Ahad Waseem – Page 4 – Management Library

June 1, 2022November 23, 2022

8 Best Crypto Exchanges in 2023

Cryptocurrencies are primarily bought and sold on crypto exchanges. There are more than 600 crypto exchanges worldwide, but a major chunk of the daily trading volume stays in the top 25 exchanges. If you’re interested in trading crypto, here are the best crypto exchanges you can choose from.

Best Crypto Exchanges in 2023

Coinbase – Best Overall
Kraken – Best for Experienced Traders
Binance.com – Best for Users Outside the US
Crypto.com – Best for Mobile
Gemini – Best for Crypto Asset Security
KuCoin – Best for Variety of Cryptocurrencies
Bittrex – Best for High Volume Traders
FTX.us – Best for US-based Users

Coinbase

0.5%-4.5%

100+

Kraken

Up to 2%

120+

Binance

0.5%-4.5%

395+

$10

Crypto.com

0%-2.99%

250+

Gemini

0.5%-3.99%

110+

KuCoin

0.0125%-0.1%

730+

Bittrex

0%-0.75%

500+

FTX.us

0%-0.4%

65+

Coinbase: Best Overall Crypto Exchange

Fees: 0.5%-4.5%

★★★★★

4.8

Visit

Founded in 2012, Coinbase is one of the oldest crypto exchanges and has developed quite a reputation over the years. It’s easy to use, supports more than 100 cryptocurrencies, and has a secure proprietary wallet which makes it our best overall choice for the best crypto exchange. A quarterly traded volume of $547 billion means it offers high liquidity for buying and selling assets as you please.

Coinbase also offers Coinbase Pro, an advanced trading platform for experienced traders. The cryptocurrency exchange offers more than 100 tokens including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana. Though it’s not the highest number of cryptocurrencies available for trading on an exchange, it’s still a good option as most trades use the biggest cryptocurrencies only.

This crypto exchange has a very beginner-friendly interface. Coinbase also has an industry-standard mobile app that allows crypto traders to buy and sell assets on the go. The Coinbase Wallet lets you secure your crypto holdings with ease.

It’s complicated and high transaction fees and other deductions are one thing that weakens Coinbase’s case. But if you’re willing to afford them and trust the exchange with its fee structure, it’s a great choice to get started.

Why we chose it: Coinbase is a reliable crypto exchange that offers 100+ crypto assets, its own wallet for asset security, and mobile trading functionality which makes it our best overall pick.

Easy to use
Offers advanced trading platform Coinbase Pro
Highly liquid exchange

Complicated fee structure
Higher fees
Not suitable for separate crypto wallet

Fees: Coinbase’s fee structure is not the most straightforward. Its fees and other charges are relatively higher than other exchanges. Here’s the breakdown:

The deposit and withdrawal fees vary depending on the payment method you use and the amount of money you deposit or withdraw. These fees can go up to 3.99% if you use a debit card to buy crypto.

Coinbase charges a trading commission based on the maker/taker model. If you place an order at the market price and it gets filled immediately, you’re considered a taker and will pay a trading fee of 0.05-0.60%. When you place an order and it’s not immediately filled, you’re considered the maker and will pay a trading fee up to 0.40%.

Kraken: Best Crypto Exchange for Experienced Traders

Fees: Up to 2%

★★★★★

4.5

Visit

Kraken is a low-fee, high-quality crypto trading platform that is a great choice for experienced traders. Established in 2011, it’s the oldest and most reputable crypto exchange with users from all over the world. If you’re interested in margin and futures trading, Kraken is a great choice as it offers high liquidity.

The crypto exchange comprises two platforms, the basic version and the more professional trading platform, Kraken Pro. You get highly advanced trading features like detailed insights into order books, customizable chart analysis tools, 13 order types, and high-speed trade execution with the latter.

Kraken crypto exchange also has a mobile app, but it’s suitable only for basic functions. Advanced trading is best done on the web-based version. One drawback is that Kraken doesn’t have its own wallet service. If you want to store your digital assets securely, you might want to get a separate crypto wallet.

You should also note that Kraken is not available in all states. It doesn’t offer its services in the state of Washington and New York. Plus, it’s not the best choice for beginners as it comes with a steep learning curve.

Why we chose it: Kraken stands out with its advanced trading tools, low fees, and suitability for experienced traders.

Highly liquid exchange
Offers advanced trading tools
Relatively lower trading fees

No proprietary wallet
Not available in all US states
Steep learning curve

Pricing: The instant buy fees on Kraken’s basic platform are quite high and go up to 1.5%. However, Kraken Pro’s fees are daily low. It has a tiered fee structure whereby trading fees fall as the traded volume increases. These are only the transaction fees.

Kraken Pro’s trading fees are based on a maker/taker model. For traders who have a 30-day volume lower than $50,000, Kraken Pro’s maker and taker fees start at 0.16% and 0.26% respectively. Note that they can go as low as 0% and 0.10% if you have a 30-day rolling volume of more than $10 million.

Binance.com: Best Crypto Exchange for Users Outside the US

Fees: 0.5%-4.5%

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

It’s important to note here that we’re mentioning the global version of Binance.com. As it happens, Binance stopped providing its services in the US after some regulatory issues in 2019. Instead, it partnered with BAM Trading Services to establish Binance.us, a version of the exchange specifically for users based in the US.

Binance.us isn’t as good as its global counterpart. It has less than 70 tokens compared to more than 500 on Binance.com. The US version of the exchange also has lower liquidity and doesn’t let you trade derivatives. Plus, Binance.us isn’t available in all US states. You can’t use it in Louisiana, Hawaii, Idaho, New York, Texas, or Vermont.

This is why we opted to keep it out of this list, and chose Binance.com, which is one of the most popular exchanges all over the globe. It has the highest number of tradable cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana, and offers great liquidity.

It’s also a great option for experienced traders as Binance offers margin, futures, and spot trading, derivatives trading options, a wallet to secure your digital assets, and an NFT platform. When it comes to the drawbacks, using Binance can present a bit of a steep learning curve for beginners. Primarily because there are so many features to navigate.

Why we chose it: If you’re located outside the US, Binance.com is one of the best options you’ve got. It has the highest catalog of tradable cryptocurrencies and offers advanced features for professional traders.

395+ cryptocurrencies
Highly liquid exchange
Advanced trading features

Complex to navigate
Not available in the US
Faces regulatory issues in different countries

Fees: Binance has relatively lower transaction and trading fees. If you make a purchase with a debit card, you’ll have to pay up to 4.5% in transaction fees. Wire transfers come with no transaction fees but aren’t available in some places. The cryptocurrency exchange charges a 0.1% fee for trading along with a 0.5% fee for Instant Buy/Sell.

Crypto.com – Best Crypto Exchange for Mobile

Fees: 0%-2.99%

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

With more than 250 different tokens available for trade, Crypto.com is a top-performing exchange with some remarkable features. It offers some of the lowest fees and is great for users who prefer operating on mobile devices.

The biggest drawback of Crypto.com is that it doesn’t offer crypto-to-crypto trading. This means you can only buy a cryptocurrency with fiat money and sell it back to get fiat in return. As a result, Crypto.com isn’t used as widely in the crypto trading world. Plus, it offers limited features in the US.

This crypto exchange has a range of offerings including its own blockchain, the Crypto.org Chain, a crypto Visa card, a native cryptocurrency, and other yield-generating products. But what makes it stand out from the crowd is Crypto.com’s mobile app.

Most other exchanges offer a makeshift version of their desktop platform as their mobile app. But this is not the case with this exchange. Crypto.com has a very well-developed mobile version that offers almost the same functionality as its web-based counterpart.

Why we chose it: Crypto.com is best for users who prefer buying and selling cryptocurrencies on mobile with fiat money. It offers more than 250 tokens and also lets you earn interest and pay with your crypto.

Low fees for cash transfers
Great mobile app
250+ cryptocurrencies

No crypto-to-crypto trading
High fees for credit and debit card purchases
Not all services offered in the US

Fees: Crypto.com has volume-based trading fees where the percentage falls as the volume increases. The fees also depend on whether you end up as a maker or taker. Trading fees start from 0.4% for transactions worth $0-$25,000 and go as low as 0.04% for transactions higher than $200 million.

Depositing funds in this exchange is completely free. But it charges a fee for withdrawals. Withdrawal fees depend on the cryptocurrency you’re selling, and are a fixed amount for different tokens.

Gemini: Best Crypto Exchange for Asset Security

Fees: 0.5%-3.99%

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

Gemini cryptocurrency exchange is the best choice for users who prioritize security. It uses the strongest security protocols, is SOC-2 certified, and insures funds held in the Gemini hot wallet. Like all other exchanges, Gemini also requires users to submit a KYC to reduce the risk of scams.

The fact that it’s SOC-2 certified means that its security and compliance frameworks have been verified by third-party auditors. Gemini is best for experienced traders as it features an advanced trading dashboard and two wallets, a cold crypto storage system, Gemini Custody, and a hot wallet, Gemini Wallet.

This crypto exchange doesn’t offer as many tokens as other exchanges. This seriously limits your choice to enter different trades. The fee structure is also a bit convoluted. Beginners might need a bit of help understanding what it costs to use Gemini. Not only are the fees complicated, but they’re also higher than other cryptocurrency exchanges.

Why we chose it: We chose Gemini for its strong emphasis on asset security and fraud prevention. It’s SOC-2 certified and insured funds held in the Gemini wallet, making it an excellent option for security-conscious traders.

Works in all US states
Funds held in the hot wallet are insured
Prioritizes security

Supports fewer cryptocurrencies
Higher fees
Complex fee structure

Fees: Gemini has a particularly complex fee structure. Its trading fees are also a bit higher than alternatives. The trading fees start at $0.99 for a total trade amount of $10 or less and can go up to 1.49% of the total trade amount above $200.

The maker and taker fees are 0.25% and 0.35% respectively. Deposits are free unless you use a debit card. Transactions involving debit cards are charged at 3.49%.

KuCoin: Best Crypto Exchange for Variety of Cryptocurrencies

Fees: 0.0125%-0.1%

★★★★★

3.8

Visit

KuCoin’s single most powerful selling point is its wide variety of cryptocurrencies. With more than 600 coins, KuCoin is a favorite of traders all over the world. This is because users can invest and trade in a lot of different fast-growing cryptocurrencies that are not available on other crypto trading platforms.

It works in over 200 countries but is unfortunately not licensed to operate in the US. Although you can still use it in the US, it presents a higher risk. It has a more complex user interface and if you’re just learning how to trade crypto, KuCoin isn’t the best choice for you. Moreover, most customers are unhappy with its services as suggested by reviews on Trustpilot and G2.

As far as the trading fees are concerned, KuCoin is a much better alternative with fees ranging between 0.0125% and 0.1%. The exchange also gives you staking options that let you earn interest on your holdings by locking them in the exchange for a given amount of time.

Why we chose it: KuCoin supports more than 600 coins, which means you have the widest variety of digital currencies to invest in and trades to enter. That along with its low fees make it a popular choice among professional traders worldwide.

730+ cryptocurrencies
Low fees
Offers crypto staking

Not licensed in the US
Not easy to use
Poor customer reviews

Fees: KuCoin follows a tiered maker/taker fee structure. The trading fees vary from 0.0125% to 0.1%. Plus, the cryptocurrency exchange also deducts a withdrawal fee for different assets. This is a fixed rate for every cryptocurrency. Deposits are free, however, funding options are limited.

Bittrex: Best Crypto Exchange for High Volume Traders

Fees: 0%-0.35%

★★★★★

3.6

Visit

With some of the strongest account security features, Bittrex is a quality crypto exchange that offers a wide range of digital assets, low transaction fees, and a cold storage wallet. But the one thing that’s special about this crypto trading platform is its low trading fees for high-volume trades.

Before we come to the fees, let’s talk about some of the features offered by Bittrex. The exchange employs strong security features to keep your account safe. These include multi-factor authentication, wallet and IP address whitelisting, and a cold storage wallet that keeps your digital assets secure offline.

Bittrex lets you buy and sell the tokens of your choice with a single click with its Instant Buy & Sell feature. Its mobile app lets you enter trades on the go, but isn’t as powerful as its web-based version.

