Forming a business can be a daunting endeavor — and an expensive one, too. If you follow the wrong advice or fail to fulfill the necessary legal requirements, your business formation could come crashing down.
The Incfile Silver Package is a free service that ensures all your business formation paperwork has been filed properly and in accordance with your local state laws. Whether you're planning to start a Limited Liability Company (LLC), a C Corporation, or an S Corporation, Incfile's Silver Package is available to you at no cost — all you pay is your state fee.
The Basics of Incfile's Silver Package
Incfile's free Silver Package files your Articles of Organization and all the necessary legal paperwork documents required by your Secretary of State. Plus, you'll have lifetime customer support whenever you need it. You’ll only be responsible for your state fee, which ranges between $40 and $500, depending on the state in which you file.
Let’s take a deeper look at what Incfile's free Silver Package has to offer.
1. Articles of Organization
These are the documents that are filed with the state to create an LLC or corporation. (For a corporation, they are referred to as Articles of Incorporation.) Once these files are approved by the state, your business is allowed to operate within your state, which is called the “home” state. Having the proper Articles of Organization will allow you to set up your company, but to do so, the proper (and correct) information must be provided. This information must include a few key points:
- Name of the business
- Address of the business
- Purpose of the business (retail, consulting, real estate, etc.)
- Name and address of the Registered Agent
- Operation agreement (LLC) or bylaws (for a corporation)
The Incfile Silver Package will assist in the drafting, preparing, and filing of the Articles of Organization/Incorporation.
2. Registered Agent Service
All businesses must have a Registered Agent. Registered Agent requirements can vary by state. A Registered Agent can either be someone in the business or a separate entity that will accept all legal documents on behalf of your business. This can include state notifications, tax notices, annual filings, and even legal summonses. A Registered Agent must have a physical address and be available during all business hours to receive mail and documents.
The Incfile Silver Package provides a Registered Agent service free for one full year! After that, the annual cost for a Registered Agent is $119.
3. Unlimited Name Searches
Having the right business name can help set your business apart. It can also help showcase the company’s purpose and activities. If you are still tinkering with what to name your business, Incfile offers unlimited name searches. This helps ensure that your business name is not already taken or does not match too close to what another business or competitor may already be registered under.
Get help finding the perfect name for your business with Incfile’s Business Name Generator.
4. Unlimited Email and Phone Support
For a friendly helping hand during your business formation, you can reach out to Incfile's customer service team Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. With our Silver Package, you can submit a client support request online and we'll respond as quickly as possible.
How Much Does Incfile's Silver Package Cost?
Incfile's Silver Package is 100% free. All you need to do is pay your state filing fee. State fees vary whether you're forming an LLC, a C Corp, an S Corp, or a nonprofit.
If you're like most Incfile entrepreneurs and want to form an LLC, here are the five cheapest and five most expensive states to file an LLC:
|
The 5 Cheapest States to Form an LLC |
LLC Formation Filing Fee Cost |
|
1. Kentucky |
$40 |
|
2. Arkansas |
$45 |
|
3. Arizona |
$50 |
|
4. Colorado |
$50 |
|
5. Hawaii |
$50 |
|
The 5 Most Expensive States to Form an LLC |
LLC Formation Filing Fee Cost |
|
1. Massachusetts |
$500 |
|
2. Nevada |
$425 |
|
3. Tennessee |
$300 |
|
4. Texas |
$300 |
|
5. Alaska |
$250 |
What Type of Company Can I Form With Incfile's Silver Package?
The Silver Package allows you to form an LLC, C Corp, S Corp, or nonprofit. The state fee for each business entity type varies, but we'll provide you with pricing options before asking you to commit.
For example, if you're looking to form a business entity in the state of Florida, you would pay $0 for Incfile's Silver Package no matter what type of business you choose — but your state fee would be one of the following:
- LLC: $125
- C Corp: $70
- S Corp: $70
- Nonprofit: $79
What Can I Add to My Silver Package?
If you're looking to add on services to your Incfile Silver Package, there are a number of options you can choose from for an additional fee:
LLC Add-Ons
1. Employer Identification Number (EIN)
An EIN works much like a Social Security Number. But rather than covering an individual, it covers a business. Incfile's Silver Package will secure an EIN for you that you can use when opening bank accounts, hiring and paying employees, establishing credit, and filing business taxes.
2. Operating Agreement
An operating agreement provides key information about your business, including all LLC members, elected tax treatment, the purpose of the business, management structure, and the operating procedures followed. For a fee, Incfile can provide you with a standard template, or a lawyer can customize your operating agreement.
3. Contract Templates
Incfile has a wide range of legal forms and contracts that you can purchase individually or get access to the whole library. Here’s just a small sample of the contract templates Incfile offers:
- Independent Contractor Agreement
- Joint Venture Agreement
- Letter of Intent
- Employee Agreement
- Employee Termination Letter
- Terms of Service
- Sales Agreement
- Website Linking Agreement
4. Trademark Registration
For $199 + a filing fee, Incfile can get a trademark for you to help protect your business name, logo, or tagline. We'll conduct a trademark search with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and our attorney will file the paperwork.
