Fact Checked by Editorial Staff
BizFilings vs. Harbor Compliance: When you attempt to start an LLC or any sort of business in the United States, you must do it flawlessly to avoid discrepancies. A business formation service like BizFilings or Harbor Compliance makes it easier for you as they have plenty of professional services that help you establish your business smoothly, irrespective of the state you’re in.
This page will explain a comparative guide between BizFilings and Harbor Compliance. LLCBuddy editors, with their best possible knowledge, have come up with this comparison to ease your decision on which service to buy. Let’s dig up more on BizFilings vs Harbor Compliance guide for the aspiring entrepreneurs around us!
BizFilings vs. Harbor Compliance: Quick Review
| Services | BizFilings | Harbor Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation | Available | Available |
| Starting Price | $99 + State filing fee | $99 + State filing fee |
| Registered Agent Service | Available at Included (free for 3 months) | Available at $99 per year |
| Legal Advice | Not Available | Not Available |
| EIN | Available at $79 | Available at $99 |
| Operating Agreement | $39 | $99 |
| Annual Report | $99 + state filing fee | $100 to $175 per state + state filing fee |
| Attorney Service | Not available | Not available |
| Website | BizFilings | Harbor Compliance |
| Review | – | – |
BizFilings vs. Harbor Compliance: Our Take
BizFilings offers LLC formation at $99 excluding the state filing fee. Though the price of the basic LLC formation is the same, BizFIlings offers free registered agent service for 3 months. This makes it cheaper than other pricey services. On the other hand, there are a few services that BizFilings offers at a lower rate than close competitors. Hence, it is recommended to choose your company carefully. However, on the other side, Harbor Compliance specializes in compliance services more than direct legal support. It also offers diverse business software that helps small businesses to manage their company without any hassle. Harbor Compliance does have a brand presence when it comes to offering LLC formation services. Choosing BizFilings over Harbor Compliance will be wise if you’re looking for an LLC formation overall services at a lower rate..
We prefer LLC formation packages over subscriptions or memberships. We would also prefer to go with customized packages where you can pick services and make your own package. You must have your own preferences, budget, and requirements. You can explore the best LLC services to get an overall comparison among the top-rated companies in the market.
Our main aim is to share insights into the features and prices that both these services offer. We researched the details of BizFilings and Harbor Compliance to bring the comparison study for you.
BizFilings vs. Harbor Compliance: Price and Packaging
This is the most crucial part you should consider before making a choice between BizFilings or Harbor Compliance. Your requirements, your budget, the services they offer, and the price they charge should all be aligned so that you can make a smooth choice. However, the world isn’t that easy. You lose some, you gain some. If you’re looking only for the registered agent service and not the formation, you can explore the best Registered Agent services available. So, here we are with a comparative price and package study for BizFilings vs Harbor Compliance.
BizFilings Price & Package
- LLC Kit & Seal: starting from $99 + state filing fee,
- Operating Agreement: $39, EIN: $79 (One-time),
- Payroll Tax Registration: $199 a year,
- Business License Research Package: $99,
- Compliance DVD: $39,
- Annual Report Filing: $99 + State filing fee,
- Expedited Process: $60,
- Overnight Shipping: $20,
- 24-hour rush filing: $199
Add-ons by BizFilings
- Payroll Tax Registration: $199,
- Business License Research package: $99,
- Palo Alto’s Live Plan: $99,
- ADP Payroll Service for Businesses with Employees: Price on Request,
- Other Add-ons: EIN; Operating Agreement; Annual/Biennial Reports; Business Compliance; Rush Filing;
Harbor Compliance Price & Package
- LLC formation: $99 + state filing fee,
- Registered Agent: $89-$99 per state per year,
- Initial Report Starting at $175 plus state fees,
- Annual Reports: $100 to $175 per state plus filing fees,
- Dissolution & Withdrawal: $399 plus state fees,
- Articles of Reinstatement: $399 plus state fees,
- Certificate of Good Standing: $85 plus state fees,
- Foreign Qualification: $399 service fee includes the registered agent,
- Nonprofit Registration Services from $1,799 plus filing fees
Add-ons By Harbor Compliance
- Initial Report Starting at $175 plus state fees,
- Establish Payroll Tax Accounts one-time package $600,
- Sales and Use Tax IDs one-time package $300,
- publishing Starting at $300 plus state fees
Starter/Basic Package: Comparison
| Services | BizFilings | Harbor Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $99 + State filing fee | $99 + State filing fee |
| Processing time | Rush filing available at additional cost | Standard filing |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Available at $79 | Available at $99 |
| Operating Agreement | $39 | $99 |
| Business Compliance | $39 a year | On demand |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not available | Not available |
Pro/Mid-Level Package:
| Services | BizFilings | Harbor Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $299 + state filing fee | $99 + state filing fees (flat) |
| Processing Time | Rush filing available at additional cost | Standard filing |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Included | $99 |
| Operating Agreement | Included | $99.00 |
| Business Compliance | $39 | On demand |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not Available | Not Available |
| Domain Name Registration | Not Available | Not Available |
| Business Email | Not Available | Not Available |
Premium/Top Level Package:
| Services | BizFilings | Harbor Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation | $458 + state filing fee | $99 + state filing fees (flat) |
| Processing Time | Rush filing available at additional cost | Standard filing |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Included | $99 |
| Operating Agreement | Included | $99.00 |
| Business Compliance | $39 | On demand |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not Available | Not Available |
BizFilings vs. Harbor Compliance: How They Are Different or Similar
BizFilings and Harbor Compliance offer similar yet different services. Both companies have many things in common, while some things are different. Let’s look at the similarities and differences Harbor Compliance and BizFilings have with each other.