Like all exchanges, Bittrex has its disadvantages too. It doesn’t offer margin trading, seriously limiting your earning potential. Plus, the crypto exchange doesn’t work in the states of New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and Hawaii. Its customers’ reviews are also predominantly negative, particularly because of its lacking customer support.

Why we chose it: If you’re a high-volume, professional crypto trader, you are set to benefit from Bittrex’s very low trading fees. This maximizes your profitability as compared to other trading platforms.

Easy to use
Wide variety of cryptocurrencies
Offers low purchase minimums

No margin trading
Poor customer reviews
Not available in all 50 US states

Fees: Bittrex’s trading fees start at 0.75% if you trade an amount under $5,000. The fees get lower as you trade more, eventually falling to 0.00% or 0.05% if you trade more than $100 million. Transaction fees are also low. Deposits are fees whereas withdrawal fees vary between cryptocurrencies.

FTX.us: Best Crypto Exchange for US-Based Users

Fees: 0%-0.4%

★★★★★

3.3

Visit

FTX.us is an advanced cryptocurrency exchange that offers low transaction fees and trading options with multiple fiat currencies. The selection of cryptocurrencies is severely limited with only about 65 coins. However, its advanced trading options and license to operate in the US makes it a good choice for US-based users.

FTX.us is best for experienced traders who know their way around trading crypto. It’s not as beginner-friendly as some of the other exchanges. The associated trading and transaction fees are relatively low. FTX.us also lets you mint your own NFTs to trade on the platform.

Its customer support isn’t the most responsive as suggested by customer reviews. The biggest drawback of this exchange is that although it’s licensed in the US, it still isn’t available in New York.

Why we chose it: With its advanced trading features, low fees, and license to operate in the US, FTX.us is a great choice for experienced traders.

Low withdrawal fees
Advanced trading tools
Licensed in the US

Limited variety of cryptocurrencies
Limited customer support
Not beginner-friendly

Fees: Trading fees charged by FTX.us are one of the lowest in our best crypto exchanges guide. This trading platform also uses a maker/taker fee model whereby the fees are arranged in tiers.

The maker fee ranges can go up to 0.10% based on trading volume. Taker fee can be between 0.05% and 0.40%, based on trading volume.

Methodology for the Best Crypto Exchanges

If you’re new to the world of crypto and don’t have a lot of experience with cryptocurrency exchanges, telling which crypto exchange is best isn’t really clear. It takes research and trading experience on all exchanges to tell which trading platform offers what.

We’ve conducted an in-depth analysis of the most used and best crypto exchanges out there and have shortlisted eight based on the following criteria.

Best Crypto Exchanges Fees

Crypto exchanges don’t have a subscription fee, but they take trading and charging fees for using their platform. These fees make up what you pay for the exchange’s services.

No. of Coins

The selection of cryptocurrencies supported by an exchange determines your freedom of choice to invest in different assets and enter different trades. The more coins, the greater the possibilities of earning.

Trade Minimum for Best Crypto Exchanges

This is the minimum amount of money you must spend to buy or sell a cryptocurrency on an exchange. We chose exchanges with a trade minimum of less than $5 only.

Mobile Trading

An intuitive mobile app is crucial for crypto trading because you want to be able to enter and exit trades wherever and whenever you want. We gave more credit to exchanges with their own app.

Best Crypto Exchanges Proprietary Wallets

A crypto wallet is a must to safely store your digital assets as they’re vulnerable if kept on the exchange. An exchange with its own wallet makes it easy to transfer crypto between the exchange and wallet.

Accessibility

Exchanges that are easily accessible from all locations rank higher than those that are not available in all states or countries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Crypto Exchanges

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about choosing the best crypto exchange.

Which crypto exchange has the most cryptocurrencies?

KuCoin has the highest number of cryptocurrencies with more than 600 tradable tokens. Bittrex and Binance aren’t far behind with 500+ coins each.

Which crypto exchange is available in New York?

Coinbase is the best crypto exchange for users in New York. Gemini is also a good option. But that seems to be it. A lot of top exchanges don’t work in the US and those that do, they don’t work in New York. In that case, Coinbase and Gemini are the only feasible exchanges.

Which crypto exchange has the best mobile app?

Crypto.com is known to have the best mobile app with almost the same range of features as its web-based version. Almost all quality crypto exchanges have good mobile apps including Binance, Gemini, and Coinbase.

Bottom Line on the Best Crypto Exchanges

Choosing the best crypto exchange isn’t the simplest of decisions. You’ve got to consider several factors and need to read between the lines to make the right choice. We rank Coinbase as the best overall crypto exchange that combines everything and does well in almost all departments. Kraken and Binance.com are good options too if you’re looking for advanced trading options.

May 31, 2022November 23, 2022

What is a VoIP Number, How Does it Work & How Do You Get One?

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP technology, allows you to make and receive calls over the internet. Although the technology has been around for some time, VoIP has never been as popular in the business world as it is today.

The VoIP global market size was just over $30bn in 2020. According to a VoIP industry analysis by Global Market Insights, the global VoIP market is projected to hit $95bn by 2027 as more and more SMBs move toward this technology. If you’re thinking about getting a VoIP number for your business, here’s all you need to know about what it is, how it works, and where to get one.

What is a VoIP Number?

A VoIP number appears and functions just like a regular 10-digit telephone number. The primary difference is the mode of transmission. While traditional landline numbers use a network of telephone lines, VoIP uses the internet to place calls.

When you use a VoIP number to call someone, it appears like any other phone number to the receiver. This means they won’t be able to tell the call isn’t coming from an actual landline.

Unlike traditional phone numbers, a VoIP number isn’t assigned to a specific device, location, or phone line. Instead, it’s assigned to a person. This person can use their VoIP phone number to place a call from anywhere as long as they have an internet-enabled device.

Since Voice over Internet Protocol isn’t location-specific, you can get the area code of your choice. This saves long-distance fees for callers. Getting a VoIP number is recommended for companies operating across the US.

How Does a VoIP Phone Number Work?

As mentioned above, VoIP technology works over the internet. It doesn’t need copper wire telephone lines to facilitate communication.

Landline numbers use analog signals to transmit voice. When you place a call with a VoIP number, your voice and data are converted into digital signals before they’re transmitted over the internet. If you call a regular landline, the digital signals are converted back into analog before they reach the receiver.

Illustration on how a VoIP phone number works

Using this technology, you can make and receive calls on your virtual number no matter where you are. All you need is an internet connection and an internet-enabled device such as a smartphone, computer, or tablet. Apart from voice calls, VoIP also supports text messaging and video calls if the receiver is using VoIP too.

Different Ways for Using a VoIP Number

You can make VoIP calls using three different methods. These include using an analog telephone adaptor, using an IP phone, or availing of the services of a VoIP caller.

Use an Analog Telephone Adapter on a Regular Phone

This method lets you use VoIP technology without fully switching from traditional to VoIP. Plug an Analog Telephone Adaptor into your traditional landline phone to connect it to the internet.

Use an IP Phone

Alternatively, you can get an IP phone. This is just like a standard telephone, but it comes with Ethernet ports to connect it with an internet router. These phones have built-in hardware and software to make and receive VoIP calls.

Use a VoIP Service Provider

If you want to make VoIP calls, signing up with a VoIP service provider, also known as a VoIP caller, is by far the most convenient and cost-effective solution. All you need to do is sign up, download and install the software, and start making Voice over IP calls from your computer or mobile phone.

If you go for a VoIP service, you don’t need to get any extra hardware as long as you’ve got functional speakers and a microphone. Let’s discover more about how to get a VoIP number from a service provider.

How to Get a VoIP Phone Number?

The easiest way to get a VoIP number is from a quality VoIP provider. The process is fairly simple. All you need to do is sign up with a service provider, and it’ll guide you through the rest of the steps until you’re ready to make and receive VoIP calls. Still, here’s an overview of what you should expect when you go with a VoIP phone number service.

Step 1: Choose a VoIP Service Provider

Before you get a number, we advise you to research a suitable provider that offers affordable plans and suits your business’s needs. Unfortunately, the VoIP industry is rife with scams, making it all the more important to pick the right service provider.
There are hundreds of VoIP services out there, each with unique pricing and features. We’ve reviewed some of the best VoIP service providers that you can use to get a VoIP phone number. Go through our top picks to make your choice easier.

RingCentral

Visit

Offering high-end features at an affordable price, RingCentral is indeed the leader in the VoIP market. It’s a good choice for businesses of all sizes as it offers a variety of plans that address different needs. Its most popular plan type, RingCentral MVP which includes messaging, video, and phone gives you unlimited calls in the US and Canada, unlimited SMS, voicemail transcription, and team messaging.

You can get top-tier features such as toll-free numbers, voicemail capabilities, and a mobile app even with the most basic plan that starts at $19.99/user/mo. RingCentral isn’t the cheapest VoIP service out there, but it’s worth the price tag. A word of advice, you might face a slight learning curve when starting with this service. To learn more about RingCentral’s features, read our complete RingCentral review.

Unlimited calls within the US and Canada
Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Built-in team messaging and document sharing

International calling costs extra
Overcomplicated for new users
A little expensive

Pricing

RingCentral MVP Essentials: $19.99/user/mo.
RingCentral MVP Standard: $27.99/user/mo.
RingCentral MVP Premium: $34.99/user/mo.
RingCentral MVP Ultimate: $49.99/user/mo.

Nextiva

Visit

If you’re looking for a productivity-focused communication system, Nextiva can be a great choice for you. It comes with an abundance of features, however, the vast majority of them are locked in the more expensive plans. Still, the most basic plan gives you unlimited voice and video calling, single-level auto-attendant, internet fax, toll-free numbers, voicemail, and integrations with Outlook and Google Contacts.

Nextiva doesn’t place any user restrictions so you can have as many users as you want even with the starter plan. Advanced plans offer a productivity suite that includes an internal communication system, screen sharing, private group messaging, a team calendar, and a voting system. To learn more about Nextiva’s features, read our complete Nextiva review.

Unlimited calling within US and Canada
Mobile app to stay connected from anywhere
Customizable auto-attendant

Call recording is limited to higher-tier plans
Mobile SMS messaging is not available on the cheapest plan
Pricing can get a bit complicated

Pricing

Nextiva’s pricing structure is a bit complex. The average prices go down if you purchase a plan for more users. Here’s what you can expect the different plans to cost for users as less as 1-4 to 100+.

Essential: $17.95 to 23.95/user/mo.
Professional: $21.95 to 27.95/user/mo.
Enterprise: $31.95 to 37.95/user/mo.

Ooma Office

Visit

If you want a mobile VoIP solution for remote work and traveling employees, Ooma Office offers what you need. It’s one of the more affordable VoIP services and it isn’t short on features either. A toll-free number, SMS, call logs, virtual fax, and multi-extension dialing are included in even the most basic plan. But a potential drawback is that Ooma’s desktop app isn’t included in it.

According to our in-depth Ooma Office review, what sets it apart is that each user gets a unique direct-dial number instead of an extension. This makes you look more professional as a business and also makes it easier for customers to reach your employees.

Desktop and mobile app
Unlimited calling in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
Direct-dial numbers for each user

Desktop app is limited to the Pro plan
CRM and productivity integrations are not available on the base plan
Pricing isn’t transparent

Pricing

Getting to the Ooma Office pricing page takes some searching, but we’ve already found out the plans Ooma offers and what they cost. It has two price points that vary significantly in features.

Ooma Office: $19.95 /user/mo. – one-time activation fee, for 1 user: $29.95
Ooma Office Pro: $24.95 /user/mo. – one-time activation fee, for 1 user: $29.95

Step 2: Select a VoIP Plan

Different service providers offer different plans. Choose the one that suits your needs best and fits your budget. Remember that not all service providers offer the same kind of plans. So choose your service provider in accordance with your business type, size, and VoIP needs.

Step 3: Get a VoIP Number

Your VoIP service provider will have an interface that facilitates selecting and purchasing a VoIP number. This is a fairly straightforward process but may vary between services. Most providers let you choose your area code to make it easier for customers from a specific area to contact you.

That said, you can also choose to port your existing telephone number to VoIP. To do so, you’d have to contact your previous phone provider to transfer it. This may take a few business days.

