May 2022 – Page 4 – Management Library

May 9, 2022November 23, 2022

What is a 501c3 Nonprofit?

Organizations that qualify as a 501c3 nonprofit can enjoy various tax-related benefits. Although there are different types of 501c organizations, ranging from 501c1 to 501c29, 501c3 nonprofits are unique because their donations are tax deductible. Since they are also exempt from federal income tax, 501c3 organizations are the most sought after nonprofit status.

What is a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization?

A 501c3 nonprofit is an organization that is exempt from federal income tax. More specifically, section 501c3 is a part of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and a distinct tax category for nonprofit organizations. This means that 501c3s don’t need to pay any taxes on the money they make.

Although the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) acknowledges over 30 types of nonprofit organizations, only 501c3 qualified organizations can claim tax deductibles on donations. Most organizations that qualify for 501c3 nonprofit status are charitable organizations, private foundations, and churches and religious organizations.

Unlike corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs), nonprofit organizations don’t seek to make a profit. Typically, 501c3s want to make money in order to further a social cause or provide a public benefit. After a nonprofit organization pays off its office expenses, salaries, and so forth, it uses the excess money for the specific cause it supports.

Since 501c3 nonprofits don’t pay taxes, the nonprofit maximizes the amount of money it uses towards its specific social cause. There are 1,919,926 nonprofit organizations in the United States with churches and religious organizations as well as schools and educational institutions leading the pack.

How Does a 501c3 Nonprofit Work?

To qualify as a 501c3 nonprofit by the IRS, an organization must exist exclusively for one or more of the following purposes:

Charitable
Religious
Educational
Scientific
Literary
Testing for public safety
Fostering national or international amateur sports competition
Preventing cruelty to children or animals

If the nonprofit doesn’t exist for one of the purposes above, it will not qualify for 501c3 status.

The IRS also describes what “charitable” activities include:

Providing relief for the poor, distressed, and underprivileged
Advancing religion
Advancing science or education
Erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works
Lessening the burden of governments
Lessening neighborhood tensions
Eliminating prejudice and discrimination
Defending human and civil rights secured by law
Combatting community deterioration
Addressing juvenile delinquency

A common misconception about nonprofits is that they are only run by volunteers. However, most 501c3s have salaried staff that work for the organization. But nonprofits may use volunteers to perform some of the nonprofit services under the direction of paid staff.

Types of Different 501c3 Nonprofit Organizations

The organizations that qualify under section 501c3 are classified into two categories: public charities and private foundations. The difference between them is how they receive financial assistance.

Public Charity

Public charities receive most of their revenue or income from the government or the general public. To qualify as a public charity, the nonprofit must receive at least one-third of its income from public donations. These include donations from corporations, individuals, and other nonprofit organizations.

Individuals who donate to a public charity qualify for certain tax deductions that will lower their taxable income. Usually, individuals can claim a deduction of up to 60% of their adjusted gross income (AGI). Corporations can claim up to 10% when filing taxes.

Private Foundation

Individuals, families, or corporations are usually the ones who hold private foundations. This type of 501c3 nonprofit receives most of its income from a small number of donors. Furthermore, private foundations adhere to stricter rules and obligations than public charities. All 501c3 nonprofits are automatically considered a private foundation unless they can prove to the IRS that they meet the guidelines of a public charity.

What are the 501c3 Nonprofit Requirements?

If you’re considering starting a 501c3 nonprofit organization, it’s important to understand the requirements.There are specific rules and regulations a nonprofit must follow to maintain its status.

The 501c3 nonprofit requirements include:

It can only be organized and operated for exempt purposes
It’s forbidden from using its activities to influence legislation in a substantial way
It cannot be organized and operated for any personal or private interests
It can make profits, but all profits must go towards charitable purposes
Staff employed by the nonprofit must be paid “reasonable compensation” based on the fair market value that the job function requires
It’s required to remain true to its founding purpose
It must withhold federal income tax from its employee’s paychecks and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes

After an organization is considered a 501c3, the designation remains for as long as the organization exists unless the IRS revokes it. The IRS can revoke the 501c3 designation if the organization fails to follow the nonprofit requirements listed above.

Bylaws of a 501c3 Nonprofit

Similar to regular corporations, 501c3 nonprofit organizations have a set of bylaws and a number of directors and officers. Nonprofit bylaws are the rules that determine how a 501c3 nonprofit will be governed and run. You can view it as a constitution for the nonprofit organization.

It helps clarify the rules and priorities of everyone involved in the nonprofit. The directors of a 501c3 are responsible for overseeing the organization’s operations. The nonprofit’s board of directors is responsible for management level hirings, such as officers and managers.

The officers of a nonprofit, such as the president or secretary, are individuals with responsibilities and the authority to execute based on their job description.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a 501c3 Nonprofit

The primary advantage of a 501c3 nonprofit is that it’s exempt from paying federal income and unemployment taxes. Furthermore, patrons who donate to a 501c3 can claim a tax deduction for their contributions.

501c3 organizations are also eligible to receive government and private grants. However, the organization needs to have a mission that aligns with the purpose of the grant and a need for the funds. Another advantage of 501c3s is that they frequently receive discounts from retailers, food and supplies from other nonprofit organizations when needed, and free press from public service announcements.

On the other hand, once an organization is officially a 501c3 nonprofit, it no longer belongs to the founder. Instead, it becomes a mission-oriented organization that belongs to the public. Since the organization serves the public, it must operate with complete transparency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for 501c3 Nonprofit

We understand that you may have additional questions about 501c3 nonprofits. So here is a list of common questions about nonprofit organizations and our answers.

Does 501c3, nonprofit, and tax-exempt all mean the same thing?

Although the terms are frequently used interchangeably, they don’t mean the same thing. 501c3 is a nonprofit organization that the IRS recognizes as being tax-exempt. Nonprofit means the organization exists for a nonprofit purpose. Tax-exempt status results from a nonprofit organization being recognized by the IRS for any purpose allowable under 501c3 to 501c27.

What is the most common type of nonprofit?

501c3 organizations are the most common type of nonprofits, including public charities or private foundations. These organizations include charities such as Feed America, American Red Cross, and ALSAC – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. When people think of nonprofit organizations, they typically think of a 501c3 nonprofit.

How do you lose your nonprofit status?

A nonprofit can lose its tax-exemption status by breaking the nonprofit requirements. For example, the IRS will revoke a 501c3 status if a nonprofit operates for private benefit, begins lobbying, or fails to pursue its original purpose. Therefore, nonprofits that want to pursue a new purpose need to alert and get approval from the IRS first.

Is a 501c3 public or private?

Under tax law, a 501c3 nonprofit is initially considered a private foundation unless it requests to be authorized as a public charity. Private nonprofits typically receive their income from a smaller pool of donors. They also have more control and can operate fairly independently because of the smaller pool of investors. However, most well-known 501c3 nonprofits are public.

How do you tell if a company is a nonprofit?

First, you need to gather information about the company, including its name, city, state, and country. Then, you can visit the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search page and fill in the information you gathered.

Bottom Line on 501c3 Nonprofit Organizations

501c3 nonprofits are organizations with a distinct mission and cause. The majority of people know them as charities and churches, but private foundations can also be 501c3 nonprofits. As long as they qualify under section 501c3 by the IRS, the organization receives favorable tax treatment and is exempt from federal income and unemployment taxes.

May 6, 2022February 9, 2023

What Types of Business Licenses Do You Need?

Business licenses and permits grant you the right to legally operate your business in the U.S. However, there are various types of business licenses which are issued by federal, state, and local agencies. Learn which business licenses you need and how to get a business license.

How To Get a Business License

Each business license type has its own set of application requirements. Still, there is a general process which you need to complete no matter what kind of license you are applying for. Follow the steps below to get the right licenses for your business.

Step 1: Find Out What Business Licenses You Need

Learn what licenses & permits you need based on your business structure, location & industry type

Step 2: Gather License Requirements

Collect all the necessary documents & requirements

Step 3: Submit Your License Application

Fill out and submit your application for each business license type

Step 4: Wait for Approval

Submit missing requirements (if any) & follow up on the approval of your application

Step 5: Maintain Your Business Licenses

Renew your business licenses & permits before they expire

Step 1: Find Out What Business Licenses You Need

First of all, discover which kinds of licenses are appropriate for the business you are establishing, based on the following factors:

Business Structure: The structure type which you select when you start your business will determine your registration requirements. Some popular business structures are sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and limited liability company (LLC).
Business Location: The state, county, and city where you are planning to set up your business will have an impact on which local, state, and federal regulations are applicable to you.
Industry Type: Depending on the industry you are part of, you may need special licenses and permits to prove that you and your team are qualified to sell particular products or provide certain professional services.

Figure out the types of business licenses and permits you need by conducting research. You can explore the websites of government agencies to find useful information and download forms. In case you have questions regarding the application process, you may contact the agencies directly via phone, email, or contact form. On top of this, you can also check out government websites for helpful tips on how to start your business.

Step 2: Gather License Requirements

Collect all the essential documents and meet all the necessary requirements before you apply for a business license. While the exact paperwork may vary depending on the license types you need, here are some common requirements for most licenses:

Business description, plans, and location overview
Sales tax permit and other tax documents
Corporate records
Ownership and management documents
Filing fees

You may also be required to provide other requirements if you belong to some business industries:

Proof of professional qualifications or training credentials for you and key members of your team
Financial statements
Insurance records
Surety bonds

Step 3: Submit Your License Application

Apply for licenses and permits with the appropriate government agencies. Fill out and submit an application form for each business license you are pursuing. Carefully read and follow the instructions since every form has its own prerequisites. Although you can submit most forms online, some forms should be sent via mail or fax. Plus, certain forms must be notarized or signed by several parties.

Step 4: Wait for Approval

Stand by while your license application is still pending since the waiting period can vary. While some agencies approve business licenses right away, others could take several weeks or even months to grant approval. Feel free to reach out to the agency to follow up on your approval status after you have waited for a reasonable period of time. In case an agency contacts you regarding your incomplete application, send the requirements you lack immediately. After all, missing prerequisites can cause delays in the approval process.

Step 5: Maintain Your Business Licenses

Once you successfully gain your business licenses and permits, make sure to maintain each one so you can keep operating your business. Most licenses are only valid for a set period of time, which is why you need to renew them before they expire. Fulfill all the renewal requirements so you can continue to be authorized to run your business.

What Are the Types of Business Licenses

There are different types of business licenses and permits that you can apply for, depending on the kind of business you are setting up. Discover what these license types are and whom they are recommended for. Find out where and how to register each license and how much the application fees typically cost.

1. General Business License

A general business license is a government document that gives you permission to start a business in a certain jurisdiction. In general, it is commonly issued in the form of a tax registration certificate. You need to apply for a general business license with the city, county, or state agency that is responsible for business registrations. Submit the license application form, fees, and other requirements to get this license.

Recommended For: Most business owners in the U.S.

Estimated Fee: Approximately $50 or higher. Exact amount depends on the state, county, or city.

2. DBA License

The “doing business as” (DBA) license allows you to operate your business under a different brand name than your legal business name. While your business name is your personal name by default if you establish a sole proprietorship or partnership, you have the option of selecting a fictitious or trade name to rebrand your business.

You can register your DBA name with the county clerk’s office or the state government. In addition to this, certain states require DBA name filings to be made public to protect the interests of consumers. Take note that you don’t need to file a DBA if you are operating under your own name and if you own an LLC or corporation with a registered business name.

Recommended For: Business owners who wish to operate a sole proprietorship or partnership under a trade name

Estimated Fee: Ranging from around $5 to $100. Exact amount depends on the county or state.

3. Seller’s Permit

The seller’s permit is a kind of business license that grants you authority to collect sales tax on the taxable products and services you offer to customers. Once you acquire a seller’s permit, you are responsible for remitting the taxes you collected to the state. You must submit an application to your state’s Department of Revenue to get a seller’s permit. Take note that five states do not impose sales tax, including Alaska, Montana, Delaware, Oregon, and New Hampshire.

Recommended For: Business owners who provide taxable products and services to consumers

Estimated Fee: Free in most states. Ranging from around $12 to $100 in some states.

4. Federal Business License

The federal business license gives you permission to run a business which involves activities regulated by a federal agency. You should get a federal business license if your business is related to agriculture, broadcasting, investment consultancy, alcohol, and meat product preparation.

Government agencies that issue federal business licenses include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Each agency has its own prerequisites so you must contact the relevant agency to discover the requirements for your business.

Recommended For: Business owners who belong to certain industries, such as meat product preparation, alcohol, investment, agriculture, and broadcasting.

Estimated Fee: Depends on business industry and issuing agency

5. Zoning Permit

A zoning permit allows you to operate your business in a particular location, given the type of venture you own and the industry you belong to. After all, different municipalities have their own rules regarding which kinds of businesses can run in certain spots. You need to get a zoning permit for your business from your county or city zoning department. You are required to follow the zoning guidelines in your area to gain a zoning permit.

Recommended For: Business owners running a brick-and-mortar store, distribution center, or manufacturing facility

Estimated Fee: Varies widely depending on the state and the size of commercial property. Ranges from around $50 to $1,500.

6. Building Permit

The building permit gives you permission to construct a new building or to remodel an old building. You or your contractor must apply for a building permit from the building department of your city or town. In order to get a permit, you will typically be required to submit your site, structural, and architectural plans. Plus, you might need to provide information regarding safety protocols, accessibility, electrical, plumbing, and occupancy.

Recommended For: Business owners who plan to start a new construction project or to make major changes to existing structures

Estimated Fee: Widely varies based on size, complexity, and location of the construction project. Ranges from around $400 to $2,200+.

7. Occupational License

An occupational license grants you the authority to provide certain professional services through your business. In order to get an occupational license, you need to prove to the board or other certifying bodies in your industry that you gained the necessary skills and knowledge in your field through proper training and education.

Some industries require you to take and pass a written or practical exam, while others expect you to complete training modules or educational courses. Keep in mind that the actual requirements will depend on the type of occupational license you are pursuing.

Recommended For: Business owners and team members who practice specialized occupations, such as medicine, healthcare, law, accounting, real estate, electrical work, plumbing, and cosmetology

Estimated Fee: Based on the type of occupational or professional license. Starts at $60.

8. Health Permit

A health permit allows you to operate your business by verifying that you have met the safety standards of the health department. You need to get a health permit if your business is related to food preparation and distribution or if it involves direct body contact with customers. If your business falls under these criteria, you must apply for a health permit with your county health department. You will typically be required to undergo facility inspections, as well as to complete certification courses based on your type of business.

Recommended For: Business owners of restaurants, food delivery services, beauty salons, massage parlors, and nail spas

Estimated Fee: Widely varies based on the business industry, size, and location. Ranges from around $100 to $3,000+.

9. Special State License

A special state license gives you permission to sell certain types of products, such as alcohol, gasoline, firearms, and lottery tickets. You need to apply for this type of license to prove that you have met state-regulated standards related to the sale of these items. Some examples of state agencies that issue special state licenses are the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and state gambling agencies. The requirements differ based on the type of license you are applying for and the issuing agency you are coordinating with.

