24/7 Access to Online Corporate Status Center
With BizFilings' password-protected Online Corporate Status Center you have secure, 24/7 access to your account to:
Preliminary Name Check
We conduct a preliminary name check in the state where you wish to form your business to determine if your desired name is already in use in that state. In order to facilitate this process, we ask for two name choices on our order form. Please note, this is a preliminary name check. Final approval of your desired name is granted by the proper state authority upon submission of your formation document(s).
Preparation and Filing of Formation Document(s)
BizFilings prepares your company's formation document(s) and files the paperwork with the appropriate state agency in your selected state of formation.
The state approval process and turnaround time varies by state. Completion time is typically 10 business days with our Standard and Complete Packages, which includes our Expedited Processing Service. Non-expedited orders typically take 4-6 weeks.
With BizFilings, once we receive your approved formation document(s) from the state, you will have 24/7 access to a scanned copy in your Online Corporate Status Center account. We then immediately ship the original document(s) to you via standard mail, FedEx 2Day or FedEx Overnight, depending on the formation package ordered.
Six Months Free Registered Agent Service (Including BizComply)
Most states require businesses to have a registered agent in the state where the business is formed. The registered agent must have a physical address in the state of formation and must be available during normal business hours.
The registered agent is responsible for receiving important legal and tax documents including notice of litigation (service of process), franchise tax forms and annual report forms. Prompt and accurate handling of these documents is imperative, as not addressing them in a timely manner can have significant adverse consequences for your business.
BizFilings offers registered agent service in all 50 states. Selecting BizFilings as your registered agent not only ensures prompt and efficient handling of important documents but also helps your business stays compliant with state requirements. Select BizFilings to serve as registered agent for your business and receive the first six months of service free. The annual fee thereafter is only $149.
BizComply - Online Compliance Tool As a BizFilings registered agent client, you receive free access to BizComply - an online compliance tool created to assist you with meeting the state-imposed requirements and regulations corporations face, which are often overlooked by business owners after the company formation process is complete.
S Corporation Election Form Preparation
In order to elect S corporation status for your corporation, you must file a Subchapter S election (Form 2553) with the IRS. BizFilings prepares Form 2553 and sends this document to you along with your company's state-approved formation document(s). You will then need to sign and mail this form to the IRS, using the pre-addressed envelope provided by BizFilings. This service is included with all of our S corporation formation packages.
Expedited Processing Service
Expedited Processing Service speeds the turn-around time for the completion of your order. BizFilings prioritizes your order over non-expedited orders, and utilizes all standard expediting services offered by the state in which you are filing (state-level expediting fees may apply). Documents are sent to and received from the state using same-day or overnight delivery methods. When the process is complete, BizFilings ships documents to you using express delivery. Only our RUSH service (an add-on available in 18 states) completes the process faster.
Corporate Kit and Seal
Corporations are subject to a number of initial and ongoing formalities after the formation is complete. BizFilings' corporate kit includes the tools to make keeping your company compliant with state-imposed rules and regulations easy. BizFilings' corporate kit includes:
Tax ID (EIN) Number Obtainment Service
Businesses are required to have a Federal Tax ID Number, also called an employer identification number or EIN. With BizFilings' Federal Tax ID (EIN) Number Service, we will obtain your company's Federal Tax ID (EIN) Number from the IRS once your business formation is approved by the state. The typical turn-around time for this service is 4 - 5 business days after we receive the required signature.
BizFilings will accept the signature required to obtain your EIN electronically. On the order form, you will be asked to grant BizFilings permission to file the EIN application with the IRS. Granting this permission will allow BizFilings the ability to process your EIN application quickly and more efficiently than the alternative of mailing you the application form for signature.
In order to obtain the EIN for your business, you must provide your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). If you do not have an SSN you must obtain an ITIN from the IRS prior to being able to apply for the EIN for your business. To obtain an ITIN from the IRS, you must complete IRS Form W-7 and mail it to the IRS. BizFilings does not assist with the preparation of Form W-7 or the obtainment of the ITIN.
S Corporation (2553) Obtainment Service Upgrade
BizFilings can file your S corporation election with the IRS. This service is offered to corporations that are electing December 31 as the tax year-end. Corporations electing a fiscal tax year will need to file on their own, or with the help of their attorney or accountant.
S corporation status is granted after Form 2553 is completed, filed in a timely fashion with and approved by the IRS. BizFilings facilitates this process on your behalf, after your formation documents are filed at the state level.
To obtain S corporation status on your company's behalf, BizFilings will send you, along with your company's state-approved formation document(s), a partially completed application including instructions on how to fully complete the document. Once the completed application is returned to us, we will oversee the filing process with the IRS.
The election process takes approximately three months, according to the IRS instructions. We will notify you immediately after receiving communication from the IRS about your corporation's Subchapter S status.
Compliance DVD: After the Inc Dries
This informational DVD will help guide you through the basic ongoing requirements imposed on corporations by the state of formation. After the Inc Dries was created to help walk you through your corporate kit and to provide further explanation of the sample documents included in order to assist you with complying with these requirements.
Certified Copy of Formation Document
BizFilings will obtain a Certified Copy of your company's formation document(s). The Certified Copy is an additional document issued by the state of formation, which further authenticates the original formation document(s). Small business owners often need this document to open a bank account.
Overnight Shipping of Formation Document(s)
BizFilings will ship your company's state-approved formation document(s) using FedEx Overnight. In cases where the Certified Copy document is not included with the state-approved formation document(s), BizFilings will ship the Certified Copy via FedEx Overnight. In some states, the Certified Copy can be shipped up to two weeks after the actual formation document(s).
BizFilings' Ultimate Business Planner
BizFilings' Ultimate Business Planner guides you through each business-planning step quickly and easily. Developed for entrepreneurs by small-business experts and small-business owners, Ultimate Business Planner simplifies the process of writing a business plan and gives you expert advice, tips, and hints based on proven business practices. Its easy-to-use, step-by-step approach breaks down the process of writing a business plan into two main sections -- forecasting your financials and writing your plan.
Business License Application Package
Business licenses and permits are mandatory for most businesses. With this service, we research the state and local licensing requirements for your business type and location. Our research covers:
We then provide you with a package that contains:
This package does not cover personal licenses issued to professionals.
The Business License Application Package covers one state, county and city. To place orders for additional states, counties and/or cities, contact our customer service team.
Highly-regulated industries may incur additional charges. In these cases, a member of our customer service team will contact you before proceeding with your Business License Application Package.
Rush Filing Service
As the quickest way to form your business, BizFilings offers a Rush Filing Service option to gain state approval of your formation in 24 to 48-hours. This option can be added to any of our formation service packages in this state.
Delaware Mail Forwarding Service
BizFilings partners with Easy Corp Ltd., a commercial mail receiving agency, to provide Mail Forwarding Service in Delaware. You pay BizFilings the fee for your first 12 months of Mail Forwarding Service, but contract directly with Easy Corp Ltd.
Delaware Mail Forwarding Service includes:
