By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist
After 15 years of helping entrepreneurs navigate LLC formation services, I’ve tested dozens of companies—including BizFilings. While they’ve been around since 1996 and formed over 500,000 businesses, being established doesn’t automatically make them the best choice for your money.
BizFilings is now owned by Wolters Kluwer, a multinational compliance corporation. This corporate backing gives them resources but also seems to have inflated their pricing compared to more focused competitors.
Here’s my unbiased breakdown of what BizFilings actually delivers versus what they charge.
BizFilings Overview: The Corporate Player
Founded: 1996 (28+ years in business) Parent Company: Wolters Kluwer (multinational compliance corporation) Claims: Over 500,000 businesses formed Services: LLC/Corporation formation, Registered Agent, compliance tools
My Take: BizFilings has the experience and corporate backing to handle your formation reliably. The question is whether you want to pay their corporate overhead when smaller, focused companies often deliver better value.
BizFilings Pricing Breakdown: Where Your Money Goes
BizFilings offers three packages with the typical good-better-best structure. Let me break down what you actually get for your money:
Basic Package: $99 + State Fees
What’s Included:
- Business name availability check
- Articles of Organization filing
- 6 months free Registered Agent service
- BizComply compliance alerts
My Analysis: This is actually their best value. The 6-month Registered Agent inclusion is decent, though most competitors offer 12 months. The price is reasonable for what you get, but you can find better deals elsewhere.
Standard Package: $229 + State Fees (varies by state)
Additional Items:
- BizFilings expedited processing (not state expediting)
- LLC kit (binder, seal, certificates, templates)
- Sample Operating Agreement templates
- Meeting minutes templates
My Honest Assessment: This is where BizFilings starts gouging you. You’re paying $130 extra for items you can easily get for free or much cheaper elsewhere. The “LLC kit” is fancy packaging for basic templates you can download online.
Red Flag: Different states have different pricing—Delaware is $159, some states cost more than $229. This inconsistency suggests they’re adjusting prices based on perceived demand rather than actual costs.
Complete Package: $359 + State Fees (varies wildly)
Additional Items:
- EIN filing service (free from IRS)
- Certified copies (unnecessary)
- Overnight shipping of documents
- Compliance DVD ($39 value – seriously?)
My Verdict: At $359, this is highway robbery. You’re paying premium prices for services you can get free from the government or don’t need at all. Some states like California and Alaska are $434—absolutely ridiculous.
Processing Times: Vague and Frustrating
Here’s where BizFilings frustrates me: they don’t publish their standard processing times. In my experience with formation services, companies that hide processing times usually have something to hide.
What They Offer:
- Expedited processing for $60 (Basic Package)
- Included expedited processing (Standard/Complete)
- Promise to process within 24 hours and send to state
Reality Check: This expedited processing only affects BizFilings’ internal handling—you still pay extra for state expediting if you want your LLC approved faster. Many competitors process orders just as quickly without charging extra.
The Upsell Avalanche: Death by a Thousand Cuts
BizFilings bombards you with upsells throughout the ordering process. While not as aggressive as some competitors, they still try to nickel and dime you:
EIN Service: $79
What They Charge: $79 to get your EIN Reality: The IRS provides EINs completely free in 10 minutes online My Recommendation: Skip this entirely and apply directly with the IRS
LLC Kit: $99
What You Get: Corporate seal, binder, membership certificates, sample documents Better Alternative: Create your own templates for free or order custom materials from services like Moo.com for much less
Certified Copies: $39 + State Fees
BizFilings’ Pitch: You’ll need certified copies for banking and licensing The Truth: Regular stamped Articles of Organization work fine for 99% of situations. When you do need certified copies, get them directly from the state
Sales Tax Registration: $199
What They Do: File sales tax registration forms DIY Reality: This takes 15-30 minutes to do yourself online for free in most states
Business License Research: $99
Actually Useful: This is one of their few valuable upsells if you’re unsure about licensing requirements Caveat: They only research and help apply—they don’t provide legal advice on whether you actually need the licenses
Customer Service: Their Actual Strength
I’ll give credit where it’s due—BizFilings has solid customer service:
Phone Support: Knowledgeable representatives who don’t use high-pressure sales tactics Live Chat: Actually functional (unlike many competitors where chat is useless) Response Quality: They answer questions thoroughly and check for understanding
However: Good customer service doesn’t justify premium pricing when the core service is the same as cheaper competitors.