Recommended For: Business owners who offer goods like alcohol, lottery tickets, firearms, and gasoline for sale to consumers

Estimated Fee: Depends on the business industry and issuing agency.

What You Need To Know About Business Licenses

Do I Need a Business License?

Yes. You need a business license to operate a business venture in the U.S., whether you are planning to build a small startup or a large corporation. It’s important for you to figure out which business licenses you should apply for because there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to licenses and permits. You can determine the type and amount of business licenses you need based on the size, industry, and location of your business.

Should I Apply for a Business License Independently or With Professional Help?

It is possible for you to apply for a business license independently. After all, there are forms which you can download and information which you can read on official government websites. However, it is still a smart choice for you to consult with experts to ensure that your business meets all the regulatory requirements of the local, state, and federal government.

You can hire an accountant and lawyer if you need professional assistance in setting up a small, mid-sized, or large business. Aside from this, you also have the option of utilizing one of the best LLC services if you want to start your own LLC with minimal hassle.

What Do I Need To Do To Start a Business Aside From Getting a Business License?

There are other vital tasks that you need to complete aside from getting licenses and permits if you are starting your own business, such as:

Get an EIN: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you plan to hire employees or to offer products and services through your business. You can get an EIN online from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Create a Bank Account: Open a business bank account to store your business funds and facilitate financial transactions. Consolidating your business resources in a dedicated account makes it easier for you to monitor your sales, profits, and expenses. You can also open a business account with EIN only.
Hire a Registered Agent: Enlist the services of a registered agent if you are establishing an LLC or corporation. A registered agent is a person or entity authorized to receive legal correspondence and documents on behalf of your business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for How to Get a Business License

Learning how to get a business license makes it simpler for entrepreneurs like you to establish a business. Discover the answers to common questions about business licenses and permits.

What Is a Business License?

A business license is a government document issued by federal, state, and local agencies to businesses. It grants permission to entrepreneurs to start and operate a business in a particular geographical jurisdiction. It serves as proof that a business is legally authorized by the U.S. government to sell products and services or to manufacture or distribute goods.

What Are the Different Types of Business Licenses?

There are various types of business licenses that are available in the U.S., including the general business license, DBA license, seller’s permit, federal business license, zoning permit, building permit, occupational license, health permit, and special state license.

Each type of business license has its own application process, requirements, and fees which are determined by the issuing agency. Plus, every license has its own validity period and renewal requirements.

Which Factors Should I Consider When Choosing a Business License?

There are different factors which you should consider when determining which business licenses and permits you should apply for. The first factor is the structure type you are planning to adapt for your business. The second factor is the geographical location of your business. Last but not least, the third factor is the specific industry that your business belongs to.

Bottom Line on How to Get a Business License

Applying for business licenses is one of the first steps to starting your own legitimate business. We hope that this guide helped you figure out which types of business licenses and permits you need as an entrepreneur. Bookmark this page so you can quickly review how to get a business license.

May 6, 2022November 23, 2022

Best 6 Web Hosting Companies for Small Business in 2023

Businessman checking out web hosting process

Your small business needs a website, but finding the best web hosting for a small business isn’t a simple task. Every hosting provider offers multiple plans and features, which can get confusing for beginners who don’t understand what they need. We rank the six best small business web hosts.

Best Web Hosting for Small Business

Namecheap – Best Overall Small Business Web Host
Bluehost – Best for Beginners
HostGator – Best for Dedicated Server Hosting
WP Engine – Best for Dedicated WordPress Hosting
Weebly – Best for ecommerce businesses
Ionos – Best for Affordability

Namecheap

Starts at $4.98 per month for 1st year, then $9.88 per month

20 GB

Unmetered

Automated backups and cloud storage

Shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, Reseller hosting

24/7 live support

Bluehost

Starts at $2.95 per month on an annual plan

50 GB

Unmetered

No automated backups

Shared hosting, VPS hosting, Dedicated server hosting

24/7 hosting support

HostGator

Starts at $10.95 per month

Unmetered

Automated backups

Shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated server, Windows shared, reseller, cloud web hosting

24/7/365 support

WP Engine

Starts at $25.00 per month

10 GB

50 GB

Daily automatic backups

WordPress hosting

24/7 chat support

Weebly

Starts at $12 per month, billed annually

Unlimited

Unmetered

Manual backups

Weebly free website hosting service

Live support 9 AM – 9 PM EST

Ionos

Starts at $0.50 per month on an annual plan, then $10 per month

Unlimited

Unmetered

Daily automatic backups

Shared, WordPress hosting, Linux hosting, Windows hosting

24/7 customer service

Namecheap: Best Overall Web Hosting for Small Business

Pricing: $1.88 per month to $4.98 per month

4.8

★★★★★

Visit

Although Namecheap is known for its domain name registrar services, it also offers inexpensive web hosting for small businesses. All of Namecheap’s plans offer unmetered bandwidth, access to a free website builder, and domain name and privacy protection. Namecheap also provides entirely free website migrations that are completed in under 24 hours and only cause up to 15 minutes of downtime.

Why we chose it: Namecheap offers everything a small business needs in regards to hosting. The comprehensive set of features, along with its competitive pricing, means that Namecheap is the best overall web hosting for small business. Read our full Namecheap review for an in-depth look.

100% uptime score
Free 24-hour site migration
Affordable and comprehensive web hosting platform

Unsophisticated website builder
High site traffic can impact load speeds
Unreliable customer support

Pricing:

Namecheap offers three shared hosting plans for small business:

Stellar ($1.88/month for the first year, then $3.88/month) – 20 GB storage and unmetered bandwidth
Stellar Plus ($2.98/month for the first year, then $5.88/month) – Unlimited storage and auto backups
Stellar Business ($4.98/month for the first year, then $9.88/month) – 50 GB storage and cloud storage

Namecheap powers over 1.5 million websites of every budget and size. However, small business web hosting is one of its top priorities. Namecheap offers wallet-friendly shared hosting plans and reseller hosting plans for small businesses that want more premium features.

With 24/7 round-the-clock support, Namecheap is willing to go the extra mile to ensure your small business website is fully optimized. All plans include unlimited bandwidth, a free domain and SSL certificate, and free backups.

Furthermore, Namecheap’s data servers are located in the US, United Kingdom, and across Europe. Namecheap’s shared, business, and dedicated server accounts are backed up with a 100% uptime guarantee. If its servers go down at any time, you’re automatically eligible for an extended plan duration.

In terms of features, value, and pricing, Namecheap is the ultimate winner of today’s list of best web hosting for small business.

Bluehost: Best Small Business Web Host for Beginners

Pricing: $2.95 per month to $79.99 per month

4.8

★★★★★

Visit

As one of the biggest names in the web hosting industry, Bluehost is highly popular among small businesses. The best feature of this small business web host is that it comes with everything you need to get your website up and running. With a free domain and SSL certificate, Bluehost makes it easy to launch your small business website.

Why we chose it: Bluehost is the most beginner-friendly web hosting for small business because everything from the setup process to its intuitive dashboard is simple, even for complete beginners. Read the Bluehost review to learn more about its features and pricing.

First-term is inexpensive
Generous storage
Excellent WordPress Integration

Constant marketing upsells
Speed could be improved
Entry-level plan limitations

Pricing:

BlueHost features four shared hosting plans for small businesses:

Basic ($2.95/month for the first year, then $9.99/month) – 1 website and 50 GB storage
Plus ($5.45/month for the first year, then $13.99/month) – Unlimited websites and unlimited storage
Choice Plus ($5.45/month for the first year, then $19.99/month) – Domain privacy and free automated backups for one year
Pro ($13.95/month for the first year, then $28.99/month) – Free automated backups in perpetuity and free dedicated IP

Bluehost is a small business favorite for web hosting because of how easy it is to configure and use. It’s the perfect web hosting for small business if you’re on a limited budget and are new to web hosting.

This small business web host is perfect for both small businesses that need simple websites and others that need complex ecommerce integrations. Bluehost also features robust WordPress integrations and excellent customer support services. One-click WordPress installation allows you to launch your small business WordPress website easily.

Each plan also offers unmetered bandwidth and a free SSL certificate. Bluehost uses cPanel for its site management system. cPanel is a powerful website control panel that’s extremely simple to use with clearly laid out sections for beginners.

With the Basic plan, 50GB of storage is usually more than enough for most small businesses. If you exceed your storage capacity, upgrading to the next plan is inexpensive. You can also upgrade to a VPS or dedicated plan once your business begins to expand rapidly.

HostGator: Best for Dedicated Server Hosting

Pricing: $10.95 per month to $279 per month

4.75

★★★★★

Visit

If your small business is growing rapidly, you may be looking for other hosting solutions than shared hosting. Although HostGator offers affordable shared hosting plans, it also offers robust VPS and dedicated web hosting. With shared hosting, you share hosting with multiple sites on a single server. This is why shared hosting plans are so inexpensive. Dedicated hosting allows your website to exist on a server alone.

Why we chose it: HostGator provides dedicated servers for both Windows and Linux. If your website experiences a lot of traffic, HostGator provides powerful dedicated server hosting to avoid slow page speeds and latency across your site. Read our full HostGator review for an in-depth look.

Unlimited storage across all plans
Unmetered bandwidth across all plans
Free email marketing tools

Clunky dashboard
More expensive than other options
Disappointing customer support

Pricing:

HostGator offers multiple different pricing plans for each of its hosting options. The longer you subscribe to HostGator, the cheaper the subscription cost.

Shared Web Hosting ($6.95/month to $16.95/month)
WordPress Hosting ($9.95/month to $91.95/month)
VPS Hosting ($19.95/month to $149.95/month)
Dedicated Server Hosting ($189/month to $289/month)

HostGator is another beginner-friendly, feature-rich web host with an outstanding uptime of 99.99%. Similar to Namecheap, HostGator is another popular domain registrar that also features hosting services.

However, HostGator really shines in its dedicated server hosting services. Although most small businesses won’t need a dedicated web host, the option to upgrade is always available.

HostGator’s standout feature for small businesses is its integration with Constant Contact. Constant Contact is an email marketing software. You will receive three months of access to Constant Contact’s resources for free on any shared hosting plan.

It’s important to note that HostGator is not the best web hosting for small business if most of your customers are outside of the US. HostGator only has servers in the US, which can cause latency issues for international audiences.

For its affordable pricing, HostGator delivers surprisingly good performance. It’s an excellent web host for small businesses that want a valuable compromise between performance and price.

WP Engine: Best WordPress Web Hosting for Small Business

Pricing: $25 per month to $63 per month, with custom options

4.5

★★★★★

Visit

WP Engine is a robust small business web host that’s dedicated to WordPress websites. This web hosting provider features strong security and maximum reliability among its comprehensive set of tools. WP Engine offers development, staging, and production environments to optimize your website and streamline your workflow for more advanced users.

Why we chose it: If you built your website on WordPress and you’re interested in maximum performance, WP Engine is the best web hosting for your small business. It offers a premium interface and features that set it apart from other WordPress hosts. Want to know more about this hosting company? Read the complete WP Engine review.

Comprehensive WordPress hosting for small business
Multiple server locations
Excellent customer service

Only hosts on WordPress
Visitor limits
Not budget-friendly

Pricing:

WP Engine offers five different pricing plans:

Startup ($25/month) – 25,000 visits per month, 10 GB storage, and 50 GB bandwidth per month
Professional ($49/month) – 75,000 visits per month, 15 GB storage, and 125 GB bandwidth per month
Growth ($96/month) – 100,000 visits per month, 20 GB storage, and 200 GB bandwidth per month
Scale ($242/month) – 400,000 visits per month, 50 GB storage, and 500 GB bandwidth per month
Custom (Inquire for pricing) – Custom built package for all your small business hosting needs

WP Engine offers outstanding uptime, reliable customer service support, and dedicated WordPress hosting services for all of your WordPress needs. Since many small businesses create their websites with WordPress, WP Engine makes it easy to start your hosting services.

Each WP Engine plan comes with a content delivery network (CDN) for faster page load times. Furthermore, you get access to staging environments so you can test site changes before you publish them.

You can also select Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud Platform as your website’s backbone. This ensures no downtime scalability and tight security. WP Engine is designed explicitly for WordPress installations, themes, and plug-ins. If you don’t use WordPress, we recommend checking out the other five best web hosting for small business in this guide.

Weebly: Best Web Hosting for Ecommerce Small Businesses

Pricing: $12 to $38 per month when paid annually

4.3

★★★★★

Visit

Weebly is best known for its browser-based, drag-and-drop website editor for ecommerce businesses. Weebly offers hundreds of responsive website themes that can be customized to your preferences. In essence, Weebly takes a new ecommerce website from start to finish quickly. You’ll receive all the guidance and tools you need to get your small business up.

Why we chose it: What sets Weebly apart from other ecommerce web hosting providers is its direct focus on ecommerce websites. Weebly is an all-inclusive small business web host for online sellers interested in optimizing their stores.

Great site speeds
Responsive and customizable themes
Affordable ecommerce hosting

Slow-responding customer support
Moving to a new platform is difficult
Only suitable for ecommerce businesses

Pricing:

Weebly offers three pricing packages for ecommerce websites:

Pro ($12/month when paid annually) – Unlimited storage and free SSL security
Business ($25/month when paid annually) – Advanced ecommerce statistics and item badges
Business Plus ($38/month when paid annually) – Abandoned cart emails and real-time shipping updates

Weebly’s server infrastructure powers millions of websites and pageviews per day. As such, you expect comprehensive reliability and performance once you host your ecommerce website with Weebly.

Each of Weebly’s ecommerce hosting plans offers free SSL security, unlimited storage, and a customizable shopping cart. It’s important to note that Weebly wants to be your comprehensive ecommerce provider.

If you want to learn how to start an online store, Weebly offers a drag-and-drop website builder as well as an integrated ecommerce platform with responsive themes.

Weebly also offers a mobile app that allows you to build, edit, and manage your website all through your mobile device. In addition, Weebly makes it easy to create a blog, custom forms, and uses powerful SEO tools to bring in traffic from search engines.

Ionos: Best Small Business Web Host for Affordability

Pricing: $0.50 per month to $16 per month

4.0

★★★★★

Visit

Ionos offers shared hosting at an astounding price of $0.50 per month for the first 12 months if you subscribe to an annual plan. Although the price increases to $10 per month after your first year, it’s still extremely inexpensive. This plan also offers unlimited storage, so you don’t have to worry about upgrading your storage capacity later on.

Why we chose it: Ionos is the best affordable web hosting for small business with a total price of $6 for your first year’s subscription. With a price this low, it’s basically negligible and allows you to focus on growing your small business. Read the Ionos review to learn more.

Personal success consultant
30-day money-back guarantee
Affordable, all-in-one website builder and hosting plans

No free trial to test the site builders
Most expensive plan offers fastest load times
Not very beginner-friendly

Pricing:

Ionos carries three different packages for small business:

Essential ($4/month for 12 months then $6/month) – 1 website and 10 GB storage
Business ($0.50/month for 12 months then $10/month) – Unlimited websites and unlimited storage
Expert ($8/month for 12 months then $16/month) – Maximum CPU and MEM resources and SiteAnalytics Plus

Ionos is the best web host for small businesses needing low-cost hosting right from the beginning. Each small business plan features 99.9% uptime, PHP 8.1 with JIT compiler, SSL and DDoS protection as well as backups.

