Online incorporation services

October 25, 2006 10:05 AM

Using an online incorporation service: recommendations?

As usual for a paying service, the google provides a myriad number of operations that are a bit of information overload. Who have you used, can recommend, or have heard good things of?

posted by jazzkat11 to work & money (8 comments total)

I used LegalZoom

You get what you pay for.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:28 AM on October 25, 2006

Well, it kind of depends on what you're looking for. If you want legal advice, you really need to go to an attorney. No decent filing service can offer you that (no reputable one will try). If you know what state your company will be formed in, then that's really half the battle. If you want a generic bylaws format, then there are plenty of good guides available. Some states actually have fill-in-the-blank articles of incorporation -- look on-line for those. For most states, the filing office is the Secretary of State. If you are looking for someone to walk the filing through for you, then that's when you'll need a service company. Remember, also, that you are required by law to have a registered agent. In almost every state, this needs to be someone who is a resident of that state. In fact, NY is the only one I can think of that doesn't have this residency requirement. Most service companies offer agent service as well. What state are you going to incorporate in? Let me know that and I can let you know more! I used to work for just such a service company.
posted by Lockjaw at 10:50 AM on October 25, 2006

Oh, kripes! You want an ON-LINE provider. Sorry about that. Well, what anyone else can do on-line, YOU can do on-line. Most states have really bare-bones Articles, so you can just type them up (anyone over the age of 18 can sign) and file them on-line with a credit card or send them in with a check via FedEx. Most states won't let you file online, but there are some that do. Really: Incorporating a company is SO EASY: Check the name to make sure it's available (states won't let two companies have the same, or confusingly similer, names) and file. There are a few places where this isn't so easy (Nevada, Arizona, Illinois). The hard part is capitalizing the company and running it --
no service company is going to do that. If you're thinking of incorporating in Delaware, the Secy of State's website does have a list of recommended service companies. All these incorporating service companies do business nationwide. It won't matter where you are located or where you want to incorporate. Go to the Delaware site, check out the companies listed, and call one of them.
posted by Lockjaw at 11:42 AM on October 25, 2006

I used http://www.corporate.com/. Pretty much hassle free.

But, of course, you should: consult with a lawyer and accountant first.
posted by bodega at 12:18 PM on October 25, 2006

If your business is (or will be) in New York state, let me know. There's a ton of free resources available, and a website where you can file online for no extra fee (I help manage the site for the Governor's office). I'd list the info here, but if you're not in NY, it would be a waste of everyone's time.
:o)
posted by NYScott at 3:17 PM on October 25, 2006

I've used both The Company Corporation and LegalZoom, the latter most recently and most often. I've been happy with the results.
posted by trinity8-director at 3:38 PM on October 25, 2006

Thanks guys - I'm looking to incorporate in either Nevada, Delaware or Texas. (thanks for the offer, NYScott)

I'd prefer a service that can handle those less than expected issues - but if it's streamlined through a particular state's office, that would be great.
posted by jazzkat11 at 4:01 PM on October 25, 2006

I recommend Bizfilings.com
posted by vizsla at 8:48 PM on October 25, 2006