I went with the cheapest LLC formation service I could find last year. Big mistake. They filed my articles with the wrong registered agent address, and I didn't find out until I got a late fee notice from the state. Now I'm paying double to fix it. Anyone else been burned by bargain-basement LLC services?
LLC filing
Choosing an LLC service based on price alone was a mistake
Yep. Cheap is expensive. I used a $49 service and they never forwarded my mail. Missed a franchise tax notice and got hit with a penalty. Lesson learned.
Honestly, filing an LLC yourself is not that hard. The state website is clunky but it's like 30 minutes of work. Why pay anyone?
Because some people don't want to deal with the paperwork, or they're in a state with weird requirements. Not everyone has the time.
I used a mid-range service ($200) and it was fine. But I did check reviews first. The absolute cheapest ones are usually a race to the bottom.
Weird flex but ok
This is why I always say: you get what you pay for. But also, some of the pricier ones aren't much better. They just have nicer ads.
Did you check if they have a satisfaction guarantee? You might be able to get some money back. Probably not, but worth a shot.
I feel your pain. I used a cheap service for my first LLC and they spelled my name wrong on the articles. Took three months to correct. Never again.
Three months? That's brutal. Did they at least refund you?
Nope. 'Processing fees' and all that. I left a scathing review though.
I'm the OP. Just to clarify, I'm not asking for legal advice, just venting and wondering if others had similar experiences. Seems like a lot of us have, though.
OP, if you're fixing it, consider just doing it yourself through the state. At least then you know who to blame.
Also, registered agent services are separate. Some of these cheap LLC services bundle a 'free' registered agent for a year, then jack up the price. Read the fine print.