Speed is also a priority with Ionos. Claiming itself as one of the fastest web hosting providers in the US, Ionos ensures your visitors have the best user experience possible. Additional features include a drag and drop website builder, WordPress hosting integration, and online marketing add-ons.

If your small business is looking for a simple and affordable web hosting provider that’s easy to use and provides hands-on technical support, Ionos is right for you.

Methodology for the Best Web Hosting for Small Business

Choosing ideal web hosting is a core component of building your small business website. The best web hosting for small businesses offer similar features, so we understand how it can be difficult to differentiate them. There are a few key factors to consider before picking your small business web host.

Speed

A small business web host determines how fast your website loads. Page load times are essential because they affect user experience and SEO rankings. Fast loading websites are critical because slow websites cause users to leave very quickly. You need a web hosting plan that can handle the amount of traffic your website receives.

Budget

As a small business owner, you constantly face budget restrictions and cost-cutting measures to optimize your dollars. Fortunately, each small business web host offers shared hosting, which dramatically reduces your hosting cost. You won’t receive advanced features and the fastest speeds, but shared hosting is good enough to sustain your business as it continues to grow.

Ease of Use

Depending on your experience with web hosting, you may need a service provider that’s beginner-friendly. Furthermore, you may want a web host that offers guidance and 24/7 support. If your website doesn’t work properly or is down, you won’t be able to take care of your customers and acquire new ones.

Storage and Backups

Some small businesses need to store a lot of data and assets on their website. For this reason, you need to use a small business web host that offers enough storage for your company. Backups are also crucial to keep your website safe in times of emergency or disaster. A simple backup can save you from a world of pain if something goes wrong on your website.

Reliability

It’s important to find a small business web host with a good track record of staying online. Web hosts with unreliable uptimes should be avoided at all costs. If your web host ever goes down, your website will go down too. This means you’ll be losing business, revenue, and customer satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Web Hosting Companies for Small Business

Below are some of the most popular questions surrounding small business web hosting.

Which hosting is best for beginners?

The best hosting for beginners is Bluehost and Namecheap. Both of these small business web hosts offer affordable pricing packages and an intuitive onboarding process to get your website up and running. Bluehost features the most comprehensive guidance and is recommended for complete beginners.

Who has the most affordable web hosting services?

All six best web hosting companies for small businesses offer affordable plans in their cheapest pricing packages. However, Ionos offers the most affordable web hosting services with a price of $0.50 per month for the first 12 months and then $10 per month afterward. However, since web hosts are mostly affordable, it’s better to find one that fits your small business’s exact needs.

Which type of hosting is used for small websites?

The majority of small businesses and websites use shared hosting. Shared hosting is the most basic and cost-effective type of web hosting. It works well with the vast majority of small websites that don’t need an entire server of their own. Shared hosting is affordable because it splits resources across the server with multiple websites.

Conclusion: Best Web Hosting Companies for Small Business

The best web hosting for small businesses offers quick load times, is easy to use, and is within your budget. You can’t go wrong choosing any of the six options in this list, but some web hosts are more suited for certain small businesses, depending on your needs.

May 5, 2022November 23, 2022

AWS Web Hosting Review: Customizable Web Services

In this AWS Web Hosting review, you’ll see that it lets you create your own web host package so you only need to pay for the services you actually use. It’s a smart choice for you if you are looking for a versatile cloud web hosting provider. It offers scalable solutions, multiple platform support, and flexible AWS Web Hosting pricing.

Our Verdict

AWS Web Hosting

Visit

AWS Web Hosting may be a viable option for you if you want to personalize your web host solutions based on the requirements of your business. After all, it allows you to tailor your web services with a high level of customization. Plus, it’s compatible with various hosting platforms so you can pick the software that you prefer. Finally, it gives you solid value for your money because it doesn’t require you to spend for services that aren’t relevant to you.

Although AWS Web Hosting is a remarkable web host service, it does have some limitations. For example, you need to be fairly tech savvy to put together services that work together properly so you can maximize the potential of AWS. Aside from this, it’s challenging to figure out the approximate cost of AWS web services. You need to compute the amount first by adding the extra service fees to the base rate of the plans. Last but not least, you need to pay more for in-depth technical assistance.

Customizable web services
Supports different web hosting platforms
Adjustable rates

Technical knowledge required for optimal web service selection
Hard to estimate pricing
Support plans required for premium customer service

Pricing: Starts at $0

AWS Web Hosting at a Glance

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud web hosting provider that enables you to create and manage websites and web apps in a versatile, cost-effective way. It offers a broad range of hosting solutions for small businesses, huge corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. At present, it showcases more than 200 web host services across various data centers.

Founded by ecommerce giant Amazon, AWS Web hosting currently has millions of active users all over the world. In addition to this, the AWS Partner Network (APN) is made up of tens of thousands of independent software vendors (ISVs) and thousands of systems integrators who collaborate together to improve AWS services.

We found in this AWS Web Hosting review that it sets itself apart from competitors through its scalable pricing and functions. The features include web hosting, traffic management, platform support, server hosting, web management, and scalability. On top of this, you can select from add-on services like cloud migration, ecommerce, remote work, database management, plus backup and restore.

Who AWS Web Hosting Is Best For

AWS Web Hosting is ideal for you if you want to create your own web host package with functions and rates that fit your business needs and budget to a T. While AWS does offer plans that serve as the foundation of your package, you must already have a good idea how to mix and match additional services that work well together to make the most out of AWS. That’s why it’s more appropriate for you if you have intermediate or advanced tech expertise, instead of zero to beginner tech skills.

Pricing

The AWS Web Hosting pricing arrangement is slightly different from the usual pricing plans of most web host services. While typical hosting providers showcase plans with set pricing, AWS offers base plans yet focuses more on extra web services which you can add to your package. Here are the AWS plans you can take your pick from:

Price

Starts at $3.50 / month

Starts at $0

Starts at $0.023 per GB

Starts at $0

Web Hosting

Simple website hosting on a single web server

Single page web app hosting

Simple static website hosting

Enterprise web hosting on multiple web servers

Traffic Management

Low to medium traffic

Up to occasional high traffic

Up to demanding high traffic

Website Platform Support

WordPress, Joomla, Drupal & Magento

Single page app frameworks like React JS, Vue JS, Angular JS & Nuxt

HTML & JavaScript

SAP, high performance computing (HPC), ML, Windows & macOS workloads

Server Hosting

Linux / Unix & Windows virtual servers

Serverless backends

No server administration required

Multiple web servers

Website Management

1 console for web server, DNS & networking management

AWS Amplify Console for workflow management

Object storage via simple web service interface

EC2 instance creation in AWS Management Console

Scalability

Scalable up to 5 servers

Scalable up to enterprise levels

Maximum scalability

To summarize, there are four AWS plans that can serve as the foundation of your customized package:

Amazon Lightsail: Suitable for hosting basic websites on one web server
- Linux / Unix: $3.50 to $160 / month
- Windows: $8 to $240 / month
AWS Amplify: Ideal for hosting static web apps that require only a single load in a browser
- Free Tier: Free
- Pay as you go: $0.01 per build minute / $0.023 per GB stored per month / $0.15 per GB served
Amazon S3: Appropriate for hosting basic static websites without any server-side application code
- S3 Standard: Starts at $0.023 per GB
- S3 Intelligent Tiering: Starts at $0.0025 per 1,000 objects
Amazon EC2: Suitable for hosting enterprise websites with advanced applications
- Free Tier: Free
- On-Demand: $0.00 to $0.09 per GB

On top of these base plan rates, you have the option to add web host services by paying extra fees to personalize its functions. Later, we will discuss these supplementary solutions in another section of this review.

Admittedly, it can be confusing if you manually try to figure out the total price you have to pay. Thankfully, you can use the AWS Pricing Calculator to compute the estimated cost of your made-to-order package. Just add the base plan payment plus the service fees to get the approximate total amount.

AWS Web Hosting Review: Features

While AWS highlights its additional service options, the base plans do include important features which can come in handy as you build and maintain your business websites. In this AWS Web Hosting review, let’s take a look at some of the basic features of AWS, such as web hosting, traffic management, web platform support, server hosting, web management, and scalability

Web Hosting

AWS offers web host services similar to other providers. However, it stands out among competitors because it strongly takes into consideration that different business owners have a wide range of hosting needs.

While most hosting platforms showcase set plans that progress in terms of rates and features, AWS finetunes the gradations of its packages further according to the types of websites and servers you want to use.

For example, you may pick the entry-level Amazon Lightsail plan if you need to host a simple website on a single web server that runs on a development stack, Content Management System (CMS), or ecommerce app. Aside from this, you can go for the AWS Amplify package if you wish to host a single page web app that lets you monitor user actions via HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Plus, it allows you to register a domain name with just one click.

As an alternative, you may select the Amazon S3 plan if you aim to host simple static websites that don’t contain server-side application code like ASP.NET or PHP. Finally, you can invest in the Amazon EC2 package if your goal is to set up enterprise-level, application-heavy websites on multiple web servers.

Traffic Management

AWS helps you manage website traffic to ensure the smooth operations of your business site, no matter how many or how few internet users visit your landing pages each day. Nevertheless, the exact amount of traffic it supports depends on which plan you sign up for.

For instance, the Amazon Lightsail package is already sufficient if you only encounter low to medium traffic on a regular basis. However, you should consider the AWS Amplify or Amazon S3 plans if you expect occasional surges in web activity. Still, the Amazon EC2 package works best if you have very demanding traffic management requirements. After all, it prepares you to handle extremely high traffic for your website.

Website Platform Support

AWS supports a broad range of platforms that equip you to build and manage business sites and apps, which is why you have the flexibility to choose the program that suits your purposes. Aside from its WordPress website creation capability, Amazon Lightsail is also compatible with Joomla, Magento, and Drupal. Next, AWS Amplify lets you utilize single page app frameworks, including React JS, Angular JS, Nuxt, and Vue JS.

In addition to this, Amazon S3 gives you the ability to establish static websites that showcase HTML, JavaScript, images, and videos. Last but not least, Amazon EC2 allows you to run high performance computing (HPC), SAP, ML, Windows, and macOS workloads.

Server Hosting

The various AWS packages have different capabilities when it comes to server hosting. On one hand, the Amazon Lightsail plan provides you with virtual servers based on Windows or Linux / Unix, plus matching storage, memory, and processing power.

On the other hand, both the AWS Amplify and Amazon S3 packages don’t require server administration so you can run websites with serverless backends. Finally, the Amazon EC2 plan grants you access to multiple web servers across two or more data centers so you can launch enterprise websites.

Website Management

Each AWS plan allows you to manage your websites, apps, and data in different ways. For example, Amazon Lightsail includes a single console which you can use to oversee your web server, networking, and DNS.

AWS Amplify comes with a dedicated AWS Amplify Console that enables you to supervise your workflow, while EC2 utilizes the same console for instance creation. Last but not least, Amazon S3 equips you to handle object storage through a simple web service interface.

Scalability

The AWS infrastructure can be expanded or downscaled based on your business size, budget, and requirements. While Amazon Lightsail lets you start with a single server, it gives you the opportunity to go up to five servers. Both AWS Amplify and Amazon S3 let you scale your web architecture up to enterprise levels. However, Amazon EC2 trumps them all by providing you with maximum scalability to accommodate your business growth and traffic increase.

AWS Web Hosting Review: Services

On top of the basic features, the practical functionality of AWS Web Hosting will vary based on the type and number of additional services you sign up for. These are some of the AWS web hosting services that you can include in your package:

Cloud Migration

AWS enables you to upload various types of workloads to the cloud, including websites, apps, databases, storage, and virtual or physical servers. It also allows you to transfer centers from an on-premises location, public cloud, or hosting facility to AWS.

Ecommerce

Amazon is one of the leading ecommerce platforms on a global scale, which is why it’s not surprising that AWS provides you with digital commerce solutions. It offers online sales and retail services to help businesses of all sizes sell products and services to consumers over the internet.

Remote Work

AWS makes it simple for you to supervise remote workers, including call center agents, creative freelancers, and work-at-home employees. Remote work solutions boost the productivity of your team, while protecting your shared work information which is stored and transferred online.

Database Management

AWS gives you the opportunity to migrate information to databases which you can manage on a full-scale basis. Plus, it ensures that your databases operate with high levels of reliability and availability. After all, the databases of AWS are designed for speedy performance so they can handle heavy business workloads.

Backup and Restore

AWS offers backup and restore services, which you can adopt as part of your business risk management strategy. You can choose from various storage solutions, data transfer options, and networking alternatives to keep your data safe and secure on a long-term basis.

Front-End Web and Mobile Development

AWS equips you to build mobile and web apps through handy development tools. It supports workflows related to the creation of Android, iOS, React Native, and JavaScript programs. As a result, it streamlines the way you develop, deploy, and operate various kinds of apps.

Blockchain

AWS equips you through blockchain technology to manage a centralized ledger database of cryptographically verifiable records of transactions. In addition to this, it allows you to share ledgers among blockchain networks composed of multiple parties to promote safe cryptocurrency trades.

Archiving

AWS provides archive storage solutions so you can digitally preserve your data for an extended period of time. These archiving services meet compliance standards so you can benefit from faster retrieval times and better data accessibility compared to on-premises tape storage methods.

Security

AWS offers security solutions to safeguard your accounts, information, and workloads. The data protection services include encryption, threat detection, and key management. Plus, the identity and access management services let you handle permissions, identities, and resources. Finally, the network and application protection services prepare you to implement your security policies across your business organization.

Support Plans

The AWS packages have limited support, which is why you need to subscribe to one of the support plans to get premium customer service. You can choose from developer support, business support, enterprise support, and enterprise on-ramp support based on the type of technical assistance you require for your business.

On top of these 10 services, there are over 200 web host solutions you can select from. These extra services are categorized according to use case, industry, and organization type.

Alternatives to AWS Web Hosting

AWS Web Hosting fits the bill if customizability is your top priority when choosing a hosting provider. Nevertheless, you could also try other alternatives if you value other aspects of web hosting:

Dreamhost

Visit

Dreamhost is a web host service that lets you build and manage WordPress websites. It includes a suite of WordPress tools that assist you in digital content creation and promotion.

Dreamhost is ideal for you if you want to subscribe to hosting plans with complete, built-in features. It eliminates or reduces the need for customizing your own plan, which you must do if you want to explore the possibilities of AWS. It’s also more affordable in some ways than AWS web hosting pricing.

However, AWS offers way more platform options compared to Dreamhost, which focuses mainly on WordPress. At the end of the day, it’s up to you if you prefer a pre-assembled plan or a personalized one.

Ready-made plans
Very affordable pricing

Limited to WordPress platform
Customer support is chat-centric, not phone-centric

Pricing: Starts at $1.99 / month

BigCommerce

Visit

BigCommerce is an ecommerce solution that enables you to design online stores and websites. It comes with a page builder visual editor, adjustable themes, and checkout customization.

