Startups Anonymous

What Is The Owner Of An LLC Called?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:16:11 +0000

LLC stands for Limited Liability Company, a type of business structure that combines the pass-through taxation of a sole proprietorship or partnership with the limited liability of a corporation. LLCs are authorized under state laws and have the power to form contracts, buy and sell assets, hire employees, incur debt, and pay taxes on profits.

The members of an LLC are the owners of the company and therefore have a say in how the business is run. They can vote on major decisions and influence the direction of the company. An LLC offers a flexible structure for owners, who can take on roles similar to those of sole proprietors, partners, or passive investors.

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Does the LLC always have an owner? Can it have multiple owners?

The short answer is yes. An LLC is an entity that has the rights and obligations of a person.

As such, it needs to have an owner who will be responsible for its actions. The owner does not need to be a human being. It can be a trust, for example, or even another LLC.

The owner is the person or entity that controls the company. They can also be called members of the company or shareholders. An LLC can have one or more members. Each member is an LLC owner since they are each entitled to a share of profits and losses. The articles of organization must state how many members are required to form the company, but there is no maximum number of members that the business can have.

The number of members should correspond with the size and needs of your business and the amount of personal liability you're willing to assume on behalf of yourself and your partners. For example, suppose you're creating a large enterprise with many investors and employees. In that case, you might consider forming a corporation instead of an LLC because it provides more protection from lawsuits and debts than an LLC does.

Who are the members of an LLC, and who manages the LLC?

Members of an LLC include:

Members: An LLC can have one member or several members. Members can be individuals or other entities, such as corporations. The members govern themselves through an operating agreement. This type of LLC is ideal for small businesses with few managers or employees.
Managing Member: If your LLC has only one member, that person is the managing member. If you have more than one managing member, they must agree unanimously on all decisions. The manager controls the LLC's day-to-day operations and is the contact for all legal matters.
Non-Managing Members: Non-managing members aren't responsible for the LLC's debts and obligations unless they agree to be liable for them in writing through a personal liability agreement. All non-managing members must sign an operating agreement with their signatures notarized by a notary public. The operating agreement should contain provisions governing how profits and losses will be distributed among the owners and what rights each owner has to participate in management activities or make management decisions on behalf of the LLC.

Passive Members

Passive members in an LLC do not actively participate in the management of the company, have no voting rights, and are not required to attend meetings.

They may receive a share of profits in proportion to their ownership percentage, but are not required to contribute to the company.

Their role is limited to investing in the business and receiving a share of profits without having any responsibilities for managing or growing the business.

What is the owner of an LLC called?

An LLC is owned by its members. In other words, each member of an LLC is its part-owner.When an organization becomes an LLC, it gains many benefits from the structure, but can still operate just like a sole proprietorship or partnership.There are no limits to the number of members allowed, and each member is afforded a degree of privacy from creditors by the limited liability status.

Key Takeaways

A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure that offers the limited liability protection of a corporation and the tax efficiencies of a partnership.
A single-member LLC is a sole proprietorship by default, and the owner must pay self-employment taxes on profits.
LLCs are administered by members or managers. Most states don't require LLCs to have either, but some require you to designate a manager if you don't want to manage the business.
Multi-member LLCs are taxed as partnerships. There is no salary for members, but profits and losses are reported on the members' personal tax returns instead of a separate business return.
Member managers are members who have continuing authority to make management decisions to conduct the LLC's business. Accordingly, profits distributed to member managers are subject to self-employment tax.

FAQs

What is the difference between an LLC and a partnership?

An LLC is a business entity, a partnership is not. A partnership is simply a relationship between two or more people who agree to share the profits and losses of their business venture. An LLC is a separate legal entity with many of the same benefits as a corporation.

Who can form an LLC?

Anyone who has a good idea for a business can form an LLC; you don't need experience or a lot of money to start one. Forming an LLC is much easier than starting a corporation or sole proprietorship because there are fewer requirements for filing paperwork and less government oversight.

How do I form an LLC?

You will need the assistance of an attorney to draft the articles of incorporation for your LLC and register it with the Secretary of State's office in your state. You may also need to obtain licenses, permits, and other approvals from various government agencies.

Can I add or remove owners from my LLC?

Yes. If you are the sole owner of an LLC, you can add or remove yourself as a member of your LLC. If you have other members, they must consent to adding or removing any member.

The post What Is The Owner Of An LLC Called? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

Ambr Meaning LLC | What Is It?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:15:38 +0000

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) has the tax benefits of a partnership or sole proprietorship that protects the company from business debt and legal liability.

An authorized owner must comply with the conditions to execute and file office documents in an LLC. Three people hold this authority within an LLC:

An AR, or Authorized Representative
An AP, or Authorized Person
An AMBR, or Authorized Member

Representatives are individuals authorized by the office to sign and file documents on behalf of the company.

A multi-member LLC is referred to as a manager-managed company if none of the members have the power to manage or control it. In this kind of LLC, the members choose the managers to operate the business. The manager may act upon documents on the company's behalf.

Owners of LLC businesses should understand what the term "Ambr Meaning LLC" means. The management and members need to know who will run the business. The operations agreement and bylaws of the organization may include a statement of the terms of administration.

Manager-managed companies do not adhere to the requirements for LLC agencies, which is the main difference between them and member-managed organizations. In manager-managed companies, only managers are considered agents of the company and not every representative. Even when members choose them to represent the company, this rule still applies.

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What differentiates a manager from an authorized member in an LLC?

A member is an individual who owns an LLC and is comparable to a stockholder in a company.

On the other hand, a manager is an individual chosen by the members to run the LLC, just like what a director does for a corporation.

The manager is in charge of managing business operations and making major decisions. An individual can be both a member and a manager.

Any member permitted to act on behalf of the limited liability company is an authorized member. They are a part of the company and enter into legally binding agreements on its behalf under the terms of the governing documents of that limited liability business.

What kinds of business structures can an Authorized Member Ambr have?

Business models under the LLC category are:

Single-member LLC/Sole Proprietorship
Family Limited Partnership
General Partnership
LLC

A member-managed or manager-managed structure impacts the legal documents or regulations of the company.

Passive Member

LLC Passive members are investors or designated members without the authority to participate in the daily decision-making process and are less liable. An active member can serve as the manager, or a manager is chosen to oversee the activities of the business.

Size of LLC

Sole proprietorship status applies to single-member LLCs. Therefore, they alone are responsible for any financial obligations, legal problems, and so forth. Due to complex business management structures, large LLCs often have fewer employees.

LLC Members are proprietors, not employees. An authorized member becomes a worker if they accept management responsibilities, and their management income is independent of their owner share or status.

What is the highest position in an LLC?

The President effectively holds the position of highest-ranking manager in an LLC. The President usually has complete authority to open bank accounts and broad managerial control over the LLC's operations under the terms of the Operating Agreement. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer are also held by LLC officials and managers.

FAQs

What is a General Partnership LLC?

The ownership structure of an LLC held by various members is a general partnership. It implies that all owners are accountable for the company's taxes, obligations, and financial dealings. In addition, each LLC member is responsible for paying taxes on their portion of the business's profits and can choose when to sell an asset.

For small and medium-sized firms, an LLC can be advantageous. Both limited partnerships and general partnerships involve multiple people sharing duties.

What is the difference between a family-limited partnership and a professional LLC?

Family members hold a family-limited partnership structure just like a limited partnership structure. Families usually create an LLC as a general or a limited partnership and invest their assets in the business. Further, they can amend the membership and designate authority to fully assign control of the family's property to other family members.

An individual often establishes a professional LLC to provide a professional service, such as a law or medical practice. Certain LLC members must have state licenses proving their professional credentials to form a professional LLC. The professional LLC's limitation on personal responsibility does not extend to claims of professional misconduct. Therefore, it's crucial to consult a lawyer before creating a professional LLC.

How are LLCs managed?

Membership in an LLC often gives the owner a share of the LLC's earnings, losses, and cash distributions and also the right to vote on some of the LLC's management decisions. The Operating Agreement for the LLC outlines all of this.

The LLC can be operated by one managing member, a group of members, an external manager, or all the members, as specified in the terms and conditions of the agreement.

An LLC does not have a Board of Directors, which is usually essential for companies.

What are the necessary papers needed to establish an LLC?

The required LLC forms and paperwork are listed below:

* Articles/certificates of Organization: This is the paperwork to be submitted to the Secretary of State to formally establish the LLC.

*The LLC's operating agreement: It outlines the contract agreement regarding the financial, capital contribution, managerial, votes, and other obligations and rights and duties of the owners.

*Application for Business License: Your state, city, or county may require you to submit business license applications.

*Employee Identification Number (EIN): You can quickly apply for an EIN online, which the IRS mandates to establish an LLC.

*DBA: A DBA (doing business as) name form may be required if you intend to operate the LLC under a name other than the business name registered with the state.

*Forms for bank accounts: Your LLC should have a checking or savings account to keep business finances distinct from owners' personal-use funds. Before allowing the opening of an account, banks will need specific papers to be filled out, along with a copy of the LLC's Articles of Organization to demonstrate the LLC's legal status.

What is the simplest method to create an LLC?

The simplest way is by using an online service for business formation for simple LLCs such as those with a single proprietor. A lawyer with experience in LLCs may be more appropriate to create more complex LLCs like those with several owners or complex management, ownership, or voting rights.

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How To Get Health Insurance For LLC Owners?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:15:04 +0000

If you have a small business, you need to have business health insurance for your workforce, especially for you as a business owner. Here are some ways to find affordable health insurance as an LLC owner.

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LLC owners' health insurance options

You can either purchase individual health insurance or be eligible for a group health insurance plan through your employer.

Individual health insurance

Since this option does not limit you to one provider, individual health insurance typically provides more flexibility and options than group plans, such as those offered by an LLC.

An individual plan can be the best option for you if you prefer having the flexibility to choose the hospital and doctor.

You should evaluate the benefits and drawbacks before choosing an individual health insurance plan because they can be costlier than group health insurance.

You should consider getting group health insurance through your LLC if you want to offer health insurance to your workforce. Compared to individual health plans, group health insurance could be a more cost-effective option.

Health insurance for groups

You might be eligible for the company's group insurance plan if the business is a partnership with two or more owners, often known as "members."

Compared with individual coverage, group health insurance offered by your LLC will give you more provider options and potential financial savings. Workers might need to pay a monthly premium to get covered under the plan.

The general rule for a sole proprietorship

Even if you don't have any employees, you can still purchase individual health insurance as an LLC member or owner, but you often can't receive small business health insurance or a group plan through your LLC.

You are likely a sole proprietor if your LLC has no other employees other than yourself. In this case, you would only be eligible for individual health insurance and not small business health insurance. Nevertheless, sole proprietorships with one more employee apart from the business owner can frequently be eligible for group health coverage.

How to choose the right plan for you?

Finding the ideal plan for you requires some research into your choices.

Non-Member: Getting individual health insurance may be necessary if you apply as a non-member employee.
Self-employed: If you declare yourself self-employed, you may need to consider obtaining group health insurance coverage straight from an insurance provider or brokers.
Partnership: Supposing your business is a partnership, and you and the other partners want to obtain group health insurance, you should speak with an expert to determine whether it is viable for your business.
Corporation: If you register as a corporation, you usually have fewer alternatives and pay more for insurance than an LLC or another unincorporated entity would.
HRA: A health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) is a contract between your insurance provider and you that allows you to receive tax-free reimbursement for medical expenses. You set aside money each month to pay for expected medical expenses. It works with both individual and group health insurance programs. You can use it to pay for costs like dental or vision care that your standard health plan doesn't cover.

What are the tax implications of a health plan?

The eligibility for a health insurance LLC deduction relies on whether it is a claim for LLC members or non-member employees, the LLC's legal and tax status, and whether it is categorized as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation.

