IncFile vs Swyft Filings Comparison

Business entity formation is a crucial element of launching a business, and because it’s often complex and tedious many entrepreneurs hire a professional to do the job right. 

Two of the leading online services to consider are IncFile and Swyft Filings. And to help you determine which is better, and which might be best for you and your business, we have thoroughly reviewed their services by putting ourselves in the shoes of an entrepreneur. Read on to make the choice that will put your business on the highway to success. 

While it was a tough call (and that we’re rating Swyft Filings higher), we feel that IncFile offers a better overall value, particularly since their Silver Package is free except for the state fees.

Features and Services Overview

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.

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 Filings is known for speed, as their signup process is quick and they have faster turnaround times.

Plans Pricing

Incfile’s “base” plan is free except for state fees and 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.

The IncFile $149 “middle” plan 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 IncFile $299 “top-tier” plan 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 “base” or “middle” plans, 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.

Swyft Filings’ “base” plan costs $49 and provides the verification of your company name, preparation of the articles of organization, and document filing with the state. 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. 

Swyft Filings’ “middle” plan is $149. This includes all the services included in the “base” plan, but 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 $299, the Swyft Filings “top-tier” plan offers everything in the “middle” plan 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.

Silver Package vs. Basic Package

It’s hard to beat IncFile’s free Silver Package, but the Swyft Filing Basic Package does come with Compliance Guard which reminds you of important state deadlines.

However, unless that’s of high value to you, IncFile’s plan is the better value, mainly because it comes with free registered agent services for a year.

Gold Package vs. Standard Package

IncFile’s Gold Package and Swyft Filings’ Standard Package are nearly identical, except that the IncFile plan offers a business bank account, while the Swyft Filings plan offers customized organizational minutes.

However, with IncFile you get free registered agent services for a year, and their fee for those services thereafter is far less than the Swyft Filings registered agent fee, which is $149 per quarter.

Platinum Package vs. Premium Package

Again, these two plans are nearly identical. IncFile’s Platinum package only comes with a domain name, while Swyft Filings’ Premium Package comes with a website and hosting. That almost makes Swyft the winner, but we think that the first-year free registered agent services are a bigger differentiator for IncFile. 

Customer Service

We tested the customer service experience of both services from every angle. Here’s what we found. 

IncFile

User Experience – What to Expect 

When you first go to the Incfile site, clicking on the “Start My Business” button will open up a new window. You’ll then see a couple of drop down menus: one for your business type (choose LLC) and one for the state in which you are filing. Once you choose your state, you’ll see specific pricing.

Each of the three available plans will appear, along with an outline of what’s included in each. The price displayed will include both the package fee and the fees for your particular state. Once you’ve made your decision, click the “Get the Silver/Gold/Platinum Package”. You will then be prompted to enter your contact information and mailing address.

Next, you’ll be asked to choose standard or expedited filing. Incfile also includes the typical processing time in your chosen state so you can make a more informed decision. 

Enter your company information, including information on your members or owners, business purpose, industry, and address. After entering these details, you’ll be offered a chance to upgrade to a higher level package before continuing. 

The next series of screens prompt you to enter the information that will ultimately appear on your articles of organization document. Then you’ll be asked if you’d like to use Incfile as your registered agent or act as your own (if allowed in that state). If you choose the Silver Package, the service is free for a year and $119 annually afterwards. The service is included in the price of both the Gold and Platinum packages.

From this point onward, depending which package you choose, you’ll be prompted to provide all the applicable information for each included service. If you choose Silver or Gold, you’ll have opportunities to add various a la carte services.

Once you’re finished making your choices, you’ll have a chance to review your information before you submit payment.

How is the formation process?

The formation process was quick and easy, making for a nearly seamless user experience. Opportunities to upgrade were more informative than intrusive, and it was made very clear what you were getting with each package. 

One downside is that there’s no way to save your progress if you have to leave the page and come back later. However, if you click the back button and move back to the homepage, you will be prompted to either start over or resume.

In Summary

Overall, the site is easy to use if you’re ready to go and just want to complete the process. Otherwise, information can be difficult to find to form an LLC on your own. 

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 ZenBusiness have a more robust suite of services, but are also more expensive.

Customer Support

We tested all three forms of Incfile customer support. 

Chat support

When we tested the customer service response time through the online chat option, we received a response within two minutes. We asked a question about cancellation policy and how to cancel an order if we change our mind about the filing. The agent was very helpful and explained the process clearly.

