Filenow review 2024: Cost, plans, features and more
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 5:58 p.m. UTC Jan. 3, 2024
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Our take
A competitive premium plan covers new LLCs from A to Z, while the base plan falls short.
Filenow LLC review
Pros
- Premium plan offers a great value.
- 24-hour order processing.
- Responsive customer service
Cons
- No free plan.
- Limited educational resources.
- No registered agent promotion on the base plan.
Why trust our small business experts
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- 12 companies reviewed.
- 21 hours of product testing.
- 408 data points analyzed.
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Filenow LLC review
Filenow offers a competitive premium LLC filing plan that outshines the higher-tier plans of many competitors. It also stands out thanks to its responsive customer service and a fast, 24-hour order processing time.
However, the company’s basic plan costs $49 per year while other companies offer the same services covered in this plan for free. Further, the base plan’s features fall short, as do the online educational resources for customers.
Filenow LLC overview & facts
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in New York, Filenow is a provider of business development services, including LLC filings. Behind the scenes, you’ll find a team of tax experts, lawyers, entrepreneurs and business professionals working together to help customers get up and running as quickly as possible.
While the company has been accredited with an A rating by the Better Business Bureau since March of 2019, it only has three reviews on the site. Customer feedback is also sparse across reputable review sites like Trustpilot and G2, where competitors have thousands of reviews.
That said, Filenow has a user-friendly website, transparent pricing and a premium plan that offers a few unique benefits.
Filenow LLC plans and pricing
| PLAN | PRICING (NOT INCLUDING STATE FEES) | FILING OF ARTICLES OR ORGANIZATION | REGISTERED AGENT SERVICE | EIN/ TAX ID | OPERATING AGREEMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starter
| $49
| Yes
| Not included
| No
| No
|
Premium
| $199
| Yes
| Free (first year)
| Yes
| Yes
|
Filenow offers two LLC filing plans — the entry-level Starter plan and a higher-tier Premium plan. While the Starter plan is more expensive than the entry-level plans of some competitors, the opposite is true for its Premium plan. Here’s a closer look at both, their costs, and what they include.
Starter plan
Filenow’s LLC Starter plan can help you get your LLC established for $49 plus the applicable state fee. The package includes the filing of your company’s Articles of Organization, which is the official documentation required to form an LLC.
Additionally, you’ll get a business bank account, a business tax consultation, and other convenient features like unlimited phone and email support, company alerts, unlimited name searches and online order tracking.
Premium plan
Priced at $199 plus your state’s fee, Filenow’s Premium LLC plan includes everything in the Starter plan, plus:
- An EIN, also known as a business’ Federal Tax Identification Number.
- A registered agent for one year.
- An operating agreement.
- A banking resolution.
- 15+ business contract templates.
- 24-hour order processing.
While the plan costs an extra $150, Filenow estimates that the additional features are worth $443.
Filenow add-ons and optional features
Filenow’s lineup of add-ons and optional features is pretty standard in the industry. What varies from company to company are the features each provider includes in its plans. Here are the basics of each feature and how much Filenow charges for it.
Registered agent service
Each LLC must have a registered agent at an in-state address who is available to manage official communications during normal business hours. If you can’t be the registered agent for your LLC, Filenow can take care of it for you for $119 per year. If you opt for the Premium plan, the service is included for the first year.
Employer identification number/Tax ID
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a tax ID number issued to businesses by the federal government. It gives your LLC a numerical identity, similar to how a Social Security number works for an individual. You’ll need it to establish business credit accounts, bank accounts and more.
Filenow’s Premium plan includes an EIN while it’s a $75 add-on with the Starter plan.
Tip: You can request an EIN online directly from the Internal Revenue Service for free.
Operating agreement
An operating agreement is a legally-binding document that outlines an LLC’s provisions, regulations, and rules. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, it protects a business’s LLC status, clarifies verbal agreements and allows owners to set their own rules instead of being governed by the default rules of their state.
Why is it important to protect LLC status? “An LLC is a legal entity that separates the owner’s personal finances from any liabilities associated with the business. This type of corporate structure provides certain legal benefits that can help protect the owners of a business in the event of lawsuits, debts, or other financial obligations,” says Elisabeth Pickle, Estates and Intellectual Property Attorney at Elisabeth Pickle Law, PLC.
Filenow includes an operating agreement with its Premium plan and charges $50 for it with the Starter plan.
Banking resolution
To establish a banking relationship, LLCs often need a formal document known as a banking resolution. It defines who’s allowed to manage a bank account and in what capacity. These are included on FIlenow’s Premium plan and cost $50 on the Starter plan.
Business contract templates
Filenow also offers access to over 15 business contract templates that your LLC may need, including templates for:
- Banking resolutions.
- Employee terminations.
- Employment agreements.
- Licensing agreements.
- Non-compete agreements.
- Operating agreements.
- Purchase orders.
- Services agreements.
All of the templates are included in the Premium plan, or can be bought for $100 with the Starter plan.
Same-day expedited filing
If you need your LLC filing taken care of ASAP, you can pay an extra fee for same-day expedited filing. It’ll cost you between $75 and $150. However, Filenow can only expedite the speed at which it files your paperwork. You’ll still be subject to the time it takes your state to process the filing, which is often three to five business days.
Filenow customer support & experience
What level of customer service does Filenow offer? For starters, it has four main support channels:
- Phone: The customer care phone line 1(888) 332-4612 is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET.
- Email: You can email [email protected] with questions or concerns, although no response times are provided on the website.
- Online form: You can submit your message through the company’s contact page form and a representative will email you a response.
