IncFile VS LegalZoom: The Best of Online Legal Business Services in 2023

LegalZoom or IncFile , which should you pick? Which is right for your business?

If this is the question on your mind, then you have come to the right place. You have made the right decision. Keep reading.

Even small businesses require the service of a legal professional. But with the high rate these professionals charge hourly, businesses are turning to online legal services to sort our issues such as entering a contract with a supplier or in launching their business entity.

In this article, we take a close look at LegalZoom and IncFile. We help you decide which one is right for your business.

This article will show you the services offered by LegalZoom vs IncFile, their pricing and their pros and cons. Then, we would compare both platforms based on their services, price, speed, experience, ease of use and customer reviews.

But we would not leave you hanging with all this information, we would guide you with detailed info on when to use LegalZoom and when to use IncFile.

At the end of this article, you would be able to pick the right online legal service for your business – LegalZoom or IncFile.

What LegalZoom and IncFile?

What this to services have in common is that they are Online Legal Services. These services allow small businesses pay a low fixed price for legal services. They provide legal services such as filing taxes, filing compliance documents, forming business entities, among many other legal services.

Another thing this online legal services provide is affordable and are thus appropriate and budget friendly option for small businesses. If these small businesses were to hire a legal professional in person, they have to pay an hourly rate of about 200 to 1000 USD depending on the service required. But with this online platform, they are able to save a lot more for the same service.

This article will help you decide which of these two great Online legal services is right for your business. But, to make this decision, you also need to understand your business and other your legal needs. If you haven’t already, I suggest you get to that right away. Make a list of your legal needs of your business, then continue reading.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom founded in 2001 has helped well over 4 million businesses and clients with their legal issues and needs. It’s serves as a one stop hub for all small business needs. Users can use this online legal service for:

· Formation of business paperwork especially when starting a new business

· Copyright protection and patent application

· Registration of a trademark

· Creation of legal documents

· Review of legal documents

· Lawyer consultation

· Business tax advice

LegalZoom Services

The services offered by LegalZoom are in 4 major categories

1. Business Formation – this service helps users start their business. They have a record of helping well over 1 million business get started. They do this by providing the following services:

· Helping users launch a Limited Liability Company (LLC) through fast, easy and affordable process.

· Providing incorporation services. And helping users start a corporation whether a C corp or an S corp. Also, they provide info on allocating shares to investors, assigning stocks and many other considerations.

· LegalZoom provides all the legal service you need to start a Nonprofit. Ensuring you start off right which is the first step in getting donor support.

· They assist in naming business. Allowing users file a Doing Business As (DBA) and build their business brand. In addition, they provide other business name related services like entity name availability check at no cost. They also offer entity name reservation services.

· Provides an easy way to get a Federal tax ID called Employer Identification Number (EIN). LegalZoom also provides you with all the information you need with regards the EIN.

2. Intellectual property protection – this service ensures that your work becomes protected. And when users are unsure what protection they need, LegalZoom guides them on what is appropriate. They provide the following protection services:

· Trademark registration service – they guide users with a trademark search for the name, symbol or slogan they wish to trademark. And when available, users can file for exclusive rights to the slogan, symbol or name.

· Copyright registration. By providing this service, LegalZoom enhance your right to your creative work. And provides users and businesses legal protection against infringement.

· Provisional patent application. They guide users to file for a provisional patent. This allows users early protection for their inventions and gives an early filing date.

· Utility Patent. They guide users to get file for a patent that prevent others from making, selling or using their inventions.

· Design Patent. They guide users to get file for a patent that controls who can make, use or sell their design.

3. Personal legal services – as LegalZoom provides online legal services, it caters to businesses and also personal legal needs. This domain of LegalZoom is for all personal legal needs. They provide services such as:

· Marriage and divorce – with this service they provide name change, prenuptial agreement and uncontested divorce.

· Estate planning services – this area covers a wide range of services, they include

v Last will and testament

v Living will (Advanced Health Care Directive)

v Healthcare power of attorney

v Financial power of attorney

v Living trust

v Pet protection agreement

· Real estate services – they offer their users product and services for real estate planning and management. Users can able to prepare a residential lease agreement and also a property deed with ease using LegalZoom.

· Immigration and Work – LegalZoom understands that a major personal legal need involves immigration and work permit. And that the process can be overwhelming and complicated. They provide services for Green card, Work visa and also free immigration attorney consultation.

4. Attorney advice - this service allow users receive legal advice via a 30-minutes phone consultation with an attorney on demand (as the need for it arise). This is a prepaid legal advisory service. They have a personal legal advisory plan and also a business legal advisory plan.

LegalZoom: Pros and Cons

LegalZoom Pricing

IncFile

IncFile founded in 2004 is an online legal services provider that provide small businesses with services to their legal needs. Their services are to suit and customized for the state that the businesses operate from and those state rules and laws accordingly.

Users can use this online legal service for:

· Formation of business entities

· File taxes

· File compliance documents

IncFile Services

The services IncFile provides includes business formation, company change, compliance and Tax filing. They are in groups of 4 major categories with many sub services.

1. Business Formation – this service provides users with easy and quick step to start their businesses. They also guide users unsure of which corporation us right for their business in making a decision . Which could be any one of the following :

· Guiding users on the decision and the process of forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC).

· Helping you set your business up as an S- Corporation.

· Providing information on forming a C- Corporation and following through with the process.

· Helping get your nonprofit off the ground smoothly and quickly.

2. Company Changes Services – this includes services such as:

· Amendment. Changes to membership, company name or company address.