Step 4: Complete Setup

Once you have your VoIP phone number, all you need to do is set up the hardware and software to start making calls over the internet. The cheapest and most convenient way to go about this is simply to use your computer and mobile phones for VoIP calls. If you want to connect office phones to the system, you might need to buy some additional hardware.

Benefits of Using a VoIP Number

Businesses all over the world are switching to VoIP technology and for good reason. VoIP numbers come with a range of benefits that can help take your business ahead. They not only save you time and money but also give your company a more professional image. Here’s what getting a VoIP number does for you.

Saves Money

Businesses can reduce their telecom costs by 50% if they switch to VoIP. This is primarily because VoIP uses the internet to transmit data. Not just that, but you also get additional features like auto-attendant, intelligent call forwarding, call queue management, and video calling with a quality VoIP service.

Offers Flexibility

The flexibility you get with a VoIP phone number is one of its biggest advantages. A VoIP number can be used on multiple devices at the same time, giving you the mobility and convenience traditional landline systems can’t.

Offers Scalability

As your business grows, you’d want your communication system to grow along. However, this is not easy with standard phone systems. You need additional phone lines and hardware to scale.

VoIP lets you scale with ease. You can add as many users as your bandwidth allows, and this is more than enough for most growing businesses. As VoIP services are cloud-based, adding more numbers is pretty easy.

Offers Remote Access

A VoIP number is not assigned to a phone line. This means you can use your number no matter where you are as long as you’ve got internet. With the best VoIP apps, you can have your business number in your pocket at all times.

Gives You Choice of Area Codes

Unlike traditional phone numbers, you can freely choose your area code with a VoIP service. You don’t have to be in a state to use its area code for your business phone number. Being able to choose your area code makes it easy for you to target customers from a particular area, and it also establishes your credibility as a local business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for VoIP Number

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about VoIP numbers, how they work, and the easiest way to get one.

How can I get free VoIP?

Some of the best VoIP apps like Google Duo and Viber offer their VoIP services for free. You can use these VoIP services for voice and video calls and text messaging free of charge. Here’s a list of free VoIP phone services to check out.

How to identify a VoIP phone number?

If you receive a call from a VoIP number, you can’t readily tell whether it’s a VoIP or a regular phone number. One way to tell is to use a reverse phone lookup service. Alternatively, you can turn on the caller ID setting on your phone and it may be able to identify a VoIP phone number when you receive a call from one.

Is a VoIP number secure?

VoIP technology is secure. The best VoIP services use end-to-end encryption to protect your conversations and data. However, there are a lot of shady VoIP service providers too so you must make your choice wisely.

So What Is a VoIP Number?

A VoIP number is a virtual phone number that lets you make calls over the internet. It looks and functions just like a regular number, but doesn’t need any phone lines to operate. The best way to get a VoIP phone number is to sign up with a service provider.

Quality VoIP services like RingCentral, Nextiva, and Ooma Office give you a wide variety of features to facilitate communication between you, your employees, and customers. Plus, VoIP technology offers several benefits including low costs, flexibility, scalability, remote access, and the ability to choose the area code of your choice.

May 23, 2022November 23, 2022

8 Best Web Hosting for Ecommerce

Are you planning to start an online store? Or looking to upgrade an existing one? If so, then picking the best web hosting for ecommerce sites is one of the most important decisions you’ve got to make. Making the right choice here will go a long way in your online store’s success.

The best web hosting for ecommerce depends on the features you need such as shopping cart software, a payment gateway, and site security. It also relies on specifics such as your site’s traffic, sales volume, size, budget, and your experience with website development. We’ve shortlisted 8 of the best ecommerce web hosts to help you pick the right one.

Best Web Hosting for Ecommerce in 2023

DreamHost – Best Overall
A2 Hosting – Best for Site Speed
Bluehost – Best for WordPress and WooCommerce
HostGator – Best for Uptime
Ionos – Best for Integrating with Marketplaces
WP Engine – Best for Managed WooCommerce Hosting
NameCheap – Best on a Budget
Weebly – Free Ecommerce Web Hosting

DreamHost

Starting at $2.95/month

100%

570 ms

Lacking phone and online support

A2 Hosting

Starting at $11.99/month

99.9%

250 ms

24/7 phone & chat support

Bluehost

Starting at $12.95/month

99.98%

324 ms

24/7 US-based support

HostGator

Starting at $2.75/month

99.99%

660 ms

24/7 phone & chat support

Ionos

Starting at $0.50/month

99.98%

797 ms

24/7 phone support, limited online support

WP Engine

Starting at $30/month

99.99%

1500 ms

24/7 live chat, phone & email support

Namecheap

Starting at $1.88/month

99.93%

403 ms

24/7 live chat support

Weebly

Free with Weebly website builder

99.97%

+1500 ms

Phone, Live Chat, & Support Ticket

DreamHost: Best Overall Web Hosting for Ecommerce

Starts at $2.95/month

★★★★★

4.7

Visit

DreamHost is one of the oldest web hosting services out there. With more than 400,000 clients and powering 1.5 million sites in total, it’s a credible service provider that focuses on giving you a stable and flawless experience.

It doesn’t have an exclusive ecommerce web hosting package, so you’ll have to choose from its Shared, DreamPress, or VPS plans. Although DreamPress and VPS have more powerful features, you can begin with your ecommerce business even with a Shared hosting package.

You get a free domain for one year, unlimited traffic and bandwidth, fast SSD storage, and a free SSL certificate at the lowest tier. DreamHost is pretty easy to use. Its tools and interface are best for beginners and offer convenient features like pre-installed WordPress, an intuitive and powerful WP builder, and on-demand backups and one-click restore with the DreamPress plan.

Customer support isn’t the hosting provider’s strongest area. You can’t call the support team directly, it will only call you back with an answer after you submit a query first. The live chat is also not available 24/7 and takes a long time to respond during peak times.

Why we chose it: We chose it as the best overall for its reliability, range of features, and emphasis on providing its customers a quality experience, all at a reasonable price. Read our full DreamHost review for an in-depth look

100% uptime guarantee
Easy to use
Unlimited storage and bandwidth

Lacking customer support
Doesn’t have industry-standard cPanel
Only supports one store across all plans

Pricing: It depends on whether you’re looking for shared or managed WooCommerce hosting. Dreamhost’s shared and managed DreamPress are priced quite differently. If you’re a small business on a budget, the Starter package is a safe option at only $2.95 per month.

Shared Starter: $2.95/month
Shared Unlimited:$2.95/month
DreamPress: $16.95/month
DreamPress Plus: $24.95/month
DreamPress Pro: $71.95/month

A2 Hosting: Best Ecommerce Web Host for Site Speed

Starts at $11.99/month

★★★★★

4.6

Visit

Faster site loading speeds improve your rankings. So, if you want to sell more through your ecommerce business, you should invest in a hosting service that provides optimum page speed. This is exactly what A2 Hosting does. It claims to give you 20x faster page load speeds that help you enhance site performance, increase customer satisfaction, and rank higher on search results.

A2 Hosting also gives you a free SSL certificate, free expert site migration, and a range of other ecommerce features. However, you must note that its hosting plans lack free domain registration.

The cheapest A2 Hosting plans are for WordPress only. If you’re looking for VPS or dedicated hosting, prepare to pay much more. Managed VPS hosting plans start at $33.99 per month and managed dedicated hosting at $155.99 per month.

A2’s uptime isn’t its strongest suit. It claims 99.9% uptime, but reports suggest it has considerably lower uptime than other service providers on this list. On the other hand, its customer support team has done well. The Guru Crew, as they like to be called, is available round the clock via phone and live chat. A2 Hosting also has a helpful knowledge base you can access at any time.

Why we chose it: The most unique aspect of A2 Hosting’s service is its blazing-fast site speeds. If you want to optimize your ecommerce store core web vitals, A2 is a great option.

20x faster page load speeds
Free expert site migration
24/7 phone & live chat support

Weaker uptime
No free domains
Affordable only if you purchase 3-year plan

Pricing: A2 has different pricing plans for managed WordPress, VPS, dedicated hosting, and unmanaged dedicated hosting. The Managed WordPress plans are the most reasonably priced, but they support WP sites only. Take a look at what the different plans cost:

Managed WordPress

Turbo Run: $11.99/month for 36 months
Turbo Jump: $18.99/month for 36 months
Turbo Fly: $28.99/month for 36 months
Turbo Sell: $41.99/month for 36 months

Bluehost: Best Ecommerce Web Host for WordPress & WooCommerce

Starts at $12.95/month

★★★★★

4.5

Visit

Bluehost is one of the most well-known web hosting service providers that focuses on WordPress-powered websites. If you’re developing your ecommerce website with WooCommerce on WP, Bluehost is your best choice. It offers an ideal combination of ease of use, affordability, reliability, and ecommerce features.

We recommend WooCommerce if you’re looking for an easy ecommerce solution, and you can make it even simpler with Bluehost. It has an easy-to-use backend to make setting up shop as easy for you.

When you start off with the Ecommerce plan, the host helps you install the necessary WP plugins to get started. It also offers 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, tickets, or email so you can get your questions answered quickly. You also get email marketing tools, freedom to add unlimited products, site traffic analytics, payment processing installation, and manual order creation with this plan.

Apart from standard ecommerce website hosting features like free CDN, a free SSL certificate, and unlimited SSD storage, Bluehost also provides additional business-related features. These include free Office 365, domain privacy, automated backup, and custom themes to design your online shop.

That’s not all. If you still need to buy a domain name for your business, you can get it free for one year with this ecommerce web host. But it also has its cons. For example, a lot of essential features cost extra. The plans’ prices are considerably higher when you go in for renewal, and you won’t find any servers located outside Utah, the United States.

Why we chose it: Bluehost is best for WordPress-based ecommerce sites. We recommend it for beginners as it’s easy to use, affordable, and offers a reliable service with 99.98% uptime. Read the Bluehost review to learn more about its features and pricing.

24/7 customer support
Reliable uptime
Best for WordPress & WooCommerce

Additional costs
Higher renewal prices
Servers are located in Utah, US only

Pricing: Although Bluehost has cheaper plans for basic websites starting from as low as $2.95 per month, we will only be considering the Ecommerce plan. The Bluehost Ecommerce plan will set you back $12.95 per month for a one-year team. However, you must note it will renew at $24.95/month if you don’t use any other discount at the end of your plan.

HostGator: Best Ecommerce Web Host for Uptime

Starts at $2.75/month

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

HostGator doesn’t have any plans exclusively for ecommerce. Instead, it only has Shared Hosting that comes in the Hatchling, Baby, and Business plans. The web host claims any plan is good for ecommerce. However, we understand only the Business plan has enough features to accommodate an online store.

HostGator stands out for its remarkable 99.99% uptime guarantee. It’s not as feature-rich as some of the other ecommerce web hosts are, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good option. Apart from the reliable uptime, all hosting plans come with free one-year domain registration, website builder, unmetered bandwidth, and $150 and $100 worth of Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising credit, respectively.

You also get unlimited email accounts, sub-domains, and FTP (file transfer protocol) accounts with HostGator. Unlimited storage is included in all hosting plans. Other providers don’t offer this unless you upgrade to a higher tier. If you need hosting for a large ecommerce website, HostGator also offers dedicated hosting starting at $89.98 per month.

HostGator does well in the customer service arena. Live chat and phone support is available 24/7. It also has a very helpful knowledge base which not only helps solve your problem but also helps you learn other stuff.

The service has its drawbacks too. The initial 60% discount isn’t available at the time of renewal so you can expect the price to hike up considerably. A way around this is to make a long-term commitment. Meaning you can buy the hosting for three years at the discounted price for better value.

Customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot and HostAdvice aren’t the best. HostGator’s loading speeds aren’t as high as some top-notch hosting providers and there are no plans that cater to ecommerce exclusively.

Why we chose it: HostGator is one of the most widely used hosting services. Although it doesn’t have all the ecommerce features, it delivers good value with 99.99% uptime, unlimited storage, and FTP accounts. Read our full HostGator review for an in-depth look.