LLC with One Single Member Taxed as a Sole Proprietorship

Your LLC will be taxed as a sole proprietorship or self-employed if you are the only member. One drawback of paying taxes as a sole proprietorship or as a self-employed person is that you cannot claim health insurance costs as a company expense.

LLC with Multiple Members Taxed as a Partnership or S Corp

You will be taxed as a partnership or S corporation if your LLC has multiple owners or members. It indicates that your individual income tax return will be affected by the company's profits and losses.

An LLC Taxed as a Corporation

Your options for a health plan will be considerably more restricted and generally more expensive if your company is being taxed as a corporation. Also, failing to purchase health insurance as a small business owner will cost you.

A corporation with a specific tax status may have access to different health insurance plans, but an LLC can still get coverage.

Consult a small business insurance expert or acquire legal counsel to learn more about your options for health insurance.

Key Takeaways

If you own an LLC, you can get health insurance on your own, through your company, or through an insurance exchange.
An HRA between you and your insurance company helps you to get reimbursed for medical costs tax-free.
You must consider purchasing individual health insurance if you filed as a non-member employee.
For those registered as a partnership, you get group health insurance with the other partners.
Your alternatives would generally be limited if you filed as a corporation, and coverage costs are frequently much higher.
Single-member LLCs are usually eligible for individual health insurance, not group health insurance, provided they have at least one employee and are a sole proprietorship.

FAQs

Do companies have to provide health insurance?

A business with 50+ full-time employees must provide health insurance. You might not be subject to this federal law if you employ less than 50 people.

Regardless of the size of your company, some states like Hawaii may stipulate that you provide health insurance. You will need to stay updated about the state and federal-level laws regulating small business health insurance.

Can an LLC claim a tax deduction for health insurance?

With an LLC, you can deduct the insurance expense for yourself, your spouse, and any dependent family members. If an individual is eligible for a group health plan through their employment, they will not be covered by the LLC's policy.

Who qualifies for public health insurance?

Your small business may qualify for health insurance if you are a business owner and have employees. You should check with your state to know what plans are available. You can then calculate the cost of providing insurance for both full- and part-time workers.

Do you require a health insurance provider for your small business?

Small businesses need to review their requirements for employee health insurance policies. Giving employees access to insurance is frequently a significant perk that they value. Finding reasonable health insurance choices is essential if your company has 50 or more employees, especially if you want to pay some or all of the costs for staff members. Health insurance benefits all businesses, even those with fewer than 50 staff members, particularly when the workforce wants it.

The post How To Get Health Insurance For LLC Owners? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

How Do You Find Out Who Owns An LLC?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:14:13 +0000

A limited liability company (LLC) is a business entity that allows many owners. "Members" refer to the many owners of the LLC, who could be individuals, businesses, other LLCs, or international organizations. There is typically no limit to the number of members for LLCs, and the majority of states do not limit LLC ownership.

Some states demand that the members (owners) of a member-managed LLC list their name and address in the Articles of Organization. Other states might not require a member to be listed, but they might instead demand the name(s) of the organizer(s) or their authorized representative(s).

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Resourceful Methods to Find The LLC Owner

1. Searching on the Secretary of State's Website

To find out what you need, here are links to the Secretary of State (SoS) websites for each state.

You can make public records request for access to the data on the state's official website.

The SoS office monitors business registrations, and many states require the bare minimum of information.

Upon filing status on the SoS website, look for an LLC's administrative dissolution, dormancy, merger, annual report, cancellation, conversion, or reinstatement. The LLC must have already submitted this paperwork to the SoS for this to be effective.

Checking the database of registered agents is another option to look up the LLC's owner. Find the registered agent's name in the LLC's formation documentation. But if the registered agent has since changed, this data might not be accurate.

2. DMV Searches

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website allows you to look up the LLC's owners when you have an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

You can perform a business search online for any registered vehicles to that LLC using the business name or address based on your state. You may contact the LLC over the phone and ask for a list of all their registered vehicles.

3. Finding by Brand Registry, Corporate Name, And Trademark

You can check if any other businesses are using the same business name by running a trading name and trademark search of the LLC's name and address.

This is because another entity may have the same LLC name without being part of the same company or group, in which case they need to be able to keep working under the same name.

If you know the owner's name but not their address, perform a reversed trade name or trademark search.

You may also check if the LLC was a member of a trade group for the industry. If this is the case, you could browse the online directory and get the details from search results.

4. Conducting a Personal Property tax database Search

Businesses must submit tax reports and pay yearly taxes on their property.

This open data is searchable online. For instance, the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) levies taxes on various business entities and collects them depending on the property address.

The location of the company's principal office in that state, and the registered agent for the LLC, can be found in a property tax database.

When looking up a company in Maryland, the SDAT only provides the address of the principal place of business; it does not include the phone number. Use that address in a web search for a phone number. Once you find the phone number, you can call the company and ask about the owner of the LLC.

5. Performing a Regulatory License Search

If you're looking for an LLC owner who works in a regulated sector like real estate, healthcare, hospitality, or banking, another search option is their regulatory license. You will get a list of every company in the state that has an operating license in that industry, which might allow you to focus your research.

6. Searching Financial Institutions and Fictitious Names

If the LLC you're interested in operates in the finance sector, note that states have financial regulators with searchable databases. Sometimes an LLC will use a fictional name distinct from the owners. In some states, the company owner must reserve a fictitious name with the Department of Assessments and Taxation. They must disclose the full legal name, address, and nature of the business. Identifying the LLC owner may be possible with the help of this information.

7. Personal Visit to a Government Office

Let's say your web search did not turn up any results, and you are aware of the location or state of the LLC. In that scenario, it might be more practical to go in person and file a record request form to a government office.

This method is beneficial if you're trying to find an LLC that is no longer in operation.

8. Getting in Touch With the Members of the LLC

As a final resort if you can't locate them by any of the methods mentioned above, get in touch with the LLC's members and ask who the owner is. Since the members might not want to provide you such information, this approach could take some time. Nevertheless, it's worth trying if you've exhausted all other options and need the owner's contact information.

FAQs

Can LLC owners maintain anonymity?

An LLC owner may choose to remain anonymous in several states in the US. With that said, their name and address along with their registered agent are included in the public records in most states.

Does a single-member LLC need to have an EIN?

Unless you have workers or must submit excise tax reports, a sole proprietorship conducting business through an LLC does not need to have a separate EIN. Owners of single-member LLCs automatically use their own Social Security number or tax identification number to record the LLC revenues and losses on their tax returns. Due to the IRS's view that single-member LLC owners are not the LLC's employees, they don't need to have separate EINs. But you must get an EIN and file employment taxes if your single-member LLC employs other workers.

How does limited liability work?

Financial or legal debt is known as liability. The term "limited liability" refers to limiting an owner's obligation.

An owner who invests a specific sum in a limited liability business structure like an LLC is only at risk for the sum of their investment. The owner is not personally liable for business's debts and commitments that are more than its assets.

The post How Do You Find Out Who Owns An LLC? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

What Is An LLC Executor?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:13:22 +0000

Having a seasoned professional on your team can be beneficial when you start a new business as a limited liability company (LLC). An executor can provide valuable guidance and support during the early stages of your company's growth. They assist in organizing your LLC business and ensuring that all required legal documents are in place.

This short guide takes you through the role and responsibilities of an LLC executor.

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What is an LLC executor?

The formation of an LLC is the responsibility of an executor. They must ensure the LLC abides by the local, state, and federal laws.

They might also give the business owner legal or tax guidance, as knowledge of business law and tax legislation is essential in operating an LLC.

Individuals who lack the time or competence to act as the business executor for their company might engage a professional to handle it on their behalf. Anyone, including an attorney, accountant, or an initial LLC member, can serve as an LLC executor. There is no need to fill out any additional paperwork or file any documents with the state for an executor to serve on their behalf.

What are the responsibilities of a business executor?

The executor is accountable for a wide range of tasks, such as:

Filing the Articles of Organization with the state
Appointing an agent for process service
Drafting, preparing, and filing an annual report
Keeping updated company records

Obtaining tax identification numbers
Prepared and filing tax returns
Addressing any legal issues on the LLC's behalf
Protecting the company's assets and bank account

The executor could also offer direction when your company is being formed. They can assist you in organizing and ensuring that all necessary documentation is in place.

Articles of Organization process:

The LLC executor is a professional who forms an LLC according to state legislation and ensures its legal entity status.
The Articles of Organization, or Certificate of Formation (as called in some states), is one of the most crucial LLC formation documents.
The LLC executor submits the LLC Articles of Organization to the appropriate state authority, usually the Secretary of State.
The LLC's essential legal details, including its name, address, registered agent's name, and address for service of process, are listed in the Articles of Organization.
A statement in the Articles of Organization typically states that the executor represents all LLC members.

Who can be a business executor?

LLC business executors are individuals or entities responsible for forming an LLC.

Some states specify that the business executor must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the state where they seek to establish their company and not already prohibited from doing so by another state.

Although it's not required, LLC members can serve as their own executors. There is no requirement in state law that an executor must also be an LLC member.

The LLC executor may be a single person, a group, a family member, a business lawyer, your LLC's registered agent, a corporation, an association, a trust, a partnership, or any other legal institution.

What paperwork does an executor need to complete?

A limited liability company's executor is responsible for filing documents, notifying authorities of changes, and filing operational agreements, among others
Typically, an executor can submit the documentation online. You must pay a small fee and give the company name and contact details to create an LLC.
An executor can name a registered agent who will accept legal paperwork on their company's behalf.
According to the law, registered agents must submit an annual report to the relevant government body with details of all business records.
An LLC executor has the obligation by law to notify state agencies, such as the secretary of state, of changes to corporate records. It also applies to all limited liability companies registered with the IRS office.
Furthermore, they must submit their Articles of Organization to the state. Also, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) must be informed of the new venture.
An LLC operating agreement is necessary for an LLC, unlike sole proprietorships and other commercial entities. The LLC's administration, financial processes, and corporate structure are described in this document.

Key Takeaways

An executor is a person in charge of forming an LLC.
The executor must ensure the LLC complies with all local, state, and federal laws.
The business owner may receive tax or legal advice from the executor.
The executor can be a single person, a group, an association, a trust, a partnership, or a legal entity.
The executor of an LLC has several responsibilities, including submitting paperwork, updating authorities on changes, and submitting operational agreements.

FAQs

What distinguishes an LLC member from an LLC executor?

An LLC member is not the same as an LLC executor. An individual or group that holds a membership interest is an LLC member. The operations and management of the LLC are the responsibility of these members. On the other hand, an LLC executor is a person or organization that assists an LLC with its technical establishment. This individual is not required to be an LLC member.

Are LLC owners held accountable for liabilities?

LLC members are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the LLC. In comparison to a regular company, an LLC offers many advantages, including fewer formalities and reporting requirements.

Can I act as my LLC's executor?

Yes, provided that you specify this in the Articles of Organization. A single individual may organize several LLCs.

Is the name of the LLC Executor made public?

Yes. The executor's name appears on your state's public records because they must sign the formation documents during the earliest stages of the LLC setup.

How long will it take to establish my LLC?

Depending on the state, it can take around two to three weeks from when the state gets your limited liability company documentation via mail or online. The process can be sped up by paying an extra fee.

The post What Is An LLC Executor? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

ZenBusiness Review 2022 | Expectations & WARNINGS

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:50 +0000

The economy is in flux. Prices keep going up, and sometimes it seems like our wages aren’t keeping pace. That’s why millions of people are looking to start their own business.

In fact, according to some numbers, over four million small businesses were created in 2020 alone. There’s no reason why we can’t all join the entrepreneurial trend, and get to work for ourselves. Unfortunately, not everyone who can own a business knows how to get one off the ground.

So if you’re like the millions of people out there with a skill or trade–or just a big idea–but you don’t know how to get the business started, we’re here to review ZenBusiness. It’s a fast, easy, and affordable way to get your own small business up and running.

