I spent a few hours comparing Inc Authority and Bizee for forming an LLC. The headline prices look similar but the packages are really different. Inc Authority pushes their free formation but then upsells a lot of extras, while Bizee bundles more but charges more upfront. Has anyone used either? I'm trying to figure out which one is less of a headache if I just want the basics.
LLC Services
I compared Inc Authority and Bizee, and the offers aren't quite the same
Inc Authority's free tier gets you the filing but they call you constantly about adding EIN, registered agent, etc. If you're okay saying no a bunch, it wotks.
used bizee last year. no calls but i paid like $300 total after the registered agent service was added. felt a bit bait-and-switchy but the site was easy.
I'd avoid both honestly and just file directly with the state. You can get an EIN for free on the IRS site in about 10 minutes. The only thing worth paying for is a registered agent if you don't want yuor address public.
That's what I did. Filed the articles myself, $50 in my state. Got the EIN online. Set up a virtual address for $10/month that includes registered agent service. Total cost under $100 for the year. The formation companies are mostly convenience fees.
I looked at doing it myself but the state website is confusing and I wasn't sure about the operating agreement. Do you really need one?
For a single-member LLC, most states don't require it to be filed. But it's good to have one in case of a lawsuit. You can find free templates online.
The operating agreement is mostly for liability protection. If you commingle funds or don't have one, a court might not respect the LLC structure. It doesn't need to be fancy though.
I used Inc Authority and it was fine. I ignored the calls and got my EIN separately. The free filing saved me about $100. But if you don't like phone calls, don't use them.
Also check if your state requires an annual report or franchise tax. Bizee will remind you but they charge a fee to file it. I just do it myself now.
Honestly the whole industry is Built on people not knowing you can just file yourself. Not saying the services are useless, but for a simple LLC it's hard to justify the markup. If you have multiple members or complex ownership, maybe.