99.99% uptime
Affordable in the long term
Unlimited storage in all plans

Higher renewal prices
Slower loading speeds
No ecommerce plans

Pricing: Since HostGator has Shared Hosting plans only, here’s what you have to pay initially and the prices they renew at:

Hatchling: $2.75/month renews at $6.95/month
Baby: $3.50/month renews at $9.95/month
Business: $5.25/month renews at $14.95/month

Ionos: Best Ecommerce Web Host for Integrating with Marketplaces

Starts at $0.50/month

★★★★★

3.9

Visit

The extremely low monthly price might come as a surprise to you, but it’s actually a discounted value for the Ionos Business plan which otherwise costs $10 per month. Although these are the prices for web hosting only, Ionos also offers an exclusive ecommerce website builder plan that includes hosting. More on that below.

We selected Ionos as part of this list specifically because of its ability to integrate with other ecommerce platforms like eBay, Amazon Marketplace, and Facebook shop. However, note that most of these integrations are available only on the highest tier. Before we come to Ionos’ Ecommerce web builder plan, let’s see how it matches up to the competition when it comes to website hosting.

The web host boasts a reliable 99.98% uptime, scalable performance management, and a range of plugins to enhance your site. Although Ionos claims to beat Bluehost and HostGator in loading time, our experience tells us otherwise. It’s a bit slower than other web hosts you’ll find on this list. Other than that, all hosting plans come with a free domain for one year, a free wildcard SSL certificate, and a professional email service.

But if you’re looking for web hosting for ecommerce sites, we recommend you go for Ionos Ecommerce website builder. It combines hosting with essential features such as store templates, website analytics, payment processing, and integrations.

As far as customer support is concerned, Ionos makes the cut as phone support is available 24/7. However, online support isn’t as helpful as there’s no option to talk to an expert on the site and you have to log in to see what options are available.

Why we chose it: As far as hosting goes, Ionos doesn’t have anything to set it apart from the competition. However, the features that come with its Ecommerce website building plans make it an interesting choice, especially for users who need to integrate their website with other ecommerce platforms. Read our full Ionos review for an in-depth look.

Offers integrations with other ecommerce platforms
Offers an all-in-one ecommerce solution
Cost of renewal much higher

Slower loading times
No free trial
Limited online support

Pricing: We’ve broken down Ionos pricing into two parts. Web hosting only and the Ecommerce site builder packages. If you need hosting only here’s what you should expect to pay:

Essential: $4/month renews at $6/month
Business: $0.5/month renews at $10/month
Expert: $8/month renews at $16/month

And if you need the all-in-one ecommerce package, here’s the pricing plan:

Starter: $1/month renews at $12/month
Plus: $5/month renews at $20/month
Pro: $25/month renews at $35/month
Expert: $35/month renews at $50/month

WP Engine: Best Ecommerce Web Host for Managed WooCommerce Hosting

Starts at $30/month

★★★★★

3.7

Visit

As the name suggests, WP Engine hosting services are focused towards powering WordPress sites. When it comes to web hosting for ecommerce sites, WP Engine’s Managed WooCommerce Hosting solution is an all-in-one package for small, medium, and even enterprise-level businesses. Read our full WP Engine review for an in-depth look.

WP Engine is an experienced web hosting provider, but it didn’t have an exclusive ecommerce plan until recently. Being a new addition to its services, the WooCommerce hosting solution has yet to make its mark and develop a reputation for itself.

You get tools like one-click store creation, an optimized store theme, free SSL and SSH, and 10 premium website themes with the Startup plan. These are, of course, in addition to WP Engine’s general features like built-in caching, built-in CDN, firewalls, malware scanning, and automatic backups that are available in all of its hosting plans.

It claims to increase your website speed by 40% but research tells us WP Engine is slower than some of the other web hosting companies in this guide. The Instant Store Search is an attractive option that helps you increase your conversion rates and provide your customers with a quality online shopping experience.

Why we chose it: WP Engine’s Managed WooCommerce Hosting plan is a good option for anyone who wants to build an ecommerce site on WordPress. It has all the tools you need plus a couple of unique and powerful features to enhance your online store.

60-day money-back guarantee
Instant Store Search
Good site security

No free domain
Slightly expensive
Caters to WooCommerce sites only

Pricing: WP Engine’s ecommerce hosting plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Not many web hosting companies offer this. Plus, the web host has transparent pricing adds to its credibility. Here’s what the different plans cost:

Ecommerce Hosting Startup: $30/month if paid annually
Ecommerce Hosting Professional: $62.50/month if paid annually
Ecommerce Hosting Growth: $116.67/month if paid annually
Ecommerce Hosting Scale: $291.67/month if paid annually

Namecheap: Best Web Hosting for Ecommerce Businesses on a Budget

Starts at $1.88/month

★★★★★

3.5

Visit

Namecheap, at its core, is a domain registrar, but it has gained popularity in the web hosting sphere with some of the most affordable hosting packages on the market. Namecheap isn’t as feature-rich as some of the other ecommerce web hosting services in this guide, but it’s worthwhile to consider if you’re on a tight budget.

Namecheap promises 100% uptime for its shared, business, and dedicated server accounts. But the reseller and VPS accounts sit at 99.9% uptime. With an average uptime of 99.93%, it does well in the uptime department. It’s famous for its affordable domain registration services, which is why it offers a free domain offer with hosting.

If your site is on a different web host, you can migrate it to Namecheap free of cost. It also offers you pretty good site speed with an average loading time of 403 ms. But Namecheap has its fair share of drawbacks too. It doesn’t have any phone support, and the live chat, albeit available 24/7, isn’t as helpful as it needs to be.

It has shared, reseller, VPS, and dedicated hosting plans but none of them are exclusively for ecommerce. But some its shared, WordPress, and VPS plans are pretty good options for hosting an online store.

Why we chose it: Namecheap stands out from the crowd with its affordable prices. You can get shared hosting for as low as $1.88 per month and VPS hosting for as low as $9.88 per month. Read our full Namecheap review for an in-depth look if this provider interests you.

Free domain offer
Good site speed
99.93% average uptime

No phone support
No ecommerce exclusive plans
Basic plans have low storage

Pricing: Namecheap’s pricing structure is a bit more complicated. It has different plan types and each type has 2-4 tiers. Here are the different ecommerce web hosting plan types from Namecheap and what they cost:

Shared Hosting

Stellar: $1.88/month if paid annually
Stellar Plus: $2.98/month if paid annually
Stellar Business: $4.98/month if paid annually

WordPress Hosting

EasyWP Starter: $24.88/month if paid annually
EasyWP Turbo: $48.88/month if paid annually
EasyWP Supersonic: $54.88/month if paid annually

VPS Hosting

Pulsar: $9.88/month if paid annually
Quasar: $17.88/month if paid annually

Weebly: Best Free Web Hosting for Ecommerce Sites

Free with Weebly Web Builder

★★★★★

3.0

Visit

If you’re looking for free web hosting for ecommerce businesses, Weebly is a good option. It’s not completely free, as you can only get it if you build your online store with Weebly.

It promises you exceptional site speed and reliability with its cloud-based hosting infrastructure. Weebly doesn’t host your site on a single server. It uses its entire server network which means your site won’t experience a dent in performance even if traffic spikes suddenly.

It also claims to give you peace of mind with good site speeds and uptime so you can focus on the important stuff. But customer reviews tell a different story. A lot of customers complain about slow site loading times. You also need to accommodate Weebly branding on your website if you go for free hosting.

Why we chose it: We selected Weebly for its free web hosting offer and an all-in-one ecommerce solution. Its service focuses on giving you peace of mind with all aspects of your ecommerce business.

Free with Weebly Builder
All-in-one ecommerce solution
Cloud-based hosting infrastructure

Slower site speeds
Weebly watermark on free websites
No free domain

Pricing: Weebly free hosting comes as a part of its different website and online store plans. It has a completely free website plan too but you have to design your website on a Weebly branded domain.

Methodology for the Best Web Hosting for Ecommerce

When considering the best web hosting sites for ecommerce, we had to account for multiple factors to shortlist and rank our picks. Not everyone is looking for the same features, which is why we created an all-inclusive methodology that takes into account all relevant factors.

Cost: Affordability is often the top-most consideration for small business owners. We aim to bring the most cost-effective web hosting for ecommerce so you can take your online business ahead without breaking the bank.
Features: Different ecommerce web hosting providers offer different features that make it easy to set up shop and enhance your site’s performance once it’s up. Options with a greater range of features were ranked higher.
Site speed: Good site speed goes a long way in your online business’s success. We chose the web hosts that give you optimal site loading times.
Customer support: Most web hosts have 24/7 support to address users’ issues. This is important because downtime costs an ecommerce business money and customer support should be available at all times.
Ease of use: Business owners need to know if they need any coding or technical skills to get their site up and running with a hosting provider.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Web Hosting for Ecommerce

Can you host your own ecommerce website?

To host your ecommerce website yourself, you must have your own servers. This makes sense for enterprise-level businesses who can afford a data center but not for most online business owners. The most cost-effective solution for a small business owner is to get hosting from a quality provider like Bluehost.

Is cloud hosting good for ecommerce?

Cloud hosting is a great option for ecommerce. This is because cloud hosting makes your site faster, more secure, and improves its performance. It also helps minimize downtime.

What does an ecommerce web host do?

The web host is where your ecommerce site lives. It gives you space on its servers so your site can go online. Ecommerce web hosts also provide additional features like easy maintenance, good site speeds, and reliable uptime so you don’t have to worry about the technical side of keeping your online store up and running.

Bottom Line on the Best Web Hosting for Ecommerce

As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, choosing the right web host for your ecommerce website goes a long way in determining how successful it is. If you’re yet to register a domain name and get hosting, we’re glad that you read this guide in time.

But even if you’ve already purchased a hosting plan from another provider, you can easily migrate your site to the ecommerce web host that suits your needs.

May 23, 2022February 15, 2023

Kabbage Review 2023 – Easy Approval for Small Business Loans

Kabbage from American Express is an online lending platform for small businesses. It offers a range of financial solutions for small businesses including Kabbage Funding, Checking, and Payments. In this Kabbage review, we’ll cover its business bank account and business lines of credit for small businesses.

Kabbage offers business lines of credit from $2,000 to $250,000 for borrowers with FICO scores of 640 and above. We will also briefly review its online business checking account and payment processing services in this all-inclusive read.

Our Verdict

Kabbage

Visit

Kabbage Funding has straightforward eligibility requirements and has a very simple application process requiring minimal documentation. With an estimated annual percentage rate of 9-36%, Kabbage loans are a great option for small business owners who have a credit score of 640 or higher.

It offers you quick access to funds as application approval may take only a few minutes and the funds get deposited into your account within three business days. Its drawbacks include a complex monthly fee structure, which has different rates for 6,12, or 18-month repayment terms. Loans here also require a personal guarantee and aren’t the best option for new businesses.

Simple application process
Application approval may take only a few minutes
Reasonable eligibility requirements

Complex monthly fee structure
No long-term repayment options
Requires personal guarantee

Kabbage Funding, Checking & Payments at a Glance

Kabbage was founded in 2008 and acquired by American Express in 2020. The financial technology company is best known for its small business loan services but offers other financial solutions too. The business checking account is the first checking service by American Express offering an APY of 1.1%.

Kabbage Payments makes it easier and more affordable for you to get paid with transaction fees as low as 2.25%. This suite of services makes this an all-in-one solution for your small businesses’ financial needs.

With Kabbage Funding, you can get business lines of credit ranging from $2,000 to $250,000 with refinancing terms of 6, 12, or 18 months. The lender doesn’t charge conventional interest. Instead, it charges a monthly fee of 0.25-3.5% depending on the repayment term you opt for. This ultimately results in 9-36% APR.

When it comes to funding speed, Kabbage doesn’t guarantee same-day funding but its service is as fast as that. Loan application approval usually doesn’t take more than a few minutes and funds are always accessible within three business days. This is also why we’ve ranked Kabbage loans as one of the best small business loans for ease of approval.

Who Kabbage Funding is Best For

Getting a small business loan from this is a great option for you if you’ve got less than a perfect credit score, and want fast access to working capital. It doesn’t pay a lot of attention to traditional financial history, so getting your loan approved might be easier if you’ve got a weak credit report.

That said, Kabbage loans aren’t best for new businesses and those that don’t have a business checking account. You need to open a business bank account to be eligible for a loan from this lender. Plus, if you’re looking for longer repayment terms, you’re better off looking elsewhere as the longest repayment period offers is 18 months.