Business Formation
BizFilings offers 3 packages, Basic, Standard, and Complete Package. All the packages include unlimited name search, registered agent service in 51 states, business name verification, and a 24×7 business monitoring tool. Besides, BizFilings offers other formation-related services like annual reports, EIN, operating agreements, compliance packages, etc.
Harbor Compliance does not have a series of formation packages. It has only one flat rate for LLC formation. The overall price is much more in Harbor Compliance than BizFilings for the formation services of an LLC. But for the compliance documents Harbor Compliance is certainly a better choice.
Legal Support & Attorney Services
BizFilings does not offer any legal support. It only offers business formation and related services.
Harbor Compliance does not offer legal support or attorney service. Hence, users who are looking for legal service Harbor Compliance would not be a wise option.
Overall Cost
BizFilings does not offer free LLC formation, hence, the basic cost of LLC formation is definitely more than any other big names. On the other hand, the register agent costs nothing in BizFilings for 3 months. Overall, BizFilings offer better services compared to Harbor Compliance. Both offer all the main LLC formation services at reasonable prices.
Harbor Compliance, no doubt is a bit expensive than BizFilings. If we calculate the overall price, Harbor Compliance’s price is higher in the long run. Though the price of some of the services is less, however, other services such as EIN are much higher than BizFilings. Besides, it does not offer many LLC formation services.
Customer Support
Users can contact BizFilings support team in 4 ways. They can directly call on their number (800-981-7183) during working hours, they can email ([email protected]) the team, Chat with them through the official website, and finally, users can check their FAQ section to know the process of filing.
Users can reach Harbor Compliance Service Help Center via 4 ways. First, users can call them directly. You can drop a mail at their main office in Pennsylvania, you can email them, Fax them, and/or you can call them from Monday to Friday during official hours.
Harbor Compliance Additional Services
There are some services that BizFilings might not have expertise in while Harbor Compliance does have dominance over them. Here’s a list of some ‘exclusive’ services that Harbor Compliance offers!
Establish Payroll Tax Accounts with Harbor Compliance available at one-time package at $600
Some sepcific state needs publishing after creating the LLC. Harbor Compliance offers this service at $300 plus state publishing charges.
Some states require Initial Business Report filing. Harbor Compliance offers this service starting at $75 plus state filing fee
BizFilings vs. Harbor Compliance: Pros & Cons
As we are talking about forming an LLC or any business, both services, BizFilings and Harbor Compliance can be your choice. However, establishing a business is not only about filing the papers; a whole lot of work is involved. Hence, let’s get into the Pros and Cons of each service before you jump to any conclusion.
BizFilings: Pros & Cons:
| Pros of BizFilings👍 | Cons of BizFilings👎 |
|---|---|
| BizFilings has been offering LLC formation services since 1996 and has helped form over 500,000 businesses, so they have a wealth of experience and knowledge in this area. | BizFilings’ LLC formation service can be more expensive compared to other options available. |
| 24×7 Business monitoring tool is available with all the LLC formation packages. | If you are looking to form an LLC as a non-US resident or have complex international business structures, BizFilings’ services do not have much options. It may not be as well-suited to your needs |
| While their base price may seem attractive, be aware that there may be additional fees for certain services or add-ons that are not included in the initial package. |
Harbor Compliance: Pros & Cons:
| Pros of Harbor Compliance👍 | Cons of Harbor Compliance👎 |
|---|---|
| Harbor Compliance has been in business for over a decade and has successfully helped thousands of businesses with their compliance needs. | Hiring a professional service like Harbor Compliance comes with a cost. While their services can save you time and provide peace of mind, it may not be the most cost-effective option for everyone |
| Harbor Compliance ensures that all the necessary legal and compliance requirements for forming an LLC are met. | Some users may value a personalized experience when creating their LLC. As Harbor Compliance works with many clients, there may be limited opportunities for one-on-one communication and customization |
| Harbor Compliance provides ongoing support, even after your LLC is formed. They can help with annual report filings, business licenses, and other compliance requirements that may arise throughout the life of your LLC. | Some users may prefer more control over the formation and compliance process of their LLC. Harbor Compliance offers standardized services, which may not cater to the specific needs or preferences of certain businesses. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Also Read
Conclusion
BizFilings and Harbor Compliance are both popular and top-rated companies that have made a lot of difference in the business world in the past few years. We shared this comparative guide to make your way easier while choosing the right option for yourself.
While doing our research, we have come up with a perspective that brands are not always helpful. You can go for the pricey and most popular company. But it is all about your company’s formation requirements. It is all about what they offer and what you need. Whether their offering is useful for your company or not, no matter how big their company or brand name is. We personally preferred ZenBusiness (LLC formation at $0 + state fees) for its vast services and packages at a very affordable price.
It is worth noting that both companies offer a satisfaction guarantee, so if you are not satisfied with their services, you might get a refund.