Support Rating:

Response time:

Immediate

Phone support

We called Incfile to ask a question about registered agent services. Our call was answered almost immediately, and the question was answered promptly. 

The question was whether registered agent services are included in any of the plans. The answer was that they are included in Gold and Platinum and customers get a free year of registered agent services with the Silver Package. 

The customer service representative was professional and polite and made sure to ask if we had any additional questions.

Support Rating:

Response time:

Immediate

Email support

We asked the same question via email about registered agent services and received the same response in under 24 hours. Our question was answered thoroughly and politely. The person who responded made no sales pitches and asked how else they could be of service. 

Support Rating:

Response time:

Reasonable

Swyft Filings

User Experience – What to Expect 

When you first go to the Swyft Filings site, enter your entity type (LLC) and the state of formation and then click the Get Started button to begin your filing.

Next, you’ll be prompted to enter your desired business name and the state of incorporation once more. You’ll then get a confirmation message that your name is available, along with another Get Started button. The following screen prompts you to enter in your contact information. Once you’ve entered your information, click Get My LLC.

The next screen asks what type of business your LLC will be. Begin typing your description and choose an option from the drop down menu. If none of the options fit, you can type a custom description in your own words. You’ll then be asked to enter how many employees you expect to have. 

At this point, you’ll have a chance to add registered agent services to your filing for an additional $149 per quarter. Click your appropriate choice to move to the next step.

Next, you will be asked if you’d like to add a business license and compliance package for an additional $99. Make your selection to move to the next screen, which is where you will get to review the three service packages offered.

Review the packages and what’s included in each and click the Select button underneath your choice. The next screen asks if you want to add a business bank account with Bank of America. You can accept or decline.

Finally, you’ll get a chance to review all of your information before making your purchase. You also have the option to pay in monthly instalments or pay the full amount.

Click the Confirm button to move forward with payment and complete your filing.

How is the formation process?

Overall, the initial process to begin formation was quick, easy, and straightforward. However, one downside was not being able to see all of the details of the three plans until you actually begin your filing. It would be helpful to be able to compare pricing and packages beforehand so you can truly assess if Swyft Filings is right for you upfront.

You are also upsold throughout the process and provided with several a la carte services, all before you get a chance to review the three packages. There is also no option to save your information in case you want to come back to your filing later on. You have to complete the entire process in one sitting or else you’ll need to start over from the beginning.

In Summary

Overall, the site is easy to use if you’re ready to go and just want to complete the process. Otherwise, information can be difficult to find to form an LLC on your own. 

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 most other LLC formation services either charge an annual fee or bundle it with other offerings.

Incfile is better for entrepreneurs on a budget, as their Silver Package covers the basics and includes a free year of their registered agent service. Other LLC formation services like LegalZoom and ZenBusiness have a more robust suite of services, but they are also more expensive.

Customer Support

We tested all three forms of Swyft Filings customer support, and detail our findings below. 

Chat & Email support

When we tested the customer service response time through the online chat option, we received a response within 24 hours. We discovered that the online chat feature is not a live chat feature, it’s more of a contact form. Once you fill out your information, it sends an email to customer support, so the chat and email features are essentially the same.

The question we asked was about the registered agent services and whether or not they were included in any of the service packages. A representative got back to us and explained that registered agent services are not included in any package but you can add at check out for a $149 quarterly fee. 

They also mentioned that there is the option to provide your own registered agent at check out. The response was thorough and polite and didn’t include any sales pitches. They also closed with an invitation to reach out again if we had any further questions.

Support Rating:

Response time:

Reasonable

Phone support

We called Swyft Filings to ask the same question regarding registered agent services. Our call was answered almost immediately, and the question was answered promptly. 

The question was whether registered agent services are included in any of the plans, and the answer was no. The representative proceeded to explain the quarterly service the same way it was outlined in the email response. The customer service representative was very professional and polite and did not try to sell additional services. 

Support Rating:

Response time:

Immediate

Customer Reviews

We wanted to know how real customers feel about both services, so we thoroughly explored customer reviews at the Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot. Below we’ve summarized our findings. 

IncFile

Better Business Bureau

Incfile is not currently accredited with the BBB.

• Great customer service
• Good issue resolution
• Proactive representatives

Incfile is not currently accredited with the BBB. They have 4.67/5 stars in customer reviews and have received 260 complaints in three years. A total of 30 complaints have been resolved over the last 12 months.