Kabbage Loan Details That You Need to Know

Here’s a summary of Kabbage’s business lines of credit, the amount you can borrow, for how long, and what you have to pay to the lender.

Loan amount

$2000 – $250,000

Repayment terms

6,12 and 18 months

Monthly Fee

6-month term: 0.25-3.5%
12-month term: 0.25-2.75%
18-month term: 0.25-2.5%

Estimated APR

9.00-36.00%

Repayment Schedule

Monthly

Other charges

No application fees, origination fees, annual fees, or account maintenance fees
No prepayment penalty
Late payment or unsuccessful payment fees may apply

Accessibility

Available in all 50 states

Funding Speed

Approval may take only a few minutes. Funds are deposited within three business days

Kabbage doesn’t use traditional interest rates to calculate what you have to pay for its lending services. This means understanding the fees is not as straightforward as it is for other lenders. We’ve mentioned what percentage of your loan amount you may expect to pay as a monthly fee along with the repayment amount. The exact percentage depends on the repayment term you choose, your credit score, and a few other factors.

If you are interested in opening a fee-free business account, here is a detailed Bank of America Review, NBKC Bank Account Review, and Novo Review packed with information about the pros, cons, and alternatives.

Kabbage Funding Features

Kabbage’s business line of credit is only one part of its services. The online lending platform also offers business checking account services that are considered one of the best small business bank accounts. Not to mention its payment processing services that make Kabbage a versatile financial toolset. Let’s talk about some of the best features it has to offer.

Screenshot of Kabbage homescreen — *Source: Kabbage*

Fast Access and Approval to Working Capital For Expedited Loan

If you’re looking for expedited loan approval, need access to funds fast and are willing to pay extra for quick service, Kabbage Funding is a great option for you. It doesn’t offer same-day business loans but its services are as fast as that. Approval only takes a few minutes, and you’ll rarely have to wait for more than that. Once your loan application is approved, the lender guarantees funds will be available to you within three business days.

Kabbage Loan Eligibility Requirements

Kabbage Funding has fairly straightforward loan eligibility and approval requirements. To be able to apply for a loan, you must fulfill three basic requirements:

A personal credit score of 640 and above
Be in business for at least 12 months
Disclose annual revenue (at least $50,000)
Have a valid business checking account

Kabbage doesn’t publish the exact annual revenue you need to be eligible, but $50,000 is a good ballpark figure. However, it does mention that your annual business revenue impacts the credit limit you qualify for.

Note that fulfilling these requirements does not guarantee loan approval. But you can say that meeting or exceeding these criteria increases the likelihood of you acquiring funding from Kabbage.

Simple Application Process of Kabbage

Kabbage offers a fast and easy loan application process that you can complete online. You can either use the Kabbage site or mobile application to submit your application and the whole process won’t take you more than 10 minutes.

All you need to do is create an account on Kabbage, connect your business checking account to it, and provide some basic information. Before you submit your application, the lender will ask for your consent to access your credit history. Once done and Kabbage is able to verify all the information needed, you should get a decision within a few minutes.

In case of a hiccup or if your application needs further review, you might have to wait for four to seven business days. If you’re approved, Kabbage will send you a loan agreement that lays out all important aspects including the line of credit amount, repayment term, and monthly fees. Once you sign it, you can expect the funds to land in your business account within three business days.

Sales & Advertising Transparency of Kabbage

The lender discloses all figures and fees on its homepage, making it easier for you to have a clear overview of what its lending service will cost you. The application procedures and terms of service are easily accessible on the Kabbage website which means it does a great job when it comes to sales and advertising transparency.

Kabbage’s resource center does a great job of answering any questions you may have about its services. Getting your head around its complicated monthly fee structure is a bit tough, but it’s the only drawback we can identify.

Kabbage Customer Reviews

Kabbage used to have pretty impressive customer reviews with an A+ rating on BBB, but not anymore. As of now, it has average customer ratings of almost 3.5/5 on leading review sites like Trustpilot and BBB.

Screenshot of Kabbage reviews on Trustpilot

Positive reviews here are dominated by customers’ remarks on Kabbage’s easy application process and fast funding. The negative reviews, on the other hand, talk about its low borrowing limits, short repayment terms, and slow customer support.

The Alternatives Sites to Kabbage

While Kabbage has a simple application process and offers fast funding, its repayment terms and low borrowing limit may not suit your business. If you think Kabbage isn’t the best option to get your business line of credit, there are quite a few alternatives you should explore.

FundBox

Visit

Compared to Kabbage Funding, Fundbox offers a wider range of financing options, including business lines of credit and term business loans. This lending service doesn’t rely on your personal or business credit scores only to approve your application.

Fundbox and Stripe have joined forces to provide businesses with even more access to working capital through Stripe Apps. Stripe customers can now access a Fundbox Line of Credit directly from their Stripe dashboard.

Fundbox offers fast, easy access to working capital and spend management solutions for small businesses. After installing the Fundbox app for Stripe, you can complete easy, paperless application directly from your Stripe Dashboard and you can get a credit decision in as little as 3 minutes. If approved, funds can be available as soon as the next business day—with weekly payments, flexible repayment terms, and no prepayment penalties.

It has no minimum credit requirement which makes it a great option for borrowers with poor credit but a strong standing in other departments. Compared to Kabbage’s APR of 9.00-36.00%, FundBox’s APR starts at 8.33% for a 24-week repayment option and 18.00% for a 52-week term.

Quick approval
May be able to get a second loan without reapplying
Auto-payments available

Term loans in beta
Automatic weekly repayment schedule debited to a bank account
Short repayment terms

BlueVine

Visit

BlueVine’s line of credit service is similar to Kabbage Funding in quite a few ways. It offers a similar borrowing limit of $250,000 and can approve loan applications within a few minutes.

With Bluevine, you get one do-it-all business operating account that doesn’t charge you monthly fees and lets you qualify to earn interest like a business savings account.

It offers an impressive 1.5% interest on balances up to $100,000 and is among the highest on the market. Fees do bubble up periodically for things like outgoing wire transfers and cash deposits.

BlueVine offers repayment two repayment terms, six and 12 months. The interest rates on its lines of credit can range between 15% and 78% APR. However, unlike Kabbage, BlueVine accepts businesses with only six months in business. To learn more about its services and pricing, read our complete review on BlueVine.

Multiple financing options
Fast access to short-term funding
Simple application process

Short repayment terms
Line of credit has a draw fee
Personal guarantee required

OnDeck

Visit

OnDeck is a great option if you need quick funding. But it’s not for you if you have bad credit or want a bad credit loan. It offers same-day funding but the interest rate and fees are one of the highest out there. Plus, the business loan agreement comes with several benefits including opportunities to wipe out interest and save money.

Just like Kabbage, OnDeck offers a very simple application process. Its business lines of credit go up to $100,000 whereas term loans can go up to $250,000. If you go for OnDeck’s lines of credit, you will need to make weekly repayments. On the other hand, Kabbage requires monthly repayments.

Depending on the state where your business is located and other attributes of your business and the loan, your business loan may be issued by a member of the OnDeck family of companies or by Celtic Bank, a Utah-Chartered Industrial Bank, Member FDIC. Your loan agreement will identify the lender prior to your signing. Loans subject to lender approval.

Prepay and remaining interest waived
Loyalty program – take out a new loan and existing interest waived
Consistent payment amounts

Personal credit score, annual revenue, and other loan requirements
Weekly repayment

Needs good credit score

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Kabbage Review

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Kabbage Funding. Go through this section to find answers to some of your unresolved questions.

How long does Kabbage take to review?

Usually, Kabbage doesn’t take more than a few minutes to get back to you with a decision. However, if it can’t access all your information or needs to review your application further, it may take four to seven business days.

Does Kabbage do a hard credit check?

Yes. When you submit a loan application to Kabbage Funding, it performs a hard credit check on your personal and business credit scores. It will still ask for your consent before it accesses your data.

Who owns Kabbage?

Kabbage was founded in 2008 but it was acquired by American Express in 2020. Being owned by the established American Express, Kabbage is a safe and trustworthy company for short-term business loans.

Bottom Line on Kabbage Review

Kabbage Funding can be a relatively expensive option, so we recommend it only if you’re looking for fast financing. We advise you to fully understand all associated fees and the total amount you’d be paying before you sign the loan agreement.

Kabbage only offers six, 12, and 18-month repayment options so if you want refinancing time more than that, you might be better off looking somewhere else. That said, Kabbage is still a very good option if it meets your funding needs. Not to mention its business checking and payment services that make it a versatile financial service provider.

Best Business Bank Accounts by State

Below you will find an interactive U.S map that can help you locate and compare different banks and financial institutions that offer business accounts in your area.

May 18, 2022November 23, 2022

How to Use a Gantt Chart in 9 Steps

Gantt charts are a popular and time-tested way of visualizing project workflows. But they’re not just for any project. This project visualization approach aligns with the waterfall methodology that focuses on completing a task or process before the next one can begin.

A Gantt chart lets you organize a project’s timescale and create an overview of team members, resources, and essential ideas in one place. While it’s a powerful method used by veteran project managers, you can easily overcomplicate things if you’re new to it.

How Does a Gantt Chart Work?

Gantt charts as we know them today were created by engineer Henry L. Gantt in the 19th century. It’s a horizontal bar chart with project tasks on the vertical axis and a timeline on the horizontal axis. The chart depicts summary elements, milestones, and task dependencies all in one place.

If it’s the first time you’ve come across Gantt charts, they can look like a stack of bars and arrows. Before moving forward, you need to understand the structure of a Gantt chart and what each bar, its length, and arrow represents.

A Gantt chart is made up of three elements: tasks, task durations, and task dependencies.

Tasks: Each horizontal bar on a Gantt chart represents an individual task in the project. These are the basic building blocks of a project.
Task duration: The length of each bar represents the duration of each project. The starting point of each bar, in relation to the x-axis at the bottom of the chart, represents when each task will start.
Task dependencies: The arrows leading from one bar to the next represent a task dependency. It means the task at the tail of the arrow must be completed first for the task at the head to start.

Key Concepts of a Gantt Chart

The explanation of the three features above is enough for you to have a clear understanding of what a Gantt chart represents. But to have a better understanding of how Gantt charts work, you need to understand a few underlying concepts: the critical path, milestones, dependencies, and resource management.

The Critical Path

The critical path provides an overarching order to your project, establishing a baseline for you to follow. Arguably, the critical path is the most important part of a Gantt chart’s layout. It represents the journey of the project from start to finish.

Every essential aspect of the project is represented in the critical path, which is usually highlighted, for example in red, to symbolize its importance in the project. Any delays in the critical path tasks will lead to inevitable delays in the project.

Milestones

Typically represented as a symbol or shape interposed at certain intervals in the project, a milestone depicts the key goals in the project. Unlike tasks, they are set points in time that give you an idea of what things you need to have completed at what time. Not only do milestones emphasize both minor and major goals within the project, but they also help to create depth in the timescale, breaking it down into manageable pieces.

Dependencies

Dependencies show progression in the chart. These tasks tend to be represented with arrows between one another, highlighting the necessary progression of tasks to reach a goal. This is particularly effective both for providing an overview of a project and so that team members can understand how their particular task fits into place.

The benefits of dependencies include improving collaboration and productivity because when everyone understands their job and their responsibility within the group, they can work towards achieving the collective goal.

Resource Management

One of the greatest benefits of using a Gantt chart is the ability to accurately map out the resources you need, whether that be people or products. You can easily assign tasks to team members according to their strengths. This way, you maximize your team’s efficiency.

Similarly, material resources can be simply distributed using the timescale. This makes ordering and coordinating resources a process that can be managed according to the details on the chart. No more dithering with forms and running out of essential supplies, keeping track of what is needed becomes simple on a Gantt.

Now that you have a better understanding of what Gantt charts are and their underlying principles, let’s move on to the interesting part.

Obviously, you need to learn how to create one before you can learn how to use a Gantt chart. This is why we’ve divided this guide into two parts: creating a Gantt chart and using one. That said, the entire Gantt project management process is pretty simple. The goal is to not overcomplicate things. Follow this principle and you should have a pretty well-planned project schedule on your hands.