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What ZenBusiness is All About

ZenBusiness was founded in 2018 to help everyday people launch their own company, and to keep it running smoothly. Their idea is that you know all the important stuff about running your particular business: you know your customers and clients, you know your trade, you know your ideas will work.

They also know that not everyone was born with an internal knowledge of the ins and outs of how to file the paperwork to make sure you’re on the up-and-up. Connecting you to your dreams is their business model, by helping you with that knowledge so you can get to work.

ZenBusiness is also a Public Benefit Corporation, or PBC. That means they're a type of nonprofit, and a portion of their revenue goes toward supporting communities. In fact, every year they award grants to underserved businesses, like those owned by women, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ persons.

Visit Official ZenBusiness Website

How ZenBusiness Can Help You

If you’re ready to get out from underneath the hourly wage you’re getting, and ready to start working for yourself, ZenBusiness has built the platform to launch you as far as you can fly. We went through the business formation process and worked through all the features of their services.

After going through the process, I came away with three main things ZenBusiness can do for you, that really sets them apart: Getting Started, Keeping Going, and Service.

Getting Started

We’ve all heard the cliches. “A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step,” and all that. But it’s true. If we want to get to our dreams, we have to start with a few simple steps. ZenBusiness makes those first steps easy.

From the first landing on their site, they give you some easy to follow prompts, with basic pricing right up front.

Right away you can see three important things. One, they can help you with a name-checker. This does more than simply look to see if “Jeff’s Boat Repair” is already taken. It’s also a great psychological boost. I have to say, there’s something pretty powerful about typing in the name you’ve been dreaming about, on a website that can help you make the dream real.

This shot of their homepage also tells you two other important things. It tells you that you really can get started for as little as $49, and it shows you their guarantee. That’s a 60 day money-back guarantee they're talking about, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.

After putting your business name in, you’re taken to an automatic tutorial that guides you through the process. At every stage you answer simple yes or no questions (“Do you plan to have employees in the first year?” “Will you be serving food?”). If you’re ever stuck, just click the links that say “What’s this?”

Every step along the way, ZenBusiness will recommend services, offer to explain them if you’re not sure what they are or if you need them–and they’re upfront about their prices!

This sort of transparency, speed, and ease are some of the reasons we loved the process at ZenBusiness. It’s a fast and seamless process, but you can take your time throughout if you get stuck. There’s options to save your progress, and you can get up and stretch at any time. No pressure, no rush.

Keeping Going

Once you’ve got your paperwork filed, to be an LLC or any other small business, you may want some more help to keep on top of accounting, taxes, or other legal compliances. And that’s where ZenBusiness really shines.

For under $200 a year, ZenBusiness can keep you compliant and in good standing with the state you’re doing business in, round the clock, everyday of the year. Running afoul of government paperwork is a headache no one needs, and the Compliance Guarantee that ZenBusiness offers can free you up to focusing on building your dream.

And to make sure your dream pays the bills, the ZenBusiness Money feature helps you keep on top of invoices, taxes, and revenue. Unless you’re an accountant (and if you are, more power to you!), you probably aren’t starting your own company because you love crunching numbers.

It just makes sense to use the free trial of ZenBusiness Money and let the system work for you. Then you can focus on building client relationships, doing good work, and bringing home the bacon.

Service

Of course, having a good product is only part of the reason I recommend ZenBusiness. The other reason is their service. I mentioned earlier that they offer a 60-Day money-back guarantee, but they also have a 100% accuracy guarantee.

In addition to that, they also have a whole suite of articles, for free, to help you plan your business. These articles cover everything from what finances you might need to why you might want or not want certain services.

ZenBusiness also offers Lifetime Business Support. That means you can call or email them for as long as you’re partnered with them to get help with tax questions, revenue ideas, or any issue that might come up.

Not many companies are willing to stick it out with you when you first get going, but at ZenBusiness it’s just how they operate. They really do have a passion for helping small businesses, and it shows in their features, and their Service.

Visit Official ZenBusiness Website

How Much Will it Cost?

As a future small business owner, you know that cost matters. In fact, when you’re first getting started, it might matter more than ever. What’s nice about ZenBusiness is that you can get started for as little as $49.

Another nice aspect of using ZenBusiness is that you can upgrade your features over time. That means that if you’re still in the planning phase, you can use one of the less expensive options. Then, when the hammers start swinging and the sign is going up, you can take on the Money or Compliance features later.

Pros and Cons

A good review wouldn’t be complete without the good and the bad. Here they are:

Pros

Fast and easy.
Explanations on every page, for every feature.
Accuracy Guarantee.
Services that help for the life of your business.

Cons

Not the cheapest start-up service.
Some aren’t upfront, like for Registered Agent Services.

In the End…

For helping just about anybody get started owning a business, I recommend ZenBusiness for every type of service needed. From initial paperwork to annual compliance, ZenBusiness has the services you need, and the guarantees you really want to see.

FAQs

How Can I Access My Documents?

Once you’re onboard with ZenBusiness, every piece of paperwork will be at your fingertips on your Dashboard. From there, you can save them to your computer, or print them out for your records.

Can I Get Expedited Service?

Absolutely. You can upgrade to faster service, which means you’re only going to be limited by how fast your state turns around paperwork.

What if I Don’t Want an LLC?

There are multiple options for starting a business, from nonprofit to LLC and beyond. And ZenBusiness can help you with all of them.

The post ZenBusiness Review 2022 | Expectations & WARNINGS appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

Northwest Registered Agent Review 2022

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:50 +0000

Everyone wants to make a difference. Whether we want to make changes in our world, in our neighborhood, or just in our personal finances, we’re all looking to take control over our future. And there’s no better way to start than with your own business.

Starting your own company sounds great, but how do you do it? Thankfully there are websites like Incfile. With one click, you can get started with your own business or nonprofit enterprise. And Incfile can stay with you every step of the way, making sure you can focus on your success.

They have over 37,000 reviews and almost five stars from the website ShopperApproved, which goes a long way with me. But ratings aren’t everything, so let’s get to the indepth review.

Table of Contents

Who is Incfile?

Incfile got started in 2004, and since then they’ve helped almost a million small companies get off the ground. They’re dedicated to a few core business practices that are more than just corporate-speak–you can see their dedication in the product you get.

They list “Transparency” on their About page, and they actually talk you through some things up front that some companies keep hidden behind the curtain. For instance, many small business formation websites don’t mention the state fees to look out for. Incfile shows your order summary with actual dollar amounts on the right side of the screen through your entire order process.

Incfile’s attitude of straightforward communication doesn’t end there. Many websites don’t mention the cost of Registered Agent Services. Instead, they offer a box to check, you pay for your order, and then when your company is formed with your state, the company hits you with a hidden fee.

Incfile gives you a full year of free Registered Agent service. Then you can decide whether to keep them on or choose a different Agent. This sort of transparency and customer service is evident throughout the Incfile experience, and really sets them apart.

Visit Official IncFile Website

Getting Started with Incfile

At Incfile, they want the process to be as easy and fast as possible. From the first button you click, “Services,” you’re given a very clear menu of what to do next:

Not only can you see the four big formation options on the left, but if you already have a business, you can see two more menus of extra services. And under the four formation options are quick blurbs about which option is which.

We walked through the process to really vet the website, and we found a lot to like. Right away you’re given a sales sheet, which I wasn’t too keen on. Sometimes looking at sales packages right away can be a turn off.

On the other hand, I do like to see what I might get charged at the end. And they do list the services offered under each package, which I did appreciate. If they’re going to push the more expensive plans, they at least spell out what you’re getting for them.

Like I mentioned before, throughout the order process I was given a price breakdown with the actual number I will be charged. This was really helpful, to know that whatever I clicked I could see how it would affect the price.

Some companies I’ve looked at for business formation don’t tell you the total until the end, and then I have to sift through to see what options I clicked were costing me so much.

When Incfile does offer upgrades to their packages, they offer a nice description of what each upgrade gives you. Being very familiar with the process, I knew the value of having an EIN (Employee Identification Number) and business contract templates, but I think they could have offered a link to a better description of these things.

Incfile’s transparency on the pricing was nice, but not everyone knows the importance of some of these things. On the other hand, the brief description of the items also means they’re not trying to oversell them–a nice, low pressure facet of the process.

Overall, the process of getting started with Incfile was straightforward and easy. I was able to get through the entire formation process in less than five minutes. Of course, if you’re setting up a small business for the first time you might want to read around their website a little bit more.

But for this review, the basic business formation services at Incfile were topnotch. Now let’s take a look at their other Services.

Visit Official IncFile Website

Already In Business?

One of the huge reasons to go with Incfile is their ongoing services. When you go to their business resources page, you’re given a huge library of business guides, tools, checklists, and infographics.

You can browse all these resources by category, and even by type of guide. Whether you're looking to start your own brick-and-mortar company, or even start an Amazon-based company, Incfile has the resources for you–at no cost.

And their ongoing services don’t stop there. You can also go back to that menu I showed at the beginning of this review, and check out any of their other important offerings.

Other Services:

Company Name Change: did you name your business after an ex? Change it here.
Registered Agent: an important resource, especially for first-timers.
EIN (Employer Identification No.): an absolute necessity for bank accounts and the IRS.
Business License or Permit: an often overlooked need. Don’t skip it if you’re in a specialized industry.
Submit an Annual Report: a requirement in most states, don’t skip this one!
Get a Free Tax Consultation: no one likes talking about taxes, but they are pretty much the only guarantee in life.
Get a Trademark: in an internet world, having a good trademark could be your best protection against fraud.
Finances And Accounting: most of us aren’t starting our own business because we love paperwork. Might as well have Incfile take care of that for you, too.

Visit Official IncFile Website

How Much Will it Cost?

We covered the prices a bit above. One thing to keep in mind, Incfile has a completely free option. Actually free, too. No hidden fees, nothing charged to your card three months later.

I’ll also point out that when I clicked on all the upgrades for the free option, my order summary went up by $200. If I had selected the “Gold Package” from the beginning, the upcharge would only have been $149. So if you’re thinking of going with premium services, poke around through each plan. It might be cheaper to go with the extras beforehand.

Pros and Cons

We did have some things we weren’t thrilled about during the Incfile experience. But overall, far more Pros than Cons.

Pros

Charges are upfront and explained.
Lots of free services and resources.
Electronic or physical document options.
Fast process with no wasted sales pitches.

Cons

Not a lot of explanations on upgrades.
First sales sheet was a little off-putting.

Visit Official IncFile Website

Final Verdict

I’ve reviewed a lot of small business websites, and Incfile ranks as one of the best. Their website is fast, easy to navigate, and their prices are easy to understand. Any changes you make to your plan are reflected in the price you’re looking at, and their range of free resources is great.

Not only do they have that great 4.8 star rating on ShopperApproved, but they’re transparent about their Registered Agent service and the upgrades charges along the way. I recommend any start up check out Incfile to see if they’ll be right for you.

FAQs

What Makes Incfile Different?

Transparency. I know I’ve used the word a lot, but it’s important to me. I’ve looked at a lot of websites for starting your own business, and I became wary of the “$0” options. Incfile really is free.

LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, What’s the Difference?

There are a lot of nuances, and which you go with is probably decided by what kind of business you’re starting. Luckly, Incile has a quiz you can take to determine which is right for you.

How Can I Contact Incfile?

Once you’re signed up with Incfile, you have access to 24-7 business support, 365 days a year. You can call on their toll-free number, or interact with them from your dashboard.

They have over 37,000 reviews and almost five stars from the website ShopperApproved, which goes a long way with me. But ratings aren’t everything, so let’s get to the indepth review.

Table of Contents

Who is Incfile?

Visit Official IncFile Website

Getting Started with Incfile

At Incfile, they want the process to be as easy and fast as possible. From the first button you click, “Services,” you’re given a very clear menu of what to do next:

Some companies I’ve looked at for business formation don’t tell you the total until the end, and then I have to sift through to see what options I clicked were costing me so much.

But for this review, the basic business formation services at Incfile were topnotch. Now let’s take a look at their other Services.

