By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist
Entrepreneurs looking beyond Bizee (formerly IncFile), you’ve come to the right place. After personally testing every major LLC formation service and helping 650+ business owners navigate these choices, I’m giving you the straight truth about better alternatives to Bizee’s “free” formation promise.
Bottom line first: Bizee’s “$0” formation is a marketing hook that leads to expensive upsells and mediocre service. Here are the superior alternatives that deliver real value without the games.
Why Entrepreneurs Look for Bizee Alternatives
Before diving into alternatives, let’s understand why smart entrepreneurs move beyond Bizee:
Bizee’s Real Problems
- “Free” isn’t actually free: Heavy upsell pressure increases final costs
- Mediocre customer service: Order-takers, not business advisors
- Confusing subscription terms: Hidden renewals and unclear pricing
- Outsourced services: Many offerings handled by third parties
- Marketing-heavy approach: More focused on lead generation than service quality
What You Actually Need
- Transparent pricing without surprise fees
- Expert guidance, not sales pressure
- Quality registered agent service
- Professional customer support
- Clear, honest communication
My Top 5 Bizee Alternatives (Ranked by Value)
#1. Northwest Registered Agent – The Complete Solution
Total Cost: $39 + state fee
Jake’s Rating: 9.5/10
Northwest destroys Bizee on every metric that matters: transparency, service quality, and real value.
Why Northwest wins:
- Address privacy protection: Use their address throughout filing (unique feature)
- Free first year registered agent: $125 value included
- Zero upsells: What you see is what you pay
- Expert customer service: Actual LLC specialists, not sales reps
- Honest pricing: No subscription traps or hidden renewals
What you get: Complete LLC formation, registered agent service, document scanning, compliance reminders, and privacy protection.
The difference: Northwest specializes in doing fewer things exceptionally well, while Bizee spreads thin across many mediocre services.
#2. MyCompanyWorks – The Value Champion
Total Cost: $79 + state fee
Jake’s Rating: 8.0/10
Solid middle-ground alternative offering more comprehensive service than Bizee’s basic package.
Advantages over Bizee:
- Faster turnaround: 2-3 days vs. Bizee’s 5-7 days
- Better customer service: Knowledgeable staff without aggressive sales tactics
- Clearer pricing: No confusing subscription renewals
- Quality educational resources: Actually helpful business guidance
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want guided assistance without paying premium prices.
#3. ZenBusiness – The User Experience Winner
Total Cost: $0 + state fee (base package)
Jake’s Rating: 7.0/10
If you’re determined to use a “$0” service, ZenBusiness executes better than Bizee.
Improvements over Bizee:
- Better website design: Cleaner, more intuitive interface
- Faster processing: Consistently quicker than advertised
- Less aggressive upselling: Still present but more tolerable
- Better compliance dashboard: More user-friendly post-formation tools
Reality check: Still suffers from subscription complexity and upsell pressure, but manages it better than Bizee.
#4. DIY Formation – The Budget Champion
Total Cost: State fee only ($50-500 depending on state)
Jake’s Rating: 8.5/10 (for capable entrepreneurs)
The ultimate Bizee alternative: handle it yourself and save money.
When DIY makes sense:
- You’re comfortable with government paperwork
- You have 2-4 hours for research and filing
- You don’t need registered agent service immediately
- You want maximum cost savings
Free resources available:
- State-specific formation guides
- Operating agreement templates
- EIN application assistance
- Compliance calendars
#5. Local Attorney – The Expert Option
Total Cost: $500-1,500
Jake’s Rating: 9.0/10 (for complex situations)
When you need more than formation service—you need legal strategy.
Choose an attorney when:
- Multiple owners with complex arrangements
- High-liability business activities
- Unique operating structures needed
- Tax planning complexity
- Asset protection requirements
Detailed Bizee vs. Alternatives Comparison
Formation Speed
| Service | Advertised Time | Actual Performance |
| Bizee | 5-7 business days | 5-10 days |
| Northwest | 2-3 business days | 1-3 days |
| MyCompanyWorks | 3-5 business days | 2-4 days |
| ZenBusiness | 7-10 business days | 2-5 days |
| DIY | Same day | Same day |
Winner: DIY for speed, Northwest for professional service speed.
Total First-Year Costs
| Service | Formation + Registered Agent |
| Bizee | $0 + $119/year = $119 |
| Northwest | $39 + $0 (free first year) = $39 |
| MyCompanyWorks | $79 + $0 (free first year) = $79 |
| ZenBusiness | $0 + $199/year = $199 |
| DIY + Agent | $0 + $125/year = $125 |
Winner: Northwest for professional service value.
