Let’s say you have a great new idea for a product or service. It could be a new dropshipping business, a coffee franchise, or anything. What should you do first?
You’re absolutely right if you came up with about ten different things. Starting a business — whether a sole proprietorship or limited liability company (LLC) — is challenging and requires you to do so many things.
That’s why new ventures often look to registered agent services like Swyft Filings to take care of the legal incorporation process so they can focus on the actual business. With the help of a registered agent service, you can create a legal entity to build a solid foundation for whatever fantastic idea you’ve dreamed up.
So, what is Swyft Filings? How much does this LLC formation service cost? And do you even need a business incorporation service? Discover all this and so much more in this ultimate Swyft Filings review.
What Is Swyft Filings?
Swyft Filing is a web-based legal LLC formation service that helps people form small businesses in the US quickly and easily. Over the last eight years, they’ve gone on to help tens of thousands of companies around the country.
With them, you can easily file all the necessary paperwork to simplify the process of starting a:
- LLC
- C Corporation
- S Corporation
- Nonprofit
- DBA
For established businesses, they also offer a variety of services, including handling the filing process of:
- Annual Report
- Initial Report
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification Number
- Amendments & Name Changes
- Conversion
- Foreign Qualification
- Change of Registered Agent
- Withdrawal
- 501(c)(3) Application
- Apostille
In addition, Swyft Filings has a learning center with materials to help you launch your business, manage finances, and more. Get more information from the Swyft Filings website.
Swyft Filings Pricing
Swyft Filings LLC formation services are aimed at small business owners on even smaller budgets. As a business owner, you can register a company for as little as $49 plus the state filing fee wherever you’re trying to incorporate.
However, Swyft Filings fees can be a little complicated to figure out. There are three Swyft Filings packages that vary on the services you need — though you can also add services individually.
The benefit to Swyft Filings LLC services is that each plan comes with a 100% money-back guarantee (refund policy), a promise for new entrants into the uncertain business world. The flexible pricing model is also a plus.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the business formation packages:
Swyft Filings Basic Package — $49 Plus State Filing Fees
- Company name availability checkers
- Preparation of articles of organization
- Document filing in the state where the business will be incorporated
- Organizer statement
- Online access to business documents
- 30-minute tax consultation
- Free business website domain name
- Compliance alerts for legal changes
Swyft Filings Standard Package —$149 Plus State Filing Fees
- All Basic features plus:
- Obtaining an EIN (Employer Identification Numbering) for your business. This is necessary for taxes.
- LLZ Operating agreements or corporate bylaws
- Fully customized banking resolution
- Web hosting
- Custom organizational minutes.
Swyft Filings Premium Package — $249 Plus State Filing Fees
- All Standard features plus:
- Electronic delivery of state documents
- Customized digital LLC kit with ownership ledger, company seal, and stock certificates
- A free business site, hosting, and eCommerce tools
- Can file documents via FedEx Express (other plans charge an extra $25 for this feature)
In addition, Swyft Filings offers a variety of a la carte options you can add, including:
- Banking resolution: $30
- Corporation bylaws: $35
- Digital corporate kit: $99
- EIN acquisition: $70
- Electronic delivery of state documents: $20
- LLC operating agreement: $35
- Meeting minutes: $25
Who Should Use Swyft Filings?
Swyft Filings is for people interested in limited liability company formations or another of the corporation types above. This LLC service is particularly suited for smaller businesses with less complex needs.
For example, if you’re starting a medical practice, you’ll still need a lawyer to handle the legal documents. But if you’re setting up an eCommerce platform, a small downtown shop, or just about any other SME, Swyft Filings business formation services will be a pretty solid fit for you.
This is doubly true if filling out government forms makes your head spin. If you are short on time and have more critical issues, like actually doing everything it takes to get your business running, look into the online legal services offered by Swyft Filings or one of its competitors.
Is Swyft Filings Worth It?
This is the million-dollar ($49-249?) question. Services like Swyft Filings and their competitors like LegalZoom and ZenBusiness provide convenience, but they aren’t essential.
Think about it like this. Would you apply for a passport directly from the government or have an agency do it for you? There are pros and cons to both ways. It might take a little time, but you can get a passport yourself. On the other hand, an agency will put everything together for you and ensure no issues stand in the way of getting a passport quickly and easily.