BigCommerce is suitable for you if you want to try various ecommerce options. In contrast to AWS which is based on Amazon, it gives you the chance to collaborate with other popular virtual marketplaces like eBay and Google Shopping.

Still, AWS is still a better all-purpose solution because it provides other services aside from ecommerce. In short, your choice will be influenced by whether you prioritize ecommerce or general website management.

Multiple cross-channel ecommerce integrations
Drag-and-drop builder interface

Hard to expand beyond ecommerce
Pricing not transparent

Pricing: Contact BigCommerce to get a quote

GoDaddy

Visit

GoDaddy is a web host solution that helps you create websites with built-in marketing tools. In addition to this, it also offers domain registration and professional email services.

GoDaddy is appropriate for you if you wish to concentrate on the marketing aspect of your business. After all, it focuses more on marketing than AWS does. Nevertheless, AWS showcases much more services compared to GoDaddy, and with AWS web hosting pricing, you can choose your own package. To sum things up, your selection will be based on whether marketing or multiple web services are more important to you.

Marketing expertise
Matching domain name and email addresses

Less services offerings than AWS
Final pricing of plans only available at checkout

Pricing: Starts at free

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for AWS Web Hosting Review

AWS Web Hosting may be the right hosting provider for you if you value versatility. Find out the answers to basic questions about AWS and web hosting.

What Is AWS Web Hosting?

AWS stands for Amazon Web Services. AWS Web Hosting is a web host provider that lets you build and maintain websites and web apps in a flexible way. The four AWS plans are Amazon Lightsail, AWS Amplify, Amazon S3, and Amazon EC2. A wide variety of additional services may be integrated with these plans to tailor the functionality of the system.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is a form of Internet hosting service where the provider hosts websites on behalf of clients. On one hand, customers have the option of buying or renting virtual space to publish and store their websites on the internet. On the other hand, the provider is responsible for making the websites accessible to clients and internet users, as well as offering related services like domain registration, web development, and customer service.

How Is AWS Different From Other Web Host Providers?

AWS Web Hosting is unique among hosting providers because of its scalable services and rates. On top of the four base plans, it offers more than 200 add-on services to personalize your package. These extra services include front-end web and mobile development, blockchain, archiving, security, and support plans.

Bottom Line on AWS Web Hosting Pricing & Review

AWS Web Hosting gets rid of unnecessary costs by letting you personalize your own package made up only of web host services you need. It’s the perfect fit for you if you need a hosting solution that combines highly customizable services, adjustable AWS Web Hosting pricing, and wide platform compatibility. Now that you have read our AWS Web Hosting review, we are confident that you can figure out if you ought to sign up for Amazon Web Services (AWS) or not.

May 5, 2022November 23, 2022

What is a Registered Agent & Why Do You Need to Hire One?

Businessman hiring a registered agent online

A registered agent is an individual or entity responsible for receiving official documents on behalf of your business. If you want to register your business in a state, you must also appoint a registered agent as mandated by state law. Continue reading to find out how to hire one or if you can be your own registered agent.

What is a Registered Agent?

A registered agent is also known as a resident agent, statutory agent, or agent for service of process. Its purpose is to be a business’ official point of contact with government and judicial authorities. An agent can be an individual or company, and they receive and manage official notices for your business. These official documents include but are not limited to:

Official letters and government correspondence from the Division of Corporations, Secretary of State, or other state government agencies dealing with registered businesses
Federal government correspondence, information, and notifications
Service of process notices (these are legal notices and are issued if your business needs to appear in court)
Tax forms and requests for tax payment
Notifications to complete permits, business filings, or reports

The agent also must relay these documents to your business in a timely manner so you can take due action. Every LLC, corporation, or a non-profit organization, must appoint a registered agent at the time of registration.

Different states have different eligibility criteria for resident agents. So you can be your own registered agent if you meet the requirements. You have to give your agent’s details on your articles of organization and file them with the state. This information then becomes part of public records. So, you can put your privacy at risk if you choose to be your own agent.

Why Do You Need a Registered Agent?

All registered businesses must appoint a valid registered agent if it wants to operate in a state. But why is that?

The primary purpose of an RA is to act as a reliable point of contact between a business and the general public, state and federal governments, and the courts. The requirement for companies to appoint a resident agent first came about as part of the due process of law.

If your business must deal with a lawsuit, legal proceedings cannot move forward unless you get proper notification. With an agent in place, it becomes easier for courts and other authorities to contact you. You also need to name your resident agent when opening a business bank account.

Who Can Be a Registered Agent?

Every state has a set of eligibility requirements for registered agents. Any individual or company that meets these criteria can be an agent in that state. That said, the general requirements are pretty similar for almost all states and they are:

Age: If you appoint an individual, your agent must be at least 18 years of age.
Residency: If you appoint an individual, they must be a resident of the state in question. If you use a company’s services, it must be authorized to operate in the state.
Physical address: Your agent must have a physical address in the state in question to receive all documentation at.
Availability: They should be available at the registered address during business hours throughout the year.
Consent: Some states require agents to submit a consent form to be an agent.

These requirements can differ slightly for different states. For instance, Arizona doesn’t require agents to be available at the registered office during business hours. Virginia only allows licensed lawyers, officers, or employees of your business to serve as registered agents.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

Yes, you can. As a business owner, you can be the agent for your company as long as you meet the criteria set by your respective state. You can also appoint an employee or a fellow business member. But this begs the question, should you be your own registered agent?

On the surface, appointing yourself, a colleague, or a friend seems like the easiest solution. But it isn’t as simple as it seems. Being an agent means you have to be available at your office during all business hours throughout the year.

If you or your agent is not available for some reason during a delivery, your business may face severe consequences. This is why most business owners and employees don’t take this responsibility. Moreover, being your own RA means your name and contact information will be public. This may put your privacy at risk.

Smart entrepreneurs tend to hire registered agent services. These are third-party legal service providers that can be your agent in return for a reasonable annual fee. We recommend you hire a professional legal service for peace of mind, privacy, and to avoid legal issues.

Why Use a Registered Agent Service?

Hiring a professional registered agent service like Northwest Registered Agent or LegalZoom is a better choice than being your own agent. It’s also better than appointing an employee as one. Here’s why.

Saves Time

According to a recent study, 72% of small business owners say administrative tasks are the biggest time drain. This includes paperwork. If you take on the responsibility of being your own agent, you’re adding to the never-ending list of managerial tasks and taking on more than you can handle.

It’s always better to delegate tasks like these so you can focus on the things that matter while improving your work-life balance. Plus, when your contact information is public you’re likely to receive a lot of junk mail. Save yourself the hassle of sifting through tons of junk mail and let a legal service handle it for you for an inexpensive annual fee.

Gives You Peace of Mind

With a professional legal service serving as your RA, you no longer have to worry about being available during business hours at your office. This way, you can focus on running your business or take a vacation when you want. Your professional registered agent is always there to receive documents on your behalf and inform you timely.

More often than not, a resident agent service provider is also a legal service and can give you invaluable advice on how to proceed with your tax and legal matters. This is just like hiring a business legal assistant but at a much lower price.

Gives You Flexibility

A registered agent service lets you have flexible working hours. And you can expand your business to multiple states with ease. Every state requires that your statutory agent must be at a physical address in the state you’ve formed your LLC. If you choose to be your own registered agent, it isn’t possible to expand to another state without an official agent.

Professional registered agent services have physical addresses in all 50 states, so you can form an LLC in any state. If you’re thinking about forming an LLC in multiple states, hiring a statutory agent is a must.

Protects Privacy

Hiring a professional service of process agent means that their address and contact information is public, not yours. If you’re served a lawsuit, an RA service ensures to convey it to you in the most private manner. This saves you the risk of receiving a summons in front of people you know or your customers.

Legal Compliance

Last but not least, a professional agent helps you ensure your company stays compliant with the law. It sends you regular reminders to keep you updated with all state requirements. Plus, it files documents like annual report filings on time.

Plus, registered agent services also keep copies of important government and legal documents for safekeeping. If you lose your original documents for any reason, you always have a backup.

How to Hire a Registered Agent Service Company?

If using a professional agent service is a better choice for you, the next step is to choose one. The service costs anywhere between $100 and $300 per annum, with the majority of them charging $150 for a year. This is pretty inexpensive for the range of benefits that come with professional resident agent service.
Here are some of our top picks when it comes to registered agent services. Note that these are also part of our picks for the best LLC services.

Northwest Registered Agent

Visit

Northwest Registered Agent is the second-largest registered agent service in the US. It offers the service in all 50 states and is an excellent choice for you if you’re looking for high-quality customer service and strong privacy protection.

You get locally scanned docs, business address use, mail forwarding, mail scanning, annual report reminders, a company management system, and top-of-the-line customer support with Northwest. Apart from the agent service, Northwest also offers quality LLC formation services. Read our complete Northwest Registered Agent review to learn more about it.

Screenshot of Northwest Registered Agent homepage

Offers privacy protection
Quality customer service
Transparent pricing

Limited features
Pay extra for EIN service
More expensive than alternatives

Pricing

$125/state per year
$5200 in all 52 jurisdictions

LegalZoom

Visit

LegalZoom is a high-end online legal services provider that offers a registered agent service across the United States. With over 2 million businesses helped, LegalZoom is a well-known and reliable service provider, but it may charge you higher than other options.

LegalZoom alerts you whenever it receives important mail for you. With the Compliance Calendar, which comes at an additional $69, it can also email your business about critical tax and annual report deadlines. To top that off, you get unlimited cloud storage to store your documents safely. Read our complete LegalZoom review to learn more.

Screenshot of LegalZoom homepage — Source: LegalZoom

Well-established service with 2 million+ businesses helped
Offers a wide range of legal services
Robust customer service

More expensive than alternatives
Slow turnaround time
Excessive upsells

Pricing

$299 per year

ZenBusiness

Visit

ZenBusiness is a top-quality registered agent service you can avail of at a much lower price. It has a transparent pricing plan with no hidden fees and is up-front about its other services like compliance documentation and annual report filing. However, getting to the pricing plan can be a painstaking process.

ZenBusiness has an online document management system and sends you regular compliance alerts to make sure you’re up-to-date with all legal requirements. It also scans and uploads important legal documents to get them to you straight away and mails you physical copies if required.

Plus, if you use ZenBusiness for LLC formation, you get its agent service for one year completely free. To learn more about its services and pricing, read our complete review on ZenBusiness.

Screenshot of ZenBusiness homepage — Source: ZenBusiness

Inexpensive option
Transparent pricing
Free registered agent service with LLC formation

No free plan
Worry-Free Guarantee is not included with the regular agent service
Annual compliance costs extra

Pricing

Registered Agent – $99 per year
Registered Agent with Annual Compliance – $149 per year

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Registered Agent

Here are some frequently asked questions about registered agents to help you resolve any unaddressed questions.

Do you need to have different registered agents for different states?

If you want to register your business in multiple states, you need to appoint a registered agent for each state. You can easily do this with a registered agent service that covers all states. Not that you’d have to pay separate fees for each state.

How do I change my registered agent?

To change your registered agent, you need to file a Change of Registered Agent form with the state where your business is registered. Once this is done, you can cancel the service with your old registered agent.

Which is the cheapest registered agent?

ZenBusiness with an annual fee of just $99 is the cheapest registered agent provider. Northwest is not too pricey either with a fee of $125 per year.

Bottom Line on What a Registered Agent Is

Appointing a registered agent is one of the most important steps in registering your business as an LLC, incorporation, or non-profit organization. Luckily, understanding what an agent does is pretty straightforward. You can even do it yourself if you can stick around your registered office during normal business hours.

We still recommend you hire a professional registered agent to handle things on your behalf. It saves you time, protects your privacy, gives you peace of mind, and greater flexibility with your business.

May 4, 2022November 23, 2022

IncFile Review: Best Affordable LLC Service

IncFile makes it easy for you to form a new LLC or convert your existing business into one, thanks to its budget-friendly pricing, ease of use, and LLC registration features. In this IncFile review, we will explore the pros, cons, pricing, and features of the IncFile LLC service. Continue reading to find out whether it’s a good choice for you.

Our Verdict

IncFile

Visit

IncFile is the best affordable LLC service for entrepreneurs like you because it combines economical plans, a simple UI, and LLC formation services.

Offers free plan & cost-effective paid plans
Easy to use
Convenient preparation & filing tools for LLC registration

Lacks advanced features of expensive LLC services
Involves slightly more work compared to other LLC solutions
Unlimited customer support not available for free version

IncFile at a Glance

IncFile is an LLC service that helps business owners register LLCs in the U.S. It streamlines the LLC registration process so you can save time and money. After all, this solution makes it possible for you to reduce your paperwork and skip hiring a lawyer. On top of this, it also assists you in managing your bookkeeping, taxes, and banking, which you will need to operate and maintain your LLC once it is formed.

IncFile stands out among LLC services because of its cheap pricing, which ranges from free to $299 (plus state fee). At the same time, it doesn’t skimp on functionality in spite of its cost-effective price. Its handy features include a minimalist UI, LLC registration service, name search, custom dashboard, finance management, company alerts, registered agent service, and customer support.

Founded in 2004, IncFile is currently based in Houston, Texas. At present, it has already guided over 500,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs to start and expand their business ventures. Find out if this LLC service is right for you with the help of this IncFile review. Check out the pricing and features below.

Screenshot of IncFile dashboard — *Source: IncFile*

Who IncFile Is Best For

IncFile is ideal for business owners on a budget who are planning to start a new LLC or convert an existing business into an LLC. Even if your resources are limited, it lets you experience the advantages of a high-quality LLC service without breaking the bank. That’s why we recommend it as the best affordable LLC solution among the top-rated LLC services.

Pricing

Compare the price and features of the three IncFile plans to choose the one that works best for your business.

Price

Free + State fee

$149 + State fee

$299 + State fee

User Interface

Minimalist UI

LLC Registration Assistance

Preparing & filing articles

Preparing & filing articles
EIN Business Tax Number
IRS Form 2553
Operating Agreement

Preparing & filing articles
EIN Business Tax Number
IRS Form 2553
Operating Agreement
Expedited filing

Name Search

Unlimited

Custom Dashboard

None

Online dashboard access

Finance Management

None

Banking resolution
Business banking account
Business tax consultation

Banking resolution
Business banking account
Business tax consultation
Business contract templates

Company Alerts

None

Lifetime

Registered Agent Service

Free for 1 year

Customer Support

None

Unlimited phone & email support

To summarize, here is a quick overview of the three plans offered by IncFile:

Silver (Free + State fee): It is suitable for business owners who need basic LLC registration assistance.
Gold ($149 + State fee): It is appropriate for entrepreneurs who require intermediate LLC registration assistance, plus finance management and customer support.
Platinum ($299 + State fee): It is ideal for business owners who need advanced LLC registration assistance and expediting filing, as well as finance management and customer support.

IncFile has an edge over other LLC services in terms of pricing. Unlike most of its competitors, it has a free version for entrepreneurs with limited spending power. Even the paid plans are not as expensive compared to similar plans from other providers.