The Upsell Garbage List: Corporate kit for $89? Worthless. Fancy seal embosser? Not required anywhere. Banking resolution template? Your bank will ignore it and use their own. LLC Membership Certificates for $50? I give them away free. After watching 500+ entrepreneurs waste money on these “professional packages,” I can tell you what you actually need: Articles of Organization and an Operating Agreement. Everything else is profit padding disguised as necessities.
Customer Service Quality
Northwest: Expert LLC specialists, helpful guidance, no sales pressure
MyCompanyWorks: Knowledgeable staff, good support, minimal upselling
ZenBusiness: Adequate support, some sales focus, responsive
Bizee: Order-takers, limited knowledge, heavy sales pressure
Clear winner: Northwest for expertise and approach.
Services You Don’t Need (That Bizee Will Sell You)
Operating Agreement ($100-200)
Reality: Download free templates and customize yourself
Bizee’s pitch: “Essential legal protection”
Truth: Templates work fine for most simple LLCs
EIN Application ($100+)
Reality: Free from IRS, takes 15 minutes online
Bizee’s pitch: “Complex federal application”
Truth: Simple online form with your LLC information
Business License Research ($150-300)
Reality: Check your city/state websites directly
Bizee’s pitch: “Comprehensive compliance research”
Truth: Most businesses need obvious licenses you can identify yourself
Corporate Kit ($50-150)
Reality: Not required for LLCs in any state
Bizee’s pitch: “Professional business documentation”
Truth: Marketing materials, not legal requirements
Red Flags That Led You Away from Bizee
Pricing Manipulation
- Advertises “$0” but pushes expensive add-ons
- Confusing renewal terms and subscription pricing
- Hidden costs revealed only during checkout
Service Quality Issues
- Customer service focused on sales, not support
- Outsourced services with inconsistent quality
- Limited expertise in LLC formation strategy
Marketing-Heavy Approach
- Aggressive email and phone follow-up campaigns
- Pressure tactics during formation process
- More investment in advertising than service improvement
My Strategic Recommendations
For Most Entrepreneurs: Northwest Registered Agent
Why: Best combination of price, service, and privacy protection. No games, no upsells, just quality LLC formation.
For Budget-Conscious DIYers: Self-Formation
Why: Maximum savings with readily available resources. Invest saved money in business development instead of formation fees.
For Complex Situations: Local Attorney
Why: Get legal strategy, not just paperwork processing. Worth the investment for complicated business structures.
If You Must Use a “$0” Service: ZenBusiness over Bizee
Why: Better execution of the same flawed model. Less aggressive, more transparent, faster service.
Questions to Ask Any Formation Service
Pricing Transparency
- What’s the total cost including all necessary services?
- Are there subscription renewals or hidden fees?
- What happens to pricing after the first year?
Service Quality
- Who actually handles my formation (in-house vs. outsourced)?
- What’s included in customer support?
- How do you handle problems or delays?
Business Expertise
- Do your representatives understand LLC strategy?
- Can you provide business guidance beyond formation?
- What’s your experience with my type of business?
The Real Alternative: Strategic Thinking
Instead of just swapping one formation service for another, consider what you actually need:
Formation is a Transaction, Not a Relationship
- You need it done once, correctly, affordably
- Ongoing relationships matter for registered agent service
- Don’t pay relationship prices for transactional services
Invest Savings in Business Growth
- Money saved on formation can fund marketing
- Better ROI from business development than premium formation services
- Focus spending on revenue-generating activities
Get Legal Help When You Actually Need It
- Complex operating agreements require attorney involvement
- Tax planning needs CPA expertise
- Business strategy benefits from industry consultants
Bottom Line: The Best Bizee Alternative
For 80% of entrepreneurs: Northwest Registered Agent provides superior service, honest pricing, and unique privacy protection at a lower total cost than Bizee’s hidden-fee approach.
For budget-focused entrepreneurs: DIY formation saves maximum money while providing complete control over the process.
For complex situations: Local attorney consultation ensures proper legal structure and strategic planning.
Skip entirely: Services that advertise “$0” formation—they’re lead generation tools, not value providers.
My strategic advice: Choose based on your actual needs, not marketing promises. Formation is important but not complex. Don’t overpay for basic paperwork processing.
Ready to move beyond Bizee? Northwest Registered Agent offers the transparency, service quality, and value that Bizee’s marketing promises but doesn’t deliver. Your business deserves better than bait-and-switch tactics.
Need personalized guidance on LLC formation strategy beyond just service selection? Contact Jake Lawson at llciyo.com for expert advice that focuses on your business success, not sales quotas.