Visit Official IncFile Website

Already In Business?

And their ongoing services don’t stop there. You can also go back to that menu I showed at the beginning of this review, and check out any of their other important offerings.

Other Services:

Company Name Change: did you name your business after an ex? Change it here.
Registered Agent: an important resource, especially for first-timers.
EIN (Employer Identification No.): an absolute necessity for bank accounts and the IRS.
Business License or Permit: an often overlooked need. Don’t skip it if you’re in a specialized industry.
Submit an Annual Report: a requirement in most states, don’t skip this one!
Get a Free Tax Consultation: no one likes talking about taxes, but they are pretty much the only guarantee in life.
Get a Trademark: in an internet world, having a good trademark could be your best protection against fraud.
Finances And Accounting: most of us aren’t starting our own business because we love paperwork. Might as well have Incfile take care of that for you, too.

Visit Official IncFile Website

How Much Will it Cost?

We covered the prices a bit above. One thing to keep in mind, Incfile has a completely free option. Actually free, too. No hidden fees, nothing charged to your card three months later.

Pros and Cons

We did have some things we weren’t thrilled about during the Incfile experience. But overall, far more Pros than Cons.

Pros

Charges are upfront and explained.
Lots of free services and resources.
Electronic or physical document options.
Fast process with no wasted sales pitches.

Cons

Not a lot of explanations on upgrades.
First sales sheet was a little off-putting.

Visit Official IncFile Website

Final Verdict

FAQs

What Makes Incfile Different?

LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, What’s the Difference?

There are a lot of nuances, and which you go with is probably decided by what kind of business you’re starting. Luckly, Incile has a quiz you can take to determine which is right for you.

How Can I Contact Incfile?

Once you’re signed up with Incfile, you have access to 24-7 business support, 365 days a year. You can call on their toll-free number, or interact with them from your dashboard.

The post Northwest Registered Agent Review 2022 appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

Incfile Review 2022 | Fees, Facts & WARNING

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:50 +0000

They have over 37,000 reviews and almost five stars from the website ShopperApproved, which goes a long way with me. But ratings aren’t everything, so let’s get to the indepth review.

Table of Contents

Who is Incfile?

Visit Official IncFile Website

Getting Started with Incfile

At Incfile, they want the process to be as easy and fast as possible. From the first button you click, “Services,” you’re given a very clear menu of what to do next:

Some companies I’ve looked at for business formation don’t tell you the total until the end, and then I have to sift through to see what options I clicked were costing me so much.

But for this review, the basic business formation services at Incfile were topnotch. Now let’s take a look at their other Services.

Visit Official IncFile Website

Already In Business?

And their ongoing services don’t stop there. You can also go back to that menu I showed at the beginning of this review, and check out any of their other important offerings.

Other Services:

Company Name Change: did you name your business after an ex? Change it here.
Registered Agent: an important resource, especially for first-timers.
EIN (Employer Identification No.): an absolute necessity for bank accounts and the IRS.
Business License or Permit: an often overlooked need. Don’t skip it if you’re in a specialized industry.
Submit an Annual Report: a requirement in most states, don’t skip this one!
Get a Free Tax Consultation: no one likes talking about taxes, but they are pretty much the only guarantee in life.
Get a Trademark: in an internet world, having a good trademark could be your best protection against fraud.
Finances And Accounting: most of us aren’t starting our own business because we love paperwork. Might as well have Incfile take care of that for you, too.

Visit Official IncFile Website

How Much Will it Cost?

We covered the prices a bit above. One thing to keep in mind, Incfile has a completely free option. Actually free, too. No hidden fees, nothing charged to your card three months later.

Pros and Cons

We did have some things we weren’t thrilled about during the Incfile experience. But overall, far more Pros than Cons.

Pros

Charges are upfront and explained.
Lots of free services and resources.
Electronic or physical document options.
Fast process with no wasted sales pitches.

Cons

Not a lot of explanations on upgrades.
First sales sheet was a little off-putting.

Visit Official IncFile Website

Final Verdict

FAQs

What Makes Incfile Different?

LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, What’s the Difference?

There are a lot of nuances, and which you go with is probably decided by what kind of business you’re starting. Luckly, Incile has a quiz you can take to determine which is right for you.

How Can I Contact Incfile?

Once you’re signed up with Incfile, you have access to 24-7 business support, 365 days a year. You can call on their toll-free number, or interact with them from your dashboard.

The post Incfile Review 2022 | Fees, Facts & WARNING appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness | Side By Side Comparison

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:49 +0000

We’ve been neck deep in registered agent and LLC services for weeks, and we’ve come to a nearly unanimous opinion that the two best out there are Northwest Registered Agent and ZenBusiness. Now it’s time to find out how’s really the best.

Table of Contents

About ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness has been featured in every publication from Forbes to Reuters. They are a child of the internet age, and serve people who want things done quickly, expertly, and with a guarantee. ZenBusiness can help you with everything from web services to filing paperwork, and they can do it with 100% accuracy or your money back.

Visit Official ZenBusiness Website

About Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent is a full-service small-business aide, and because they started as a small business in Eastern Washington, they’ve always focused on the little guys. They’re model is that outstanding customer service will never got out of style.

Visit Official Northwest Website

What they Both Offer

Obviously, as two of the best in the game, Northwest Registered Agent Services and ZenBusiness have everything you need. We could end the section there, but here’s some highlights:

They can both act as your registered agent.
Customize documents like Articles of Incorporation.
Detailed add-on services, like web help or Credit Consultations.

What they Don’t Have in Common

And here’s where the differences show up. Here’s what ZenBusiness does that Northwest Agent Services does not:

Online-AI bot that walks you through everything.
Easy to understand add-ons, with explanations for why you might want them.
100% Accuracy guarantee.

Now what Northwest Registered Agent offers, that ZenBusiness doesn’t.

Real, live customer service—no phone-trees.
No “outsourcing” services to third parties.
Do-it-yourself options.

And the Winner Is…

Pricing: Northwest Registered Agent Services

Northwest actually has an option for setting up an LLC all by yourself. If you’re willing to put in the time, and don’t need a registered agent, then you can do it with their help for free.

Experience: Northwest Registered Agent

While ZenBusiness has a ton of experience, all their experience has only come since 2015. Northwest Registered Agent Services have been in the game since 1998. That’s last century.

Customer Support: Northwest Registered Agent

Again, nothing can compare to a local company that’s always kept it local. They’re committed to no auto-generated emails, and when you call them, the person will actual help you. And you don’t have to figure out how to contact them—all their information is at the bottom of every screen.

Turnaround Time: Draw

Both of them have excellent turn-arounds, with 2-3 options on all their paperwork.

Winner Overall - Northwest Registered Agent

Maybe we’re just suckers for old-school customer service, but that’s what pushed us over on Northwest Registered Agent. And we also mention that because ZenBusiness is really a fantastic company.

If you go with them, you won’t be disappointed. But if we have to pick (and we do, because that’s the job), we’d pick Northwest.

Get Started With Northwest

The post Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness | Side By Side Comparison appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

ZenBusiness vs LegalZoom 2022 | Side By Side Comparison

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:49 +0000

It’s the 21st century, and business is changing all around us. Many of you have already discovered the benefits of being your own boss, and starting your own company. But even starting your own company, you can’t do it alone.

There are dozens of online companies that can assist you—filing paperwork, getting set up with the IRS, or even being your registered agent. I’ve decided to compare two of the best sites for helping small business owners, ZenBusinesss and LegaZoom. Read on to find out which of them might be best for you.

About ZenBusiness

Made for the next generation, ZenBusiness is a website designed to help fast-paced people get their business filings done quickly. Not only that, but ZenBusiness is a Public Benefit Corporation, or PBC. That means that it’s written into their founding documents that some form of their revenue and operations must be dedicated to the public good, meaning ZenBusiness is a proud participant in human and animal rights projects.

Visit Official ZenBusiness Website

About LegalZoom

Founded over twenty years ago, in 2001, LegalZoom was arguably the first online legal resource for everyday people. They specialize in providing paperwork, services, and even advice over the internet for anyone. They are also committed to social issues, boasting over $3 million in grants to people promoting social change.

Visit Official LegalZoom Website

How They’re the Same

Both LegalZoom and ZenBusiness can help you with the basics of getting a company off of the ground. Or, better yet, they can help you turn the dream of being your own boss into reality. Among their other services, here’s what they can both do for you, in more or less equal measure:

Check if your preferred business name is available.
Act as your Registered Agent (more on that below).
Assist with Employer Identification Number and other Tax compliance.

Just a quick note about Registered Agents. When you form an LLC in any state, you are required to list who the Registered Agent is. This is the person or company that receives all legal documents on behalf of your company. You can act as your own, or pay a company like LegalZoom or ZenBusiness to do it for you.

How They’re Different

ZenBusiness and LegalZoom do have some important differences, and here we’ll take a look at them. First, what ZenBusiness does, specifically:

100% accuracy guarantee.
Step-by-step tutorial.
Only focused on starting small businesses.

Visit Official ZenBusiness Website

Now for how LegalZoom differentiates itself:

Full range of legal services, including Estate Planning.
Intellectual Property protection.
Referrals to actual attorneys.

Visit Official LegalZoom Website

And the Winner Is…

Pricing: ZenBusiness

There are a ton of options on both websites. But we boiled it down to basic LLC services, where ZenBusiness comes up $30 cheaper, and Registered Agent services, where ZenBusiness is $50 cheaper.

Experience: LegalZoom

While ZenBusiness has been at it since 2015, LegalZoom has been at it since 2001. In addition to the length of time, LegalZoom has a breadth of legal experience that ZenBusiness doesn’t.

Customer Support: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness wins this, actually because of their focus on only small business services. While it’s great for breadth of service, LegalZoom lacks the focus on just small businesses that ZenBusiness has.

Turnaround Time: LegalZoom

This is splitting hairs, a little bit, because so much comes down to how fast your individual state can turn paperwork around. ZenBusiness has a 4-7 day option, while LegalZoom has a 2-5 day option.

Winner Overall: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness wins on price, speciality, and focus. Nothing against LegalZoom, here, but if all you’re interested in is starting a small business, ZenBusiness is my pick.

And the winner is - ZenBusiness

Only $39 to get started
Great customer reviews
Registered agent service included
Excellent customer support

Get Started With ZenBusiness

The post ZenBusiness vs LegalZoom 2022 | Side By Side Comparison appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

Swyft Filings Review 2022 | Transparent Breakdown & Warning

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:49 +0000

Starting your own business might seem like a huge task. Luckily, there’s always help around you if you know where to look. I’ve helped with quite a few companies, and so when people ask how they should get started, I usually have a tip or two. My biggest tip: get your LLC paperwork filed!

If you’re not sure how to file LLC paperwork, if you’re not even sure what LLC paperwork is, don’t worry. Help is all around you, remember? I sat down and dug deep on Swyft Filings, an online service that can handle all your paperwork needs for starting your own company. Check out my full review below, and don’t forget the FAQs—they could save you a lot of headache down the line!

Quick Hitters

First I’ll give you some quick Pros and Cons, and then we’ll move into the particulars. Make sure to hit every section, as there’s a lot to cover when you’re thinking of starting your own company.

PROS

Fastest times I’ve seen for filing paperwork.
Great basic rate for first-timers.
Easy to navigate website.
Trust-Pilot approved.

CONS

A little expensive on the higher end options.
Not the best for multiple state filings or e-commerce.

Visit Official SwyftFilings Website

What is LLC Filing?

In every state you intend to do business, you need to file paperwork with the Secretary of State. This covers you if anyone tries to sue you, and it makes sure you’re legally allowed to conduct commerce.

Most people opt for an LLC, or Limited Liability Company. Not only does it look fancy on your website and business cards, but there are a number of benefits to being an LLC, as well. In fact, Investopedia has a great list of reasons a small business should go the LLC route.

But the most important thing about becoming an LLC is filing the paperwork. And that’s where Syft Filings comes in.