The same is also true for businesses. Everything you need to incorporate a company is available online from whatever state you register. That’s one of the reasons, in fact, you also pay state fees in addition to Swyft Filing costs and other third-party fees.
For example, Swyft Filing can help you get an EIN for just $70. Considering that an EIN is essential for all businesses, especially to get a business bank account, the price seems reasonable. However, if you choose not to use Swyft Filings services, you can apply directly with the IRS online and get an EIN for free in just a few minutes.
The same goes for most Swyft filing services, especially if you’re forming a fairly straightforward LLC. You can even find tons of sample documents like articles of incorporation, corporate minutes, and everything else online.
Also, unlike other LLC services companies with their own registered agent, Swyft Filings does not offer registered agent services. Instead, it works with a registered partner company. Swyft Filings registered agent is LegalCorp.
So why do Swyft Filings have 20,000+ happy customers and several positive customer reviews? Because when you’re starting a business, you have enough to worry about. While forming a company is not too difficult, it can still be a headache. So wouldn’t you rather have professionals do it, so you don’t run into unexpected issues?
This is even more true once you get a little more complicated, like if you want to obtain 501(c)(3) status or convert your business type.
It ultimately will boil down to you. Think about like, though — if you are starting a business, you might want at least enough money to pay for a professional to register it. Otherwise, you may have more significant issues coming up before you know it!
Just be sure to pay attention to the different pricing tiers and additional service fee options. For example, while the Basic and Standard Plans are pretty reasonable, do you want to pay more for something like an EIN when you get it for free?
Pros
- One of the most affordable business incorporation services
- It takes care of the entire process for you
- Easy to use
- Money-back guarantee
- Can pay LLC formation via installments which is helpful for cash-strapped new companies
- Highly rated by users
- An extensive array of business management services
- Even the cheapest tier offers a 30-minute tax consultation and lifetime business alert
- Good customer service team/lifetime customer support
Cons
- Registered agent isn’t included on any pricing plan, only as extra service
- Some services can be obtained for free online if you do it yourself
Swyft Filings Alternatives
Swyft Filings is an excellent overall option for taking the hassle out of registering a new business. But it has a ton of competitors out there. Swyft Filings is a little more affordable than competitors, but it does have a few downsides.
Above all, Swyft Filings doesn’t include a registered agent. To get one, you’ll have to pay $149 annually. The registered agent is the point person state governments contact for process notices, official correspondence, and other compliance-related documentation.
All entities must have one regardless of whether you’re an LLC, nonprofit, or any other type.
While it’s not a huge deal to have yourself or someone else be a registered agent, having a professional in this role can be helpful for similar reasons as to why you’d use Swift Filings in the first place.
You may want to look into these two leading Swyft Filings alternatives — ZenBusiness and LegalZoom.
What Is ZenBusiness?
Like Swyft Filings, ZenBusiness also focuses on SMEs. Although not quite as popular as Swyft Filings, Zen Business has garnered many positive reviews and is praised for its affordable service fees while still including a registered agent and operating agreement, even from the lowest-tier pricing plan.
ZenBusiness also offers bookkeeping, accounting services, and other perks over Swyft Filings. However, Swyft has better business management options, such as applications for the 501(c)(3) process. Finally, ZenBusiness is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, has a good customer support team, and is one of the best LLC service on the market.
What Is LegalZoom?
LegalZoom is a little different but has several helpful services. They not only handle basic LLC formation but a wide array of more advanced legal services, including forms, seller licenses, intellectual property, and the ability to work directly with an attorney.
In terms of business formation alone, there’s not much difference between the two. But if you want additional services and an overall edge in quality, it’s hard to beat LegalZoom, which has worked with 3,000,000+ customers since they were founded in 1999. Their packages start at $79 for incorporation.
LegalZoom customer support is one the best; you can get the help you need by calling their customer service line.
Swyft Filings: The Bottom Line
Starting a business is difficult enough. Services like Swyft Filings remove the complicated incorporation process from the equation so you can focus on the many other things you must do. So, with affordable pricing and a money-back guarantee, do yourself a favor a check them out for yourself now!
Did you enjoy our Swyft Filings review? Check out our Getaround review and ClickASnap review.
