In this review, we will cut to the chase and go over what you really need to know about Swyft Filings, such as:
- The true pricing of Swyft Filings’ LLC formation service
- Turnaround times for LLC formation and incorporation with Swyft Filings
- Swyft Filings’ reliability, customer feedback, customer support offerings, and more
Plus, we’ll provide clear explanations of the many other relevant, formation-related services that they offer.
Below is a quick summary of our findings. Further down, you’ll find our more comprehensive review, which details our conclusions and also explains everything you need to know about Swyft Filings.
December 2021 Update:
We have been made aware that Swyft Filings have increased their registered agent pricing from $149 per year to $149 every three months. The total cost is now $596/year.
For reference, registered agent services typically cost around $100/year.
Swyft Filings have not made us aware of this change. It is also not reflected anywhere on their website or during checkout as of the time of writing. Several of our readers have been misled.
We are withdrawing our recommendation for Swyft Filings. Please check out our current rankings for LLC formation services here.
Is Swyft Filings Right for You?
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Pricing:
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Turnaround Time:
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Help & Support:
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Customer Satisfaction:
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Ease of Use:
Scoring Weights: Pricing (2x), Turnaround Time (2x) and Customer Satisfaction (1.5x) have been given additional weights in our scoring.
Swyft Filings ranks #7 out of 13 in our Best LLC Service & Incorporation rankings.
Check out our Northwest review, our #1 pick for most small business owners in 2023.
With its flexible pricing model and quick turnaround times, Swyft Filings can be a decent option for certain basic LLC formations or incorporations. Despite only being in business since 2015, they have earned several thousand positive reviews from satisfied customers.
Unfortunately, Swyft Filings does not offer a service as comprehensive as some of their competitors. They rely heavily on partner companies to fill in the gaps, like with their registered agent service. Furthermore, at $596 per year, their registered agent offer is excessively priced, costing several times more than other comparable services.
We consider a quality registered agent service to be a vital component of a full LLC formation package. This is why we cannot recommend Swyft Filings to the majority of business owners. Swyft Filings can be an acceptable choice only for certain basic LLC formations without a registered agent service.
Visit SwyftFilings.com for more information, or continue reading our review to discover how we arrived at our conclusions.
Swyft Filings Quick Overview
Swyft Filings LLC is a company specializing in the formation of limited liability companies, corporations, and non-profit organizations. They can help entrepreneurs and small business owners by handling the entire business formation process. Swyft Filings serves both US-based and non-US residents.
According to their LinkedIn page, Swyft Filings is based out of Houston, Texas. Founded in 2015, the company is younger than many competitors, such as Nolo. It is currently led by media, technology, and commercial litigation attorney Travis Crabtree.
A medium-sized, privately-held company with between 50 and 200 employees, Swift Filings aims to set itself apart from the competition by offering very quick turnaround times, affordable and flexible pricing options, and an easily-reachable customer service staff.
Swyft Filings offers multiple service packages for the creation of new business entities, such as LLCs, corporations, and non-profit organizations. They provide some of these services directly and provide others through agreements with partner companies.
Their many services include:
- Formation of new business entities, including business name verification and all necessary interactions and filings with the relevant state authorities
- Helping with the required initial IRS paperwork (e.g., obtaining an EIN)
- Providing you with customized, commonly-used legal documents, such as Operating Agreements or banking resolutions
- Helping you maintain your good standing with the government authorities by alerting you of due dates for important obligations, such as annual reports
- Aiding you in setting up your business’s initial online presence through website building, web hosting, and domain name registration
- … as well as other services aimed at new businesses.
You can check out our Swyft Filings services section further down in this article for a more in-depth explanation of what this company can offer you and your business.
As with many competitors in the field, Swyft Filings can help answer some of your basic legal and tax questions. Nevertheless, they are not a law or accounting firm and cannot give personalized legal or tax advice or represent you in any such matters.
Swyft Filings Pricing
We have listed the most important services offered by Swyft Filings in the table below.