Registered Agent Service: Overpriced for What You Get
Price: $164/year after the first 6 months Industry Average: Around $100/year What You Get: Standard registered agent service with mail/email forwarding options
My Assessment: Nearly 60% more expensive than the industry average without any meaningful additional features. The only “extra” is BizComply compliance alerts, which aren’t worth the premium.
Better Alternatives: Northwest Registered Agent ($125/year), LegalZoom ($299 first year, $159 after), or dozens of local services for $75-125/year.
BizComply: Compliance Theater
BizFilings includes their “BizComply” compliance dashboard with Registered Agent service or for $75/year separately.
What It Does: Sends reminders about state deadlines and provides fillable forms Reality Check: Most LLCs have minimal compliance requirements—annual reports and tax filings Free Alternative: Set calendar reminders and work with your accountant
Paying $75/year for compliance reminders is like paying for someone to remind you to pay your rent.
What BizFilings Gets Right
Legitimate Experience: 28 years in business means they know how to handle formations Corporate Backing: Wolters Kluwer ownership provides stability and resources Solid Customer Service: Above-average support quality Reliable Processing: They’ll get your LLC formed correctly, even if not quickly
What BizFilings Gets Wrong
Inconsistent Pricing: Different states have different package prices without clear justification Expensive Upsells: Charging $79 for free government services Hidden Processing Times: Refusing to publish standard turnaround times Premium Pricing Without Premium Value: Higher costs than competitors without meaningful benefits
BizFilings vs. Top Competitors
| Service | BizFilings Basic | Northwest | ZenBusiness | LegalZoom |
| Base Price | $99 + state fees | $39 + state fees | $49 + state fees | $149 + state fees |
| Free RA Service | 6 months | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
| Processing Time | Not disclosed | 1-2 business days | 4-6 business days | 5-7 business days |
| EIN Service | $79 extra | Free instructions | $79 extra | $79 extra |
| Annual RA Cost | $164/year | $125/year | $149/year | $159/year |
Winner: Northwest Registered Agent offers better value, faster processing, and longer free registered agent service.
Who Should Consider BizFilings
Good Fit If:
- You value corporate backing and stability over price
- You need hand-holding throughout the process
- You’re forming in a state where their pricing is competitive
- Customer service quality is your top priority
Skip BizFilings If:
- You’re price-sensitive (most entrepreneurs are)
- You want transparent, predictable pricing
- You prefer companies focused solely on formation services
- You can handle basic formation tasks yourself
My Honest Recommendation
BizFilings isn’t terrible—they’ll form your LLC correctly and provide decent support. But they’re charging corporate overhead prices for a commodity service.
For Most Entrepreneurs: Choose Northwest Registered Agent ($39 + state fees) for better value and faster processing.
If You Want Full Service: ZenBusiness ($49 + state fees) offers similar hand-holding at a much better price.
If Money Is No Object: Sure, use BizFilings, but know you’re paying extra for the Wolters Kluwer name without getting meaningfully better service.
The Bottom Line
BizFilings represents the “safe, corporate choice” in LLC formation—reliable but overpriced. After reviewing dozens of formation services, I’ve learned that the actual formation process is largely commoditized. The state either accepts your Articles of Organization or it doesn’t.
What matters is pricing, processing speed, customer support, and avoiding aggressive upsells. BizFilings scores well on customer support but falls short on the other criteria.
My Rating: 3/5 stars—Competent but overpriced
Better Alternatives:
- Northwest Registered Agent: Best overall value and service
- ZenBusiness: Good middle-ground option with solid features
- DIY Filing: If you’re comfortable with paperwork, save money and file directly with your state
Remember: Your LLC formation service is a one-time purchase, but the registered agent and ongoing compliance costs continue annually. Choose based on total long-term value, not just formation pricing.
Want my detailed breakdown of the top LLC formation services? Check out my comprehensive comparison guide where I rank providers based on real-world testing and actual value delivered—no affiliate bias, just honest assessments from someone who’s helped over 1,200 businesses get formed properly.
About This Review: I’ve tested BizFilings’ services personally and have no affiliate relationship with them. This review is based on actual experience, not marketing materials. My goal is helping entrepreneurs make informed decisions that protect their time and money.