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Written by: Coralee Bechteler
Published on August 16, 2022
Updated on January 29, 2023
If you’re starting an LLC, the business entity formation process is one of the first and most important hurdles. This step can be terribly complex and time-consuming, which is why many entrepreneurs turn to professional formation services.
But which are the best LLC formation services in Maine? This article takes a closer look, stepping into an entrepreneur’s shoes, to help you choose the service that puts you on the road to success.
A business formation service handles the business formation process for you, making it nearly seamless while offering additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner. Whether you’re forming a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, a business formation service takes care of all the red tape, freeing you up to focus on growing your business.
With so many business formation services to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. There are four essential elements that can help you make your decision.
Each service offers various products and services and their plans are all designed differently. You may need some services but not others, so you need to choose the service that offers everything you need. For example, only some of the providers offer annual report filing.
If it’s important to you to get that task off your plate, you’ll want a service that offers that feature. Another feature you might need is a digital dashboard where you can always access your business formation documents.
You’ll want to choose a service that has everything you need to make starting and running your business as easy as possible.
One good way to learn about the quality of anything you’re buying is to listen to what people are saying about it. When we review services we look at Better Business Bureau ratings and reviews, as well as TrustPilot reviews. It’s wise to look at both positive and negative reviews to find out what people love about the service, and about issues customers have encountered.
Remember that fake reviews are common, so you’ll have to take some of the reviews with a grain of salt.
Of course, you’ll want to get the best value for your money!
Compare the cost of each service for everything you need. The price can really add up when you start adding extras, so be careful not to go too far. You also want to get good value and great customer service, so if you’re considering the cheapest service, check the reviews to see how people felt about it.
Business formation turnaround times vary with each service, so if you’re in a hurry to get your business up and running, you’ll want to look for the quickest service. You don’t want your order to sit in an office for too long before your paperwork gets filed with the state. Some services differentiate themselves with fast turnaround times, so if they also offer good value, that might be your best choice.
Here we summarize our top four picks of business formation services in Maine.
LegalZoom has three business formation plans, with costs ranging from $79 to $349, plus state filing fees. Their Economy Plan is great value for what’s included and they have great customer service.
Incfile offers three business formation packages. Their Silver Package only charges state filing fees and includes free registered agent services for one year.
MyCompanyWorks offers three plans, all of which include an operating agreement and several other extras. Their Basic Plan, at $59, is a great value considering all that’s included.
BetterLegal offers one business formation plan for $299 plus state fees, and affordable registered agent services.
LegalZoom is an industry leader when it comes to LLC formation services. They offer three business plans, with one-time fees ranging from $79 to $349, plus state fees. Their Economy Plan is great value for what’s included and they have great customer service.
In Maine, the Economy Plan costs $254 ($79 charge plus the $175 state filing fee) and includes a business name availability search through the state database, your business’s formation, and full customer support. It also offers a few extras, including a digital welcome packet and a business newsletter. You’ll also have access to your formation documents online at any time.
Including state fees, LegalZoom’s Standard Plan costs $504 in Maine and includes all the services in the Starter Plan plus a founder’s kit, personalized business embosser, and membership certificates.
The $524 Express Gold Plan includes Maine’s state fees and offers all of the services listed above plus expedited filing and express document shipping, making it a better value than the Standard Plan.
LegalZoom’s services are easy to use and they offer great customer experience. LegalZoom is more expensive than some competitors but they do offer a wider variety of legal services and have been in business for more than 20 years. Overall, they’re a great one-stop shop for all of your business formation and legal needs.
Incfile offers three business formation packages: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The Silver Package is free, plus state fees, and includes free registered agent services for one year. Incfile also gives customers access to an online dashboard and unlimited phone and email support.
Incfile’s Silver Package includes the preparation and filing of the articles of organization and unlimited name searches. It also includes free registered agent services for a year, making it a great value at no additional cost other than state fees. In Maine, the Silver Package costs $175.
