Published on August 14, 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 Pennsylvania? 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.
Why Use a Business Formation Service for your LLC in Pennsylvania?
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.
What to Look for When Purchasing an LLC Service in Pennsylvania?
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.
Features
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.
Customer Service and Reviews
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 should take some of the reviews with a grain of salt.
Pricing
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.
Turnaround time
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 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 picks of business formation services in Pennsylvania.
Best LLC Formation Services in Pennsylvania
Northwest Registered Agent
4.4/5
Northwest Registered Agent offers a la carte services and a financing plan that allows customers to spread their total formation fees over one year.
BetterLegal offers one comprehensive LLC formation package and a handful of a la carte options. Their signature LLC formation service costs a one-time fee of $299 plus any state filing fees.
Northwest Registered Agent offers several a la carte services and one business formation package, the Corporate Guide Service plan, which includes a year of registered agent services and allows you to pay your total LLC formation fees over the course of a year. All customers will have online access to their documents and full customer support.
Pricing and features
The Corporate Guide Service spreads your filing and service fees over your first year of business. Your monthly bill in Pennsylvania will be $47 a month, while your expenses for the year will total $564.
This package includes the preparation and filing of both your LLC formation documents and an EIN application. Customers receive same-day processing, an operating agreement, registered agent services for one year, a business address and a limited mail forwarding address, in addition to a prepared banking resolution.
It also provides online access to your documents, customer service support, and a virtual business guide, making it a great value at a reasonable monthly price. Additional services will need to be purchased separately at a later time.
Northwest Registered Agent’s a la carte services must be paid for in full at the time of purchase. This option allows customers to add more business services or tools to your LLC formation order, such as a certified copy or a second phone number. Paying upfront for business formation services will cost $225 plus state filing fees. The total upfront expense in Pennsylvania is $350.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Competitively-designed payment package offers good value
Prompt customer service
Quick and easy purchase process
Good rating with the Better Business Bureau
Website is intuitive and resourceful
Cons
No business license filing or support
Unable to add services to the Corporate Guide Service package
Northwest Registered Agent’s Corporate Guide Service plan is a great value for entrepreneurs with a limited budget. Competitors like LegalZoom offer similar packages, but Northwest Registered Agent’s plan tends to be cheaper and include more services. Their a la carte streamlined pricing is uncommon among competitors and benefits businesses that intend to take over responsibilities gradually.
The BizFilings Basic Plan offers a good value, since they offer a few extras with the plan, including registered agent services for six months. You can purchase extra services with all their plans, including an operating agreement and other forms, and a business license research package.
They don’t offer as many services as some competitors, but if you’re just interested in forming your business, they are a good option.
Pricing and features
The Basic Plan includes a business name availability search through your state and the business formation service, as well as registered agent services for six months, which is something that some competitors do not offer. It also offers a 24/7 business monitoring tool, and a library of common business documents. In Pennsylvania the total price is $224.
With state fees, the Standard Plan is $354 and includes all the services included in the basic plan, but with the addition of an LLC kit and seal, an operating agreement and other form templates, and expedited processing.
The $484 Complete Plan includes BizFilings state fees and offers everything in the Standard Plan with several added benefits, such as:
EIN number
Compliance DVD
Certified copies of LLC documents (state fees apply)
Overnight shipping
Pros and Cons
Pros
All plans offer fair value for the price
Quick and easy purchase process
Good rating with the Better Business Bureau
Good website usability
Cons
Some a la carte services are not good value
Some customers had issues cancelling recurring services
Only one customer review exists — difficult to fully evaluate
Most of the BizFilings plans and services are good value. Their site is easy to use, and they offer a great customer service experience. They don’t offer as many services as some competitors, but if you’re just looking for a business formation service, they are a good option. If you’re looking for more services, LegalZoom might be a better choice.
BetterLegal offers one comprehensive LLC formation package and a handful of a la carte options. Their signature LLC formation service costs a one-time fee of $299 plus any state filing fees.
Pricing and features
BetterLegal offers one comprehensive LLC formation package and a handful of a la carte options. Their signature LLC formation service costs a one-time fee of $299 plus any state filing fees.
The BetterLegal LLC Formation Plan also includes a federal tax identification number. You’ll need this number to open a business bank account to pay your employees as well as your taxes when they become due. 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’ll also receive amendment or document research services, minute templates, officer designation, banking resolution, and S corp tax election tools.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Quick turnaround times
Responsive customer service
Affordable registered agent services
User-friendly website and formation process
Cons
Only one LLC formation package available
LLC formation package more costly than competition
Customer service only available M-F business hours
Overall, BetterLegal provides extremely valuable services for aspiring business owners. They can ensure that your new business gets off on the right foot. Their service is easy to use and offers a great customer experience, which we learned from testing their support services and reading countless customer reviews.
BetterLegal can take the time and hassle out of starting your business and the ongoing process of staying in compliance with your state’s laws. Their pricing is very competitive, so you’ll get outstanding value for what you pay. We highly recommend BetterLegal.
Unlike most other LLC formation services, Rocket Lawyer does not offer packages of services, just a la carte service options. They also offer a $39.99 per month subscription service on their site, with which you can get legal services, documents, and advice. The subscription has a seven-day free trial.
Pricing and features
With a $39.99 per month Rocket Lawyer subscription, the business formation service only charges state filing fees, and you can get a 25% discount on registered agent services. The subscription gives you access to a host of business document templates, including an operating agreement.
Without a subscription, the business formation service costs $99 plus state fees. In Pennsylvania, the cost is $324. You can also purchase other services, including expedited business filing for $100 and an EIN for $59.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Quick and easy purchase process
Good rating with the Better Business Bureau
Membership option is a good value if you need ongoing legal hel
Rocket Lawyer is a unique option, not offering packages of business formation services, but a subscription service instead that allows you to form your business for free and get access to a host of business form templates. We feel that the best value they offer is their subscription membership, as you’ll be able to get assistance for any ongoing legal concerns.
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:
Examined every page of the service’s website
Reviewed all of their offerings, from a la carte products to packages
Put ourselves in the customer’s shoes, creating an account
Communicated with customer service via chat, email and phone
Used the service to actually form an LLC
Gained a full understanding of the customer experience and service value
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.
FAQs
What should I take into consideration when choosing the right business formation service for my Pennsylvania LLC?
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.
What’s good about Rocket Lawyer?
Rocket Lawyer is a unique option, not offering packages of business formation services, but a subscription service instead that allows you to form your business for free and get access to a host of business form templates.
What service can help me form my business if I’m on a very tight budget?
Northwest Registered Agent offers a competitive Corporate Guide Service package for entrepreneurs on a strict budget. Customers that purchase this package benefit from Northwest Registered Agent paying your business fees upfront, allowing you to pay them back monthly at a lower price by distributing your bill over the course of a year.
Where can I learn more about what real customers think of the various business formation services?
To learn more about the customer experience at a particular business formation service, check out the reviews and ratings on the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot websites. Also see our summaries of customer reviews for each LLC formation service, detailed near the start of this article.
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