IncFile Features

Pricing is an important factor when you’re choosing an LLC service, but it’s not the only aspect you should consider. You should also check out the functions of IncFile to learn if it meets your requirements as a business owner. Let’s discuss the key features of the IncFile LCC service, including the minimalist UI, LLC registration service, name search, custom dashboard, finance management, company alerts, registered agent service, and customer support.

User Interface

IncFile has a clean, simple user interface (UI) that is easy to use and navigate. You can start using it right away even if it’s your first time trying an LLC service. It shows information in a clear, visual way through boxes and lists in the dashboard. As a result, you can quickly find the options that you are looking for.

LLC Registration Service

IncFile makes it possible for you to register your LLC in just a few steps. First, it will prompt you to input basic information so you can get started. Next, IncFile will assist you in the preparation of articles of incorporation and filing with the governing state agency. Finally, it displays the filed article information and related documents in your dashboard.

The free Silver plan covers basic preparation and filing services. In addition to this, the Gold and Platinum paid plans also include assistance with documents like EIN Business Tax Number, IRS Form 2553, and Operating Agreement. Since the Platinum plan is the most premium package out of the three options, it involves expedited filing as well.

To be realistic, IncFile does involve a little more work compared to its high-end competitors which have more advanced features. Still, IncFile helps you save time and money by simplifying the LCC registration process, which can be a long, complex procedure when done manually.

Name Search

All the IncFile plans allow you to search for business names in collaboration with your state. The Name Availability Search tool lets you confirm if the company name you plan to use for your LLC is unique to your business and has not yet been taken by another organization.

Custom Dashboard

If you choose a paid plan, IncFile will provide you with a custom dashboard that lets you keep track of your activities. You can access all your filed articles, documents, and extra services through the dashboard. Aside from this, it displays your current order status, order history, and company information in a visually friendly way by grouping data into boxes and lists.

Finance Management

While it is mainly an LLC service, IncFile goes the extra mile by offering finance management features too. For instance, the Gold plan includes tools related to banking resolution, tax consultation, and business bank accounts. On top of this, the Platinum package grants you access to over 150 business contract templates. You can also check out the best small business bank accounts for LLCs.

Company Alerts

Both paid plans of IncFile come with lifetime company alerts. It will send you email messages to remind you about upcoming compliance deadlines. These automatic notifications will prompt you to complete all your state filing requirements on time.

Registered Agent Service

IncFile offers free registered agent service for one year for all plans. A registered agent is a person or business who receives vital information, documents, and correspondence on your behalf from the federal government, state government, and agencies. The agent forwards the data to your LLC so you can reply or respond accordingly. All business entities in the U.S., including your LLC, are required to have a registered agent.

Customer Support

IncFile provides unlimited phone and email support. You can call the support team from Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST if you need technical assistance. You may also fill out the Client Support Request form in case you have questions about IncFile. Take note that unlimited customer support is only available for paid plans, not for the free version.

Alternatives to IncFile

IncFile is a solid LLC service given its economical price. However, it is possible that you have other pressing priorities aside from pricing when it comes to selecting an LLC service. That’s why we have listed down other IncFile alternatives that you may consider.

Rocket Lawyer

Visit

Rocket Lawyer is a legal service provider that offers LLC registration services. On the business formation side, it checks the availability of your preferred entity name, files your paperwork requirements, and follows up with your state on your behalf. On the legal side, it gives you the chance to consult with on-call attorneys. It also grants you access to a legal document library.

Rocket Lawyer is suitable for you in case you need online legal services while you form your own LLC. Unlike IncFile which is dedicated to LLC services, it concentrates on providing legal assistance without the need for costly lawyer’s fees. Read the complete Rocket Lawyer review to know more.

Affordable monthly fee
Access to ongoing legal support through membership
Discounted legal counsel with membership

Addons for non-members can be expensive
Free trial converts automatically
Not specialized in business formation

Pricing:

Legal Documents: $39.99
Attorney Services:
- $9.99 per document
- $49.99 per question
- $59.99 per consultation
For Business:
- Incorporation Filing: $99.99
- Registered Agent Service: $149.99

Inc Authority

Visit

Inc Authority is an online LLC setup service that focuses on business entity formation. It gives you access to a wide range of business startup services. For instance, its services include preparation plus filing, business name check, digital storage plus delivery, S-Election Form preparation, tax planning consultation, and registered agent service.

Inc Authority is ideal for entrepreneurs who need round-the-clock email and phone support for their business. While its features are fairly similar to IncFile, Inc Authority has stronger customer service because of its 24/7 US-based online support. Read the Inc Authority review if this service interests you.

Free LLC filing
Highly rated customer support
Free registered agent service for one year

Lots of upsells
EIN filing costs extra
No refunds

Pricing:

Free LLC + State fees

Hashtag Legal

Visit

Hashtag Legal is an LLC provider that offers customizable LLC formation services. These solutions include corporation formation, business restructuring, addition of shareholders or members, and strategy development. It also gives you the opportunity to ask for professional advice from legal experts.

Hashtag Legal is appropriate for you if you wish to tailor the LLC setup process and operating agreement according to the needs of your business. It’s more flexible compared to IncFile since you can personalize some of its services. Read our review on Hashtag Legal to find out if it’s the right choice for you.

Customizable plan
Receive legal advice with to LLC filing
High-quality customer support

Pricing isn’t transparent
Small boutique firm
Limited to New York and New Jersey

Pricing:

Contact Hashtag Legal for quote

LegalZoom

Visit

LegalZoom is a business formation service that provides LLC startup services. It completes and files your paperwork after you input your preferred name plus basic data. If you need legal solutions, it connects you with an independent network of lawyers. It ensures customer compliance so you can fulfill all the legal requirements of your business.

LegalZoom is ideal for owners of online businesses because of its expertise in setting up LLCs in the technology industry. Unlike IncFile which is a general LLC service, LegalZoom is designed especially for technology businesses. Read the complete LegalZoom review to learn more.

Well-established service with 2 million+ businesses helped
Offers a wide range of legal services
Robust customer service

More expensive than alternatives
Slow turnaround time
Excessive upsells

Pricing:

Economy: $79 + State filing fees
Standard: $329 + State filing fees
Express Gold: $349 + State filing fees

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for IncFile Review

IncFile is a viable option for you if you are planning to set up an LLC on a minimal budget. Let’s discover the answers to common questions about IncFile and LLC.

What Is an LLC?

LLC stands for “limited liability company”. It is a popular type of business structure in the U.S. An LLC protects your personal assets as a business owner by limiting your liability. By doing so, it helps you avoid becoming responsible for repayments of the debts of your business.

What Is IncFile?

IncFile is an affordable LLC service that simplifies the LLC registration process. It helps business owners like you to prepare and file articles and other registration requirements. Its features include a clean UI, LLC registration service, business name search, custom dashboard, finance management, company alerts, registered agent service, and customer support. IncFile offers a free plan and two paid plans.

What Are the Benefits of IncFile?

IncFile has several advantages as an LLC service. First, it allows business owners like you to register your LLC for free or at a fairly low cost. Next, it is easy to use because of its straightforward UI. Finally, it is convenient and useful because of its LLC registration services and other features.

Bottom Line on IncFile Review

IncFile makes it simple for you to start an LLC so you can limit your potential liability as a business owner. We recommend it for you in case you are looking for a cost-effective LLC service with good functionality. After all, IncFile LLC service shines because of its affordable price, intuitive UI, and LLC registration tools. We hope this IncFile review has helped you figure out if IncFile is the right affordable LLC service for your business.

May 4, 2022November 23, 2022

5 Best Web Hosting Sites in 2023

The best web hosting site offers quick loading speeds, affordable hosting plans, and SSD storage for your site. Hostinger is the best overall web host provider on our list, but there are others we suggest for tight budgets, beginners, or advanced users.

Best Web Hosting Site

Hostinger: Best Overall
Bluehost: Best for Beginners
Namecheap: Best for Affordability
Hostgator: Best for Advanced Users
Ionos: Best for Customer Support

Hostinger

Hostinger is performance-focused and it uses LiteSpeed servers

Only live chat and email support

Starts at $1.99/month

From 30GB SSD Storage to up to 300GB SSD on cloud hosting

Shared, cloud, and VPS plans

Bluehost

Slower servers if compared to its competitors

Three 24/7 live chat lines, email and phone support

Start at $2.95/month

Starts at 50GB SSD storage to up to 120GB

Shared, dedicated, and VPS plans

Namecheap

Poor performance

24/7 live chat with no phone support

Starts at $1.58/month

Starts at 20GB SSD to 120GB SSD

Shared, WordPress, reseller, and VPS plans

Hostgator

Overall stable hosting experience and a fast server

Phone and live chat, 24/7

Starts at $2.75/month

It can go up to 240GB SSD

Shared, dedicated, reseller, and VPS plans

Ionos

Average website load speed is lower

Dedicated customer service page, 24/7 phone support, and live chat

Starts at $4/month

Starts at 10GB and it can go up to 240GB

Shared, dedicated, and VPS plans

Hostinger: Best Overall Web Hosting Site

Pricing: Starts at $1.99/month

4.9

★★★★★

Visit

Cheap doesn’t always mean good but Hostinger is here to prove otherwise. Hostinger is the best bang for the buck for web hosting services for small businesses. The company offers relatively low-cost pricing for premium services—plans starting at $1.99 per month. Plus, this web host service provider invests heavily in innovation, performance, and UX.

Pricing isn’t the only reason we consider Hostinger the best web hosting site. It’s also one of the fastest web hosts out there, with an average page load speed of 143 milliseconds—the cheapest plan can load in under one second. The company is performance-focused: It uses LiteSpeed servers for all of its plans, which provides a great response time over regular servers, Google Cloud as part of its infrastructure, and uses SSD storage. On average, Hostinger offers the fastest performance among its competitors.

The performance-driven approach goes into user experience too. The control panel (hPanel) is intuitive and easy to navigate for everyone—from beginners to experts. It displays the most needed features like file and database management, email accounts, mail server control, and domain access. The company offers a 99.99% uptime guarantee; however, the shared plan isn’t reliable enough to handle many users simultaneously, which might compromise the website load speed.

Customer support, however, could be better. Hostinger offers only live chat and email support, which means no free phone support unless you pay $2 per month extra. Tech-savvy users who don’t need much support can resort to their customer support page with guides and articles.

Another one of Hostinger’s hang-ups is that it doesn’t offer free daily backup—a standard procedure among its competitors. The option is only available in the business plan.

Why we chose it: Hostinger uses fast servers, the control panel is intuitive and beginner-friendly, and the base plan is affordable. Read our full Hostinger review to learn more about its services.

Performance-driven
Affordable
Beginner-friendly

No free daily backup
Customer support could be better

Pricing: Starts at $1.99/month

Shared hosting plans: Single costs $1.99/month and can go up to $4.99/month for the business plan. All storage is SSD (starting with 30GB), a bandwidth of 100GB for single plan and it turns to unlimited above that, free SSL certificates for all plans, one email account for single, 100 for business and premium, multiple PHP versions and PHP configuration for all plans.

Cloud hosting plans: Recommended for small to mid-size enterprises. Prices start at $9.99 monthly and go up to $69.99 to the most premium tier. You can host 300 websites in all plans, memory RAM of 3GB for startup plan, up to 12GB for enterprise plan, SSD storage starting at 200 GB, bandwidth unlimited for all, as well as free dedicated IP, free domain registration, free SSL certificate, 100 email accounts and 1-click app installer.

VPS Hosting: Offers eight different plans, starting at $3.95/month. The CPU power starts at 1 core to VPS 1 plan and goes to 8 cores above VPS 6 plan, memory RAM starts at 1GB and up until 16 GB in the highest plan, SSD storage starts at 20 GB, bandwidth at 1TB. They all offer dedicated IP, full root access, 100 Mb/s Network, IPV4 & IPV6 support, and 24/7/365 support included.

Bluehost: Best Web Hosting Site for Beginners

Pricing: Start at $2.95/month

4.5

★★★★★

Visit

Bluehost is a website host that belongs to EIG Group, the same group that owns Hostgator and many other web hosts. The difference between Bluehost and its counterpart is that Bluehost is feature-focused and offers every tool a first-time user needs to build their first website from scratch.

Creating websites with Bluehost website builder is pretty straightforward and you can create one ready to run in just 15 minutes if using a WordPress website (the WP feature is free). However, the downside is that Bluehost works with slower servers if compared to its competitors—that means your website will load a bit slower. But that doesn’t mean a bad thing because if you’re a beginner and don’t have many visitors, this shouldn’t compromise your website’s performance that much. Furthermore, Bluehost’s websites can handle stress quite well without compromising stability or speed.

Bluehost also offers a free staging tool, which allows you to create a copy of your website to make changes on the copy while the original site is live and won’t be affected. Users won’t come across any error messages or instability. Despite that, migration is paid if you need to migrate to another plan.

When it comes to pricing, Bluehost’s plans aren’t actually paid monthly, even though the company advertises as such. The plans are actually yearly (available for one year, two, or three years) and you’ll need to pay the total amount upfront. The longer the period, the lower the monthly cost will be.

Customer support is essential, especially for beginners, and Bluehost does not disappoint its users. The support offers three 24/7 live chat lines, email and phone support.

Why we chose it: Bluehost is one of the best web hosting sites because it provides fast and efficient 24/7 customer service, all its plans come with plenty of freebies and extra features, and it’s user-friendly, especially for first-time users. Read the Bluehost review to learn more about its features and pricing.

Beginner-friendly
Freebies and extra features in all plans
Free staging tool

Pricing is confusing
Paid migration

Pricing: Bluehost offers three different plans: Shared hosting, VPS and dedicated hosting.

Shared hosting: Starts at $2.95/month, and it’s divided into four sub plans, Basic, Plus, Choice Plus and Pro. Basic comes with one WordPress website install while others are unlimited, with 50 GB SSD storage for Basic, and unlimited SSD storage as of Plus, custom themes for all plans, as well as free WordPress integration, free domain for one year, drag-and-drop functionality, free CDN included, and free SSL Certificate. Learn more on how to register a domain name here.

Dedicated Hosting: It comes with three options, Standard, Enhanced, and Premium. Pricing starts at $79.99 per month and can go up to $119.90 for the Premium plan. The top features are CPU—2.3GHz in Basic, CPU—2.5GHz in Enhanced and CPU—3.3GHz in Premium. CPU 4 Cores for all three plans, as well as one free domain. Memory RAM starting at 4GB, network bandwidth at 5TB, and three dedicated IPs. All plans use cPanel as the control panel & WHM with Root.

VPS Hosting: It comes with three options, Standard, Enhanced, and Ultimate. The top features are: storage starts at 30GB SSD Storage in Basic and can go up to 120GB with Ultimate package, memory starts at 2GB RAM, bandwidth of 1TB, and one IP Address. All plans use cPanel as the control panel & WHM with Root.

Namecheap: Best for Affordability

Pricing: Starts at $1.58/month

4.0

★★★★★

Visit

Namecheap is mostly known for selling domain names, but now it offers web hosting services. The company can say it lives up to its name as it provides the most affordable web hosting service on the list—pricing starts at $1.58 per month for up to three websites and a free domain. Also, there’s a minimal increase in renewal prices, which is just twice as high as the original price.

