Are you looking for the best online incorporation service, but you’re not sure which one is the right choice for you?
Incfile and Corpnet are both services that can form an LLC or corporation on your behalf.
In this comparison, we’ll walk through the five main factors you need to consider when choosing between these services. Which one is the better overall option?
Comparison of Key Points
In our review and comparison of each online incorporation service, we performed a “stress test” on each based on five key factors:
- Compared pricing and features to determine overall value.
- Researched their track record.
- Assessed the quality of customer service.
- Tested their ordering process and service’s ease of use.
- Reviewed the turnaround times for incorporating online.
As you’ll see in this comparison, both Incfile and Corpnet are reputable and affordable incorporation services. Which one is the better option for your unique needs?
Overall Pricing and Value
Incfile: Incfile will help you form your business for free, while also providing a full year of registered agent service. Once the first year is over, the registered agent service will renew for $119 per year, which is a strong price point. In addition, their $149 Gold package and $299 Platinum package are both packed with valuable features that make them strong options as well, even at their higher price points.
Corpnet: Corpnet charges $29 for shipping and handling of every order, so we added that fee into the price of each package to make their service easier to compare with their competitors. Their $108 Basic package provides a decent value if your business formation needs are relatively simple, but it only includes a 60-day trial of registered agent service. Their $228 Deluxe and $278 Complete packages do include a full year of registered agent service but are rather expensive compared to some other services.
Company Track Record & Experience
Incfile: Incfile was founded in 2004, and they’ve formed more than 800,000 businesses since then. Customer reviews are a strength for them, as they have thousands of positive reviews across the web, and just a small handful of negative feedback.
Corpnet: Since they entered the industry in 1997, Corpnet’s husband-and-wife ownership group has formed over 100,000 LLCs and corporations across all 50 states. Customer reviews are a strength for Corpnet, as they have hundreds of reviews available, and over 98% of them are 4- or 5-star ratings.
Customer Service
Incfile: Incfile offers phone and email support, which we tested. When we used their phone support, our call was answered quickly and our question was answered, but not elaborated upon. However, its email support is much less responsive. Many of our emails have gone unanswered, and several of the responses we have received are just form emails that don’t directly address our questions.
Corpnet: Corpnet offers phone, email, and chat support. Unlike most competitors, they also offer bilingual support, which is a nice feature for Spanish-speaking customers. We tested all three support options and received prompt responses, with accurate answers that were expanded upon to an impressive degree.
Ease of Use
Incfile: As you walk through the process of signing up for Incfile, your steps are personalized based on the state you’re forming in and the type of business you wish to establish. There are even little question marks and hyperlinks throughout the application to learn more about a specific question or entry on the form. There are a few upsells and third-party offers to navigate through, but if you opt into any of them, your total price is immediately updated on the screen. There are never any surprises with Incfile.
Corpnet: Your total price adds up at the bottom of the package selection page as you choose your package and add-on features, and it includes your state fee so that you know exactly how much your formation will cost before you even start entering your information. Once you’ve made your choices, you’ll fill out their order form, which is where you give them your contact info, along with any relevant business information that they’ll need to form your company.
Speed of Formation
Incfile: Incfile guarantees that every LLC or corporation formation will be processed and forwarded to your state of formation within one business day. If you need your business formed in a hurry, Incfile offers the ability to order expedited state processing for an additional fee (determined by your state), or you can purchase their Platinum package which includes expedited service.
Corpnet: Corpnet conveniently lists turnaround times for both standard and expedited service on the package select screen. Depending on your state, this could be as quick as a couple of business days, or it could take as long as several weeks. Their Deluxe and Complete packages both include 24-hour document preparation, which means Corpnet will prepare and submit your formation paperwork within 24 hours of you placing your order.
Common Questions
What Is the Biggest Advantage of Each Service?
Corpnet has good customer service with bilingual support, along with several options for accessing their support, which represents a noteworthy advantage. As for Incfile, their biggest advantage is their inclusion of a full year of registered agent service with their $0 Silver package, a deal that few competitors can match.
Which Company Offers More Help With Ongoing Compliance Requirements?
Corpnet has a solid price point for annual report service, at $89 plus state fee. They also offer registered agent service at the rate of $149 per year.
Incfile has a better price for registered agent service, at $119 per year, and it has an $88 rate for annual reports that’s nearly identical to Corpnet’s price point.
Can I Get a Refund if I Need One?
Corpnet has one of the best refund policies in the industry. With their 100% satisfaction guarantee, they will grant any refund that’s requested within 60 days of initial purchase, and they don’t even charge any processing or cancellation fees.
This is in stark contrast to Incfile, which only provides refunds if they haven’t yet sent your money to the state, which usually happens within 24 hours of placing your order.
Which Is the Better Option if I Need Publication Service?
In some states, you need to publish your company’s formation in a regional newspaper. For example, Arizona and Nebraska require publication for LLCs and corporations, New York requires it for LLCs only, and Pennsylvania and Georgia have this requirement for corporations only.
If you’re forming your business in one of these states, Corpnet has a significant advantage because they do provide publication service, whereas Incfile does not.
Additional Reading
If you’d like to check out more reviews to help start and run your business, here are some of the most popular: