Fact Checked by Editorial Staff 
LegalZoom vs. Swyft Filings: When you finally process to start an LLC (Limited Liability Company), you cannot make any mistakes while doing the paperwork. Establishing a limited liability company might look easy, but it is much more complicated than you think. LLC formation services like LegalZoom and Swyft Filings are something you look for in the very beginning to avoid any discrepancies in papers.
As we share our take on LegalZoom and Swyft Filings, we point out the pros and cons of both services so you can decide which one is suitable for your business. LLCBuddy editors dug up a lot and brought a detailed comparative guide on LegalZoom vs. Swyft Filings for the budding entrepreneur.
LegalZoom vs. Swyft Filings: Quick Review
| Services | LegalZoom | Swyft Filings |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation | Available | Available |
| Starting Price | $0 + State filing fee | $0 + State filing fee |
| Registered Agent Service | Available at $299 a year | Available at $199 per year |
| Legal Advice | Available at an additional fee | Not Available |
| EIN | Available at $79 | Available at $79 |
| Operating Agreement | $99 | $35 |
| Annual Report | $99 + state filing fee | $99 + state filing fee |
| Attorney Service | Depends on services | Not available |
| Website | LegalZoom | SwyftFilings |
| Review | LegalZoom Review | – |
Before we make a purchase, we always look for affordability and quality rather than the name or brand. Of course, brand matters, however, depending on your requirements, sometimes we have to choose unpopular names over a big brand. When it comes to deciding on which service we are going to choose or purchase, we look for a few general points.
- Reliable
- Reasonable
- Meet requirements
Our main goal is to share insights into the features and prices that both these services offer. We researched the details of LegalZoom and Swyft Filings to bring the comparison study for you.
LegalZoom vs. Swyft Filings: Our Take
It is a bit difficult for us to say what you should choose. It depends on what services you’re looking for. Both services offer LLC formation. However, LegalZoom is more focused on legal assistance and attorney services. On the other side, Swyft Filings is a formation company that offers basic LLC formation services at a low cost. However, LegalZoom is, in this case, more efficient and much better when it comes to LLC formation or compliance services.
LegalZoom vs. Swyft Filings: Price and Packaging
LegalZoom offers LLC formation at $0; however, the required state filing fee must be paid. On the other hand, Swyft Filings offers the LLC formation at $0 as well in their starting plan plus the mandatory state filing fee. When forming your LLC with LegalZoom or Swyft Filings, there are many more things than the formation fees. With Swyft Filings, a registered agent costs $199 per year. However, with LegalZoom, it is $299 a year. Hence, it is recommended that you choose LegalZoom instead of SwyftFilings, even though both companies offer LLC formation at $0. However, LegalZoom offers more services in their basic package than SwyftFilings.
LegalZoom Price & Package
LegalZoom offers three packages for LLC formation. Basic ($0 + state fees), Pro ($249 + state fees), and Premium ($299 + state fees).
- Business Formation Packages start at $0 + state fees and go up to $299 + state fees. Additional services can be added with a la carte options.
- Registered agent services cost $299 per year.
- Legal document review services start at $39 and can go up to $219, depending on the complexity of the document.
- Business compliance services start at $69 a year.
- Intellectual property services start at $199 and go up to $499, depending on the requirements.
Add-ons by LegalZoom
- Trademark registration: Assisting with the US trademark application process
- Copyright registration: Guidance on registering copyrights for creative works
- Patent services: Support in obtaining utility, design, and plant patents
- Estate planning: Offering personalized wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents
- Legal advice: Access to a network of lawyers for consultations and legal guidance
- Expedited Filing: With an additional $99, you can speed up your filing process.
Swyft Filings Price & Package
- LLC formation plans are available at $0, and the highest plan is $299 plus the mandatory state filing fee
- Registered Agent costs $199 a year
- LLC Operating Agreement is at $35
- Annual Report is available at $99 + state filing fee
- EIN is available at $79
- LLC Dissolution service is at $149 + state filing fee
- LLC initial report is also available for $55 + state filing fee
- Foreign LLC formation is available at $199 + state filing fee
- Business licenses & permits are available at $99
- Certificate of Good Standing costs $45 + state filing fees
- Trademark Registration is available at $99 + USPTO filing fees
Add-ons By Swyft Filings
- Conversion from LLC to Other Business Structure: $199
- Change of Registered Agent: $149/year
- Nonprofit Formation: $495 + IRS fees
- Dissolve business: $149 + state filing fee
- Initial Report (selected states): $55 + state fees
- Amendment & Name change: $99 + state fees
- Foreign Business Formation: $199 + state fees
- Business Withdrawal from Other States: $99 + state fees
- Apostille Certificate: $75 + state fees
- Digital Corporate Kit: $99
- Seller’s Permit: $129 + state fees
- ComplianceGuard: $149/year
- Corporate Bylaws and Shareholders’ Agreements: $35
- S Corp Election: $99
Starter/Basic Package: Comparison
| Services | LegalZoom | Swyft Filings |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $0 + state filing fee | $0 + State filing fee |
| Processing time | 30 days | 10 Days |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | $79 | Available at $79 |
| Operating Agreement | $99 | $35 |
| Business Compliance | $280 per year | $149 a year |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not Available (website building through WIX) | Available with the highest plan |
Pro/Mid-Level Package:
| Services | LegalZoom | Swyft Filings |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $249 + state filing fees | $199 + State Filing Fees |
| Processing Time | 15 days | 5 Day Express Filing |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Yes | $79 |
| Operating Agreement | Yes | $35 |
| Business Compliance | $280 per year | Included |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not Available (website building through WIX) | Not Available |
| Domain Name Registration | Not Available | Available in the highest plan |
| Business Email | Not Available | Available in the highest plan |
Premium/Top Level Package:
| Services | LegalZoom | Swyft Filings |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation | $299 + state filing fee | $299 + State Filing Fees |
| Processing Time | 15 days | Same Day Filing |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Yes | $79 |
| Operating Agreement | Yes | $35 |
| Business Compliance | $280 per year | Included |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not Available (website building through WIX) | Included |
LegalZoom vs. Swyft Filings: How They Are Different or Similar
LegalZoom and Swyft Filings offer similar services. Both companies have many things in common, while some things are different. Let’s look at the similarities and differences between Swyft Filings and LegalZoom.
Business Formation
LegalZoom provides a complete business formation service that helps customers create their legal entity. They offer various business entity types, including LLC, Corporation, and Non-profit. LegalZoom offers different packages for each business entity type, including a basic package that offers the basic requirements for business formation, such as legal document filing and registered agents. With LegalZoom, you can get access to attorneys and other legal services.
SwyftFiling offers 3 packages for LLC formation. The basic one starts from $0, and the highest costs $299 plus the standard state filing fee. All three packages include the filing of formation documents and a few basic services. The higher the package, the faster the filing services available with SwyftFiling. The highest-priced package offers same-day filing and standard shipping time. There is no additional cost for rush filing or shipping.
Legal Support & Attorney Services
LegalZoom, as per its name, provides in-and-out legal support to entrepreneurs. The company also offers attorney consultation services. LegalZoom is your solution if you want to hire an attorney to form your business. LegalZoom offers personal legal help not only for professional purposes but also for personal legal purposes. Property lawyers, Will, Power of Attorney, and other personal legal services are available in LegalZoom.
SwyftFilings does not provide any legal service. If you’re looking for legal support or attorney consultation to form your LLC, then SwyftFilings is not for you.
Overall Cost
LegalZoom offers LLC formation at $0. However, other services, like a registered agent, cost $299 a year, making the overall cost more than other close competitors. It is a bit expensive compared to Swyft Filings.