Service | Basic ($49) | Standard ($149) | Premium ($299) |
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Basic LLC Filing | Included | Included | Included |
Registered Agent | $596/yr | $596/yr | $596/yr |
Obtain EIN | $70 | Included | Included |
Operating Agreement | $35 | Included | Included |
Banking Resolution | $30 | Included | Included |
Express Filing | Cost Varies by state | Cost Varies by state | Included |
Website building | Unavailable | Unavailable | Included |
Tip: All services except website building can be added to lower-priced tiers. State fees are not included in the pricing shown.
Like many competitors in the LLC formation business, Swyft Filings allows customers to choose between three differently-priced tiers – Basic, Standard, and Premium. In addition, they also give you the flexibility to add individual products to the various tiers without having to buy into a more expensive tier.
Unlike many other competitors, Swyft Filings does not include a registered agent service in any of their formation packages. They do offer such a service during sign-up; however, with a total annual price of $596, this service is several times more expensive than comparable offers from other companies.
Swyft Filings Basic: $49 + state fees
This is the most affordable LLC formation package offered by Swyft Filings. It includes a bare-bones LLC formation service along with a business name availability check to ensure your LLC formation goes through smoothly.
This tier also includes the following three services:
A 30-minute tax consultation: Swyft Filings has partnered with an accounting firm to provide their customers with a consultation regarding the optimization of their LLC’s taxation and accounting.
Swyft Filings doesn’t mention who their partner is, but some digging on our part shows that they have partnered with 1-800Accountant, a virtual accounting firm headquartered in New York. You are not required to participate in this consultation if you don’t want to.
ComplianceGuard Company Alerts: This is a tool that Swyft Filings provides to their customers to ensure that their companies remain compliant with all state filing requirements, such as annual report obligations.
A free domain name (URL) for your company: A domain name is required if you would like to establish a web presence for your company. Swyft Filings includes a free one-year registration of a domain name of your choice. Note that after the one-year term expires, you will have to pay for the ongoing domain name registration yourself. Otherwise, you will lose access to it.
After your LLC formation is completed, you will have access to your incorporation or formation documents through your account dashboard on Swyft Filing’s website.
By default, this package includes a regular state LLC filing instead of an expedited filing. In most states, this translates into a processing time of one to two weeks. If you need your LLC to be formed a bit quicker, you can pay an extra fee for expedited filing. The additional cost and exact filing time depend on the state.
You always have the choice to add products or services from higher tiers if you opt for the Basic package.
Swyft Filings Standard: $149 + state fees
The Swyft Filings Standard package is well-rounded and includes most of the features that business owners need when forming a new LLC, with the notable exception of a registered agent service.
It includes everything from the Basic package, plus the following services:
Federal tax identification number (EIN) filing: Swyft Filings can take care of the necessary paperwork in order to obtain an employer identification number from the Internal Revenue Service on your behalf.
The majority of LLCs in the United States are required to have such a number. We go into more detail about what an EIN is and why you probably don’t need this service further down in this article.
Customizable legal documents: Most LLCs will need certain key documents, such as an Operating Agreement and a banking resolution, as soon as they are formed. Swyft Filings includes these documents in the Standard pricing tier. You can customize these documents and download them through Swyft Filings’ website.
As with the Basic package, the processing time for most states will be between one and two weeks. You can pay an additional fee for expedited filing.
Swyft Filings Premium: $299 + state fees
The Swyft Filings Premium package is the most comprehensive option for your LLC formation. It’s also the most expensive.
The Premium package includes expedited LLC filing at no additional cost for many (but not all) states. This means that in most states, you can expect your LLC to be formed in one to five days. In some states, such as Florida, you will still have to pay an extra fee for the fastest filing option.
In addition to the services from the previous two tiers, the Premium package includes:
A customized digital LLC kit: It includes a customized seal, 20 stock certificates, and an ownership ledger. None of these products are required when forming a new LLC.
A free business website and web hosting: Swyft Filings has partnered with a web development company to provide customers with a website builder that lets them quickly establish a website and e-commerce store for new businesses.