- Live chat: You can get live customer support online through the live chat feature.
When calling the customer care phone line, Filenow gives you the option to wait for the next available representative or leave a voicemail and get a callback. We called and the wait time to speak with a representative was about one minute. As for the service, the individual answered every question in a friendly manner.
If you opt for the live chat on Filenow’s website Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, a live customer service representative will answer your questions. However, you may have to wait for someone to enter the chat. In a test conversation on a Monday at lunchtime, the wait was about a minute.
Additionally, you can find much of the information you’ll need to make a decision on Filenow’s website. Within a few clicks, you can see your pricing and the full breakdown of the plan options. If you have additional questions, there’s a FAQ page, but it leaves much to be desired.
Filenow vs. Bizee
| COMPANY | PLAN OPTIONS | PLAN PRICING | REGISTERED AGENT |
|---|---|---|---|
Filenow
| Starter and Premium
| $49 or $199, plus the state fee
| Free for one year on the Premium plan, then $119 per year
|
Bizee
| Silver, Gold, and Platinum
| $0, $199, or $299, plus the state fee
| Free for one year on all plans, then $119 per year
|
The most notable difference between the LLC offerings of Bizee and Filenow is that Bizee offers a free plan option (before the state fee), while Filenow doesn’t. Additionally, Bizee’s free plan includes a registered agent for one year, which is only offered on Filenow’s Premium plan.
If you’re looking for an affordable way to start your LLC and get a registered agent, Bizee would be the cheaper option — saving you from $49 up to $168 (if you need a registered agent). Along with a better price, the company also has a far more impressive collection of reviews across TrustPilot, G2 and the Better Business Bureau website.
On the other hand, if you’re considering the higher-tier $199 plans, Filenow’s Premium plan offers a few more perks than Bizee’s Gold plan. For the same price, Filenow offers 24-hour order processing and access to its collection of business contract templates. To get similar features with Bizee, you’d have to bump up to the $299 Platinum plan.
Filenow vs. LegalZoom
| COMPANY | PLAN OPTIONS | PLAN PRICING | REGISTERED AGENT |
|---|---|---|---|
Filenow
| Starter and Premium
| $49 or $199, plus the state fee
| Free for one year on Premium plan, then $119 per year
|
Legal Zoom
| Basic, Pro, and Premium
| $0, $249, or $299, plus the state fee
| $299 extra per year
|
Filenow gets outshined again on the basic plan front. LegalZoom offers a $0 Basic plan that includes the filing of your Articles of Organization and a customizable website by Wix. A downside worth considering, though, is you won’t get the business bank account and business tax consultation that comes with Filenow’s $49 plan.
When looking at the higher-tier plans, Filenow offers the better deal. For $199, you get more than you’d get with LegalZoom’s $249 or $299 plan. Further, LegalZoom doesn’t include registered agents in its plans; they cost $299 per year — more than double the $119 offered by Filenow.
In summary, LegalZoom can be a good fit if your business is looking for a base plan, especially if you’re interested in DIYing a Wix website. However, if you want additional services and need a registered agent, you’ll be better off with Filenow or another provider like Bizee.
Is Filenow right for your business?
Filenow could be the right fit for your business, especially if you’re looking to do more than just form an LLC. Its higher-tier plan offers a variety of LLC services for just $199 per year. Additionally, it has a user-friendly website, transparent pricing and various customer service channels to suit every preference.
On the downside, Filenow lacks the social proof that some of its competitors have. While it has reviews published on Shopper Approved, there are very few on the more reputable third-party sites like TrustPilot, G2 and BBB. The company’s base plan also falls short due to the $49 price tag. If you solely need help filing your Articles of Organization, another provider like Bizee will be cheaper.
Methodology
We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.
We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. Our methodology is thorough, so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the Best LLC Services.
Featured LLC service offers
ZenBusiness
Free version available
Yes
Lowest published package price
$199
Live chat
Yes: Human
LegalZoom
Free version available
Yes
Lowest published package price
$249
Live chat
Yes
Northwest Registered Agent
Free version available
No
Lowest published package price
$39
Live chat
Yes
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Filenow can be a good way to start your LLC, especially if you’re looking for help with more than just the basic formation documents. While the company’s $49 per year base plan isn’t as affordable as the $0 base plans offered by some competitors, its premium plan outshines many others. It can be a great fit if you want help getting an EIN, setting up a bank account, hiring a registered agent, drafting your organization agreement and more.
Filenow offers a service comparable to Zenbusiness’s worry-free annual compliance (offered for free for one year in its $0 base plan, then $199 per year). FileNow calls the service its Annual Report Filing Subscription. For $99 per month, the company will file your annual report in accordance with your state’s requirements. You’ll also get notifications for all report due dates, reminders to update important filing formations, compliance report management, status updates and more.
Filenow is transparent about the cost of its LLC formation services. Once you select your desired company structure and state, you’ll see your costs. As you apply, you can add many paid services but they are not required. When you check out, as long as you didn’t add on anything extra, your cost will be the amount that was initially shown to you.
If you want to exchange a service, you must contact Filenow within 30 days of the purchase. However, if you submitted an application for business formation services and the results were successful according to Filenow, no exchange is allowed.
When unsuccessful, the company will issue a refund of all amounts paid except those for payments made to government regulators, which can’t be retrieved. That said, you can get a full refund if the state denies your application due to any mistakes that were made by Filenow.
Filenow offers a variety of services in addition to business filings. Some of its other offerings include registered agent services, business license reports, certificates of good standing, doing business as (DBA) filings, and name reservations.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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