The downside, however, is that Namecheap’s servers aren’t nearly as fast as its competitors. Despite the company guaranteeing 100% uptime, this isn’t always the case, according to users. In fact, users reported that this number could go way lower than the industry standard of 99.99% uptime.

Namecheap offers a website builder tool with drag-and-drop capabilities which makes things easier for those building a website from scratch and on their own. The shared hosting plan doesn’t support more than 100GB of file upload, so if you need to upload several high-quality photos and videos, you might as well choose another host such as Hostinger, which is performance-focused. The customer support is 24/7 live chat with no phone support.

Why we chose it: Namecheap, as the name suggests, is the most affordable option, with pricing starting at $1.88 per month for up to three websites and a free domain. To learn more, read our complete Namecheap review for an in-depth look.

Most affordable
Three websites and free domain in the cheapest shared hosting tier
Website builder tools

Poor performance
Customer support is limited

Pricing: Namecheap offers four types of hosting plans: Shared hosting, WordPress hosting, reseller hosting, and VPS hosting.

Shared hosting: This plan offers three sub plans: Stellar, Stellar Plus, and Stellar Business. Stellar comes with a free domain name and three websites included, while Stellar Plus and Stellar Business have unlimited websites. Storage at Stellar starts at 20GB SSD and all three plans come with free CDN.

WordPress hosting: WP hosting has three options: Easy WP Starter, Easy WP Turbo, and Easy WP Supersonic. Pricing starts at $24.88 per month and goes up to $54.88 monthly in the highest tier. Storage is SSD and starts at 10GB and Easy WP Starter supports 50,000 visitors per month while WP Turbo 200,000 visitors and Supersonic 500,000. The second and third tier come with free SSL and free CDN.

Reseller hosting: Three tiers are available: Nebula, Galaxy Expert, and Universe Pro. Nebula costs $19.98 per month, Galaxy Expert $39.98 monthly, and Universo Pro costs $58.88 monthly. The starting plan offers 25 cPanel accounts and 30GB SSD of storage but the number of accounts can go up to 150 in the most expensive plan. All plans include unmetered bandwidth, free cPanel/WHM, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

VPS hosting: VPS hosting offers two options: Pulsar and Quasar. Pulsar is $9.98 monthly with 2 CPU Cores, 2GB RAM of memory, 40GB SSD, RAID 10, and 1TB Bandwidth. Quasar costs $17.88 and it comes with 4 CPU Cores, 6GB RAM, 120GB SSD, RAID 10, and 3TB Bandwidth. Both plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee and full root access.

Hostgator: Best Web Hosting Site for Advanced Users

Pricing: Starts at $2.75/month

4.4

★★★★★

Visit

Hostgator is one of the most known website hosts out there. The company has been around for 20 years, and it offers different types of hosting services to website builders. Hostgator offers an overall stable hosting experience and a fast server when it comes to performance. The average full-page loading speed is around 2.5 seconds, which is considered good. Both uptime and downtime are generally pretty reliable—the company has a 99.99% uptime guarantee.

Despite being a good option for beginners, Hostgator is the best choice for advanced users as its customer support is designed for experienced DIY customers, offering video tutorials, guides and articles, apart from email, phone, and live chat, 24/7.

Another aspect that makes Hostgator best for tech-heavy businesses is that Hostgator’s control panel is the popular cPanel. cPanel looks confusing and might be hard to navigate for first-time users. HostGator also offers more introductory-level hosting options, similar to other providers in terms of pricing and services.

Why we chose it: HostGator has 20 years of market experience and it offers good website performance, a dedicated server for tech-heavy business, and helpful 24/7 customer service. Read our full HostGator review for an in-depth look.

Great customer support
99.99% uptime guarantee
20 years of market experience

Control panel is confusing
Free security tools are limited

Pricing: HostGator offers four types of hosting plans. Shared hosting, dedicated hosting, VPS and reseller.

Shared hosting: The shared hosting option has three sub plans: Hatching Plan, Baby Plan, and Business Plan. Pricing starts at $2.75 monthly and all plans offer pretty much the same features: One-click WordPress installs, free WordPress/cPanel website transfer, unmetered bandwidth, free SSL certificate, and free domain. The difference is that the Hatching plan comes with a single website, whereas the other two are unlimited.

Dedicated hosting: This plan also comes with three options: Value Server, Power Server, and Enterprise Server. They all include unmetered bandwidth, HDD or SDD hard drives and memory starts at 8GB RAM. Starting price is $89.98 per month and costs can go up to $139.99 monthly in the Enterprise Server tier.

VPS hosting: This plan also comes with three options: Snappy 2000, Snappy 4000, and Snappy 8000. Memory starts at 2GB RAM for Snappy 2000, 2 core CPU, and storage of 120GB SSD, and it can get to 240GB SSD in Snappy 8000. All plans have unmetered bandwidth. Pricing starts at $23.95 per month.

Reseller hosting: Three sub plans available: Aluminum Plan, Copper Plan, and Silver Plan. The cost for the cheaper option is $19.95/month and it has 60GB disk space and 600GB bandwidth. All three tiers include unlimited websites and a free SSL certificate.

Ionos: Best Web Hosting Site for Customer Support

Pricing: Starts at $4/month

4.5

★★★★★

Visit

Suitable for small businesses and enterprise-class customers, Ionos offers all available hosting options for reasonable pricing. What separates Ionos from the pack is its outstanding customer support. Its dedicated customer service page has a 24/7 phone support line, online chat with fast response, and a help center.

Ionos’ performance is good but not excellent. The average website load speed is lower if compared with higher performance web hosting such as Hostinger at 797 millisecond versus 143 milliseconds.

The website builder is intuitive and easy for first-time users with drag-and-drop options and manual entries. The company offers a free domain for a year for the cheapest tier as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee and unlimited storage.

The downside of Ionos, however, is that pricing isn’t transparent. Pricing starts at $4 (sometimes it can go down to $0.50 per month), but it goes over $10 monthly when renewed.

Why we chose it: Ionos offers fast and efficient customer support, free domain for a year, and intuitive website builder tools. Read the Ionos review to learn more about its pricing and features.

Easy website builder option
Free domain
Excellent customer support

Average speed lower if compared to its competitors
No free website transfer
Pricing isn’t transparent

Pricing: Ionos offers three main types of hosting plans: shared hosting, dedicated hosting and VPS.

Shared hosting: There are three options within shared hosting: Essential, Business, and Expert. The Essential plan starts at $4 per month and prices can go up to $16 monthly for the Expert tier. Essential plan is good for one website, while others for unlimited websites. Storage starts at 10GB and all plans include professional email and domain for a year.

Dedicated hosting: Four options for dedicated hosting: A8i SSD, L-16 SSD, XL-32 SSD, and XL-64 SSD. The entry-level plan starts at $5/month for 6 months, then goes to $65/month. All plans offer unlimited traffic capabilities, site scans, and a free domain.

VPS hosting: VPS hosting sub plans are four: VPS S, VPS M, VPS L, and VPS XL. VPS S starts at $2 monthly, with 512 MB RAM, and storage of 10GB SSD. They come with dedicated resources and unlimited traffic.

Methodology for the Best Web Hosting Sites

To help you choose the best web hosting site for your small business, we’ve used five different criteria:

Performance: Average website load speed, uptime, downtime, stress, and overall website performance.
Customer Support: It’s essential, especially for beginners, to have responsive and efficient customer support in many forms, such as phone support, live chat, and email.
Pricing: Depending on the web hosting type, pricing can vary. Cheap web hosting providers aren’t always the best, or they may offer slower performance.
Storage: Whether you’re a freelancer or run an ecommerce shop, it’s crucial to know how much room you’ll have to upload important files, videos, and images.
Hosting plans: All companies we’ve analyzed offer entry-level plans but vary in features, capabilities, and pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Web Hosting Sites

We’ve listed some of the most common questions about web hosting alternatives here.

Which web hosting is best for beginners?

According to our analysis, Bluehost and Hostinger are beginner friendly, offering simplified setup, control panel, and website builder tools. However, if you need the service for your small business, here are the best web hosting site for your small business.

What’s the best WordPress web hosting?

Bluehost is optimized for WordPress and it has one-click installation for WordPress. Hostinger also offers the same option, as well as a WordPress-optimized speed acceleration.

Which web hosting is the cheapest?

Namecheap is one of the most affordable web hosting providers with pricing starting at $1.88 per month. If Namecheap is above your budget, then you might want to consider some free web hosting sites.

Bottom Line on the Best Web Hosting Sites

Choosing the best web hosting site for your website can be daunting, especially if this is your first time building your website. Hostinger is our top pick out of all the web hosting sites because it’s easy to use, it’s affordable and it provides a high performance website to its users, even on entry-level plans.

May 3, 2022November 23, 2022

WP Engine Review: Powerful WordPress Hosting Solution

WP Engine is a WordPress hosting platform that lets you create high-quality websites through powerful yet easy-to-use developer tools. In this WP Engine review, we look at the pros, cons, features, and pricing of this web hosting solution. Find out if WP Engine is the best choice for your WordPress website creation needs.

Our Verdict

WP Engine

Visit

WP Engine is the right web hosting platform for you if you plan to set up and run business websites based on WordPress.org open-source software. The combination of handy workflow tools and user-friendly UI enables you and your team to form high-quality sites, whether you have coding skills or not. Plus, the excellent customer support grants you round-the-clock access to technical assistance.

To be realistic, be prepared to shell out major bucks if you want to maximize all the advanced features of WP Engine. Nevertheless, the startup tiers serve as viable alternatives if you have a limited budget to match your basic requirements.

First-rate developer tools
Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
Flexible pricing options
24/7 customer service

No domains or email addresses included
Expensive rates compared to other web hosting services
Confusing price listing

Pricing: Starts at $30 / month

WP Engine at a Glance

WP Engine is a web hosting solution that is dedicated to WordPress site creation and management. Powered by an award-winning technology company, this platform aims to boost your website development, enhance your online performance, and protect your privacy. Aside from managed WordPress services, it also provides ecommerce, enterprise, and agency client management solutions.

This web host stands out among other providers because it specializes in WordPress sites. Its features include website platform services, web hosting, traffic management, storage, bandwidth, developer tools, migration assistance, updates, speed optimization, security, and customer support.

Who WP Engine Is Best For

WP Engine is suitable for business owners and web developers whose main choice as a website building platform is WordPress.org. You need the help of a WordPress hosting platform like WP Engine to build complex business sites using the advanced WordPress.org open-source software. WP Engine could be the ideal solution for you if you want to streamline the way you create and maintain the professional site of your small business or corporation.

Pricing

WP Engine offers different plans that vary in terms of pricing and features. Learn how much each plan costs and what functions it includes.

Price

Starts at $30 / month

Starts at $36 / month

Contact WP Engine to get a quote

Website Platform Services

WordPress sites

WooCommerce & WordPress sites

Dynamic headless WordPress sites

Web Hosting

1 to 30+ websites

Multiple high-traffic sites

Traffic Management

25,000 to 400,000+ visits / month

High-traffic sites supported. Contact WP Engine for details

Storage

10 GB to 50+ GB

Contact WP Engine for details

Bandwidth

50 GB to 500+ GB / month

Contact WP Engine for details

Developer Tools

Workflow tools plus customizable WordPress themes

Workflow tools plus customizable WordPress & ecommerce themes

Development, design & site management tools

Migration Assistance

Free automated migration plugin

White glove migration & launch support

Updates

Automated WordPress & PHP updates

Automated WordPress & PHP updates plus site safety updates

Automated WordPress & PHP updates, site safety updates, and real-time updates

Speed

Speed optimization w/ website caching

Burst capacity for high-traffic sites & page-level speed tests

Security

Threat blocking & SOC2 Type 2 report

SOC2 Type 2 security w/ managed web application firewall

Customer Support

24/7 chat support for basic tier plus 24/7 phone support for higher tiers

24/7 phone & chat support plus dedicated technical success manager

To summarize, there are three main types of WP Engine plans. Aside from this, the WordPress and ecommerce plans each feature various tiers with different rates and levels of functionality.

Managed WordPress
- Startup: $30 / month
- Professional: $59 / month
- Growth: $115 / month
- Scale: $290 / month
- Custom: Contact WP Engine for quote
Ecommerce Solutions
- Startup: $36 / month
- Professional: $75 / month
- Growth: $140 / month
- Scale: $ 350 / month
- Custom: Contact WP Engine for quote
Advanced Solutions: Contact WP Engine for quote

We concluded in this WP Engine review that it offers a broad range of pricing options so you can pick the plan that fits your budget and business needs. Admittedly, the premium plans are quite expensive, but you can go for a basic plan if you have limited resources and basic requirements.

Take note that the rate information displayed on the WP Engine website can be confusing because the overview highlights the discounted price, which is only applicable for the first month. Make sure to check the standard rates so you know how much you will be paying every month on a regular basis.

Keep in mind that you need to reach out to the sales team of WP Engine to request a pricing quote for the Advanced Solutions plan, as well as the custom versions of Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions.

WP Engine Features

WP Engine boasts an impressive arsenal of useful features that streamlines your web development and maintenance tasks. In this WP Engine review, let’s explore the various features of WP Engine, such as website platform solutions, web hosting, traffic management, storage space, bandwidth support, developer workflow tools, migration plugins, current updates, speed optimization, security options, and customer service.

Website Platform Services

The Managed WordPress plan, as well as other WP Engine packages, automatically includes WordPress support, whether you are building a new website from scratch or migrating your existing website from a previous platform.

In addition to this, the ecommerce Solutions allow you to set up your own ecommerce stores and landing pages using WooCommerce – here are some of the top web hosting solutions for ecommerce. On top of this, the Advanced Solutions make it possible for you to create dynamic headless WordPress sites for your enterprise.

Web Hosting

WP Engine can host your business websites, no matter how few or how many sites you want to establish. Both Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions have various tiers with hosting options, which range from a single site up to over 30 websites. The Advanced Solutions let you build multiple headless WordPress sites, although the exact number will depend on how you customize your enterprise package.

Traffic Management

WP Engine enables you to manage your website traffic, regardless of the number of visitors who typically check out your site on a regular basis. Depending on your preferred tier, the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions alike can support from as little as 25,000 visits to as much as 400,000 visits every month. While the exact number of monthly visits supported by Advanced Solutions is not indicated in the product website, the enterprise plan can definitely handle high website traffic.

Storage

WP Engine provides you with local storage so you can upload data that you want to display or store in your website, such as text, photos, videos, documents, or downloadable resources. Both Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions can provide storage space from as low as 10 GB to as high as over 50 GB. Again, the exact storage capability of Advanced Solutions is not available in the official website, but you can contact the provider for more details.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data which you can transfer over the internet during a set period of time. WP Engine provides different bandwidth rates for each tier. For example, the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions offer from 50 GB to more than 500 GB each month. You may inquire with WP Engine to find out the specific bandwidth rate for the Advanced Solutions plan.

Developer Tools

WP Engine equips you with web development tools that enable you to build websites whether you are a coding expert or not. The Managed WordPress plan comes with workflow tools, plugins, and StudioPress themes so you can make personalized WordPress websites, no matter which type of organization structures you plan to use for your web content.