How to Create a Gantt Chart in 4 Steps

Creating and using a Gantt chart can be slightly different with different project management tools. We’ll use a generic approach to make this guide easy to understand and follow no matter which project management tools you use.

Step 1: Define Project Outcome and Time Range

Gantt charts are based on the waterfall model which emphasizes clearly defining your project outcome and time frames up-front. You should have a clear understanding of what you or your client wants at the end of the project. This way, it’s easier for you to define the critical path and all the associated individual tasks you need to complete to get there.

You also need to define the time range so your Gantt chart project has a clear start and end date. This timeline will form the foundation on which you build your project Gantt chart.

Step 2: Identify all Essential Project Tasks

The next step is to break down your entire project into smaller, more manageable bits. This is a two-fold process where you first divide your project into subprojects and then identify individual tasks in each of those projects. But this is for larger, more complex projects. If you’ve got a smaller project, you can jump to identifying individual tasks and arrange them chronologically.

Step 3: Identify Relationships between Tasks

This is where you use arrows between tasks and set dependencies. You need to identify the relationships between tasks and decide which task is dependent on which and in what way. Setting dependencies is as easy as drawing an arrow between two bars.

Simply put, there are two types of relationships between tasks: successor and predecessor. But you have four types of dependencies you can set between tasks.

Finish to Start – Can’t start the successor task until the predecessor finishes.
Start to Start – Can’t start the successor task until the predecessor starts.
Start to Finish – Can’t finish the successor activity until the predecessor starts.
Finish to Finish – Can’t finish the successor activity until the predecessor finishes.

Step 4: Add Dates, Resources, and Milestones

Once you’ve identified tasks and identified the relationships between them, your Gantt chart is almost ready to go. All you need to do is add some dates, assign tasks to team members, and set important milestones and you’ll have a ready-to-go Gantt chart.

Finalize when a task starts and when it should be completed. This will help you identify tentative deadlines for your sub-projects and add milestones to the critical path. If your project is already underway, you can start assigning tasks to team members. This completes the creation of the Gantt chart.

If you’re using suitable project management software, creating a Gantt chart would be easy. But if you’re going with conventional spreadsheets, you will have to create and format a chart manually. Once your chart is created, remember to update it as things change. It’s important to review your chart at least once a week to reflect on progress and other changes to your project.

How to Use a Gantt Chart to Plan a Project

Once you’ve created the chart, it’s now time to use it to manage your project. But before we begin, let’s check out a stat that emphasizes the importance of using Gantt charts for project planning.

Approximately 39% of projects fail due to a lack of planning. This is where Gantt management comes in. Project managers can map out the complete project, determine deadlines, and manage your team and resources effectively using Gantt charts. Here are the rest of the steps you need to follow to use a Gantt chart to plan a project.

Step 5: Conduct Workflow Analysis

Gantt charts let you conduct your project’s workflow analysis with ease. This means you can view not only the timescale of work to be performed but chart who is doing that work and what resources you need to put towards certain tasks.

Workflow analysis is a great tool for managers who wish to see, both at a glance and in greater depth how a project is progressing and how resources are being allocated. This makes coordinating teams easier and provides information on progression for each individual as well as on the team.

Using project management software often allows you to utilize additional features which can build upon your workflow analysis within a Gantt chart. Due to the graphic nature of the chart, using it for statistical modeling and further graphing is a beneficial way of understanding project and team workflow.

Step 6: Identify Critical Path

By identifying the critical path in a project, it also becomes simpler to identify priorities and areas of focus for teams and individuals. Because all team members can view this information, everyone has the same level of awareness of the tasks at hand, their deadlines, and the milestones the team is aiming for.

Allowing total transparency in accessing the Gantt chart has many benefits, but access to the critical path is a paramount example. Collaboration and work towards milestones are both improved by improving awareness of the tasks at hand. When a whole team is aiming toward the same goals, there is a greater sense of cohesiveness.

Step 7: Make Your Project More Manageable

Another benefit of the graphical representation of projects through a Gantt chart is that it breaks projects down into more manageable chunks. Through both critical paths and dependencies, it is clear which bar represents which task and the chain of work that is required to progress a project.

As a result of this, each project becomes a set of smaller tasks that can be delegated and sourced out to team members, so everyone has a manageable role within the process, and nobody needs to feel overwhelmed by taking on the project as a whole. The simplistic formatting of the Gantt also allows for fewer meetings and briefings, saving time.

Step 8: Meet Deadlines

The Gantt chart also presents a methodical and automated depiction of a project, so deadlines become more accurate and reliable. Due to dependencies and the following of a critical path, everything runs smoothly according to a plan. Should work get delayed, it is easily amended on the chart.

Deadlines are both easier to follow and easier to correct on a modern Gantt chart. Because the progress of each task is visible, and optionally the progress of individual team members too, keeping on schedule is the priority of everyone as an individual and as a collective. Seeing which tasks to prioritize also enables resources to be better allocated in line with goals.

Step 9: Monitor Project Progress

The final step in managing your project with a Gantt chart involves keeping a close eye on both the Gantt chart as well as those carrying out the project, adjusting the plans as the work progresses.

Maybe a piece of equipment will break down that will set back the start date. Or perhaps the team will take on another project that takes precedence. There could be changes in funding. Or maybe the client will change their mind?

Change is inevitable, but luckily, modern-day Gantt charts don’t require that you start from scratch. By using some elements of the agile methodology, you can make the adjustments as necessary and keep your team up to date.

To monitor project progress, all you need to do is to check the completion level of each bar or team member. This is especially helpful for project managers, especially in industries like marketing, where different strands of a project come together, such as creative tasks and writing tasks.

Top 3 Gantt Chart Software for Project Management

The era of paper and pencil Gantt charts is long gone. So is the time of creating Gantt charts on spreadsheets. Today’s fast-paced work environment demands creativity and swiftness in project management methodologies which is made possible by project management software.

Creating and using Gantt charts becomes much easier when you use Gantt project management software, also known as Gantt chart software. Here are our top picks for the best project management software for Gantt management.

TeamGantt

Visit

Launched in 2010, TeamGantt, a PM tool with time tracking feature, is a Gantt chart creator that makes it simple for you to schedule, manage, and track project tasks and resources. It helps you organize all your documents, conversations, and tasks in one central hub.

It has a powerful drag-and-drop feature that lets you start planning your projects in minutes. TeamGantt is one of the simplest project management software as it is fairly easy to use with customizable Gantt chart templates. It also offers a free plan for small, three-member teams.

Built-in Gantt view
Risk assessment templates
Built-in time tracking ability

Limited features
No integrations.
Lacking customer support

Pricing

Free: Free for 3 users
Standard plan: $24.95 per month for 1 user + unlimited guests
Advanced plan: $29.95 per month for 1 user + unlimited guests

GanttPRO

Visit

GanttPRO offers affordable pricing plans and an intuitive interface along with advanced features, making it a great choice for SMBs. With GanttPRO, you’ll be able to plan your project timelines and oversee individual tasks, resources, and your team efficiently.

Features like importing and exporting options, history and baseline mode, and custom and pre-configured templates make it an attractive choice for Gantt management. GanttPRO also offers integrations with common software like Jira Cloud, Slack, and Google Drive.

Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
Affordable and simple pricing structure
History and baseline mode let you save and return to previous project versions

Limited reporting options
Basic integrations only
Limited customer support

Pricing

Individual: $15 per user month (billed annually)
Team: $8.90 per user month (billed annually)

monday.com

Visit

monday.com offers a range of simple but powerful features for small, remote teams. With its easy-to-use interface, this tool makes it simple to design project workflows and handle day-to-day project tasks.

monday.com offers Gantt chart views in all of its plans and customizable workflow templates for different kinds of projects. It offers integrations with a range of other apps so you can streamline your management with ease. Read the full monday.com review for greater insight into it.

Modern user interface (UI) is easy to use and navigate
Highly customizable features
Ideal for managing ongoing work for multiple projects

Confusing pricing of plans
Slow customer support
Best features only available with upper tiers of paid plans

Pricing

Basic: $10/user per month
Standard: $12/user per month
Pro: $20/user per month
Enterprise: Inquire for price

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for How to Use a Gantt Chart

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to use a Gantt chart to plan a project.

How do you use a Gantt chart effectively?

Gantt charts are based on the waterfall model which means all project deadlines and outcomes need to be predetermined. Although modern project management software lets you make changes while a project is in progress, the most effective way to use a Gantt chart is to have all outcomes outlined. Plus, using one of the best project management tools is also essential.

How do you analyze a Gantt chart?

You need to first know how to read a Gantt chart to analyze it. Understand that the bars represent tasks, their length represents their duration, start, and end times, while arrows depict dependencies between tasks. Using this basic information, you can analyze the chart to identify the critical path, conduct workflow analysis, and make your project more manageable by dividing it into sub-projects.

Are Gantt charts the best project management tool?

Gantt charts are only suitable for some projects. Although they have been in use for many decades, this doesn’t mean they’re the best management tool. Remember that they suit projects that are based on the waterfall model where one task must be completed before the next one starts.

Bottom Line – How to Use a Gantt Chart

Gantt charts are a powerful project management tool that lets you map out your project efficiently and have a clear overview of project progression. Creating and using Gantt charts to plan a project is pretty simple and doesn’t involve a lot of technical skills.

Remember that you want to keep things as simple as possible. It’s easy to overcomplicate things with Gantt charts and this is where it starts going downhill. A quality project management software, also known as Gantt chart software, like TeamGantt, GanttPRO, or monday.com can help you use Gantt charts with ease.

May 16, 2022February 22, 2023

10 Best States for Starting a Business – Where to Launch Your Startup

U.S. map showing the worst and best states for starting a business

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 47 million people quit their jobs in 2021. Then, roughly 5.4 million new business applications were filed, a 53% increase from 2019. If you’re thinking about joining this entrepreneurial club, several crucial decisions lie ahead. Below are the best states for starting your business.

The Best States for Starting a Small Business in 2023

Different states use different attributes and statistics to sell themselves as the most business-friendly state. However, we used a wide-ranging and all-inclusive set of factors to level the playing field. We’ve considered several federal and state government reports, independent studies, and responses from real business owners from all over the US to evaluate the best states to launch a startup.

The 10 best states for starting a business in 2023:

Texas – Best Overall
Utah – Best for Business Financing
Montana – Best for Business-friendly Policies
Georgia – Best for Cost of Labor
Florida – Best State for Starting a Business for Tax Purposes
California – Best for Innovation
Oklahoma – Best for Cost of Doing Business
Idaho – Best for Real Estate
North Carolina – Best for Starting an LLC
Delaware – Best for Privacy Protection

1. Texas – Best Overall State to Start a Business

The Lone Star State ranks as the best state for starting a business for its business-friendly performance on all fronts. Texas has seen tremendous economic growth in recent years. An increasing number of new entrepreneurs are emerging in the state every month with an average of 400+ Texans opening a business every day.

It boasts one of the most favorable business climates in the country with no personal or corporate state income taxes. This makes it one of the best states for starting a business for tax purposes. Since Texas is the second-largest state by population, it has no shortage of labor. A large number of cities and universities also guarantee a young and skilled workforce.

Texas has one of the highest business survival rates in the US, a low risk of natural disasters, and a well-developed infrastructure to facilitate business growth. When it comes to drawbacks, starting a business in Texas has only one. The cost of running a business here is higher than in some other states.

2. Utah – Best State to Start a Business for Business Financing

Utah is the second-best state to register your business with a fast-growing working population and a well-developed economy. The Beehive State has a healthy supply of labor, a supportive regulatory environment, and easily accessible business financing. This is why it enjoys the second-highest growth in the number of small businesses. It was also ranked the No.1 state for entrepreneurs in 2020.

Utah is the best state to get money to start your business with plenty of venture capital available. When it comes to fiscal matters, the state is known for its small-business-friendly tax environment. Its individual and corporate income tax rates sit at 4.95% which is relatively lower than most other states.

Just like Texas, Utah isn’t the most affordable when it comes to the cost of labor and the overall cost of doing business. Still, it has excellent consumer spending and its five-year business survival rate of almost 50% speaks for itself.