Swyft Filings’ web pages do not clearly state who their partner is, but our research shows that this service is provided by Rocketbuildr. The service includes three months of web hosting for free, after which you will have to cover the ongoing cost of web hosting.
Rocketbuildr advertises a monthly cost of $25/mo on their website. Note that this service is not available as an add-on with the lower-tier packages.
Swyft Filings vs. Competitors’ Pricing
Below, you’ll find our table that compares Swyft Filing’s formation prices with those of its main competitors.
Prices quoted in this table are independent of Swyft Filing’s package pricings. They are standardized for comparison with competitors.
We define Basic Formation and Full Formation below the table.
Service | Formation only | Full Formation | Rating |
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Northwest Registered Agent | $29 | $29 | ★★★★★ |
ZenBusiness | $0 | $324 | ★★★★☆ |
LegalZoom | $79 | $427 | ★★★☆☆ |
Swyft Filings | $49 | $545 | ★★★☆☆ |
Rocket Lawyer | $100 | $290 | ★★★★☆ |
Formation only: Covers the essential business entity formation. Includes – at minimum – filing formation articles with your chosen state’s secretary of state office.
We recommend this level of service to experienced business owners, who do not need an operating agreement and can serve as their LLC’s registered agent.
Full Formation: Additionally includes – at minimum – a custom operating agreement and one year of registered agent service, which most new owners will find essential.
Are you looking for a more in-depth comparison between Swyft Filings and some of their competitors?
Check out these summaries, or read our full service comparisons in their respective articles.
Swyft Filings vs. ZenBusiness
Compared to most other services, Swyft Filings offers reasonable prices for basic formations without a registered agent service and above-average turnaround times. However, ZenBusiness matches or exceeds the performance of Swyft Filings while also costing significantly less.
Plus, Swyft Filings provides many of its services via third parties and upsells a lot of unnecessary add-on services – we prefer ZenBusiness’s more streamlined approach.
Check out our Swyft Filings vs. ZenBusiness article for a full comparison.
Swyft Filings vs. Incfile
Incfile performs well in the pricing category – their free formation package is unmatched by Swyft Filings. But in most other regards, Swyft Filings comes out ahead.
Swyft Filings offers significantly better turnaround times and does a better job of providing customer support than Incfile. Finally, Swyft Filings scores much better on customer review platforms – Incfile has only a few hundred reviews and mostly poor ratings.
Check out our Incfile vs. Swyft Filings article for a full comparison.
Swyft Filings vs. LegalZoom
Swyft Filings’ LLC formation service is simultaneously faster and more affordable than LegalZoom’s. Forming an LLC with LegalZoom can end up costing double what you would pay when using Swyft Filings.
Still, other services can get the job done even faster than either of these companies.
Check out our Swyft Filings vs. LegalZoom article for a full comparison.
Which bundle is the best value for money?
The Swyft Filings’ Basic package scores quite well in terms of value. Provided that you are not in too much of a hurry, it can be a great and affordable option for your business’s formation.
The Basic package is particularly attractive if you take advantage of the included add-ons, such as the free domain name or Swyft Filings’ alert tool. We would recommend adding an Operating Agreement to the package, as this key service is not included.
The Standard and Premium packages include EIN filing, a service that does not add any real value.
The Premium package may be worth the expense if you plan on getting a website for your business anyway. The website building and hosting services partially offset this package’s higher cost.
Some newer LLC formation services, however, beat Swyft Filings in terms of value. Companies such as ZenBusiness, for instance, include a year of registered agent service with packages that are otherwise just as comprehensive and affordable as Swift Filings’.
Canceling Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings provides a registered agent service only through their partner company LegalCorp Solutions. According to their terms of service, if you would like to cancel this service, you will first need to appoint a new registered agent with the relevant state government authority.
Once you have proof that you have appointed a new registered agent, you can contact Swyft Filings and notify them that you would like to cancel your registered agent service.
