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Written by: Carolyn Young
Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on August 16, 2022
Updated on March 11, 2024
If you’re starting an LLC in Alabama, the business entity formation process is one of the first and most important hurdles. This step can be terribly complex and time-consuming, which is why many entrepreneurs turn to professional formation services.
But which are the best LLC formation services in Alabama? This article takes a closer look, stepping into an entrepreneur’s shoes, to help you choose the service that puts you on the road to success.
Here we summarize our top picks of business formation services in Alabama.
Best Value
Best Registered Agent Service
Best Turnaround Time
Best for Small Budget
Best Legal Assistance
Best Support for Small Business Owners
Best for Variety of Business-Essential Services
ZenBusiness offers a range of plans tailored for prospective Alabama LLC owners. ZenBusiness’ Starter plan is priced at $0 plus state fees. It includes a business name availability search specific to Alabama and LLC formation with full support.
The Pro plan is available for $199 plus state fees. It includes everything from the Starter plan, plus an operating agreement template suitable for Alabama LLCs, an Employer Identification Number (EIN), annual compliance service tailored to Alabama’s regulations, and rush filing.
The Premium plan, priced at $349 plus state fees, comes with all the services mentioned in the Pro plan. Additionally, it offers a business document template library, domain name registration, a website, and email services.
We’ve selected ZenBusiness as the top pick for Alabama LLC formation due to its low-cost base service. This encompasses LLC filing and comes with a 100% accuracy guarantee, starting at just $0 plus state fees. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that ZenBusiness stands out as a Public Benefit Corporation. This implies that while they are a for-profit entity, they also uphold a community-oriented goal akin to that of a nonprofit.
Beyond LLC formation, ZenBusiness offers various supplementary services ranging from registered agent services to business tools. However, potential Alabama LLC owners should note that opting for these add-ons might increase the overall costs. Historically, ZenBusiness has received positive feedback from its clientele, reinforcing its reputation as a reliable service provider.
ZenBusiness offers valuable services for budding entrepreneurs. While registered agent services are an add-on, their excellent customer support, user-friendly site, and positive reviews make them a top choice.
Northwest offers a competitive plan for Alabama LLCs at just $39 plus state fees. This package encompasses business formation specific to Alabama requirements, complimentary registered agent services for the initial year, a business address, an operating agreement tailored for Alabama LLCs, and several added benefits.
The value of this plan stands out, especially for Alabama business owners, as it includes critical services like registered agent services and an operating agreement — both crucial components for LLC operation in the state. However, it’s worth noting that even if you decide to opt out of the registered agent services, the total cost remains unchanged at the full plan price.
The company, Northwest Registered Agent, underscores its expertise in the name itself. They are particularly renowned for their registered agent services, not just in Alabama but nationwide. What sets them apart is their commitment to offering a more personalized touch in customer service and rapid notification regarding correspondence.
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent because of their transparent pricing, outstanding customer service, and a commitment to maintaining your privacy. They pride themselves on personalizing their approach to meeting your registered agent needs, which are their specialty.
Swyft Filings offers a variety of packages tailored to Alabama LLCs. Their Basic package, at the cost of only state fees, ensures your company name’s availability in the state, prepares the Certificate of Formation in line with Alabama’s standards, and manages the document filing with the state. Additionally, you’ll receive online access to your documents and can count on their lifetime customer support.
For those looking for more, the Standard package is available at $199 plus state fees. This package incorporates everything from the Basic package, adding on a custom operating agreement suited for Alabama, a federal tax ID (EIN), and unique services such as custom banking resolution and organizational minutes tailored for Alabama.
The pinnacle of their offerings, the Premium package, comes at $299 plus state fees. It envelops everything from the Standard package, coupled with expedited filing in Alabama. It also boasts features like a comprehensive business document library, timely compliance notifications, and a business domain with a website. Further sweetening the deal, they provide a digital LLC kit which includes a digital company “seal”, a dedicated ledger for Alabama LLCs to track ownership transfers, and customized ownership certificates.
Notably, Swyft Filings has built a reputation for excellent customer support. The company’s track record shines brightly with an array of positive reviews, especially from satisfied LLC owners.
Swyft Filings offers fast processing but doesn’t include registered agent services in their packages, making additions somewhat costly. However, they provide good value overall and strong customer support.
Incfile offers distinct packages for Alabama LLCs. The Silver package, costing only state fees, ensures the drafting and filing of the Certificate of Formation, unlimited name searches, and a year of free registered agent services.
The Gold package, at $199, builds on the Silver with an Alabama-suited operating agreement template, lifetime company alerts, and a business tax consultation. This package simplifies tax processes by providing an EIN and facilitating IRS Form 2553 filing for S corporation tax benefits. It also aids in banking resolutions and business bank account setup. Moreover, customers receive access to a personalized dashboard and unlimited support.
The premium Platinum package, at $299, encapsulates Gold offerings and brings expedited Alabama filing, a domain name, a business email, and over 20 attorney-reviewed business contract templates, vital for new Alabama business endeavors.