· Corporate dissolution when you wish to formally terminate an entity existence.

· When you wish to expand to a new state, IncFile helps you file for foreign qualification.

· Helps prepare and file a Doing Business As (DBA) or a fictitious business name.

3. Business Compliance Services – IncFile helps to ensure your business remains in good standing with services like:

· File annual report

· Order registered agent

· Acquire certificate of good standing.

· Business license research package. Which includes all business licenses, permits and tax registration required for business activities at a specified location.

4. IRS Filings – IncFile works to help small business ensure that this area is in order with their services that help users order and file their:

· Federal Employment Identification Number (EIN). This is also simply known as Tax ID number.

· Ease of filing business tax returns

IncFile : Pros and Cons

IncFile Pricing

The Comparison: LegalZoom VS IncFile

Services

When it comes to services offered, both LegalZoom and IncFile offer business formation and business compliance services.

However, only LegalZoom offers services in the area of intellectual property protection. Services such as filing for a patent, copyright and trademark. Also, LegalZoom allows users to create custom legal forms, which is something IncFile doesn’t allow. LegalZoom is also known to offer personal legal services aside its business services. Such as immigration and work, marriage and divorce, and estate management services.

One service found only on IncFile is filing for business tax returns. IncFile provides small businesses this service. In addition, it provides a personal tax return service as well .

Price Comparison

A look at the services similar to both LegalZoom and IncFile shows that LegalZoom services are higher. Also, LegalZoom is not designed for users with one-time legal needs.

But you may say that LegalZoom are aware of their more expensive prices and offer a 60-day money back guarantee which is the longest with any online legal service. Also, they allow cancellation at any point and offer a prorated refund.

Also, consider that included in their price for LegalZoom is the mandatory and important state required operating agreement. This is not usually the case with IncFile .

Speed

IncFile wins in this regard . As when it comes to business formation, IncFile has a quick response rate of the next business day. On the other hand, LegalZoom takes 10 – 30 working days to process for a new business formation. With LegalZoom if you want to have it quicker that this, you will have to pay extra.

Experience

When it comes to the amount of experience each service has, LegalZoom trumps it all. With 18 years of experience, founded in 2001, this service has helped over 4 million business. IncFile , on the other hand has 15 years of experience founded in 2004 and has a record of helping 250,000 businesses.

Ease of Use

In this aspect, we could not find any service that did better than the other. This is because they are both easy to use. The websites are well explained , great interface and save users a lot of hassle and time.

In addition, both LegalZoom and IncFile offer order tracking where you can relax and view in real-time your order status and updates.

Customer Reviews

When it came to customer reviews, LegalZoom had mixed reviews. There were both positive and negative reviews. And there were many users who sat on the fence. A lot of users’ concern was with the poor-quality customer support.

However, IncFile got mainly positive reviews and only a few negative reviews. And many users praised them for their customer support and response time and speed.

When to use LegalZoom or IncFile ?

Both LegalZoom and IncFile are great Online legal services platform. However, they each have their forte. Areas that they are best known for. And you should consider your needs before opting for any one of these platforms. In addition, you should be able to decide how often you would require legal services and this will greatly decide which you choose.

When to use LegalZoom?

I advise that you use LegalZoom if any one of this is the case for you:

· You need legal help regularly. As they offer a monthly and yearly legal plan. In addition, LegalZoom offers legal advisory consultation. So, if you would need legal help it more than once, and more on a regular basis , LegalZoom is the best option with value for your money.

· If you wish to draft custom contracts or other legal forms

· If your business will require intellectual property protection. Such as filing for copyright, patent or trademark.

· You need a wide range of legal services. As LegalZoom is well known to be a one stop shop for legal services.

· You care for the amount of experience. As LegalZoom has been in the game the longest and helped the greatest number of businesses.

When to use IncFile ?

I advise that you use IncFile if any one of this is the case for you:

· You are forming a new business and you need quick response and guidance on business compliance.

· You need legal help on a one-off basis and not regularly

· You need help with business tax returns

· You are seeking great price. As IncFile has the upper hand in this area

· You are more concerned for more positive customer reviews and IncFile had more positive reviews.

What do they have in common?

As much as there are differences between these two Online legal services, there are also many things they have in common. For one, they are affordable. They provide you with very affordable services than you would have gotten with an in-person legal professional. Their website is also designed to serve as an educational pool for users. This helps users have all the knowledge and information needed in understanding each services and legal needs and in making decisions .

Finally, there is a guarantee of efficiency and a great professional experience when using these platforms.

· Affordable

· Efficient

· Great professional experience

· Provision of need educational resource and information

· Guidance on choosing services

Final Words of IncFile VS LegalZoom: The Best of Online Legal Business Services in 2023

If you are looking for experience and a well-known brand, you know which to opt for – LegalZoom. The same brand to choose if you require a wide range of legal help, or you require intellectual property protection. Choose LegalZoom if you require on a regular basis legal services and you think you would benefit from legal advisory services.

If you are looking to save money yet receive quick and certainly valuable service, you know which to opt for – IncFile. The same platform to choose if you require business tax return services. Choose IncFile if you need legal help on a one-off basis and not regularly.

However, which ever platform you choose remember that they are both great, affordable and efficient online legal services. And choose the service that suits your business and company legal needs. This is the most important thing the consider when choosing one of LegalZoom or IncFile .

Now, you have all the information you need. The ball is in your court. It is now up to you to choose which is right for your business. Cheers.