In addition to this, the ecommerce Solutions package allows you to set up WordPress ecommerce and WooCommerce sites through store creation tools. Also, it comes with premium ecommerce themes and blocks which you can use to customize online stores.

On top of this, the Advanced Solutions plan empowers you to make dynamic headless WordPress sites through development, design, and site management tools. Plus, it allows you to keep track of these headless websites through code-level monitoring and insights.

Migration Assistance

The migration features make it possible for you to transfer your existing websites from your previous web host to WP Engine. Both the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions packages include free automated migration plugins to streamline the process. Aside from this, the Advanced Solutions plan provides white glove migration and launch support for a smooth transition.

Updates

WP Engine continuously improves its services through various updates. The Managed WordPress plan includes automated WordPress and PHP updates, while the ecommerce Solutions plan throws in auto-plugin site safety updates into the mix. In addition to these, the Advanced Solutions showcases real-time updates to enhance performance and functionality.

Speed

All WP Engine plans boost the performance of your business websites and online stores. The Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions packages alike are designed to optimize site speed, SEO results, and website caching. To level up the speed even further, the Advances Solutions plan includes burst capacity to handle high-traffic sites and virtual stores. Plus, it showcases page-level speed tests so you can assess how fast your web pages are loading.

Security

WP Engine protects the privacy of your website data through industry-grade security features. It proactively blocks cyber threats that could compromise the confidentiality of your business information. While the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions packages come with SOC2 Type 2 reporting, the Advanced Solutions plan amps it up via SOC2 Type 2 security with a managed web application firewall.

Customer Support

WP Engine has been recognized in the tech industry because of its outstanding customer service. The award-winning support team provides 24/7 chat support for the basic tiers plus 24/7 phone support for the higher tiers of the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions plans. Beyond this, the Advanced Solutions package includes the exclusive services of a dedicated technical success manager.

Alternatives to WP Engine

WP Engine is a solid pick if you need a web hosting service that lets you maximize the potential of WordPress. Still, you could consider other options if you have other priorities aside from WordPress website creation. Here are some interesting alternatives to WP Engine:

Wix

Visit

Wix is one of the popular website builders that lets you design and develop websites through the Wix editor and customizable website templates. You can use it to start a blog or build a virtual store for your business. Wix is suitable for you if you want to create and manage your business sites with minimal effort. After all, Wix is easier to use than WP Engine. Still, WP Engine is a more scalable, powerful service compared to Wix.

Simple website editor
Cheaper plans than WP Engine

Wix sites harder to scale than WordPress sites
Not as featured-packed as WP Engine

Pricing:

Connect Domain: $4.50 / month
Combo: $8.50 / month
Unlimited: $12.50 / month
VIP: $24.50 / month

Shopify

Visit

Shopify is one of the widely used ecommerce platforms that you can use to sell and ship products or process payments from customers. It comes with handy tools that allow you to set up an online store, increase sales, and manage daily operations. Shopify is ideal for you if the focus of your business is ecommerce. After all, Shopify specializes in online selling more than WP Engine does. Nevertheless, WP Engine is still better as an all-purpose web host compared to Shopify.

Ecommerce expertise
Domains available for purchase

Expensive plan rates
Feature set not as well-rounded as WP Engine

Pricing:

Basic: $29
Shopify: $79
Advanced: $299

WordPress.com

Visit

WordPress.com is a well-known website builder that lets you quickly set up a simple website or blog for your business. Take note that WordPress.com, which is an online web host, is distinct from the WordPress.org software. The blocks let you insert media, forms, reviews, and maps, while add-ons may be installed to boost your site’s functionality.

WordPress.com is appropriate for you if you want to experiment building a basic blog for free or at a minimal cost. After all, WordPress.com is way more affordable compared to WP Engine. However, the features and scalability options of WordPress.com are very limited so you might end up upgrading to WP Engine once you’re done experimenting.

Free or budget-friendly pricing
Very simple to use

Extremely sparse features and storage compared to WP Engine
No custom domain name for free version

Pricing:

WordPress Free: Free
WordPress Pro: $15

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for WP Engine Review

WP Engine can transform the way that you create and manage your business websites. Learn the answers to basic questions about WP Engine and WordPress to determine if this web hosting solution is a good match for you.

What Is WP Engine?

WP Engine is a WordPress hosting platform that enables you to build and maintain business websites. It offers three main plans, including Managed WordPress, ecommerce Solutions, and Advanced Solutions. The WordPress and ecommerce packages feature five tiers each which vary in terms of pricing and features.

What Are the Advantages of Using WP Engine?

There are different advantages that you can benefit from if you sign up with WP Engine. First, the developer tools, web hosting, and traffic management are especially designed for the WordPress platform so you can optimize the speed and performance of your business website.

Next, it comes with flexible options in terms of bandwidth, storage, and site visits so you can pick the tier that fits your budget and requirements. Last but not least, you can be assured of the reliable services of WP Engine, thanks to regular updates, security features, and 24/7 customer support.

What Is WordPress.org?

WordPress.org is a free open-source software which you can use to build websites, blogs, and apps. This SEO-friendly platform includes features like customizable designs, media management tools, and security options. While it’s possible for you to use WordPress.org directly, the services of a web hosting provider like WP Engine will make it easier and faster for you to create professional websites for your business. You can learn more about WordPress.org by exploring the WordPress Codex.

Bottom Line on WP Engine Review

WP Engine is a smart choice for you if your business website creation goals revolve around WordPress.org. It simplifies the way that you create business websites using the WordPress open-source platform, thanks to its top-notch developer tools, intuitive UI, versatile pricing options, and round-the-clock customer service. We hope that our WP Engine review has helped you decide if this web hosting service is the perfect fit for your business or not.

May 3, 2022November 23, 2022

Northwest Registered Agent Review

As the name suggests, Northwest Registered Agent at its core is a registered agent service, but in this review of Northwest Registered Agent you’ll see it offers a lot more. If you want to start an LLC, having a registered agent is a must to handle government, tax, and legal matters on your behalf. You can also get LLC formation, business operation, and brand protection legal services.

Our Verdict

Northwest Registered Agent

Visit

Northwest Registered Agent is the second-largest registered agent service in the US. It offers quality LLC formation services and is a great choice for small businesses that prioritize privacy. If you want to keep your address off public records, this LLC service is for you.

Northwest Registered Agent focuses on giving you the best customer service. It guarantees same-day LLC filings, privacy protection, and professional service based on years of experience. Note that Northwest offers its LLC formation and registered agent services as one package, so it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for both in one deal.

Offers privacy protection
Quality customer service
Transparent pricing

Limited features
Pay extra for EIN service
More expensive than alternatives

Northwest Registered Agent at a Glance

Northwest Registered Agent is a well-established, family-owned business that’s been offering its services for more than 20 years. Unlike other online legal services, Northwest services are handled in-house by their Corporate Guides. These are business experts that guide you through starting and running your business. Northwest’s Corporate Guides are probably the reason behind its excellent customer service.

Whether you reach out to them via phone or email, you’re guaranteed to receive a quick response from a Corporate Guide who understands your needs. Northwest Registered Agent carries its “We’re Just Not Annoying” motto to set itself apart from the competition.

To set itself apart from other LLC services, it promises to give you the most pleasant customer experience with clear and effective communication. This includes same-day email responses, no phone trees, and getting a return call within two hours of leaving a voicemail.

Apart from its LLC formation and registered agent service, Northwest also offers virtual office and mail forwarding services, annual business compliance filing, operating agreements, and legal forms. Its range of services isn’t as wide as other online legal services, but its emphasis on customer service and transparency makes it an attractive option.

Who Northwest Registered Agent is Best For

Northwest Registered Agent is best for you if you own a small business, are privacy-conscious, and don’t want your address to appear on public records. Northwest values your privacy and promises not to sell your data and minimizes exposure to your personal data at no extra cost.

That said, it’s also a good choice for you if you’re looking for both LLC formation and a registered agent service in one package. If you’re looking for peace of mind, Northwest’s top-of-the-line customer service and professionalism guarantee you a smooth LLC process.

Pricing

Northwest Registered Agent has a transparent, easy-to-understand pricing structure. Although it’s one of the more expensive LLC services, you don’t have to keep an eye out for hidden fees. Northwest informs you of the complete cost for the service you require plus government fees so you can evaluate your expenses accurately.

Screenshot of Northwest Registered Agent price of upfront LLC filing

Northwest doesn’t have tiered pricing plans like other online legal services. Rather it offers each of its services for either a one-time fee or includes them in a VIP package that you pay for monthly. These two packages cost:

$225 + state filing fees for LLC formation and registered agent service for one year
$30-80/monthly for VIP service – based on your state

The table below summarizes Northwest Registered Agent’s pricing structure for the different services it offers.

LLC filing

$100+state filing fee

Registered agent service

$125/year

Federal Tax ID (EIN)

$50/year

Annual business compliance filings

$100/year

Operating agreement and other documents

Mail Forwarding Service

$40/month

US Virtual Office Service

$49/month

If you need only LLC formation and registered agent service and are willing to pay $225 plus state filing fees upfront, the one-time payment option suits you better. However, if you want a wider range of services and want to start off with a lower monthly fee, the Monthly VIP service is a great option for you.

Note: The cost of the monthly VIP service varies from state to state.

Northwest Registered Agent Features

Northwest Registered Agent’s quality customer service seems like their strongest selling point. But upon a closer look, we’ve discovered a range of other features that make it a top contender among other LLC service providers. Let’s take a look at its strongest features and other services it offers to see whether it can meet your needs when it comes to starting a business and running it.

Privacy by Default®

Northwest Registered Agent follows a Privacy by Default® practice to minimize exposure to your personal data as much as it can. There are very few service providers on the market that emphasize customer privacy as much as Northwest. This makes it the go-to LLC service for you if privacy is your number one priority.

Northwest protects your privacy by

Limiting personal information on public documents
Limiting private data stored by state agencies
Never selling data
Protecting your data from loss or theft
Limiting the use of third-parties
Testing for and tracking vulnerabilities
Limiting data requests

The best part about Northwest Registered Agent’s robust privacy policy is that you don’t have to opt into it. It protects all your information by default.

Same-day Filing

If you want to create an LLC as quickly as possible, Northwest Registered Agent is your best shot. It commits to filing your request on the same business day as you place your order. Same-day filing is a part of Northwest’s objective to get you what you want as fast as possible.

Please note that while Northwest Registered Agent files your documents on the same day, you might still need to wait for state authorities’ approval. This can take anywhere from 7 to 21 business days depending on your state.

Federal Tax ID (EIN)

Your company’s EIN (Employer Identification Number) is more or less like its Social Security number. It’s not a must at the time of starting a business, but if you’re going to hire employees or pay excise taxes, you need an EIN. You may also need it to open a business bank account or if your state law mandates it.

Screenshot of Northwest Registered Agent Federal Employer Identification Number page

Northwest Registered Agent will help you get your EIN Number from the IRS for $50 if you’re a US resident. If not, and you don’t have a Social Security Number, you can still get an EIN but for $200.

Annual Business Compliance Filing

Northwest is one of the best LLC formation services around for annual business compliance filing or auto-filing. Annual compliance filing is all about filing an annual report about your company and paying a fee along with it.

Screenshot of Northwest Registered Agent Annual Report Information page

This filing service won’t cost you anything initially, but you will later have to pay $100/year for filing the report plus associated state fees. You can easily keep track of compliance reports using your Northwest Registered Agent user dashboard.

Premium Mail Forwarding & Virtual Office Services

Do you need your mail forwarded to another address? Northwest’s forwards your mail to your selected address either digitally or physically. The service is available in California, Delaware, Illinois, Idaho, Florida, Texas, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming for now.

Digital mail tends to arrive on the same day, while physical mail can take up to five business days to arrive. The mail forwarding service will cost you $40 per month.

Screenshot of Northwest Registered Agent US Virtual Office Service

Northwest Registered Agent also offers virtual offices in Wyoming, Idaho, Florida, Delaware, Texas, Washington, and Montana. You may avail of this service if you’re interested in getting a physical address for your company, a unique suite number, and a real office lease. Northwest also gives you same-day digital mail forwarding, weekly physical mail forwarding, and a virtual phone line with the local area code you choose.

Top-of-the-line Customer Service

Northwest Registered Agent is best known for its high-quality customer support. Their in-house business experts, AKA Corporate Guides, have all the answers you need. When you call the support team, you’re not redirected to the right department. There’s no phone tree, which means the person who picks up your call has all the information to guide you and answer your questions.

Being a family-owned business, Northwest emphasizes the importance of human touch. This is why it commits to:

Never sending a ‘no-reply’ email to its customers
Getting back to customers within two hours of them leaving a voicemail
All emails replied to on the same business day

Here are a few examples of NW Registered Agent’s customer reviews to give you first-hand evidence of its proficient customer service.

Screenshot of Northwest Agent customer review from Google

Alternatives to Northwest Registered Agent

If you feel NW Registered Agent’s services are too expensive for you, or you’re looking for something different in terms of features or service, you can always opt for alternatives. Here are some of the best LLC services you can go for alternatively.

LegalZoom

Visit

Just like Northwest, LegalZoom is right up there with the most expensive LLC services available. It can be argued that LegalZoom is slightly cheaper than Northwest with its LLC formation service at $79 plus state filing fees, but it may end up costing you more with registered agent service combined.

Nonetheless, LegalZoom is as experienced as NWRA with more than 20 years in the online legal space under its belt. This is especially a great alternative if you need ongoing legal help with a range of business matters instead of a one-time service. You can get cost-effective business formation legal solutions and professional legal advice from experienced lawyers in the long term with the Business Advisory plan. Read the LegalZoom review to know more about this service.

Well-established service with 2 million+ businesses helped
Offers a wide range of legal services
Robust customer service

More expensive than alternatives
Slow turnaround time
Excessive upsells

Pricing

Economy – $79+state filing fees
Standard – $329+state filing fees
Express Gold – $349+state filing fees

ZenBusiness

Visit

ZenBusiness is one of the best LLC service providers for affordability, ease of use, and legal expertise. It also provides you assistance from preparing to filing your LLC formation requests all the way through. Apart from that, ZenBusiness gives you an annual report filing with every service package.

Unlike other online legal services, ZenBusiness is a Public Benefit Corporation. When it comes to affordability, it offers cheaper plans than Northwest Registered Agent with plans starting at $49 plus state filing fees. To learn more about its services and pricing, read our complete review on ZenBusiness.

Affordable and customizable LLC operating agreement
Personalized dashboard for storing and managing important details
Offers registered agent service

Does not offer a free plan
Recurring fee for registered agent service in the basic plan
Limited Website Templates

Pricing

Starter plan – $39 + state filing fees
Pro plan – $149 + state filing fees
Premium plan – $249 + state filing fees

IncFile

Visit

If you’re looking for a free LLC filing option, be sure to check out IncFile! It’s one of the most affordable LLC formation services on the market. With its free LLC formation package, you only have to pay state filing fees to register your company.