3. Montana – Best State to Start a Business for Business-Friendly Policies

Also known as the Treasure State, Montana welcomes small businesses with startup-friendly policies, zero state sales tax, and a very good five-year business survival rate of 53.4%. It enjoys a fast-growing economy, reasonable labor costs, and safety from climate disasters.

The 6.75% corporate income tax rate isn’t the best, but it’s not too bad either. Montana doesn’t enjoy as much consumer spending as Texas or Utah, but spending is on the rise. Despite all that, the Big Sky Country’s relaxed regulatory environment and inexpensive property make it the third-best state for starting a business.

4. Georgia – Best State to Start a Business for Cost of Labor

Well-developed infrastructure, a strong economy, and a skilled workforce are the strongest selling points for Georgia, the Empire State of the South. The state government strives to help businesses grow and finance small businesses with ease.

It has one of the highest levels of venture capital available which makes it a great place to go if your startup needs financing. Georgia has easier payroll laws with one of the lowest state minimum hourly wage rates. The Peach state’s individual and corporate income tax rates sit at 5.75% and have a low cost of living, making it a great place to start a business.

5. Florida – Best State for Starting a Business for Tax Purposes

Home to four of the most small business-friendly cities in the country, Jacksonville, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida is fast becoming an SMB heaven. It has no state income tax for individuals and only a reasonable 5.5% corporate income tax rate. Not just that, low rates on some other types of state taxes make it the best state for starting a business for tax purposes.

The rate of new entrepreneurs has steadily risen in recent years, but it’s hard to achieve sustainable growth in Florida. The Sunshine State’s five-year has a 49.5% business survival rate which means more than half of new SMBs will not make it here.

Plus, it has a higher risk of natural disasters. Despite the drawbacks, Florida is still a pretty good option with low labor costs and easy access to capital.

6. California – Best State to Start a Business for Innovation

Home to Silicon Valley, California is at the forefront of technological innovation. Apart from 53 Fortune 500 companies being based in the state, California is great for small businesses too with the second-highest number of new businesses formed.

The Golden State leads in innovation and availability of capital and has a highly skilled workforce. But starting a business in California has its downsides. The cost of doing business here is one of the highest in the country. The corporate tax rate is also very high at 8.84%.

7. Oklahoma – Best State to Start a Business for Cost of Doing Business

Oklahoma has the third-highest business survival rate in the US. Almost 82% of all new businesses survive the first year and almost 50% survive five years. With the lowest cost of doing business in the country, Oklahoma is an excellent option if you want to start a business with limited resources.

The Sooner State has plenty of venture capital available and a relatively longer average workweek which makes it one of the hardest working states in the US. Its weaknesses like a less skilled workforce and lower consumer spending bring it down to no.7 on our list of best states for starting a business.

8. Idaho – Best State to Start a Business for Real Estate

Also crowned as the best state for real estate, Idaho has one of the strongest state economies and most business-friendly policies in the country. It’s a great place to start if your business infrastructure needs a safe physical environment. With a very low risk of natural disasters, the Gem State has vast untapped potential that can act as a booster for your new business.

Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states and offers a healthy supply of skilled labor, good infrastructure, and the regulatory environment isn’t too strict. When it comes to taxes, both personal and corporate income tax rates are 6.93%. The cost of doing business is also a bit higher, placing Idaho toward the lower end of our list.

9. North Carolina – Best State for Starting an LLC

One of the best states to buy investment property, North Carolina has a robust economy, a strong workforce, and plenty of venture capital. Compared to other states on this list, North Carolina may seem an uninteresting choice. But several factors combine to make it a very practical state to start a business.

Apart from low business costs, plenty of labor, and relaxed compliance requirements, NC’s strongest selling point is the ease of starting an LLC in the state. At 2.5%, the state’s corporate income tax rate is one of the lowest in the country. The individual income tax rate, however, is not as low sitting at 5.25%.

10. Delaware – Best State to Start a Business for Privacy Protection

Technically, Delaware isn’t the most small-business-friendly state. However, many new entrepreneurs prefer registering their business here for a range of reasons. First, the state of Delaware doesn’t require LLCs to provide member names and addresses in their public filings.

Filing an LLC here makes sure your information stays private. This is also why many businesses prefer getting a Delaware-based registered agent service.

The First State also offers asset protection from lawsuits. It doesn’t have any sales tax, however, the corporate and individual income tax rates are pretty high at 8.7% and 6.6%, respectively. Apart from a strong state economy, Delaware doesn’t have much to offer. It still can be your top choice if you prioritize privacy and asset protection.

5 Worst States for Starting a Business

While we’re at it, we might as well discuss the worst states for starting a business in 2023, and why. We used the same set of factors to evaluate the worst states for doing business as we did for the best ones.

46. New York – High Costs of Living

New York has one of the highest costs of living not just in the US, but in the world. The state is also known for its high taxes with an individual income tax rate of 8.82% and a corporate rate of 6.5%.

Of course, the high costs of living also translate into the high costs of doing business in the Empire State. Starting a business in New York will cost you dearly, but there’s a silver lining because with high risk comes high reward.

47. Vermont – Aging Workforce

Vermont has very high tax rates with corporate and individual tax rates at 8.5% and 8.75%, respectively. Plus, finding financing in this state is like finding a needle in a haystack. Vermont suffers from a labor problem as the state has an increasingly aging workforce.

All in all, launching a startup in Vermont is a long shot. But you still have a chance at success as almost half of all new businesses survive five years in this state.

48. New Jersey – Worst State for Tax Purposes

With numerous higher education institutions based in New Jersey, its workforce has great potential. However, the tax rates in this state are even higher than in its neighboring state of NY. It has an individual tax rate of 10.75% and corporate at 9%. The cost of doing business is very high too as the highly skilled workforce demands high compensation to afford a living in the Garden State.

49. Hawaii – High Cost of Doing Business

Hawaii is beautiful, but it’s not a great place to start a business. The Aloha State has seen the highest one-year business failure rate with 25.4% of businesses not making it past 12 months. Coming across skilled labor is difficult as the remote island state lacks educational facilities.

Though the cost of labor is reasonable, acquiring raw materials and other costs associated with running a business touch the sky. Tax rates are also unreasonably higher than most other states. We would only recommend running a business here if it’s in the tourism industry or something that your area absolutely needs.

50. Rhode Island – Worst Overall

Rhode Island is the worst state to start a business. It has the oldest infrastructure in the country, expensive real estate, high labor wages, and a poor economy. The cost of living, and proportionately the cost of doing business is also very high in the Ocean State.

Less than half of all new businesses survive the first five years in Rhode Island. As the smallest state with a population of just over a million, the supply of labor is diminishing. It also faces diminishing consumer spending, making it a bad choice for starting a new business.

How We Ranked the Best & Worst States for Starting a Business

Ranking states on their suitability for starting a new business involves several factors varying in weightage. Before we get to them, it’s important to mention that different entrepreneurs have different preferences. While you might prioritize a low cost of labor, another business owner would prefer privacy protection or cheap real estate.

The ultimate decision on where to establish your business depends on what you find important. That said, here’s the list of factors we looked at while evaluating the best and worst states for starting a small business.

Tax rates: The taxes you pay directly impact the profitability of your business. Higher individual and income tax rates make it difficult to reinvest and grow your business.
Business survival rate: Statistics speak for themselves. This simple percentage gives a rough estimate of how likely a new business is to succeed in a state.
Workforce: A young and skilled workforce is crucial to the business environment in a state. A growing workforce also results in lower costs of labor.
Regulatory environment: Each state’s policies determine how it welcomes new businesses to open their doors. While some states go easy on small businesses, some make it unnecessarily difficult to set up shop.
Cost of doing business: Business costs are the single most important factor when it comes to business profitability. A business that can’t cover its expenses is likely to fail soon after launching.
Risk of natural disasters: Last but not least, you always want to consider how safe your investment is in the face of unexpected events. Climate change has put the United States at a higher risk of natural disasters, and some states are more disaster-prone than others.

Bottom Line on the Best States for Starting a Business

We rank Texas, Utah, and Montana as the top three best states for starting a business. Rhode Island is on the other extreme end of the spectrum as the worst state to launch your startup.

We considered several factors while preparing this guide. We studied federal and state government reports, independent studies, and responses from real business owners to acquire information. However, your ultimate decision on where to start your business depends on what you find the most important factor.

May 16, 2022November 23, 2022

9 of the Best Registered Agent Services in 2023

Appointing a registered agent is one of the first steps in forming an LLC, incorporation, or non-profit organization. Although you can be your own registered agent, using a professional service is a much better choice. But how do you choose one?

We’ve compiled some of the best registered agent services along with their features, pros, cons, and pricing in this detailed buyer’s guide. This way, you can compare all the best service providers in one place and make your decision with ease.

Best Registered Agent Services – Expert Picks

Northwest Registered Agent – Best Overall
ZenBusiness – Best for Cost Value
IncFile – Free LLC Formation and Registered Agent Service
Harbor Compliance – Best for Multiple Years Package
MyCompanyWorks – Best for Best for Positive Customer Reviews
Inc Authority – Free Registered Agent Service for a Year
LegalZoom – Best for Brand Popularity
Rocket Lawyer – Best for Data Security
Swyft Filings – Best for Fast Turn-around

Northwest Registered Agent

$125/year

24 years+

ZenBusiness

$99/year

7 years+

+50/year

IncFile

$119/year

18 years+

Harbor Compliance

$99/year

10 years+

MyCompanyWorks

$99/year

21 years+

LegalZoom

$299/year

23 years+

+$69/year (Compliance Calendar)

Rocket Lawyer

$149/year

14 years+

Swyft Filings

$149/year

14 years+

*Pricing indicates the starting price per state for standard registered agent services

Northwest Registered Agent: Best Overall

Pricing: Plans starting at $125/year

4.7

★★★★★

Visit

Northwest Registered Agent, at its core, is a registered agent service and has been providing its services in the market ever since 1998. Over the years, it has developed a reputation for providing industry-leading customer service for all 52 jurisdictions in the US.

Northwest is known for its slogan “We’re just not annoying.” Its robust customer service, same-day mail scanning, quick turnaround times, transparent pricing, and service standards are in accordance with what they market. When you purchase Northwest’s registered agent service, you also get annual compliance filing at no extra cost.

This registered agent service provider scans all documents locally on the day of delivery so you can have an electronic copy of them as soon as possible. Unlike other services, it also scans and forwards you regular mail not just service of process and government correspondence documents. You can also get quality business formation services in addition to other add-ons like mail forwarding and virtual office services.

Northwest places special emphasis on its customers’ privacy. It promises to never sell your data and will use its own registered offices’ address wherever possible. This way, it helps reduce exposure to your personal information as much as possible. You can read our complete Northwest Registered Agent review to find out more about it.

Why we chose it: Northwest provides you with a premium registered agent service at a very reasonable price. Plus, it trumps its competitors when it comes to customer service. To learn more about the services and pricing, read the Northwest Registered Agent review.

Highly-rated customer service
Experienced vendor
Mail forwarding and virtual officer service available

Slightly expensive

Pricing:

Northwest Registered Agent service costs $125 per state per year. This includes annual compliance filing and phone service at no additional cost. If you want the service for more than five states, the cost then drops down to $100 per state per year. Prices for additional relevant services are

Mail forwarding: $40/month
US virtual office service: $49/month

ZenBusiness: Best Registered Agent Service for the Value

Pricing: Plans starting at $99/year

4.5

★★★★★

Visit

ZenBusiness is one of the best LLC services that offers a high-quality registered agent service for one of the lowest prices on the market. This makes it a very attractive option. ZenBusiness’ registered agent service is an excellent choice for small business owners who are looking for a mix of services to get their business up and running.

Founded in 2015, ZenBusiness is one of the newcomers to this arena but it’s by no means lacking in experience or reliability. This service offers an attractive package if you need LLC formation too. If you form your LLC with ZenBusiness, you get the registered agent service free for the first year, but the recurring fee is $119 annually after the first year.

It 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.

Apart from basic registered agent services like receiving and scanning documents, you can also get annual report filing from ZenBusiness for a total cost of $149 per year. Experts at ZenBusiness are well aware of all the specific requirements for creating annual reports for all states. This makes the annual report filing feature particularly useful for business owners who are not experienced in compliance filing.