The terms of service specify that if you don’t provide proof of having appointed a new registered agent, LegalCorp may charge you their full fee amount once the renewal deadline arrives, so be sure to take care of any cancellation well in advance.
Swyft Filings also partners with other companies for many of their services. To cancel them, you may need to contact those third-party companies directly.
Swyft Filings Refund policy
Swyft Filings prominently advertises their 100% money-back guarantee. You should be aware that, according to their terms of service, this refund policy is only applicable in the event that Swyft Filings makes an error while completing your LLC formation order.
In such a case, you can contact them via phone or email and request a refund. You must do this within 60 days of your purchase.
Swyft Filings’ refund policy does not apply to any state fees and fees paid to third parties. Only Swyft Filings’ own fees are refundable.
Swyft Filings Pros
Here, we go over some of Swyft Filings’ strong points, such as its pricing, turnaround time, and customer service.
Many, many positive customer reviews
Despite having been in business for only a handful of years, Swyft Filings has earned an impressive number of positive customer reviews on sites such as Trustpilot and Sitejabber.
As of the time of writing this article, they have more than 2,900 reviews on Trustpilot and more than 32,000 reviews on Sitejabber – the overwhelming majority of them are positive.
Trustpilot – 4.6/5:
We like that Swyft Filings representatives reply to nearly every negative review, providing meaningful explanations and offering to improve on their service. Their replies are thoughtful and always personalized.
Sitejabber – 4.5/5:
The vast majority of customers report being pleased with the simplicity and speed of the service and the quality and helpfulness of the customer service staff. Many customers even mention the agent who helped them by name!
Looking at reviews from further back, we could not find evidence of any changes in the quality of the service – Swyft Filings appears to have earned excellent reviews throughout its history.
Flexible pricing model and low base cost
Unlike some competitors, Swyft Filings does not force customers to buy more expensive service packages in order to obtain a specific service or product. Their website makes it easy to separately add any product to lower pricing tier packages.
If you would like to buy the least expensive package, but also want to add on expedited filing and an operating agreement, you are free to do so.
We liked the relatively low price of Swyft Filings’ most affordable service package. At a cost of $49 plus applicable state fees, it is a good option for those who are in the market for a quick and simple online LLC formation service without any ongoing fees or additional products.
Swyft Filings also lets you choose if you would like to pay the entire cost of your chosen products up-front or in two installments, something which not all of their competitors offer.
Swyft Filings also includes three minor free services with all of its pricing packages. The free services are:
- A 30-minute tax consultation
- Alerts regarding your companies’ upcoming state reporting deadlines
- A domain name of your choice for your LLC for one year
You don’t have to use these services, but they may nevertheless be nice to have.
Direct customer service line
A knowledgeable and responsive customer service staff is important for any LLC formation service, as customers often need accurate and time-sensitive information from company representatives. Swyft Filings scores well in this regard.
Swyft Filings assigns a business specialist to every customer who forms an LLC with them. You will receive a direct phone number and email address to contact them in case you have any questions, concerns, or issues regarding your LLC formation. With Swyft Filings, you should never have to worry about waiting long stretches on the phone to talk to an actual human.
What we didn’t like was that Swyft Filings advertises a chat support option on their website, when in reality their tool only lets you leave a message for the customer support team with your email attached. We would also have liked to see extended support outside normal business hours.
Customer support is available Monday to Friday between 9 am and 6 pm CST.
You can reach Swyft Filings customer support in a few ways:
Online: Click on this link to reach the Swyft Filings contact form.
By Email: info@swyftfilings.com
By Phone: 1 (877) 777-0450
Via fax: 1 (877) 777-0450
Good Turnaround times
Swyft Filings’ turnaround times aren’t the fastest but are definitely above-average. In most states, you can expect your business to be formed in five to ten business days.
If you select the Premium package or pay an extra fee for express filing, you can reduce this time even further, to between one and three business days in most states.