Incfile provides substantial value, especially with their Silver package that costs only state fees and includes a year of registered agent service. For first-time entrepreneurs looking to save, Incfile stands out in the competition.
LegalZoom’s Basic plan is priced at only the state fees and encompasses a business name availability check in the state of Alabama. This plan also covers the LLC formation service and guarantees full customer support. Additionally, subscribers will receive a digital welcome kit and a dedicated business website. All your formation documents for your LLC can be accessed online anytime.
The Pro plan, priced at $249, delivers everything the Basic plan offers. Additionally, it provides an operating agreement tailored for an Alabama LLC, an EIN, an Alabama-specific business license guide, and initial phone consultations with specialists.
The Premium plan, valued at $299, covers all the features of the Pro plan, further enhanced with the benefit of unlimited 30-minute attorney consultations. For the first 30 days, you can make unlimited changes to your LLC. Moreover, this plan ensures direct assistance from a business attorney.
What sets LegalZoom apart is the vast array of legal services and documents they offer specifically tailored to your needs in Alabama.
LegalZoom’s services are easy to use and they offer great customer experience. They offer a wider variety of legal services and have been in business for more than 20 years. Overall, they’re a great one-stop shop for all of your business formation and legal needs.
MyCorporation’s Basic plan is priced at $99 plus state fees. It offers Alabama LLC formation, a name availability search within Alabama, and online storage for your documents.
The Standard plan, priced annually at $124 plus state fees, extends the benefits of the Basic plan by offering annual report filing services for your Alabama LLC.
With the Deluxe plan, which costs $224 (plus state fees) annually, you not only get the annual report filing services but also registered agent services tailored for Alabama.
Their Premium plan, priced at $324 plus state fees annually, introduces the MaintainMyBiz service, ensuring comprehensive assistance.
However, be cautious when dealing with MyCorporation. They have a tendency to mark up state fees, a practice that isn’t typical in the industry.
Beyond these packages, MyCorporation offers a plethora of additional services available for extra charges. Some of these services, like unemployment insurance and tax withholding registration, set them apart from other business formation services.
We put MyCorporation on the list because of the extensive list of services they offer, although we are not a fan of the marked-up state fees that are not disclosed. They have, however, been in business for a long time and have a good Trustpilot rating.
Tailor Brands’ Lite plan is priced at only $49 plus Alabama state fees. This plan handles your LLC formation within Alabama, following standard state processing times.
The Essential plan, priced at $199 annually, broadens the scope of services by adding an annual compliance service tailored for Alabama, an operating agreement suited for an Alabama LLC, and expedited state processing.
With the Elite plan, priced at $249 annually, Alabama businesses can benefit from a domain name, eight distinct logo designs, a business website builder, and other valuable additions.
What sets Tailor Brands apart is its emphasis on contemporary business tools. Their offerings, like logo creation, website development, and domain name services, are especially advantageous for budding businesses in Alabama.
Tailor Brands’ plans are a decent value, but the main reason that we chose them for the list is the extensive business tools they offer. If you can overcome their aggressive sales tactics, you can access a variety of services to meet all your business needs.
A business formation service handles the business formation process for you, making it nearly seamless while offering additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner. Whether you’re forming a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation, a business formation service takes care of all the red tape, freeing you up to focus on growing your business.
With so many business formation services to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. There are four essential elements that can help you make your decision.
Each service offers various products, some more than others, and their plans are all designed differently. You may need some products but not others, so you need to choose a service that has everything you need.
For example, some services offer annual report filing, while others do not. If it’s important to you to have that task off your plate, you’ll want a service that offers that feature.
Another feature you might need is a digital dashboard where you can always access your business formation documents. You’ll want to choose a service that has everything you need to make starting and running your business as easy as possible.
Of course, you’ll want to get the best value for your money!
Compare the cost of each service for everything you need. The price can really add up when you start adding extras, so be careful not to go too far. You also want to get good value and great customer service, so if you’re considering the cheapest service, check the reviews to see how people feel about it.
Business formation turnaround times vary with each service, so if you’re in a hurry to get your business up and running, you’ll want to look for the quickest service. You don’t want your order to sit in an office for too long before your paperwork gets filed with the state. Some services differentiate themselves with fast turnaround times, so if they also offer good value, that might be your best choice.
One good way to learn about the quality of anything you’re buying is to listen to what people are saying about it. When we review services we look at Better Business Bureau ratings and reviews, as well as TrustPilot reviews. You should look at both positive and negative reviews to find out what people love about the service and what issues customers have encountered.
Remember that fake reviews are common, so you’ll have to take some of the reviews with a grain of salt.
As an entrepreneurial advisory site, we take our responsibilities seriously. We understand that countless entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, rely on our judgments and insights, particularly when it comes to creating their business.
As a result, our writers do their utmost to gain a comprehensive understanding of the services offered and the actual customer experience. In nearly every case, we:
Thanks to this full immersion in the actual customer experience, our reviewers are able to provide the most complete and insightful analysis of various LLC formation services.
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