In addition to the free plan, it offers three LLC formation packages: silver, gold, and platinum. The price depends on your state and the addons you want along with the base service. The best part? You get a free registered agent service for a year with all packages. Read the IncFile review if this service sounds right for your business.

Free LLC formation service
Free registered agent service included
Helpful online dashboard

Limited customer service
Expedited filing for premium tier only
Limited support options

Pricing

Silver – $0 + state filing fees
Gold – $149 + state filing fees
Platinum – $299 + state filing fees

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Northwest Registered Agent Review

Here are some frequently asked questions about Northwest Registered Agent to help you resolve any remaining queries.

Is Northwest Registered Agent legit?

Northwest Registered Agent is a legitimate online legal service provider based in Spokane, Washington. Northwest has been offering its services for more than 20 years now and has amassed a vast majority of positive customer reviews over the years.

Is LLC formation with Northwest Registered Agent free?

No, LLC formation with Northwest Registered Agent is not free. You either have to pay $225 plus state filing fees for LLC formation and registered agent service for one year or $30-80/monthly for the VIP service.

What is the job of a registered agent?

The registered agent receives all legal and tax documents from the government on your behalf. Having a registered agent is a must for an LLC because the law requires you to be present during business hours all year round at your given address. While you can be your own registered agent if you can fulfill that requirement, it’s better to get a registered agent service for peace of mind.

Bottom Line on Northwest Registered Agent Review

We’ve analyzed and reviewed a range of LLC services and we can conclude that Northwest Registered Agent deserves a top rank among the best LLC services. We’ve singled out its phenomenal customer support as its most powerful selling point, but it’s not the only plus point.

Northwest has over 20 years of experience and amazing customer feedback, making it a reliable option for anyone who wants to start an LLC. With a transparent and easy-to-understand pricing structure, NWRA is indeed an attractive choice, especially for those looking for LLC formation and registered agent services in one package.

May 2, 2022February 21, 2023

LegalZoom Review 2023: Does it Match Up to its Reputation?

LegalZoom is a big name in the online legal services sector. Whether you’re a business owner, professional, or looking for personal legal services, LegalZoom offers a one-stop solution for all.

While the online legal service covers intellectual property, personal, and family matters, we will emphasize its business-related services in this review. Continue reading to learn more about LegalZoom’s LLC (Limited Liability Company) formation services, its pros and cons, and the best LegalZoom alternatives out there.

Our Verdict

LegalZoom

Visit

LegalZoom is a great option for you if you run a small business and want to form an LLC but don’t have your own business lawyer. This business formation service makes it easy and affordable to file an LLC with LegalZoom with plans starting at $79 (plus filing fees). It’s one of the oldest online legal establishments with many other offerings including operating agreement drafting, registered agent services and business license searches.

While LegalZoom is not your cheapest choice for a one-off service, it’s better suited for businesses with long-term legal needs. It offers cost-effective business formation legal solutions and professional legal advice from experienced lawyers if you need a long service package.

Well-established service with 2 million+ businesses helped
Offers a wide range of legal services
Robust customer service

More expensive than alternatives
Slow turnaround time
Excessive upsells

LegalZoom at a Glance

Headquartered in Glendale, California, LegalZoom is a well-known name in the online legal technology industry. With well over 1000 employees, the company has been in the business since 2001 and has helped over 2 million businesses with their legal needs over the years.

LegalZoom is not technically a law firm. It partners with experienced legal professionals from around the United States to provide its users with personal and business legal expertise. Apart from business formation, operation, and brand protection services, LegalZoom can also help you with personal wills and trusts, and family and property-related matters.

When it comes to pricing, LegalZoom’s services will cost you a tad bit higher than its alternatives. Just like other LLC formation services, LegalZoom has three-tier pricing plans. Economy, Standard, and Express Gold. Here’s what its LLC packages look like:

Screenshot of LegalZoom LCC formation pricing plan — **Source:** LegalZoom

LegalZoom’s 60-day satisfaction period is what sets it apart from some of the best LLC services. All online legal service providers offer some guarantee of satisfaction, but you will rarely find one offering a two-month guarantee. You can ask for a 100% refund on services in case you’re unsatisfied with the services you were promised.

Who LegalZoom is Best For

LegalZoom is best for you if you’re a small business with frequent legal needs. If you can’t afford to have an in-house lawyer or hire a lawyer every time you need legal services, you should consider LegalZoom. While it’s not the cheapest available service for one-time services, LegalZoom’s long service packages are cost-effective with a flat monthly fee.

LegalZoom Pricing

LegalZoom charges more than other online legal services. As mentioned above, it follows a 3-tier pricing plan. The chart below summarizes the tiered pricing structure for LLC formation services only.

Price

$79+state filing fees

$329+state filing fees

$349+state filing fees

Name search and business entity filing

Digital tracker

Lifetime customer support

Registered agent

$299/yr

Obtain EIN

$79/yr

Operating Agreement

$99/yr

Express shipping

Website building

LegalZoom’s Standard or Express Gold plans don’t offer a lot of extra features, so what does it charge the extra money for? The main difference is the turnaround time. The economy plan has a usual turnaround time of 30 days, which is a lot of waiting for someone who needs to start their LLC process quickly. The Standard and Express Gold plans have a processing time of 15 and 10 business days respectively.

LegalZoom Features

LegalZoom has a bunch of features up its sleeve that make it such a popular choice despite its high-priced packages. Below we’ll discuss some of its most useful features and their availability in the Economy, Standard, and Express Gold packages.

Prepaid Business Advisory Plan

The prepaid business advisory plan is a brilliant option if you need ongoing legal help for your business matters. This annual or semi-annual plan gives you expert legal help throughout your membership tenure. You can get help on anything from contracts and agreements to trademarks and trusts starting at a low monthly fee of $39.09.

LegalZoom’s business advisory plan gives you 30-minute attorney consultations on new legal matters, reviews for legal documents up to 10 pages, and an annual business evaluation (if you get the annual plan). Apart from that, you also get unlimited downloads from the legal form library and exclusive discounts on other LegalZoom packages.

Business Operation Services

LegalZoom is a one-stop solution for your company’s legal needs. So apart from LLC formation, incorporation, and other business registration services, it also offers operational legal services. LegalZoom provides services including registered agent services, annual reports, minutes manager, compliance calendar, operating agreement, tax help, contracts and agreements, and permits.

Screenshot of Legal Zoom Business Operations services — **Source:** LegalZoom

Intellectual Property Protection

You can also get intellectual property protection services like copyright, trademarks, and patent registration with LegalZoom. The company claims to be the No. 1 online intellectual property protection company on the market. In addition to registration, LegalZoom offers trademark search and trademark monitoring services too.

Lifetime Customer Support

LegalZoom prides itself on its robust customer support. It has a proven track record of positive customer experiences with its 7-days-a-week customer service. This is what sets it apart from its competitors. Most LegalZoom competitors don’t focus a lot on customer service and have relatively smaller teams dedicated to answering customers’ questions.

Screenshot of LegalZoom review on Trustpilot — *Source: Trustpilot*

Lifetime customer support means you can reach out to LegalZoom agents and get your queries answered whenever you want. The company has a US-based customer service team that’s available 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT on weekdays and 7 am. to 4 p.m. PT on weekends.

Ease of Use

LegalZoom is an easy-to-use online legal platform. The LLC formation process won’t take you more than 20 minutes and you can complete your order in one sitting easily. In case you can’t complete your order, you don’t have to worry about losing all your submitted answers and documents. LegalZoom will email you a link with all your saved answers so you can get back to it whenever you want.

Well-Experienced Vendor

LegalZoom has been offering its services in the online legal industry for more than two decades now. The vendor has amassed plenty of users over the years and this has helped them develop their service to cater to the needs of all types of businesses.

LegalZoom offers efficient online templates for LLC formation or any other legal matter that can get the job done for you reliably. You can count on LegalZoom for your company’s legal needs as they’ve got a proven track record of delivering positive results for their clients.

Satisfaction Guarantee

LegalZoom’s 60-day satisfaction guarantee makes it quite an attractive option. It offers to refund 100% of its service fee if you are not satisfied with the results even two months after you purchase a package. This adds to customers’ peace of mind and reassures them that they will receive value for their money.

Note that LegalZoom won’t refund any money paid to government authorities and other third parties. It also won’t refund the money paid directly to third parties, such as the attorneys affiliated with LegalZoom’s legal plans. Although the 60-day satisfaction guarantee is a plus, availing of this money-back guarantee isn’t easy. Customers have reported that the cancellation or refund option is hard to locate on the LegalZoom site.

Alternatives to LegalZoom

LegalZoom is a quality vendor but its price tags may not fit into everyone’s budget. Here are some of the best alternative LLC services, what they offer, and how they compare to LegalZoom.

ZenBusiness

Visit

ZenBusiness is a top LLC service provider for its affordability, ease of use, and industry-leading legal expertise. It assists you all the way through from preparing to filing business registration requests. It also gives you annual report filing with all its packages. The ZenBusiness Public Benefit Corporation status makes it a unique vendor in the online legal marketplace.

ZenBusiness offers cheaper plans than LegalZoom with the starter plan starting at $49 plus state filing fees. It’s not as well-known as LegalZoom but its turnaround time and ease of use are much better. To learn more about its services and pricing, read our complete review on ZenBusiness.

Affordable and customizable LLC operating agreement
Personalized dashboard for storing and managing important details
Offers registered agent service

Does not offer a free plan
Recurring fee for registered agent service in the basic plan
Limited Website Templates

Pricing

Starter plan – $39 + state filing fees
Pro plan – $149 + state filing fees
Premium plan – $249 + state filing fees

IncFile

Visit

IncFile is the most affordable LLC formation service on the market. You’d be surprised to know that they offer a completely free LLC formation package where you need only to pay state filing fees to register your business as a Limited Liability Company.

A free package obviously means you’re required to put in more work from your end, but it still is an attractive option for those who have time on their hands and are looking for a free LCC service. If you opt for IncFile, you also get a registered agent service completely free for the first year, and at a reasonable rate of $119/year moving forward. Read the IncFile review to know more about its features and pricing.

Free LLC formation service
Free registered agent service included
Helpful online dashboard

Limited customer service
Expedited filing for premium tier only
Limited support options

Pricing

Silver – $0 + state filing fees
Gold – $149 + state filing fees
Platinum – $299 + state filing fees

Rocket Lawyer

Visit

Rocket Lawyer offers business registration services to help you start your business, along with services to meet your legal needs while running it. This legal service is known for providing affordable online legal services with a range of package options.

Rocket Lawyer’s pricing plans are a bit different than LegalZoom. It has separate plans for premium members who pay a monthly fee of $39.99 and non-members who don’t pay a monthly fee and only purchase one-time services. Rocket Lawyer’s new premium members get free incorporation filing and 25% off moving forward.

The premium plan also includes access to a vast library of legal documents, 30-minute consultations for new legal matters, and unlimited legal questions from on-call lawyers. If you’re a non-member, the one-time LLC filing package will cost you $99.99 plus state filing fees. Read our Rocket Lawyer review to know more about this company.

Affordable monthly fee
Access to ongoing legal support through membership
Discounted legal counsel with membership

Addons for non-members can be expensive
Free trial converts automatically
Not specialized in business formation

Pricing

Premium membership – $39.99/month
Non-member LLC formation – $99.99 + state filing fees
Registered Agent Service – $149.99 (25% off for premium members)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for LegalZoom Review

Is LegalZoom a good service for small businesses?

LegalZoom is a great choice for small businesses that can’t afford to have in-house legal teams or hire a lawyer every time they need legal assistance. The LLC formation plan starts at $79 whereas you can also get ongoing business advisory services for a reasonable fee of $39.09 per month.

Is LegalZoom legit?

LegalZoom is a completely legitimate online legal service that’s been offering its services for more than 20 years now. It has thousands of reviews on sites like Trustpilot and BBB and the vast majority of customer reviews share positive feedback.

How can I contact LegalZoom customer service?

Dial (888) 379-0854 to contact LegalZoom customer support by phone. You can also get in touch with them through email, or get your answers from their FAQ section. Note that LegalZoom has a U.S.-based customer support team which is available 5 a.m. – 7 p.m. PT on weekdays and 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. PT on Saturday and Sunday.

Bottom Line on LegalZoom Review

LegalZoom is one of the most experienced and well-known vendors in the online legal space. It offers a wide range of legal services from business registration and operation to IP protection. Its LLC formation plan, although slightly pricier than the competition, offers great value and customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, its business advisory plan is great for small businesses in need of ongoing legal assistance but can’t afford an in-house lawyer. All in all, LegalZoom is a reliable service provider that can get the job done for you with its vast experience and resources in the industry. If you think it’s too costly for you, you always have cheaper alternatives like ZenBusiness or IncFile.

What is a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization?

How Does a 501c3 Nonprofit Work?

Types of Different 501c3 Nonprofit Organizations

Public Charity

Private Foundation

What are the 501c3 Nonprofit Requirements?

Bylaws of a 501c3 Nonprofit

Advantages and Disadvantages of a 501c3 Nonprofit

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for 501c3 Nonprofit

Bottom Line on 501c3 Nonprofit Organizations

How To Get a Business License

How To Get a Business License in 5 Steps

Step 1: Find Out What Business Licenses You Need

Step 2: Gather License Requirements

Step 3: Submit Your License Application

Step 4: Wait for Approval

Step 5: Maintain Your Business Licenses

What Are the Types of Business Licenses

1. General Business License

2. DBA License

3. Seller’s Permit

4. Federal Business License

5. Zoning Permit

6. Building Permit

7. Occupational License

8. Health Permit

9. Special State License

What You Need To Know About Business Licenses

Do I Need a Business License?

Should I Apply for a Business License Independently or With Professional Help?

What Do I Need To Do To Start a Business Aside From Getting a Business License?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for How to Get a Business License

Bottom Line on How to Get a Business License

Best Web Hosting for Small Business

Namecheap: Best Overall Web Hosting for Small Business

Bluehost: Best Small Business Web Host for Beginners

HostGator: Best for Dedicated Server Hosting

WP Engine: Best WordPress Web Hosting for Small Business

Weebly: Best Web Hosting for Ecommerce Small Businesses

Ionos: Best Small Business Web Host for Affordability

Methodology for the Best Web Hosting for Small Business

Speed

Budget

Ease of Use

Storage and Backups

Reliability

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Web Hosting Companies for Small Business

Conclusion: Best Web Hosting Companies for Small Business

Our Verdict

AWS Web Hosting at a Glance

Who AWS Web Hosting Is Best For

Pricing

Plan

Amazon Lightsail

AWS Amplify

Amazon S3

Amazon EC2

AWS Web Hosting Review: Features

Web Hosting

Traffic Management

Website Platform Support

Server Hosting

Website Management

Scalability

AWS Web Hosting Review: Services

Cloud Migration

Ecommerce

Remote Work

Database Management

Backup and Restore

Front-End Web and Mobile Development

Blockchain

Archiving

Security

Support Plans

Alternatives to AWS Web Hosting

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for AWS Web Hosting Review

Bottom Line on AWS Web Hosting Pricing & Review

What is a Registered Agent?

Why Do You Need a Registered Agent?