In the table below, we have compared the formation times and state fee costs of Swyft Filings to those of some competitors:
State | Swyft Filings | Northwest Registered Agent | ZenBusiness |
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California | Standard: 15 business days ($70) Express: 5 business days ($130) | 5 day filing time ($90) | Normal: 2-3 weeks ($70) Expedited: 7-10 days ($155) Rush: 4-6 days ($555) |
Texas | Standard: 7 business days ($300) Express: 2 business days ($350) | 2 day filing time ($310) | Normal: 2-3 weeks ($300) Expedited: 5-8 days ($350) Rush: 2-4 days ($400) |
New York | Standard: 5 business days ($200) Express: 1 business day ($250) | 1 day filing time ($200) | Normal: 1-2 weeks ($200) Expedited: 4-6 days ($250) Rush:1-3 days ($300) |
Florida | Standard: 10 business days ($125) Express: 5 business days ($175) Rush: 3-4 business days ($200) | 15 day filing time ($125) | Normal: 3-4 weeks ($125) Expedited: 2-3 weeks ($175) Rush: 7-10 days ($225) |
Note that Swyft Filings’ Premium package includes the Express option for most states for no additional fee.
If you need your business formed as quickly as possible and have selected the Premium package, you should pay attention to the expediting options, as some states offer a third level of rush filing. This service is not included in the Premium package.
Still, if you need your LLC to be filed immediately, you might want to consider an alternative business formation service that includes same-day filing by default, such as Northwest Registered Agent.
Swyft Filings Cons
Here we go over some of the areas where we believe Swyft Filings service has room for improvement.
Extremely expensive registered agent service
The main weakness of Swyft Filings LLC formation service is the extremely high cost of their registered agent service offer. With a cost of $596 per year, this vital service is several times more expensive than comparable offers from other formation providers.
We consider an affordable and quality registered agent service to be the second most important service involved in a business formation – only the formation itself is more important. Ideally, this service should be provided by the same company you formed your LLC with so that your privacy is better protected and your experience is simplified.
Whereas some competitors bundle their registered agent service and provide discounts, Swyft Filings does neither and only presents you with a partner offer during the signup process.
At $596 per year, the offer by LegalCorp Solutions is far more expensive compared to the bundled registered agent services of competitors such as ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent.
ZenBusiness offers a similar standalone registered agent service for $99/yr, while Northwest Registered Agent demands $125/yr – still a significant discount, compared to LegalCorp Solutions.
Swyft Filings’ website also fails to properly inform customers of the registered agent services’ true cost. The $159 price, which is displayed prominently on their website, is charged on a quarterly basis rather than annually. Customers are only informed of this through the fine print shown during the final stages of signing up.
We especially disliked that the terms of service allow Swyft Filings and their partner to increase the annual cost of the registered agent service without having to notify you.
Too many unnecessary add-ons and upsells
Most LLC formation services try to upsell some services. We generally don’t hold it against them, unless it is done excessively or the services are of questionable relevance to the customers. Formation services should also be clear and transparent about what they are offering and who provides the service.
Swyft Filings falls somewhat short in this regard. Their main pricing page completely omits certain offers, including their registered agent partner offer. At the same time, basic services are split into multiple items in a way that only serves to confuse potential customers.
Swyft Filings’ basic LLC formation, for instance, is split into three items, and lifetime customer support, something that should be provided by default, is needlessly listed as an added service.
Meanwhile, third-party offers and upsells are hidden behind multiple pages. Some of those offers, many from third-party providers, seem more like advertisements than meaningful, helpful services.
Heavy reliance on third-party providers
Swyft Filings relies heavily on partner companies for many of their services and offers. Yet, at the same time, their service documentation often doesn’t even mention which company they have partnered with.
We dislike that they force customers to do their own in-depth research in order to find out which “national accounting firm” will be servicing them or who will be providing their mail forwarding service.
In addition, we generally prefer formation services that provide most of their services in-house. This better ensures a high quality of service and protects customers’ privacy.
Swyft Filings Services
Swyft Filings advertises many different services and products related to incorporation and LLC formation. Not all of them are self-explanatory or strictly necessary. To find out if these services are relevant or worthwhile to you, continue reading.
