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Written by: Coralee Bechteler
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 Rhode Island? 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 should 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 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 for business formation services in Rhode Island.
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.
Swyft Filings has three business formation packages and a variety of a la carte services. Swyft Filings is known for their quick signup process and faster turnaround times.
The BizFilings Basic Plan and Standard plan both offer good value, and the site is easy to use.
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 Rhode Island, the Economy Plan costs $229 (includes state fees) and provides 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 $479 in Rhode Island and includes all the services in the Starter Plan plus a founder’s kit, personalized business embosser, and membership certificates.
The $499 Express Gold Plan includes Rhode Island’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.
Swyft Filings has three business formation packages and a variety of a la carte services. Package prices range from $49 to $299 plus state filing fees, and are sold for a one-time expense. Swyft is known for speed, as their signup process is quick and they have faster turnaround times.
Swyft Filings Basic Package costs $199 (including Rhode Island state fees) and provides the verification of your company name, preparation of the articles of organization, and document filing with the state of Rhode Island. You’ll also get online access to your documents and lifetime customer support. This plan comes with a one-hour business tax consultation to help you prepare for your first tax season, and company compliance alerts so you never miss a deadline.
In Rhode Island, Swyft Filings’ Standard Package with state fees comes to a total of $299. This includes all the services in the Basic Package with the addition of a custom operating agreement and a federal tax ID, or EIN. You will also get access to custom banking resolution services and custom organizational minutes, which is a form that helps you set up your very first meeting as an LLC.
For $449, the Premium Package includes Rhode Island’s state fees and offers everything in the Standard Package with the advantage of expedited filing, as well as a business website and web hosting services. You also get a digital LLC kit, which includes a digital company “seal”, a ledger for tracking transfers of ownership, and customized stock certificates.
Swyft Filings lives up to its name in terms of speedy processing times. However, the biggest drawback is that they don’t include registered agent services in any of their packages. Additionally, the registered agent service is $149 per quarter, whereas many other LLC formation services either charge an annual fee or bundle it with other offerings.
The BizFilings Basic Plan offers good value compared to others, 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, this is a good option.
BizFilings’ Basic Plan costs $99, plus state fees, and includes a business name availability search through your state and the business formation service. The Basic Plan provides registered agent services for six months, which is something most competitors do not offer. It also offers a 24/7 business monitoring tool and a library of common business documents.
You can purchase BizFilings’ Standard Plan for $229 plus state fees. You will receive all services included in the Basic Plan with the addition of an LLC kit and seal, an operating agreement and other form templates, and expedited processing.
For $359 plus state fees, BizFilings’ offers a Complete Plan that includes everything in the Standard Plan with several added benefits, such as:
Most of the BizFilings plans and services are a 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’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 Rhode Island, the total price is $449 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. 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 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 compared to 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.
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.
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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