What Does Swyft Do?

In a nutshell? Everything. They can help you find out if your preferred business name is available, they can file your paperwork, and they can even act as your registered agent (more on that below).

We’ve reviewed a number of other filing websites, and they all have a specialty. At Swyft Filing, you might have guessed, they specialize in speed. Working with Swyft means you can have your very own Certificate of LLC formation in as little as one day.

Much of that speed will depend on what state you live in, but the fact remains that I have only seen turnaround as quick as one day on Swyft Filings.

What is a Registered Agent? A Registered Agent is the person/company that will handle all legal documents to and from your LLC. Every state requires that every LLC has a registered agent on file. Nearly every filing company we looked at can also be your registered agent, including Swyft Filings. A Registered Agent is also the point of contact for renewing important documents with your Secretary of State.

Anyone within an LLC can be the Registered Agent, or you can appoint a third party; this is the option many small-business owners take, so there’s one less thing on their very crowded plates.

We’ll cover all their services offered below, but the main takeaway so far is that if you’re looking to make your dream of owning a small business the reality of owning an LLC, Swyft Filings is the quickest way to make it happen.

Visit Official SwyftFilings Website

What Swyft Can Do For You

In addition to the bare-bones filing of your paperwork, Swyft Filings can also help with a myriad other things that many small business owners don’t even realize they’ll need. (Trust me, though, you will end up needing many of these services!)

Two things to remember about the services below: you might not need them today; and they do come with an extra charge from Swyft. If you really just want to get your LLC formed, and you’re not ready for a bank account and a Tax ID quite yet, you might want to skip those add-ons.

But if you’ve got capital in-hand, you’re trying to sign a lease on a store-front, or you have customers lining up from word-of-mouth, you might want to go for all the different features Swyft offers.

All the Paperwork: Whatever option you go with from Swyft Filings, they will write up Articles of Incorporation for you, file your paperwork with your state, even check if your company name is available.
Domain Name: Right now, Swyft has a new option where you can sign up for a free website name for a full year. They’ll even help you pick the name. And don’t worry, it won’t end in something funky—they have .com, .net. and .biz available.
Banking Resolution and IRS EIN: It’s probably a good idea to separate your business money from your personal money right away. In my experience, the bolder the line between the two the better. But before you can have a business account, the bank will require an IRS Employer Identification Number, or EIN. Think of it like a Social Security Number for your LLC. And that might only be the start of the paperwork needed to get a Business Checking Account. Swyft Filings can get all those ducks in a row for you, and make sure they don’t get out of line.
Web hosting: It’s one thing to have a domain name—but where’s your website? When I started my first business I got fleeced by some of the web hosting services out there. With Swyft Filings, you can get your web hosting done for a great price, and all in the same spot you got your paperwork filed.
Expedited Delivery: Did I mention Swyft Filings is, well, swift? They are. Not only does their basic service get you your LLC fast, but their Expedited Service can get it to you in as little as one day, depending on your state.

Visit Official SwyftFilings Website

What Does Swyft Filings Cost?

Okay, okay, you’re probably wondering, but how much is all this going to run me? After all, if you’re starting your first business you’re probably not sitting on a pile of cash already.

Well, not only is Swyft Filings fast, they’re also among the most affordable services you can get. Their standard filing is only $49 (plus whatever your state charges in fees). That means if you’re still in the “get my dream into reality” mode, you’re only out fifty bucks. From there, you can take your time figuring out your next move.

If you want the red-carpet service, where Swyft Filings will take care of everything from payroll to EIN, from web hosting to registered agent services, it will cost around $380. Now, remember, that’s taking all the headache of all the paperwork out of the equation. You could think of it as a cost, or you can think of it as a $380 investment in not having to think about any of that stuff.

The examples I have here are taken from the actual checkout screen, with no options checked in one, or all the boxes checked in the other. (The prices also include the Washington State fee of $180 I used as my example).

Basically, it comes out to just over a dollar a day to have your very own filing service. Well worth it, in my opinion.

Visit Official SwyftFilings Website

And Finally…

After working through the Swyft Filings website for a while, I think it’s one of the easiest to use, fastest to function, and yes, one of the most affordable options out there. Every option you check has an explanation of why you might want it. They’re upfront on their website, and you can go back and forth changing options as you.

I would highly recommend Swyft for anyone who wants to start an LLC, but it’s probably best for people who are first getting started and just want to file the paperwork, cheap and fast. You can get all your other services through them, too, but they really excel at the basic features.

FAQs

If I Use a Filing Service, Do I Still Own My LLC?

Yes, but that’s a great question. Sometimes when you sign up for a website you find out later you’re only leasing it. When you file your LLC paperwork with Swyft Filings, though, the LLC is yours, forever.

Do I Need a Registered Agent?

Yes. But that doesn’t mean you have to hire one. You can be your own registered agent. The only requirement is that the Registered Agent is a real person or company, with a physical address in the state you’re conducting business.

Do I Need an EIN?

Yes. Eventually, if you’re going to conduct any financial transactions (which I hope you do!), you’re going to need an Employer Identification Number.

Are There Other Filing Services?

Yes, and you should shop around. But if you want the fastest out there, you’ve already found it with Swyft Filings.

Why Is My Checkout Price Different Than the Price I’m Quoted?

Because of the state filing fee. It ranges from state to state, with the lowest being Kentucky at $40, and the highest being Massachusetts at $500. Remember, though, you need to file in the state you’ll be conducting business. I know $40 looks like a great deal, but unless your business is in Kentucky, you’re out of luck.

Visit Official SwyftFilings Website

The post Swyft Filings Review 2022 | Transparent Breakdown & Warning appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

LegalZoom Review 2022 | Transparent Breakdown & WARNINGS

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:49 +0000

Writing any legal document can be daunting. Even filling out a form, or finding the right one can be a challenge. That’s why so many people are turning to online resources for help with their legal documents. One site that seems to come up a lot is LegalZoom.

I reviewed LegalZoom from several angles, and depending on what forms you need help with, LegalZoom could be the right choice for you. Check out the full review, and make sure to read the FAQs for anything you still might have questions about.

Table of Contents

Who is LegalZoom?

LegalZoom has been at the forefront of internet-based legal solutions since nearly the beginning of the modern internet age. They started in 2001 with a range of legal services available to anyone with internet access.

This innovative approach to offering free legal services has of course garnered a lot of attention. Based on their successes, they’ve since branched out into attorney referrals, small business help, and even tax services.

What Can LegalZoom Do for Me?

People might sometimes think that legal services are only for when you’re in trouble. But the fact is that hundreds of thousands of folks just like you and me need civic legal help, everyday. In fact, one agency found that almost a million people need legal assistance every year, and don’t get it because they can’t afford it.

And that’s exactly where LegalZoom comes in. With dozens of services available at the click of a button, LegalZoom can get you the help you need, quickly and affordably. So let’s dive in.

Small Business Formation

Over 4 million small businesses were formed in just 2020. That’s millions of people who decided that the rat race wasn’t for them, and they struck out on their own. But anyone who’s tried to start a business can tell you—there’s a lot of paperwork involved.

LegalZoom makes it easy to get the paperwork sorted. In fact, it’s so easy to start with them that the first button you need to click is right on their homepage.

Visit LegalZoom

From that first click, LegalZoom gets the ball rolling. You can select from LLC, Corporation, or even Non-Profit. And if you don’t know which is right for you, you can even take a free tutorial. If you take the tutorial, you answer 10 basic questions (Are you already in business? Will you be the sole owner?). After answering those questions you’ll be prompted to get started on the type of business that’s right for you.

LegalZoom has been so helpful in helping people start their own businesses that they were rated the #1 service in 2021. That’s a lot of success stories starting with one click.

Protecting Your Family

No one wants to think about decisions regarding wills and testaments. In fact, according to some numbers, less than half of us have written out our final wishes. LegalZoom makes this unpleasant but necessary task easier, and yes, much cheaper.

From the first click on “Start your will or trust,” LegalZoom is ready with some easy to understand definitions and clear pricing. You can scan all your options at your convenience, without paying a lawyer hundreds of dollars an hour to explain things.

Visit LegalZoom

If you do want the comfort of having a lawyer help you out, LegalZoom can find you an attorney at a great rate, an attorney who will only help you with these sensitive documents, and not try to sell you anything else. Here’s what the attorney-assisted services look like:

No one wants to talk about planning for when they won’t be there anymore. But we all want to protect our loved ones, and make sure they get what they deserve. If you’re looking for a simple, affordable way to handle these documents, LegalZoom may be the way to go.

Legal Information

One of the most mystifying parts of all legal information is the language it’s written in. Many of us have heard the term “legal-ese” referring to how hard it is to understand the jargon in these documents.

In the past, if you wanted any of this information translated into real English, you had to call a lawyer and hope they called you back—and hope again that they were willing to speak to you without charging a fee.

But thanks to their commitment to helping all people, LegalZoom has a whole division of their company dedicated to writing and posting articles answering everyday legal questions in everyday language. (You can check out their articles here.)

But centralizing all this information, they provide you with the ability to make decisions for yourself. Decisions like whether you actually do want to pay an attorney, or if you’d rather fill out some legal paperwork yourself.

Another great thing about LegalZoom’s articles is that they’re written by professionals. People with not only knowledge about the law, but knowledge about how to write and communicate effectively. That means information you can understand and use.

Visit LegalZoom

How Much Will LegalZoom Cost Me?

So far I’ve used words like “affordable,” but that can mean very different things to different people. So let’s talk brass-tacks.

If you’re looking for assistance filing paperwork for your own small business, LegalZoom can get you going for only $79, plus state fees.

On the other hand, if you need help with last will and testament paperwork, you can get Financial Power of Attorney paperwork started for as little as $35, or a full will for $89.

All of LegalZoom’s articles can be read for free, and they have attorney referrals that you can peruse at no cost. And that kind of flexibility, to conduct your legal searches from a trusted source from the comfort of your easy chair, with no telephone pressure, is priceless.

Final Thoughts

Legal questions and documents can turn into highly personal matters. There’s a lot to get confused about, and once money starts changing hands, tempers can flare. That’s why I was happy to find so much to like about LegalZoom. I feel good recommending it to anyone who isn’t sure, yet, whether they need legal services, and wants a free resource to look for information.

Furthermore, if you want to go beyond information and start paying for services, LegalZoom has some of the most comprehensive forms for the most affordable prices.

Visit LegalZoom

FAQs

Is There Any Obligation To Use LegalZoom?

Absolutely not. There is a live chatbot on the bottom of the screen, but you can easily close that and roam about their various pages absolutely free.

Do I Need To File Paperwork To Start A Business?

Yes. In fact, in many states you could face severe legal consequences for not getting your paperwork properly filed in the right amount of time. In addition, LegalZoom can act as your Registered Agent and help you keep on top of important filing deadlines for future legal compliance.

Are My Documents Owned by LegalZoom?

No. Once you have completed your legal documents and paid LegalZoom, they are yours, free and clear.

Is My Will Legally Binding Right Away?

No. You will need to sign your will under sound mind in front of a witness. This is usually done in front of a notary public.

Does LegalZoom Have an Attorney In Every State?

Yes. When you sign up for the Attorney Assist from LegalZoom, they can put you into contact with a licensed attorney in any state you live in.

The post LegalZoom Review 2022 | Transparent Breakdown & WARNINGS appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

IncFile vs Northwest Registered Agent Services | Comparison

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:49 +0000

A whole lot of people are making the decision to leave the traditional workforce and join the thousands of people who own their own business. In fact, according to numbers from QuickBooks, 15 million Americans are self-employed full-time.

If you’ve been looking at how to get started for yourself, then the sheer amount of information may have bewildered you. That’s why so many online companies are making the process of starting your own business easier. Here I compare two of the best names in the game, Northwest Registered Agent Services and Incfile.