Many positive reviews at BBB revolve around exceptional customer service. Customers mentioned phone support being very helpful and cordial, as well as proactive in identifying potential problems. Customers also mentioned chat support being excellent at resolving issues. 

One customer highlighted the responsiveness of the representative they were working with and that their issue was resolved quickly. Another had a difficult problem to solve and the representative that was handling the case “took care of the problem immediately”.

Most of the negative reviews were categorized as a “problem with product or service”. A common issue seemed to be a lack of communication between Incfile and customers, especially when it came to expectations regarding turnaround time and refunds. 

But it’s worth noting that at the time of this review, the most recent complaint was several months old. You can read reviews on the BBB website. 

Trustpilot 

Incfile has a high trust score rating on Trustpilot.

• User friendly website
• Transparent pricing
• Great customer service

The Trustpilot score for Incfile is 4.7/5 stars.

Incfile reviews at TrustPilot break down as follows:

• Excellent 82%
• Great 9%
• Average 2%
• Poor <1%
• Bad 6%

Positive reviews mostly involved how easy it was to form an LLC. Some commented on the user-friendliness of the website and appreciated the transparency in pricing and the added features. Some reviews mentioned customer service representatives by name and praised them for being highly responsive and helpful.

Reviews in the “bad” category included confusion over state filing fees, a lack of communication from representatives, and poor customer service over the phone. Other customers complained about long turnaround times and a lack of transparency in terms of how long things would take to process, especially when it came to state filings. 

It does seem like a representative from Incfile is monitoring the negative reviews and the company makes an attempt to resolve issues. 

You can read reviews on the TrustPilot website. 

Swyft Filings

Better Business Bureau

Swyft Filings is not currently accredited with the BBB.

• Good customer service
• Quick issue resolution
• Fast turnaround

Swyft Filings is not currently accredited with the BBB, but has 4.44/5 stars in customer reviews. They closed 129 complaints in the last three years, including 58 in the past year. 

Positive customer reviews highlighted the politeness of staff members and being helpful to new entrepreneurs. People also said they appreciated the thoroughness of customer service, especially over the phone. 

Some customer service representatives were mentioned by name and customers who made mistakes during the filing process mentioned that problems were quickly addressed and remedied.

Negative reviews and complaints mentioned a lack of responsiveness, especially over email. There were also complaints regarding Swyft not honoring the money-back guarantee.

Swyft Filings also recently changed their registered agent services from an annual fee to a quarterly fee, which came as a surprise to many existing customers, signaling a potential lack in communication.

You can read reviews on the BBB website. 

Trustpilot 

Swyft Filings has a high trust score rating on Trustpilot.

• Good customer service
• User-friendly website
• Quick turnaround

The Trustpilot score for Swyft Filings is 4.7/5 stars.

The Swyft Filings reviews from Trustpilot have the following range:

• Excellent 87%
• Great 6%
• Average 2%
• Poor <1%
• Bad 5%

Positive reviews under Trustpilot were similar to those at the Better Business Bureau. Customers were pleased with the helpfulness and patience of customer service representatives and mentioned some of them by name. Other reviews mentioned the user-friendly website and quick turnaround times. 

Some of the negative reviews focused on undisclosed extra fees, being charged for services without consent, and that the process “felt like a scam”. People also complained about feeling nickeled and dimed for extra services and how they ultimately wound up spending more than they had anticipated.

You can read reviews on the TrustPilot website. 

Pros and Cons

IncFile

Swyft Filings

Verdict

After a thorough assessment, it was a tough call, but we have determined that IncFile offers the better value due to their free Silver Package and lower registered agent services fees, which you’ll get free for one year. By choosing IncFile you will save some money and likely receive high-quality customer service. The main advantage of Swyft Filings is their quick turnaround times, but overall our choice is IncFile.

Our approach

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 this case, we:

• Examined every single page of both the IncFile and Swyft Filings websites
• Reviewed all of their offerings, from a la carte products to packages
• Put ourselves in the customer’s shoes, creating accounts
• Communicated with customer service via chat, email and phone
• Gained a full understanding of the customer experience and service value

Thanks to this full immersion in the actual customer experience, our reviewer and team are able to provide the most complete and insightful comparison of IncFile and Swyft Filings LLC formation services.