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Written by: Natalie Fell
Published on August 13, 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 Wisconsin? 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. You should 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 Wisconsin.
LegalZoom has three business formation plans, with one-time fees ranging from $79 to $349. Their economy plan is great value for what’s included and they have great customer service.
ZenBusiness has three business formation plans to choose from, with annual fees ranging from $0 to $299. They have a solid rating with the BBB and a quick and easy purchase process.
The BizFilings Basic and Standard plans both offer good value, and the site is easy to use.
Rocket Lawyer doesn’t offer any business formation packages, but instead offers a la carte services or a membership subscription for $39.99/month.
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. Their Economy Plan is great value for what’s included and they have great customer service.
In Wisconsin, the Economy Plan costs $79 plus the $130 state filing fee, totaling $209. It 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.
The $329 Standard Plan includes all the services in the Starter Plan plus a founder’s kit, personalized business embosser, and membership certificates. In Wisconsin, this costs $459 with the state filing fee added.
The $349 Express Gold Plan includes all of the services listed above plus expedited filing and express document shipping, making it a better value than the Standard Plan. This plan costs $479 when state filing fees are factored in.
LegalZoom’s services are easy to use and they offer great customer service. LegalZoom is more expensive than some competitors, but they offer a wide 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.
ZenBusiness has three business formation plans to choose from, with annual fees ranging from $0 to $299. They have a great track record with BBB, competitive pricing, and a seamless formation process.
In Wisconsin, the Starter Plan costs $0 plus the $130 state filing fee. It includes a business name availability search through the state’s database and the business formation service, with full customer support. It also offers a few extras, including an accounting consultation to help you get started with your finances. You’ll also have access to your formation documents online at any time.
The $199 Pro Plan includes all the services in the Starter plus an operating agreement template and their annual compliance service. The annual compliance service means that ZenBusiness will remind you of any reporting due dates based on Wisconsin’s requirements.
The plan also includes expedited filing so that your LLC is approved and ready to go faster. In Wisconsin, this costs $329 total when you factor in state fees.
The $299 Premium Plan includes everything in the Pro Plan with the advantage of rush filing, as well as a business domain name, website, and email. With state fees, you’ll pay $429.
Note that none of these plans include registered agent services. They are available for an additional $99 fee. ZenBusiness also has a document library that customers can access for $99.
Each of the ZenBusiness plans include a robust list of services. The Pro and Premium plans come with extras like an operating agreement and expedited and rush filing, making them a great value. However, registered agent services are not included in their packages and are offered at an additional cost.
The BizFilings Basic Plan offers a 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 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.
The $99 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 Wisconsin, the total price is $229.
The $229 Standard Plan includes all the services in the Basic Plan with the addition of an LLC kit and seal, an operating agreement and other templates, and expedited processing. With the state filing fee added, your total for this package will be $359.
The Complete Plan costs $359 and includes everything in the Standard Plan with several added benefits, such as:
In Wisconsin, you’ll pay $489 when state filing fees are factored in.
Most of the BizFilings plans and services offer 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.
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.
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 Wisconsin, the cost is $229. You can also purchase other services, including expedited business filing for $100 and an EIN for $59.
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 templates. We feel that the best value that 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:
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.
Using a business formation service to start your Wisconsin LLC frees you up to focus on growing your business. These services handle the filing process for you and offer additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner.
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.
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