Table of Contents

About Northwest Registered Agent Services

Northwest Registered Agent Services have been working hard for small businesses since 1998. They’re focus is on providing customer service, and yes, being your Registered Agent if you’re filing as an LLC.

Visit Official Northwest Website

About Incfile

Infile has carved out their niche as the absolute lowest cost for filing your LLC paperwork. They have tried to streamline the filing process, and like a lot of the filing services I’ve reviewed, they have expedited options. But they’re seat at the table is secured by their price points.

Visit Official IncFile Website

What Incfile and Northwest can Both Do

The bottom line is that both of these companies offer an online platform that’s easy to navigate and get your small business paperwork filed fast.

Incfile and Northwest Registered Agent can help you decide what type of filing is best for you (LLC, S-Type, etc.).
Both can act as your Registered Agent.
Both have over a decade of experience.

What are the Differences?

So now that we’ve talked about the generalities, it’s time to get specific. First we’ll start with where Northwest Registered Agent really sets themselves apartt:

Registered Agent Services in multiple states.
Free legal document templates.
Excellent, live, personal customer service.

It’s only fair to show how Incfile distinguishes themselves:

A 100% free LLC filing option.
Free Registered Agent service for first year.
Growth and Startup tips and guides.

And the Winner Is…

Pricing: Incfile

Really there’s no beating absolutely free. There isn’t a whole lot else to say. Incfile can help you file and get it done for zero dollars.

Experience: Northwest Registered Agent

This is no slight to Incfile, who’s been around since 2004, but Northwest Registered Agent has them beat by having been in business since 1998. And not for nothing, but the entire time Northwest Registered Agent has been doing it as a local, brick-and-mortar company.

Customer Support: Northwest Registered Agent Services

Again, no slight to Incfile, but I can’t really say enough about having a local phone number listed on every page of Northwest Registered Agent’s site. And when you call, you get a person who can help.

Turnaround Time: Northwest Registered Agent

For all these filing services, I spend the time to make up a fake company, and walk through the entire site. At the end, after exploring all the bells and whistles, the fastest I could get from Incfile was 5 days–but Northwest Registered Agent can do it in three.

Winner Overall: Northwest Registered Agent Services

This really reflects Northwest winning in the majority of categories. But I really want to stress that in other head-to-heads, with some other companies, Incfile would win more than a couple. They have an easy to operate site and system, and really, that free option can’t be overlooked. In this comparison, though, Northwest Registered Agent wins.

And the winner is -

Northwest Registered Agent Services

Competitive pricing
Experience with small businesses
Excellent customer support

Get Started With Northwest

To read our terms of service click here.

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LegalZoom vs Northwest Registered Agent Services | Comparison

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:49 +0000

If you’re looking for any kind of legal services online, it could do you well to do some research on the services before you hire them. I’ve written a series of articles for just this purpose, specifically looking at head-to-head comparisons.

In this article I’ll be comparing two services that have received high marks in my individual reviews, Northwest Registered Agent Services and the ever-popular LegalZoom.

Table of Contents

About Northwest Registered Agent Services

With a high focus on excellent customer service, Northwest Registered Agent Services has been in business for over twenty years. They specialize in helping small businesses get started, and like their name implies, they provide Registered Agent services for LLC clients.

Visit Official Northwest Website

About LegalZoom

LegalZoom has become perhaps the most recognizable online legal service website, and for good reason. They can help with everything from last will and testament forms to helping you find a lawyer. And yes, they can help you form your small business, too.

Visit Official LegalZoom Website

How They’re the Same

This comparison wouldn’t work if the two websites and companies didn’t have enough in common to pit against each other. Both Northwest Registered Agent and LegalZoom have superior small business services. They can help anyone find the right forms, fill them out, and get them filed.

Both can help you find out if your business name is taken.
Both can help you find out about Tax information.
Both can act as your Registered Agent.

How They’re Different

Legal Zoom and Northwest Registered Agent do have their specialties, and that’s where we can start to separate them. First, what Northwest Registered Agent does that LegalZoom doesn’t:

Personal, live customer service.
Multi-State Registered Agent Service.
Corporate Seals, books, etc.

Now for how LegalZoom differentiates itself:

Legal forms across the legal spectrum (like rental agreements).
Attorney Referrals.
Tax Filing services (NEW).

And the Winner Is…

We’ll break it down by category, and we’ll focus on what they do similarly, namely, LLC and small business formation and services.

Pricing: Northwest Registered Agent

To act as your registered agent, Northwest Registered Agent is only $125 compared to LegalZoom at $299. From the bottom of each of their pricing, LegalZoom comes in a bit cheaper. For basic LLC formation, LegalZoom is $79 plus state fees, while Northwest is $100.

Experience: Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent has been working hard for small businesses since 1998. LegalZoom’s experience is nothing to sneeze at, either, having been in business since 2001. But what really gives Northwest the edge is that they’re a small business, too, at heart. They have only worked with small businesses since their start. That being said, if you want a company with broader experience, then of course LegalZoom would take the nod.

Customer Support: Northwest Registered Agent Services

Call me old fashion, but when someone lists their actual, real phone number on their website, that means a lot. At Northwest, not only do you get their physical location’s number, but you even get a live person answering the phone when you call.

Turnaround Time: Tie

It’s not really fair to compare. Both of them can get you turn-around according to your state’s expedited filing. Beyond that, LegalZoom can get you printed legal forms immediately, while Northwest Registered Agent can get you real-time customer service.

Winner Overall: Northwest Registered Agent Services

Again, this comes down to what they both have in common—small business services. If that’s the only category you’re comparing, I think Northwest Registered Agent wins on price and customer service, to extremely important points for me. If you’re looking for other services, however, you would need to go for LegalZoom.

And the winner is -

Northwest Registered Agent Services

Competitive pricing
Experience with small businesses
Excellent customer support

Get Started With Northwest

To read our terms of service click here.

The post LegalZoom vs Northwest Registered Agent Services | Comparison appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

How to Start an LLC in Louisiana [2022]

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:48 +0000

Forming your own business is a big step. It can mean more stress, more risk, and more paperwork. But it can also mean financial security, it can mean more time for you and your family. And that should be your focus. Stay positive, check all the boxes, and focus on your product.

Our goal here is to help you start your own LLC in Louisiana so that you have one less thing to worry about. Getting yourself off to the right start can save you a lot of headaches in the future. If you do all the careful preparation ahead of time, it will free you up to focus on growing your business, building clientele, and benefiting from all the good that should come from owning your own company.

There are six steps to forming your own limited liability company, or LLC. We’re writing this specifically for people in Louisiana, but much of this information can be applied to other regions. We need to point out, right up top, though, that wherever you file your LLC is where your physical business needs to be located. Anytime you’re conducting business in another state, you’ll need to register there, too.

For all specific information we’ll be referring to the website for the Louisiana Secretary of State, sos.la.gov, specifically their geauxbiz page. We recommend writing out a checklist from the beginning, starting with Step One.

The Six Steps are:

Chose your Name
Chose a Registered Agent
File paperwork
Write an Operating Agreement
Open for Business
Comply and File

Step One: Chose your Name

Picking the right company name can make all the difference. No pressure, but if you plan on being in business for a long time, whatever you pick now will be the name people know you by for years.

Your company name should say something about you, and your business. You don’t want to be the nineteenth Baton Rouge Boiled Crawfish business. But you also don’t want your company’s name to simply be your own first and last name, with no indication of what you do.

If you’re starting a business in LA, then you already know there’s a flavor to every part of the state. New Orleans isn’t the same as Shreveport, isn’t the same as Baton Rouge. So take your local expertise and find a company name that fits you, your business, and your customers.

You should also be flexible. Maybe come up with one or two names. After you’ve brainstormed your ideas, you’ll need to check your business name with a national database and with the LA Secretary of State.

At this point, having a professional on your side can be a huge help. We’ll talk more about registered agents later, but they can help you form your LLC from the very beginning. The two best registered agent companies we’ve found are ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent Services.

Both registered agent companies can help you pick your LLC name, and help you check that name against the database in Louisiana and at the national level.

Last notes on picking a company name:

Check to see if the name you want is already trademarked (use the official US Government website to check, here).
Do some internet searches; just because someone hasn’t trademarked or registered a name with the government doesn’t mean they haven’t already purchased a URL with that name; you’d hate to get your ideal company name, but never get to use it as a website name.

After you’ve picked your name, and found out if it’s available in your state, it’s time to find a Registered Agent.

Step Two: Chose a Registered Agent

You shouldn’t skip any part of this checklist; every step is important. But choosing the registered agent is absolutely essential. The registered agent is the person who the state will contact if there’s ever any problem with your LLC.

It’s also the person who will be contacted with any legal paperwork that’s ever filed regarding your LLC. If you’re sued, or if you’re entitled to damages, all paperwork will go to your registered agent.

This step is so important that we recommend hiring one. This gives you the peace of mind to focus on your business, your clients, and your product. We recommend the registered agent services provided by Northwest Registered Agents and ZenBusiness.

Using a service for your registered agent needs can kill a lot of birds with one stone, because a service like ZenBusiness can take care of all your filing needs. They can assist with selecting a name, they can put your paperwork through the Louisiana website, and even make sure you’re compliant with paperwork in the future.

Northwest Registered Agents can even help you file in multiple states for a flat fee. That way, if you’re in Baton Rouge and need to do a job in McComb, Alabama, you’re covered. Or if you’re in Shreveport and have clients in Texas or Arkansas, you don’t have to worry about violating any laws.

In addition to all the benefits of having a registered agent, we need to point out one more time that they are mandatory in the state of Louisiana. In fact, you need a registered agent in any state your LLC will do business. The very next step, Filing Paperwork, will require that you have the name of a registered agent ready.

While you are able to list yourself or any other Louisiana resident as your registered agent, we do suggest you go with ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent Services. For a small fee, they can get you one on one assistance with absolutely every step of starting your LLC, from choosing a name to keeping up-to-date with filings in the months and years to come.

Having an agent service gives you the peace of mind that you’re doing everything you need to, so you can do what you love. After all, no one goes into business for themselves because they want to file more paperwork. So go with the professionals.

Step Three: File Paperwork

These days, everything is done online. Filing for your LLC in Louisiana is no different. We’ve got some screenshots, based on our fake company, Jax’s Fiery Crawfish to show you what to expect. (If you’re Jax, you can have the name. We just used it for a placeholder.)

After you sign up for an account at geauxbiz, and confirm your email address, the first thing you’ll see is this:

Fill out the information for yourself: your name, your address, etc. After that, you'll see this screen:

From here you need to sign in as an individual or an organization. You want to be an organization.

Next is the first time you’ll see a page that will become very familiar to you for the next several days. It’s the “Dashboard” for all your filings.

Here you can see the progress you’ve made on any filings you saved in-progress. You can also see alerts, like if you have a filing date due, as well as any documents you’ve uploaded.

To get going filing your paperwork, the first thing you want to do is click the “GET STARTED” button at the top right.

The next screen you’ll see is the “What would you like to do?” page.

You can only select one thing at a time, and after you chose one and do your research, you can always come back to this page to make different selections.

If you click on the first selection, “Find resources to help plan…” you’ll be directed to this page:

Filling out this information can lead to more questions and more answers. If you want the direct route, go back to the “What would you like to do?” page, and click “Register a Louisiana business just starting up.”

On the next page:

Select “LLC (Limited Liability Company) and “Domestic (Louisiana)”. Right away at the bottom you’ll see that your filing fee is going to be $100. That’s without any expedited turnaround.

After that you’ll need to fill out some tax and employer information.

At this point, you may already be lost in the web pages, the questions, and the different information that the government needs before you’re even a business. This is where having a registered agent or service can come in such handy.

A company like Northwest Registered Agents or ZenBusiness can handle everything like this for you. There is an associated cost, but there’s also a lot of time saved. And at this point you may rightly start to ask yourself how much money your time is worth.