Basic LLC formation
Included in Basic, Standard, and Premium packages
The limited liability company is by far the most popular business entity type in the United States. Forming a limited liability company when you start a new business (or converting an already existing business to an LLC) will confer several advantages and benefits:
- Limited liability protection: Using an LLC to run your business establishes it as an entity separate from you as a person. Among other things, this means that the assets and liabilities of the business are separated from your personal ones. In the event that your business does poorly and becomes overly indebted, creditors will be able to collect outstanding debts from the LLC but won’t be able to reach your personal assets.
- Flexibility when running your business: LLCs have fewer structural requirements and don’t have strict reporting obligations when compared to corporations. You can generally run your LLC the way you see fit.
- Pass-through taxation: In general, LLCs don’t pay taxes directly. Instead, you will file income and losses on your personal tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation.
LLCs are formed at the state level. To form an LLC, you need to file a document, usually called Articles of Organization, with your state’s Secretary of State and pay a fee. Depending on the state where you are filing for your LLC, there may also be additional requirements. For example, New York requires that you publish a notice about your new LLC in a local newspaper.
Some people choose to hire an attorney to handle the formation of their LLC. But this is not required. It’s almost always more economical to do it yourself or hire a specialized company that can save you the hassle and knows how to navigate the various state bureaucracies.
Limited liability company formations are the primary product offered by Swyft Filings. For a fee, they will act as the organizer of your LLC documents and ensure that the filing process moves forward smoothly and without unnecessary delays.
You will have to choose a business name for your LLC. Swyft Filings lets you designate two names on their website – a primary and an alternative, in case your first choice is not available. They will then run a business name search before filing your documents to verify that your chosen name is available.
Swyft Filings includes business name verification in all its pricing tiers. However, we recommend that you still do a business name search yourself before ordering a formation.
Most states let you easily search their registers on their websites. You should also do a search with the federal trademark register. That way, you can ensure your LLC will have the name you’ve chosen.
All states charge a fee when filing a new LLC. This fee varies, depending on the state, from $40 to $500. Swyft Filings will collect this fee from you and relay it to your states’ Secretary of State. This fee is not refundable. The fee is also separate from the annual fees that LLCs need to pay.
An important consideration is the amount of time it takes to form your LLC from start to finish. This time varies depending on the state where you are filing, the time of year you are filing, and whether or not you have opted for expedited filing.
With Swyft Filings, you can choose between Standard and Express processing. The latter option is included in the Swyft Filings Premium package for most (but not all) states. It can also be added to the other tiers for an additional fee. In most states, Standard filing will result in your LLC being formed within 7 to 20 business days.
If you select Express processing, the formation time will be reduced to between a few and a single business day.
Once your LLC is formed, you will receive your approval documents issued by the state, via 1st class mail or FedEx, in a few business days. If you have purchased the Premium package, you will receive your documents electronically immediately.
Registered Agent service
$149 per quarter ($596 per year)
Every business operating in the United States is required by law to appoint a person or other company as its registered agent. This registered agent acts as the government’s point-of-contact for certain legal matters, including the delivery of service of process. Service of process is the procedure through which you are notified of lawsuits against you.
It is important to ensure that you have a reliable and trustworthy registered agent. You never want to miss important and potentially time-sensitive legal notices. You are allowed to appoint yourself as a registered agent, but many businesses choose to entrust this duty to a professional service provider or a law firm.
Once you have appointed a registered agent, that person or company’s contact information will become part of the public record and can be accessed by anyone.
Some of the reasons why you might not want or be able to act as your own registered agent are:
- You would like to protect your personal information and don’t want your name and address to be entered into the public record
- Your business will operate in more than one state
- Your business doesn’t have a physical address
- You cannot reliably be present at a given address during business hours
- You are not a resident of the United States
During your order process, Swyft Filings will give to the option to let them appoint a professional registered agent for your LLC on your behalf. We dug through Swyft Filing’s terms of service and found that the main partner company for registered agent services is LegalCorp Solutions, a Wilmington, Delaware-based company that solely provides registered agent services.
