fictitious Business Name request with the relevant state authority. Their price for doing so is in line with competitors’.

Note: Not all states allow for fictitious business names. Incfile’s DBA/Fictitious Business Name page has a list of which states do and don’t allow for them.

Trademark Registration

$199

Trademarks allow you to protect the intellectual property that sets your company apart from the competition. Taglines, symbols, designs, and even single words can all be trademarked.

For a one-off fee, Incfile will file a trademark (limited to one series and one class) for your business. Incfile states that filing usually takes 3-7 days, and that federal approval usually takes 3-4 months.

While you may find it convenient to file a trademark through Incfile if you’re already using some of their other services, Incfile’s $199 (plus federal fees) price point is not particularly competitive.

If you’re serious about filing a trademark, you may be better off doing with specialist companies.

Bookkeeping, accounting, and business taxes

Price variable

Incfile also offers bookkeeping and business accounting services. They claim to offer a variety of packages, though prices are not readily available on their site – instead, the main call to action is simply a “Get a Free Tax Consultation” button.

Incfile states that all of their packages include quarterly bookkeeping, unlimited tax consultations with experts, and the filing of at least one tax return.

Obviously, bookkeeping is crucial if you are to keep your business’ finances in order. And a well-filed tax return will let you keep the most of your gains and avoid the chance of being hassled by the IRS (an audit can quickly turn into a massive time sink).

We usually recommend using specialists whenever possible, and there is no exception here. Incfile is a rather small company that is clearly most focused on business formations and associated services. Their bookkeeping and tax offerings are almost certainly shifted to a third party.

When it comes to bookkeeping, account, and business taxes, going with a certified, dedicated small business accountant is by far your best bet.

Dissolutions

$149

A Dissolution is just what it sounds like – a dissolving of a business. If you’re closing down operations for your LLC, one key step to the process will be filing Articles of Dissolution with your state. These articles essentially let your state know that your LLC will no longer be conducting business.

Note: Outstanding taxes or annual reports may put your company out of “Good Standing”, which can prevent its dissolution. Make sure such issues are addressed before filing your Articles of Dissolution.

After filing these, you’ll also have to notify the IRS of your LLC’s dissolution.

Do we recommend Incfile?

Maybe No, we do not*

Incfile has been in the business for nearly two decades, and their biggest draw remains their low prices on several services. Their free Silver package LLC formation provides bare-bones service but at an unbeatable price point. The free full year of their registered agent service sweetens the deal further.

Incfile’s Gold package provides everything your business need for just $149 – best in class pricing.

Several of Incfile’s other formation-related one-off services are also quite reasonably priced. The company also boasts an easy-to-use website and a very helpful online dashboard.

Incfile’s customer reviews and customer service offerings raise some red flags, though.

Their ratings on platforms such as Trustpilot and Yelp are average to poor, with many reviewers complaining about delays, errors with applications, and very hard-to-reach customer service.

Incfile does have a section on their customer review page outlining the changes they’ve made to bolster their customer support services. If you are willing to take these statements at face value, you may be willing to overlook their non-stellar review history.

Incfile also offers lots of other services that are related to its main offerings. Such services, like bookkeeping and accounting, though, are usually best left to specialists.

If you are looking for a straightforward LLC formation, or for a related one-off service (e.g., DBA registration, Foreign Qualification filing, or Annual Report filing), Incfile’s ease of use and friendly price points may make them a good fit for you.

Potential customers, though, should be aware of the company’s track record before committing – while saving a few bucks through a cheaper service can be great, the headaches caused by a delayed or incorrect filing can quickly outweigh minor price-point benefits.