Unlike LegalZoom, SwyftFilings does not have in-and-out legal services for users. However, if you’re looking for only LLC formation, then SwyftFilings can help you out. As far as the cost is concerened, like LegalZoom, SwyftFilings offer LLC formation at $0, however, it offers very basic services. To enjoy more, you have to pay more. LegalZoom offers attorney consultation and other legal support at a very reasonable price. Hence, even if the basic formation price is the same and the registered agent is cheaper, SwyftFilings’ overall cost can be high for many people.
Customer Support
Regarding customer support, LegalZoom has the best in the industry. The company is old, and the team is much more experienced than Swyft Filings. LegalZoom’s customer service is swift and available during working hours. One can contact them by asking questions and by phone. The LegalZoom official site has many business-related articles that help you understand their services.
Users can reach out to the Support Team of SwyftFilings in two ways. You can reach out to them over the phone from Monday to Friday during business hours. Besides, users can email them directly to mention their concerns.
Swyft Filings Additional Services
There are some services that LegalZoom does not provide, but Swyft Filings does. Swyft Filings offers the following services, but LegalZoom has no such services.
SwyftFilings offers a conversion service. If anyone wants to convert their LLC to some other business structure, SwyfFilings helps them do that. LegalZoom does not have such a service.
Some very specific states need LLCs to file initial reports with SOS. SwyftFilings offers this report filing that LegalZoom does not.
Apostille certificate is a type of document you need if you want to use your formation document (filed in the USA) in any other country. SwyftFilings helps you file the Apostille Certificate with the state SOS. LegalZoom does not offer such a service.
LegalZoom vs. Swyft Filings: Pros & Cons
Before you choose either of these options, you must specify what requirements you have. If you’re establishing an LLC and looking for a basic business formation package, then both these companies, LegalZoom and Swyft Filings, can be considered. Both companies offer LC formation at a reasonable price.
LegalZoom: Pros & Cons:
| Pros of LegalZoom | Cons of LegalZoom |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive legal services: LegalZoom offers a vast range of legal services that can help entrepreneurs meet all their legal obligations. | Higher prices: LegalZoom has higher prices than other competitors in the business formation industry, especially for add-on services. |
| Established brand: LegalZoom has been around since 1999 and has helped over four million businesses. Thus, it has a reputation and tracks records of forming businesses. | Limited customer support: LegalZoom offers customer support, but it may not be as extensive as expected. Some customers have mentioned they had difficulty getting support from LegalZoom. |
| 100% satisfaction guarantee: LegalZoom offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, and if you are not satisfied with their services, you will get a full refund. |
Swyft Filings: Pros & Cons:
| Pros of Swyft Filings | Cons of Swyft Filings |
|---|---|
| It is affordable and easy to use. The pricing and packages are reasonable. | SwyftFilings does not provide any legal help. Hence, after you form your LLC, SwyftFilings won’t be able to provide you with an attorney or legal support. |
| You can customize your packages at the check-out. Add more services and make your own package by paying add-on prices. | SwyftFilings does not provide any legal help. Hence, after you form your LLC, when you need an attorney or legal support, SwyftFilings won’t be able to provide it. |
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Conclusion
LegalZoom and Swyft Filings are reputable companies offering quality services at competitive rates. However, which one you choose depends on your specific business needs. LegalZoom is an excellent choice if you are looking for a more straightforward pricing model and a wide range of legal support services. If you are looking for a more affordable option and an excellent business formation package, Swyft Filings is the perfect choice.
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. While comparing leading services, ZenBusiness is one of them the LLCBuddy team recommends. Besides the vast formation packages, ZenBusiness offers LLC formation at $0 and many other useful services.
To summarize the comparison, LegalZoom is suitable for entrepreneurs who want a one-stop shop for all business-related and legal services. It has higher prices, but it is worth the investment for entrepreneurs who want personalized advice from legal professionals. On the other hand, Swyft Filings is better for budget-conscious entrepreneurs who want a more streamlined and efficient business formation process.
Finally, before making your final decision, it is crucial to research other business formation companies and determine which one is the best fit for your business needs. By doing so, you can make an informed decision that will help you build a strong legal foundation for your business.