Once appointed, Swyft Filings will collect the yearly fee on behalf of their partner company. The terms of service also specify that they may appoint a company other than LegalCorp Solutions to be your registered agent.
You should be aware that the cost which is advertised by Swyft Filings is charged on a quarterly basis. The real annual cost of Swyft Filings registered agent service is $596 per year, which is several times higher than the prices demanded by most other competitors.
As a result, we strongly recommend against agreeing to Swyft Filings’ partner offer and using a different provider instead. There are multiple other registered agent service providers offering the same level of service for around $100 per year. For some of our recommendations, check out our Best Registered Agent Article.
You should be aware that if you decide to cancel the registered agent service at a later date, you will have to appoint a new registered agent with the state where you operate before canceling.
Once you have proof that a new agent has been appointed, you will be able to cancel your engagement. If you don’t appoint a new registered agent, LegalCorp may continue to charge you their annual fee.
Customized legal documents
Included in Standard and Premium packages, otherwise $25-$35 per document
There are certain legal documents that you will most likely need soon after forming your new LLC. These include documents such as an operating agreement or a banking resolution. Swyft Filings provides you with customizable form documents, at no additional cost, if you choose their Standard of Premium service packages.
An operating agreement is a contract between the members of a limited liability company that outlines key details such as:
- How the percentage of interest in the company is divided between the members
- How profit is shared between the members of the LLC
- How the company will be managed
- What happens should a member decide to leave the company
- What happens if a member is incapable of carrying out their duties or passes away
- Under what circumstances the company may be dissolved
An operating agreement can also help protect the limited liability protections of your company, should they be challenged in court at a later date. Without an operating agreement, your LLC will fall back on state law and may be treated as a sole proprietorship or partnership.
If you form a limited liability company in California, Delaware, Maine, Missouri, or New York, you are required by state law to have an operating agreement and keep it with your company records. Other states don’t require an operating agreement, but it is still in your best interest to have one.
You will most likely also need a banking resolution. This document is usually required in order to open a business bank account for your LLC.
The third document offered is a custom organizational minutes document. LLCs are not required by law to keep meeting minutes the way that corporations are. It is therefore up to you to decide if you want this document.
These documents are included in the Standard and Premium packages. If you choose the Basic package, you will need to select and pay for documents individually.
Obtaining an IRS identification number (EIN)
Free or $70 with formation package (depending on package); otherwise, $79
The majority of businesses in the United States will require a taxpayer identification number from the Internal Revenue Service. For LLCs and corporations, the relevant tax ID number is called a federal employer identification number (EIN). The IRS uses this 9-digit number in order to track companies for tax purposes, similar to how an SSN is used for individuals.
Most businesses will need an EIN. Your LLC will need one if:
- It has or will have employees
- It is going to file excise tax returns
- It will have more than one member
- You decide to have your LLC treated as an S-Corporation by the IRS
- Your state requires you to have an EIN
You may also need an EIN in order to open a business bank account. For more information about the EIN, directly from the IRS, click here (PDF).
For a fee, Swyft Filings can obtain an EIN from the IRS on your behalf. They will file and handle the necessary paperwork after you complete a quick questionnaire.
We generally recommend against using any paid services to obtain an EIN. Getting this number can be done for free, and in only a few minutes, via the IRS’s website. If you apply for an EIN online, you will receive your number immediately. Alternatively, you can also file form SS-4 via mail, fax, or in-person at an IRS office.
Click here to reach the IRS online EIN application tool. It’s free and convenient, and you will receive your number immediately.
If you are not a resident of the United States and don’t have a social security number, you can still obtain an EIN for your business, but the process may be more involved. As per Swyft Filings’ FAQ, you should call them before ordering if this applies to you.
Website building and hosting
Website building included only in Premium; Domain name included in all packages
All Swyft Filings packages include a free domain name registration for your business for a one-year term. The domain name, also known as URL, is your company’s online address. You can freely choose which TLD to use (e.g., .com, .net, etc.).