Why we chose it: ZenBusiness offers a top-of-the-line registered agent service for some of the lowest rates in the market. That along with its predominantly positive customer reviews make it a reliable option. To learn more about the services and pricing, read the ZenBusiness review.

Inexpensive option
Transparent pricing
Free registered agent service with LLC formation

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

Pricing:

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

IncFile: Free LLC Formation and Registered Agent Service

Pricing: Plans starting at $119/year

4.2

★★★★★

Visit

IncFile has been around since 2004 and has helped thousands of businesses with its formation and registered agent services. We recommend IncFile for business owners on a very tight budget as you can get free business formation if you’re willing to put in some extra work.

Plus, Incfile also offers a complete and easy-to-use registered agent service for all states free for the first year. You’re looking at a virtually free business registration, all you have to pay is the state fees.

With IncFile’s registered agent service, you get a convenient online dashboard that you can use to track and access important documents. Plus, it also sends you email and SMS notifications to keep you informed.

Customer service is an important factor when evaluating a registered agent service, and IncFile performs reasonably well in this regard. It offers both phone and email support and has relatively quick response times.

Why we chose it: IncFile’s free business formation and registered agent service for the first year make it a top choice for any business owner who’s on a tight budget. Its registered agent service, albeit lacking in features, offers good basic functionality. To learn more about the services and pricing, read the IncFile review.

Free business formation for one year
User-friendly
Good customer service

Registered agent service lacks additional features
No annual compliance filing
Refund and cancellation policies not easily accessible

Pricing: The registered agent service is free for the first year if you opt for a business formation package with IncFile. If you only need a registered agent service, it’ll cost you $119 per year.

Harbor Compliance: Best for Multiple Years Package

Pricing: Plans starting at $99/year

4.1

★★★★★

Visit

As the name suggests, Harbor Compliance helps businesses with compliance requirements and government licensing. Apart from an impressive registered agent service, it also helps companies with entity management, tax registration, and nonprofit formation. If you’re looking to get a service for two years or more, Harbor Compliance gives you 5-10% off on the total service fee.

The registered agent service packs a punch for a very affordable annual fee. Harbor Compliance has a transparent pricing structure and clearly defines all the services you’d get for the money you pay.

You get advanced features like same-day electronic delivery, pre-filled state forms, customizable notifications, and annual report notices with Harbor Compliance’s registered agent service. Plus, this service is powered by their advanced compliance software which brings all the information you need under one client dashboard. Note that Harbor Compliance can’t help you with business formation except 501(C) nonprofit registration such as 501c3 nonprofits.

Why we chose it: Harbor Compliance offers one of the best registered agent services that’s prompt and can handle complexity for an affordable price tag. Plus, if you need the service for multiple years, you can also get a further reduction in the price.

Same-day electronic delivery
Annual compliance filing notices
Affordable pricing

No LLC formation service
Other services are expensive
Lack of industry experience

Pricing: Annual fees starting from $99 per year per state. No additional charges are involved. You only have to pay once per year for ongoing access to its local office and online compliance software. If you buy the service for more than two years at once, you can get a 5-10% discount.

MyCompanyWorks: Best for Positive Customer Feedback

Pricing: Plans starting at $99/year

4.0

★★★★★

Visit

MyCompanyWorks is an established company that has helped thousands of businesses get registered. It offers a range of services from business formation to business management assistance including business licenses, virtual office, and name change services.

MyCompanyWorks offers one of the most affordable registered agent services which is topped off with responsive customer service. This service provider enjoys a good reputation among its customers as a vast majority of its customer reviews share positive feedback.

This registered agent service helps you ensure statutory compliance with ease. In case you want to move your business to another service provider, you can do so with no forms to fill or fees to pay. You can also easily update your forwarding address online. Note that MyCompanyWork’s business formation services are not the best so it’s good as long as you use it only as a registered agent service.

Why we chose it: MyCompanyWorks offers a quality registered agent service at a very affordable price. It’s straightforward with the pricing structure and is a great choice if you need registered agent services only. Read our in-depth review on MyCompanyWorks to learn more about this registered agent service.

Excellent customer service
Positive customer feedback
Affordable price

Registered agent service only available with top-tier business formation package
Lacks additional features
Below par business formation services

Pricing: Registered agent service costs $99 per year. But this only includes electronic document delivery. But you will have to pay extra to get mail delivered to you in person.

Delivery via 1st Class Mail: $9
FedEx Air Delivery: $35
USPS International Shipping: $89

Inc Authority: Best Free Registered Agent Service for a Year

Pricing: Plans starting at $0

3.5

★★★★★

Visit

Based in Reno, Nevada, Inc Authority is one of the oldest players in the online legal space. It has been offering its services since 1989 and has helped thousands of businesses over the years. Hence, it has plenty of experience in business formation and registered agent services.

The most remarkable aspect of Inc Authority’s registered agent service is its price. You can get it completely free of cost for one full year, and you don’t have to purchase a business formation plan for that. But even if you do, know that Inc Authority also offers its LLC service for free.

You will however have to pay $179 per year for its registered agent service after the first year. This makes it one of the more expensive service providers and it doesn’t offer as many features for this price tag. For instance, you only get your government and legal documents delivered to you, and some updates on important documents.

Why we chose it: Inc Authority is an experienced legal service provider and its free plans make it an attractive choice for entrepreneurs who don’t want to spend much on business registration. Read our review on Inc Authority to find out if it’s the right choice for you.

Free registered agent services for one year
Simple-to-use checkout process
Responsive and supportive customer service

Very limited features
Pricing is not transparent
Expensive registered agent service after one year

Pricing: Free for the first year. But after the first year, billing resumes at $179 per year for the registered agent service.

LegalZoom: Best Registered Agent Service for Brand Popularity

Pricing: Plans starting at $299/year

3.0

★★★★★

Visit

LegalZoom is one of the most popular names in the online legal space and has more than 23 years of industry experience under its belt. It’s a reliable registered agent service just because of the brand which is known to provide a wide range of legal services to thousands of happy clients.

Its ridiculously high price is the only reason why we’ve ranked LegalZoom sixth. If it was priced anywhere under the $150 mark, it would’ve been right up there with the likes of Northwest Registered Agent and IncFile. LegalZoom offers quality registered agent services and brings you features like unlimited cloud storage for business documents and $1M in identity theft protection.

If you’re an entrepreneur willing to spend an extra buck to work with a highly credible and well-known legal brand, LegalZoom may work for you. But we won’t recommend it because you can easily find the same kind of service for a much better price. Plus, LegalZoom doesn’t offer a free registered agent service for one year with a business formation plan. Read our LegalZoom review to learn more about it.

Why we chose it: Although LegalZoom’s registered agent services cost way more than others in this buyers’ guide, they still are part of the race for their credibility and brand popularity. Plus, you can also get a plethora of other legal services from this vendor. To learn more about the services and pricing, read the LegalZoom review.

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

More expensive than alternatives
Compliance Calendar costs extra
Excessive upsells

Pricing: LegalZoom’s RA service costs $299 annually, making it one of the most expensive options available. Not only that, essential features like the Compliance Calendar that help you stay up-to-date with all upcoming filing deadlines cost extra. You have to pay $69 for the compliance calendar. This takes the total cost of a registered agent plus annual compliance filing above the $370 mark.

Rocket Lawyer: Best for Data Security

Pricing: Plans starting at $149.99/year

3.0

★★★★★

Visit

Established in 2008, Rocket Lawyer is a high-quality legal services provider that has helped millions of customers since it got into business. With a fairly large customer base, Rocket Lawyer enjoys vastly positive customer feedback which makes it a credible service provider in the industry.

Rocket Lawyer prioritizes security and employs advanced measures to help keep confidential documents safe. Their website is covered by Norton Web Security at all times which keeps it safe from malware and other vulnerabilities to prevent your information falling into the wrong hands. It also encrypts all data transmissions as an extra security layer.

It offers a quality registered agent service along with a range of legal services including contract preparation, business formation, and review and consultations with experienced attorneys. When it comes to the registered agent service alone, you can expect it to offer all the basic RA features including a client portal, cloud storage, and email notifications for important documents received.

But Rocket Lawyer lacks features like same-day electronic delivery, annual compliance filing, and phone notifications. Nevertheless, it still enjoys a good standing among its customers. Albeit its registered agent service alone costs more than it should, Rocket Lawyer’s main selling point is its ongoing premium package where you get legal document and attorney services plus 25% off on the registered agent service.

Why we chose it: If you’re looking for ongoing legal help, Rocket Lawyer is an excellent choice for you. Plus, you can avail of its quality registered agent service with a 25% discount if you go with the premium plan. Most importantly, we chose Rocket Lawyer because of its emphasis on security and advanced measures to keep your documents safe. Read the Rocket Lawyer review to learn more about the services and pricing.

Offer a full suite of legal services
Massive customer base
Money-back guarantee available

Expensive option
Doesn’t have same-day delivery

Pricing: The standalone registered agent service costs $149.99 per year. The premium legal services plan costs $39.99 per month. If you subscribe to that, you get 25% off on the registered agent service, bringing it down to $112 per year.

Swyft Filings: Best Registered Agent Services for Fast Turnaround

Pricing: Plans start at $149/year

2.5

★★★★★

Visit

Swyft Filings is relatively new to the online legal space, but they have a considerable customer volume. This is mainly because of their highly affordable services that are topped off with quick turnaround times. But we can’t say the same about its registered agent service.

Swyft Filings offers an average registered agent service that’s overpriced for the limited features it includes. Still, it’s a part of this list because of the overall good standing of the service provider. Swyft Filings is known for the fastest turnaround times in the industry, but we are yet to see if their registered agent service aligns with their reputation.

This service includes basic features such as an online dashboard for you to view official documents as soon as they’re uploaded, compliance assurance reminders, and privacy protection.

Why we chose it: Swyft Filings is a quickly-growing service provider with fast and responsive customer service. It’s got strong customer reviews and offers cheap business formation services.

Quick turnaround times
Positive customer reviews
Offers online dashboard

Expensive registered agent service
Limited features

Pricing: Plans starting at $149 per year. This includes electronic delivery and 1st class shipping.

Methodology for the Best Registered Agent Service

We understand that choosing the right registered agent service for new business owners isn’t the most straightforward choice. Most new entrepreneurs aren’t aware of what a registered agent is, what it does, and what factors to consider when appointing one for their business. In this section, we’ll briefly discuss the factors we considered while creating this buyers’ guide.

Pricing: Your budget is the first and foremost thing to consider when choosing a registered agent service. We understand a registered agent service is usually an unexpected expense for business owners, and most are vary about purchasing the service for a whole year upfront. This is why we gave pricing more weightage than any other factor.
Industry experience: Reliability is a defining factor when it comes to choosing a resident agent. The more experienced a vendor is, the more trustable they are with your business’ official documents.
Same-day electronic delivery: This is an important feature as you’d want to get a digital copy of every document as quickly as possible so you can take the required actions straight away. Services that don’t offer same-day electronic delivery of documents deprive their customers of an important decision-making window.
Customer service: Getting a registered agent service seems simple, but you will always have questions. Services with responsive and helpful customer support perform better than those that don’t.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Registered Agent Services

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions people ask about the best registered agent services.

What are the advantages of registered agent services?

With a registered agent service handling your official documents for you, you can save a lot of time. You can protect your privacy as your contact details will not be publicly listed. It also gives you greater flexibility as you don’t have to be available at your registered office during all business hours.

What services does a registered agent provide?

A registered agent receives and manages all official mail for your business including tax, legal, and compliance notices. The agent delivers these documents to you digitally and through physical mail. It also helps you with filing annual compliance reports.

How much does it cost to hire a registered agent?

The cost of hiring a registered agent depends on what service provider you choose. The price ranges from $99 per year all the way to $299 per year. The average cost of hiring a registered agent is $125 per year.

Bottom Line on the Best Registered Agent Services

You’ll find numerous registered agent services out there and quite frankly, it’s very easy for new business owners to commit to the wrong deal. Always be well informed about all the top service providers and the deals they offer, especially when it comes to long-term commitments like getting a registered agent.

Northwest Registered Agent is our top pick for their reasonable pricing, long-standing industry experience, and unmatched customer service. It also provides business formation services and annual compliance filing.

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 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.