5. Accounting and Bookkeeping
Incfile's Starter Package for accounting and bookkeeping costs $90 per month. This cost includes the following benefits:
- Quarterly bookkeeping
- Business tax returns
- Financial reporting
- Online tools and resources
- Accounting advice
- Support with personal taxes (for sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs)
The Plus Package is $180. In addition to the services listed above, this package also includes monthly booking and tax planning sessions with an expert.
6. Certificate of Good Standing
A Certificate of Good Standing serves as proof that your business is authorized to legally conduct business, which is required if you ever want to expand your business outside the state as a “foreign” entity. Incfile can handle the process of getting this document for you for $49 + your state fee.
7. Business License or Permit Research
You must have the proper federal, state, and local licenses and permits in order to legally operate your business. If you don’t know what you need or how to get it, Incfile can help take the guesswork out of the process. An Incfile specialist will take care of all the steps by:
- determining the type of licenses or permits required,
- providing proper application forms, and
- giving you direct filing instructions, including supporting documents and fees.
8. Virtual Address
This add-on provides a virtual mailbox that makes it easy to access correspondence from anywhere in the world. All paper mail received is scanned and uploaded to a secure portal where it can be accessed using an online dashboard. Having a virtual address is ideal for a few scenarios:
- You're planning to relocate your business and don't want to lose any important mail or documents.
- You spend most of your time traveling, working outside the office, or being a digital nomad.
- You want to keep your address private, especially if you work out of your home.
9. Foreign Qualification
If you're planning on expanding and conducting business outside of your “home” state, you’ll need to fulfill all your foreign qualification requirements. Incfile's experts will provide all the documents needed to get your business legally operating in a new state.
10. Doing Business As (DBA)
If you plan on conducting business under a name that is different from your own, you will need a DBA, also known as a “fictitious business name,” “assumed business name,” or “trade name.” Filing for a DBA is a multi-step process, and Incfile can help ensure all the proper forms and fees have been submitted.
11. Amendment
Incfile will submit Articles of Amendment if changes are needed to your Articles of Organization. All changes to your Articles of Organization need to be submitted to the Secretary of State by filing out the amendment form and paying the state fees, which can range from $100-$200.
12. Annual Report
Most states require that companies file annual or biannual reports. Filing dates are predetermined, with some states requiring the annual report on the anniversary date of the company’s formation. Incfile can ensure your annual report is filed on time with all the properly updated information.
13. IRS Form 2553
Sometimes having your LLC taxed as an S Corp can lead to tax savings. This is called the S Corp Tax Election and it involves filing Form 2553 with the IRS. Incfile can fill and file this form on your behalf.
What Are the Tiers of Incfile?
Incfile offers three package tiers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Pricing is as follows:
|
Platinum |
$299 + your state fee |
|
Gold |
$199 + your state fee |
|
Silver |
$0 + your state fee |
How Do I Know Which Package Is Right for Me?
What's the difference between Incfile's Silver, Gold, and Platinum Packages, and how do you choose between them? The table below gives you a side-by-side comparison of each tier:
What Is the Difference Between Incfile Gold and Silver Packages?
To understand the difference between Incfile's Gold and Silver Packages, we'll use an example:
Let’s say you're planning to form a business in Alabama. When comparing Silver and Gold Packages, you see that the free Silver Package only requires you to pay Alabama's state fee of $236. However, pricing for the Gold Package is $199 plus the $236 state fee, totaling $435.
The Silver Package saves you $199 — however, it's important to note the many cost-saving Gold Package services you'd be missing out on:
- EIN
- IRS Form 2553
- Operating Agreement
- Banking resolution
- Lifetime company alerts
- Online access dashboard
- Business banking account
- Business tax consultation
- Live chat order support
What Is the Difference Between Incfile Platinum and Gold?
While Incfile's Gold Package is $199, Incfile's exclusive Platinum Package offers business contract templates, domain name services, business email services, and free next-day filing for only $100 more on your one-time payment.
Using the example above, if you file an LLC in Alabama using Incfile's Platinum Package, you would pay $299 for the package and an additional $236 Alabama state fee, totaling $535 for all our available services. Keep in mind that state fees vary from $40 and $500, and we'll give you the exact cost when you sign up with any of our packages.
Kick Off Your Business With Incfile
Start the business formation process for free by choosing Incfile's $0 Silver Package. We'll make sure all the necessary paperwork is filed securely, legally, and on time — all you have to pay is your state's filing fee. Our team has helped launch over 1,000,000 businesses, and we're ready to get you started.
Peter Mavrikis
Peter Mavrikis is an author and editor with over 25 years of experience in publishing. He has worked as the Editorial Director for Barron’s Educational Series, as well as Kaplan Test Prep, where he ran the test prep, foreign language, and study guide divisions. Peter has also written several books on history, exploration, science, and technology.