Including Maine’s state fees, the $324 Gold Package provides the added services of an operating agreement, business tax consultation, and lifetime company alerts. It has a few other benefits as well, so it’s an overall good value.
The $474 Platinum Package includes Maine state fees and offers the additional benefit of expedited filing as well as a domain name and business formation. You’ll also receive access to business contract templates. However, if you have either the Silver or Gold package, you can gain access to the entire document library for $150.
Incfile also offers a number of a la carte services. For a fee, Incfile can handle tasks like filing your annual report and changing your registered agent.
Incfile is great for entrepreneurs on a budget, as their Silver Package covers the basics and includes a free year of their registered agent service. Competitors like LegalZoom and Swyft Filings have a more robust suite of services, but can be more expensive.
MyCompanyWorks has three business formation plans, all of which come with a host of features and services, making them stand out from competitors that charge additional fees for those services. Most valuable is the personalized operating agreement that’s included in all the plans.
The MyCompanyWorks Basic Plan is priced at $59 plus state fees, and includes same business day processing, a personalized operating agreement, a banking resolution and a host of other extras. Considering what’s included, the plan is a great value.
Their Entrepreneur Plan is $179 plus state fees and has the added benefits of an EIN service and registered agent services. Those extras make it a good value as well.
The Complete Plan is $259 plus state fees and has everything in the Entrepreneur Plan plus annual report filing, a compliance service, and a few other benefits. The plan is a bit on the expensive side compared to the value that you get from the other plans.
Overall, our experience with MyCompanyWorks was positive. They offer more services for the money than many competitors, giving them an edge when it comes to value. Unfortunately, they do not have chat support, but their phone and email customer service are good. Their customer reviews are positive, although there are only a handful of them from the BBB and TrustPilot. With all things considered and the value they offer, we would not hesitate to recommend MyCompanyWorks.
BetterLegal’s LLC Formation Plan is their only packaged offering. For $299 plus state fees, it includes an operating agreement, employer identification number (EIN), and the business formation service. It also includes amendment or document research services and a business website.
BetterLegal’s LLC Formation Plan costs a one-time fee of $299 plus state fees. In Maine, the total price is $474 and includes business name availability search and preparation and filing of the articles of organization. It also includes an operating agreement draft which allows you to record all pertinent information related to the ownership of your business, governance and business structure.
The BetterLegal LLC Formation Plan also includes a federal tax identification number, or EIN. You’ll need this number to open a business bank account and to pay your employees and taxes.
The plan also comes with free website services, insurance evaluation, and tax analysis. BetterLegal is known for being a leading tax services provider, so you can rest assured that you’ll receive expert tax advice. You also receive amendment or document research services, minute templates, officer designation, banking resolution, and S corp tax election.
Note that this plan does not include registered agent services, which you can add for $10 per month or $90 per year.
BetterLegal is a bit more expensive than competitors, especially Incfile. However, their registered agent services are better priced and also offer a monthly payment option, which is unique.
As an entrepreneurial advisory site, we take our responsibilities seriously. We understand that countless entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, rely on our judgments and insights, particularly when it comes to creating their business.
As a result, our writers do their utmost to gain a comprehensive understanding of the services offered and the actual customer experience. In nearly every case, we:
Thanks to this full immersion in the actual customer experience, our reviewers are able to provide the most complete and insightful analysis of various LLC formation services.
When assessing whether or not a business formation service is right for you, it’s important to dive into the following four categories: included features, customer service, pricing, and turnaround time.
Incfile is great for entrepreneurs on a budget, as their Silver Package covers the basics and includes a free year of their registered agent service. Competitors like LegalZoom and Swyft Filings have a more robust suite of services, but can be more expensive.
Overall, LegalZoom is a reliable service that has been around for a while. If you need a one-stop shop for legal and business services, they are probably your best bet.
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