We’ll leave off the webpage tutorial, here, because the rest of the information is going to be unique to you. But here’s a quick checklist of some of the rest of the information you should have handy when it’s time to file paperwork:

LLC’s name
Physical address of the business
Name and address of the Registered Agent
Type of business
List of Managers and Members
List of Organizers (who’s involved in the ownership/founding of the LLC)
The dates your company will be in business for (date of founding and closing, or being in business “in perpetuity.”)
Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Step Four: Write an Operating Agreement

The State of Louisiana does not legally require that you have an Operating Agreement. However, it is a great idea to have one in place, even if it’s a placeholder. That way, down the line, if you need to fill it out in more detail, you’ll at least have a template.

You can go online and get some blank Operating Agreements, some even pre-filled with basic information. If you want to use one of those, you’re totally free to do that. It’s your business, literally.

If you’re forming your LLC by yourself, with no partners or other investors, then the Operating Agreement is largely straightforward. But if you’re partnering with other people, especially if they’re investing real money or equipment, you need to have an ironclad Operating Agreement.

A good operating agreement can protect you and your partners from infighting, disagreements, and headaches that might bring your company down. Things you should look for in an Operating Agreement include, but shouldn’t be limited, to:

Deciding who can open bank accounts and handle money for the LLC.
What to do about adding partners or letting them go.
How to delegate property and assets.
How to settle disagreements between partners.
How to layout documents and business processes.

A registered agent can handle all of your Operating Agreement needs, and tailor one to your specific situation.

Step Five: Open for Business

This part is where you get to shine. Here is what you’ve been waiting for. On this step, swing that hammer, get that oven cooking, or spin those tires. When you open for business, try to keep all the paperwork and planning you just did out of your head.

When you deal with customers you don’t want to be thinking about the Secretary of State. You don’t want to worry about whether you got your EIN filed.

These are also great reasons, again, for getting a registered agent or a trusted partner.

Step Six: Comply and File

Step Five is the part no business owner can get around. It’s filing for licenses to perform certain jobs (construction, liquor licenses, etc.), it’s making sure you’re bonded if you’re in certain industries, and other paperwork.

A registered agent can help you stay on top of these things, and so can a dedicated office staff, if you’re large enough to be able to afford one.

The main thing to look out for are annual and quarterly filings. Like paying personal taxes revolves around key dates, so does owning and operating an LLC. Keep track of that Dashboard on geauxbiz and make sure your filing system in the office is airtight.

And now you have your LLC. So what’s next? Well, we don’t have space for a full tutorial on owning and operating a business. And besides, we’d never tell you how to run your Po’ Boy shop. The important part is getting the paperwork dialed in, and after that, doing what you do best—whatever it is.

To read our terms of service click here.

The post How to Start an LLC in Louisiana [2022] appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

Best Registered Agent Services in 2022

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:48 +0000

If you’ve decided to start your own business, LLC, or nonprofit, you’ve probably noticed there’s a lot of paperwork to take care of. And you’ve probably heard that you need to have a Registered Agent to file in the state where you’re doing business.

We’ve done some research on helping people start their own LLCs, and that’s how we found out about Registered Agent services. It turns out you can knock out two birds with a single stone. With the right Registered Agent, you can not only fulfill the State’s requirement to have an agent on file for contact, but they can also take care of a lot of your filings for you.

We broke down the five best Registered Agent Services, and reviewed them for you. Each one is a little different, with some better at some things like filing out of state, so make sure you read all the reviews to find the one that’s best for you. If you still have some questions, we included an FAQ section at the end.

Table of Contents

Best Registered Agent Services

ZenBusiness

Best All-Around

4.9

Visit Website

NorthWest Registered Agent

Best Customer Service

4.8

Visit Website

IncFile

Most Affordable

4.7

Visit Website

Swyft Filings

Fastest Process

4.6

Visit Website

Inc Authority

Most Trusted

4.5

Visit Website

Do I Need a Registered Agent?

Just in case you’re not sure, you absolutely do need a registered agent. That doesn’t mean you need to hire a service, but it does help. A registered agent is a legal requirement so that the state in which you are doing business has a contact for legal proceedings.

In the best of worlds, your registered agent is only contacted once a year when your annual filings are up for renewal. But in an imperfect world, in which unfortunately we all live, the registered agent is also who is contacted if your company is ever sued or involved in a lawsuit.

Why Should I Hire a Registered Agent Service?

Outside of having someone to take the terrible mail in the case of legal action, professional Registered Agents have expanded their services to include filing all your paperwork for you, and helping you keep ahead of required renewals.

One of the top reasons we selected the five Registered Agent Services we have is that all of them offer exceptional business services, some of which you may have not yet realized you need, like helping you file for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS.

We recommend hiring one of the five Registered Agents below because they’re all cost effective, offer great customer service, and you can customize what services you get from them to tailor them to your costs and needs.

The Right Agent for You

We recommend reading through all the reviews, to find the perfect Agent Services for you. Some of these Agents specialize in low cost, some on their full menu of services. We encourage you to follow the links to their websites, but we’ll include the base price for each company.

ZenBusinesss: Best All-Around

If you’re in the market for a full-service LLC Registered Agent, then ZenBusiness is the service for you. They can walk you through all the filings you need, all the services they can provide, and bundle it all into one easy checkout process.

When you first go to the website for ZenBusiness, you’ll see right away that you can check if your preferred business name is available, or not. From there, ZenBusiness can take you through a step-by-step process, asking with their virtual agent all the right questions to find the service you need.

We took a tour with the virtual agent, and came away with a comprehensive set of services for a one-time charge of $547. This price doesn’t include them taking care of $200 worth of state fees.

The total services included:

Filing the LLC paperwork.
Being the Registered Agent.
Keeping up to date on annual filings.
Expedited paperwork.
Operating Agreement.
Filing for our EIN.

For total Registered Agent Services, we found ZenBusiness to be the best All-Around. While the other services we reviewed have a lot to recommend them, and while some are more inexpensive, ZenBusinesss heads our list.

Visit Official ZB Website

Northwest Registered Agent: Best Customer Service

Sometimes when we want a service done, we don’t want the bells and whistles. If you need your oil changed, having the technician ask about your brakes could just be a waste of everyone’s time. Northwest Registered Agent has a tagline, “We’re Just Not Annoying®.”

Their website gets right to the point. When you click their “Hire Us” button, you select from popular services. If you click Registered Agent, they don’t try to talk you into hiring them to do other things. If you click on “Form a New Company,” then all of their prices are listed right up front.

What really sets Northwest Registered Agent apart, though, is their customer service. They're based in a small town in Eastern Washington State, and they have real people on the other end of the phone when you call. If you ever have any questions about Northwest Registered Agent, you should always feel free to give them a call.

We stuck with the same state (Washington) that we used for filing with ZenBusiness, and here’s a breakdown of the services we found from them.

Filing the LLC paperwork.
Being Registered Agent.
Free Credit Card Consultation.
Free Phone Service.
Annual Compliance filing.

Including a three-day turnaround on the paperwork, the total from Northwest Registered Agent came to $225. We skipped some of the add-ons, but with Northwest you can always back out and start over. And remember, their customer service is absolute tops.

Visit Official NW Website

Incfile: Most Affordable

Many of the Registered Agent sites we looked at for our reviews said that they had low fees, but none of them actually had a $0 option—except for Infile.com. With their Silver Package, you can get preparation of your paperwork, filing, and a free year of Registered Agent services, for $0. All you have to pay is the State fee for wherever you’re doing business.

One of the great features of Incfile is that you can look at all their payment plans and options right up front. For instance, if you decided to go with the step up from free, their Gold Package, you would still only pay $199 plus the state fee, and you’d get a whole host of options.

Incfile is a start-up, just like you’re probably going to be. So they have had experience with what small business owners and innovators have to face. You know you’re working with like-minded people when you’re with Incfile.

The full list of what you get with their $199 option is:

Preparing & Filing the Articles of Organization.
Registered Agent Service.
EIN Business Tax Number.
Operating Agreement.
Banking Resolution.
Phone & Email Support.
Business Banking Account.
Business Tax Consultation.

For all the services you get for just under $200, Incfile was the clear winner for affordability.

Visit Official IncFile Website

Swyft Filings: Fastest Process

Saving money is nice, but sometimes saving time is even better. If you’re in a hurry, and you just want to get the filing process over with as soon as possible, then like their name implies, Swyft Filings should be your choice.

Swyft Filings has a decently low price, coming in on their basic option at $49, plus state fees. Where they really pull ahead in their own respect is how quickly and easily their website is laid out.

From the homepage, you click your type of business, the state you’re filing, and the very next thing you see is a breakdown of pricing options and where you’re at in the process. You can select up to a Premium plan for $299 plus state fees, or you can stay basic.

Their speed is built in to every step of the process, with each form going right to the next. One thing to note, filing with Swyft Filings is so fast you may miss the box to check if you want them to be your Registered Agent. This fee isn’t processed until you’re granted the Certificate from your state, and it is $149.

The list of services you get from their basic option are:

Free month of a physical address for your business.
Free tax consultation.
Business formation paperwork filing.
First Class shipping of documents.

Swyft Filings is quick and easy. We went through the entire process and we got to the payment screen almost before we realized we were done with the questionnaires. If you want more services it will obviously take a little more time. But for being in and out in under five minutes, Swyft Filings can’t be beat for time.

Visit Official SF Website

Read Full Review

Inc Authority: Most Trusted

In some circles they say to put “your money where your mouth is,” and Inc Authority does just that: they have a 60 day money back guarantee. That means if you’re not satisfied with the services they provide, you can get your money back.

Not only that, but they have a Trustpilot review of 5 stars—across almost 11,000 reviews. That’s a lot of small business owners just like you having a great experience with Inc Authority.

The process at Inc Authority is simple and easy. They ask you a few simple questions, offer you some add-ons like EIN, Operating Agreement, and website registration, and then you’re done. They even have a free year of Registered Agent Service available.

In the end, not only is Inc Authority trustworthy, not only are they affordable, but they also have a money-back guarantee. It’s the trifecta of trust, and Inc Authority has it.

The services available at the most basic level, for only $138, include:

Preparation and Filing.
Operating Agreement.
Registered Agent Service.
EIN registry.

For all the services they offer, they’re also one of the best reviewed Registered Agent Services out there, which means they can deliver on everything they offer. They get our vote for Most Trusted.

Visit Official IA Website

Conclusion

Only you know what’s best for you and your business. After all, your expertise is part of what got you started out on your own in the first place. No one here is going to tell you how to start your own business, just like no one out there can tell you how to run it.

But if you’re interested in a full-service Registered Agent, we recommend the five above for all their expertise, speed, and affordability. In the end, you can always change who the registered agent is on your business, but you can’t ever start over again with the best filing service. Picking the right one from the beginning can make all the difference, and you won’t go wrong with any of the ones we’ve reviewed.

FAQs

Do I Have To Be An LLC?

No, you don’t. But almost all of the filing and Registered Agent Services we reviewed recommend filing for the first time as an LLC. It saves you time and covers your liabilities in the future.

Do I Have To File With My Registered Agent?

Absolutely not. It’s your businesses. The State only requires that you file paperwork, and separately, that you have a registered agent. Many people simply find it more affordable and time-saving to file with the same people that will be their Registered Agent.

What Happens If I Don’t Have a Registered Agent?

It’s not really possible to file without one. So you can’t actually get your business going unless you’re prepared to be your own, or you hire one ahead of time.

Can I Change My Registered Agent Later?

Yes, you can. Anytime you like you can log in to your State’s filing system and change what you need to.

Do I Need Add-Ons, like Operating Agreements?

Certain things are essential to filing with the state, like Articles of Incorporation. You don’t need to pay a Registered Agent to prepare these things for you, but it can save you invaluable time to let someone else take care of that paperwork.

The post Best Registered Agent Services in 2022 appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

Swyft Filings vs ZenBusiness | Which is Better For Your Business?

