| If you are starting a new business, you are likely | | | | every state has the same filing fee schedule |
| looking for an online incorporation service to form a | | | | regardless of who submits a filing. |
| corporation or limited liability company for your | | | | One negative aspect of the incorporation services |
| business. Given the risk of liability in today's business | | | | market is the tricks they use to get your business. |
| world, having a limited liability entity for your business | | | | Some will offer an extremely low price but then mark |
| vehicle is a must. | | | | up the state filing fee claiming this is what goes to the |
| As Internet use has become so widely accepted for | | | | state. This is a deceptive practice and you should stay |
| commerce, online incorporation services have become | | | | away from any company that does this. If you cannot |
| the most efficient way to acquire these services. | | | | trust them to give you honest information, you should |
| However, if you do any kind of research in this area, | | | | not trust them with your money and more importantly |
| you will find hundreds of companies offering this. How | | | | the incorporating of a business you need for your |
| do you know which one to choose? | | | | liability protection. |
| This article provides 5 tips that should narrow all the | | | | Tip #4: Guarantees/Credibility in Incorporations is |
| options down and make your decision easier. | | | | Important |
| Tip #1: Teaser Rates | | | | The online incorporation services business does involve |
| As with any purchase, you must first look at the fee | | | | making sure that your document preparation and filing |
| being charged for incorporating a business or | | | | meets the specific rules and requirements of a |
| organizing an LLC. The one thing that many of these | | | | particular state. Each state has its own set of laws |
| companies like to do is tease you with a very low | | | | and regulations. And, these can change each year as |
| introductory rate. | | | | lawmakers and state agencies amend them. |
| However, make sure you look at the details because | | | | Accordingly, it is essential that your chosen |
| in many cases, there will be additional administrative | | | | incorporation service be a reputable company who |
| fees, processing costs, and sometimes unacceptable | | | | has experience in this area of expertise. When doing |
| shipping charges added to the service. | | | | your research look on the websites for evidence that |
| Also, with most of the entry level pricing packages, the | | | | the business knows what it is talking about. You will |
| turnaround times to complete the service is way too | | | | hopefully find some helpful articles or reports by the |
| long. Believe it or not, some require 6 to 8 weeks | | | | business to help you in making legal entity decisions. |
| which is just not acceptable for most business owners | | | | One way to separate the experienced businesses |
| as you want to start your business sooner. | | | | from the rest is to insist on a compliance guarantee. |
| Now, they will not advertise their turnaround times and | | | | Every reputable online incorporation service should |
| so what they hope is you will buy it and then later | | | | offer a guarantee that their document preparation and |
| upgrade by having to pay more for a faster | | | | filing will be in compliance with state requirements. |
| processing time. | | | | Tip #5: Customer Service |
| Tip #2: Timing for Completion of an Incorporation | | | | Incorporation services is a growing market because |
| Timing was mentioned in Tip #1, but the best way to | | | | more people are starting businesses and with lawsuits |
| make this decision most efficient is to first determine | | | | becoming such an epidemic it would be crazy not to |
| how soon you need your incorporation or LLC | | | | incorporate a business or organize an LLC for |
| formation. Then, when you research an incorporation | | | | protection. |
| service, only look at the packages they offer which | | | | This has brought in many purported businesses that |
| can meet that timing. | | | | think they can effectively provide this service without |
| This will help you to compare apples to apples | | | | much experience or customer service. This is an |
| packages when shopping . | | | | important step to starting a business so make sure |
| Tip #3: Charging More for the Filing Fee | | | | that the online incorporation service company you |
| The incorporation services company usually quote a | | | | choose has a phone number where you can reach |
| service fee and then they collect the filing fee that will | | | | customer service representatives to answer your |
| go to the state as part of your filing. This fee should be | | | | questions either before or after you buy. |
| the same regardless of which service you use as | | | | |