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:48 +0000

Reading a review with five or six companies on it can be informative, but it can also get confusing. It’s easy to forget who we’re comparing. So if you’re down to a couple, a head-to-head might be in order. For a Registered Agent Service, this is Swyft Filings against ZenBusinesss.

Table of Contents

About Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings, like you might guess from their name, is all about speed. They can get you on and off their website in less than ten minutes. We did it in five, but after reviewing so many sites, we might be moving faster than some. Swyft Filings is ideal for people who already know what they’re doing, and just want to get the paperwork filed.

Visit Official Website

Read full review

About ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness bills itself as an all-in-one service for anyone who wants to start their own business or LLC, and might not have it all figured out, yet. They are the perfect option for anyone who’s going through the process for the first time, and might want a little bit of help along the way.

Visit Official Website

What they Have in Common

Most Registered Agent Services will cover the same basic services, and Swyft Filings and ZenBusiness are no different. They’ll both:

Help with company name searches.
Act as your Agent.
File your paperwork with your state government.

Where They’re Different

At this point you might want to know, if they’re both so great, why the head to head comparison. Well, because they do have some pretty big differences, once you get past the basics.

What Swyft Filings offers that ZenBusiness doesn’t:

Speed, from page one of their website.
Low Cost.
Side-by-Side Priceing.

What ZenBusiness offers that Swyft Filings doesn’t:

Comprehensive website for your business.
Virtual Tutor to help you along.
Worry Free Compliance Package.

And the Winner Is…

Pricing: Swyft Filings

While Swyft Filings is cheap, we need to note their fine print—you will be charged an additional $149 Registered Agent Fee when your paperwork goes through with your state. But even with that, they’re still cheaper than ZenBusinesss.

Experience: ZenBusiness

Like we’ll mention below, ZenBusiness has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, and that speaks to their experience, and the experience of their customers.

Customer Support: ZenBusiness

This, again, came from their BBB rating. They also have an accuracy guarantee, that if your paperwork is absolutely correct, you get your money back.

Turnaround Time: Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings isn’t just the fastest between these two; they’re the fastest filing and Registered Agent Company we’ve reviewed. The website is fast, the checkout is fast, and they even offer a turnaround from the state in less than a week.

Overall - ZenBusiness

While we loved everything about Swyft Filings, we did have to note that for the first-time business owner, they’re probably not the site to go with.

They are fast, but perhaps a little too fast. It does get lost in their low-cost structure that you will be charged an additional $149 later down the road. And the education and other services offered by ZenBusiness just can’t be beat.

And the winner is - ZenBusiness

Only $39 to get started
Great customer reviews
Registered agent service included
Excellent customer support

Get Started With ZenBusiness

The post Swyft Filings vs ZenBusiness | Which is Better For Your Business? appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

ZenBusiness vs Incfile | Which Is Better For Your Buisness

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:48 +0000

We’ve reviewed both ZenBusiness and Incfile, and they have a lot to offer. But sometimes people need help picking between two things, and that’s where we’re here to help.

Table of Contents

About ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is an all-in-one Registered Agent Service with a lot to recommend it. They can offer you everything you need to get started, including being your Registered Agent, getting you set up with an EIN (Employee Identification Number), and even helping you with online business packages.

Visit Official Website

About Incfile

Incfile was started by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. Their whole business model is to be as fast, easy, and affordable as possible for people starting out on their own. They have simple, side-by-side pricing options, and you can check out in a breeze.

Visit Official Website

What they Both Offer

Both Incfile and ZenBusiness will get you where you need to go, namely, they’ll get your business filed with the state you’re in. Here’s what they have in common:

They’ll file your paperwork.
Act as your Registered Agent.
Help you with company name searches.

What they Don’t Have in Common

Okay, time to stop playing nice. Here’s where we start to see some real differences. First, what ZenBusiness offers, that Incfile doesn’t:

Online Tools, including custom website.
Certificate of Good Standing.
Accounting Consultation.

Now what Incfile offers, that ZenBusiness doesn’t.

Lifetime Alerts.
Tax Consultation.
Contract Templates.

And the Winner Is…

Pricing: Incfile

Incfile has a totally free option, which includes a year of Registered Agent Services. Free isn’t always best, except when the category is ‘price.’ In that case, free is always best.

Experience: Incfile

Incfile has been at the game since 2004, ZenBusiness since 2017. Though we should note that much of Incfile’s experience was in their home state of Texas.

Customer Support: ZenBusiness

This really came down to their Better Business Bureau Accreditation and A Rating. Maintaining a good BBB Rating requires good customer service and issue resolution.

Turnaround Time: ZenBusinesss

This also takes into account how quickly and easily we could navigate their website. Both websites offered expedited paperwork, but it was only available from Incfile with the most expensive package.

Overall: Incfile

We found that Incfile had the best combination of transparency, speed, and affordability. When it comes to starting your own business, you don’t really want to spend a lot of time on paperwork, and jumping through website hoops. We felt that the Incfile site had a better set up, and offered more options for the premium packages.

The post ZenBusiness vs Incfile | Which Is Better For Your Buisness appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

ZenBusiness vs Nolo | Side By Side Comparison

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:48 +0000

If you’re starting an LLC, two companies that will come up a lot in your searches are Nolo and ZenBusiness. We decided to do a head-to-head review, to see who comes out on top.

Table of Contents

About ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is a one-stop-shop registered agent business. They can file all your paperwork for you, including making sure that you’re up-to-date every year, and giving you 100% accuracy, guaranteed. They can act as your registered agent, and even help you get your IRS paperwork started.

Visit Official ZenBusiness Website

About Nolo

Nolo is an all around legal resource website that serves everyone looking on the internet for help with the law. Nolo is like a search engine that only turns up legal services and lawyers. They do have LLC services, but they’re a little harder to find, and it’s not Nolo’s main brand.

Visit Official Nolo Website

What they Both Offer

ZenBusiness and Nolo will help you get your LLC or nonprofit off the ground, and they are both professional sites that will get the job done. The bottom line is, while they both work, one does have to be declared the winner… so read on.

They’ll both file your paperwork.
Either one will get your company legally established.
Both can help you with important papers like Operating Agreements.

Where They’re Different

Time to start splitting the hairs. There are some real differences, and we’ll start with what ZenBusiness offers that Nolo doesn’t:

100% guaranteed accuracy.
Breakdown of what services you’ll need, and why.
A la carte options for services—pick what you need, leave the rest.

Now what Nolo offers, that ZenBusiness doesn’t.

Bundled services.
Lower prices.
Faster process.

And the Winner Is…

Pricing: Nolo

Nolo barely edges out on price, with it really coming down to their registered agent renewal being around $50/year cheaper.

Experience: ZenBusiness

We’re giving the edge to ZenBusiness. All they do is LLC, small business, and registered agent services. With Nolo, we get the feeling they are sort of “jacks of all trades,” which means they may not have mastered this trade.

Customer Support: ZenBusiness

Again, because ZenBusiness only handles small business, you don’t have to be worried about contacting them and getting routed through the phone tree for accident attorneys.

Turnaround Time: ZenBusinesss

Again, while both of them have expedited options, and Nolo is a little quicker on the set up, ZenBusiness is actually faster when it comes to filling out the actual paperwork for your business. Because the initial questions are more detailed, on the back end the process is fairly fast.

Winner Overall - ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is a tad more expensive, but when you’re starting your own business, we don’t think you should skimp on the really important stuff—like filing your paperwork with the government.

ZenBusiness’s expertise and guarantee were what won the day, for us.

Get Started With ZenBusiness

The post ZenBusiness vs Nolo | Side By Side Comparison appeared first on Startups Anonymous.

Should You Wear a Suit if You’re a Businessman?

Robert Keane — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 15:42:47 +0000

There are a lot of old expressions about how people judge you on your clothes. And in the world since COVID, a lot of conversations have taken place about business attire. Early in 2020 we wore nice shirts and blazers with sweatpants underneath for our Zoom meetings. Now we’re all as likely to show up in tee shirts.

What some of us have realized is that “dressing down” for work has been trending for years. In fact, as far back as 2017 big New York firms had already stopped requiring suits to work.

But what if you don’t work at a big New York City firm?

As many of us start transitioning back to in-person work, it makes sense to take a hard look at the traditional suit, and decide whether we should keep wearing them. We’ll take a look at three scenarios many of us are facing, and break down the pros and cons of the traditional pants, jacket, and tie.

Starting Out

In some cases, the toughest day of work is before we’re even hired: the Interview. Deciding what to wear for the all-important first meeting can be a tortuous affair. If we dress-down we could come off unprofessional. If we show up dressed in a better suit than our prospective employer we could look cheeky, or worse, desperate.

For job interviews, our ruling is business casual. There’s no playbook for this, but for men this definitely means slacks or chinos, a suit jacket or blazer, and a nice button down. In these scenarios, it’s best to play your industry by ear. If you already know someone working in that field, ask them what’s appropriate.

Another overlooked tip: ask what the company dress code is when you set up your interview. Don’t worry about sounding like you don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ll actually give the opposite impression, that you’re looking to fit right in and that you’re open to taking direction. An old adage is to show up to your interview ready to start work right then. If you’re interviewing for a position building houses, you better have your work boots and tool belt. And for a job interview, there’s no better way to know how they’d like you to dress than to simply ask.

Already at Work

If you’re an established member of your organization, and you’re not sure if you need to keep suiting and booting, then the simple answer is: you don’t. We say that because if you’re working in an office where it’s even a question then it means that there’s enough flexibility to start dressing down.

On the other hand, if you’re working in an office where everyone is wearing full, tailored suits, you’re probably nowhere near asking the question.

When it comes to dressing down at work, we recommend starting small. First, ditch the tie. Play it by ear after that. You might notice you’re the only person who’s gotten rid of the tie, in which case you’d better keep one in the desk drawer to put on in a hurry.

Other ways to dress down while still looking professional are to ditch the jacket and keep the tie. It’s a casual look that still has an air of professionalism.

Outside Your Own Office

Of course the real litmus test for whether to wear a suit is when you’re outside the relative comfort zone of your own office. Meeting with clients, conferences with other companies in your industry, and appearing in the media as a representative for your company are all times when your dress matters.

What makes it difficult to judge is that in today’s business world, wearing a suit can say something definitive about you that you might not want to project. For instance, to a lot of millennials, only uptight older people wear suits, and if you wear one, they might not trust you.

Meanwhile, if you are meeting with a client from an older generation, not wearing a suit can make you look unprofessional or unprepared.

The bottom line outside the office is to play by the big three for suits: weddings, funerals, and court all need a suit. After that, the days of needing a suit to conduct business are largely over.

Even in situations with clients or partners who do wear suits, if you don’t normally wear one, putting one on just to meet them can make you look like you’re trying to please them. Let’s be frank, some business situations are about projecting from a position of power. And if you wear a suit just to meet a rep from another company, and they know you don’t wear suits at your home office, it can make you look like either you’re combative or you’re bowing to their pressure.

In the End, Dress for You

The bottom line is that suits are largely out. That isn’t to say you should never wear one. There are definitely occasions when a suit is absolutely necessary. For instance, even Zuckerberg wore a suit in front of Congress.

But even outside of that, if you feel comfortable in a suit, and you look good, that will project when you wear one to work. Nothing is worse than watching a person uncomfortable in a suit. The flip side is that a person who really pulls off a suit really pulls it off. A suit can distinguish you from the crowd of business casual—if you do it right.

All that said, wearing a suit is no longer a must for the business person. Most modern offices have gone hybrid, and with so many people meeting online, casual wear has come to the workplace to stay. Wearing a suit could look out of place, and could put people off. In the end, it comes down to situations, looking good, and being comfortable, whatever you decide to wear.

Pros of Wearing a Suit:

Sets a tone and sends a message
Widens your wardrobe and makes it more versatile
A suit can be dressed up or dressed down throughout the day

Cons of Wearing a Suit:

The message you send could be the wrong one
May look out of place in the modern office
If you’re not comfortable wearing a suit, it will show

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