The free domain name is only available for one year. If you would like to keep it afterward, you will have to pay an ongoing yearly fee to keep it registered to your business. Be sure to keep your name registered if you intend to use it. If your registration expires, someone else could get it.
Swyft Filings can also help you establish a website for your new business. If you select the Swyft Filings Premium package, you will have the opportunity to create a free website for your business. You are not required to use this service if you don’t want to.
As with many other services, Swyft Filings provides this product in partnership with a third-party provider. Unfortunately, Swyft Filings does not mention who the partner is anywhere on their website. We did some research and discovered that the website building and hosting provider is Rocketbuildr.
With this service, you can create a website, personalize it by selecting from a variety of templates, and have it hosted. Your website will be responsive, meaning that it can be used both on desktop and mobile devices. You can also set up your website as an online store.
This service includes three months of website hosting for free. After that, you will have to pay the ongoing cost of hosting your site. According to Rocketbuildr’s website, they charge $25 per month for their website hosting package.
Minor services and offers
Swyft Filings also offers a handful of minor services, some of which deserve mentioning here.
Business License package ($99):
This package is intended to simplify your LLC formation by collecting all the permits and licenses you are likely to need all in one place.
Swyft Filings use details about your business’ location, size, and industry to figure out which permits and licenses are applicable. You can see a sample package by clicking here (PDF).
Business street address ($29/mo after a first free month):
While not visible on the main pricing page, this offer is meant to provide you with a physical business address for your company. All mail can be forwarded from this address to your LLC’s actual address.
Using a mail forwarding address is useful if your business doesn’t have a physical location. It can also help protect your privacy, especially if you intend to run your LLC from your home.
Unfortunately, Swyft Filings’ offer does not make it clear that the mail forwarding is provided by a third party. We dug a bit deeper and discovered that this service is offered through a partnership with snapmailbox.
Do we recommend Swyft Filings?
No, we do not.
Swyft Filings is simply not the best option for your LLC formation. While their basic package is priced affordably at $49, they have recently changed their registered agent service from $149/year to $596/year. As a result, a full formation, which includes this vital service, will end up far more expensive than comparable offers from other services.
Furthermore, we strongly dislike that Swyft Filings does not do a good job informing customers of their services’ true cost. The website prominently advertises a registered agent cost of $149, without making it clear that this is a quarterly cost, not an annual one. As a result, several of our readers have been misled.
Since there are other services offering greater value at better prices, we see no reason to recommend Swyft Filings. Check out our Best LLC Service rankings here for some of our top suggestions.
Swyft Filings FAQs
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What does Swyft Filings do?
Swyft Filings can help you create an LLC, corporation, or non-profit organization online. They can also provide you with some related services, such as filing for an EIN or drafting legal form documents.
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How much does it cost to form an LLC with Swyft Filings?
Swyft Filings’ Basic package costs $49 plus state fees. They also have two higher tiers – a Standard package for $149 and a Premium package for $299.
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Is Swyft Filings legit?
Yes, Swyft Filings are a legit company. They have been in business since 2015 and have numerous positive reviews across multiple review sites.
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Is Swyft Filings good for LLC formation?
Yes, Swyft Filings can be a good option for certain basic LLC formations. They can form your LLC at an affordable price and have decent turnaround times. However, there are other services that can offer more comprehensive formations at better prices.
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Who should purchase Swyft Filings Premium package?
Swyft Filings Premium is best for people who want the most comprehensive package. You should still keep in mind that the Premium package doesn’t include some key services, such as a registered agent service.
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Who is Swyft Filings best for?
Swyft Filings is best for those who only need a basic formation without a registered agent service and are looking for an easy-to-use online LLC formation service.
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What are the benefits of using Swyft Filings?
Swyft Filings provides a few additional benefits to customers. Some of the additional benefits include ComplianceAlert, a free domain name (URL) registration for one year, and offers from partner companies, such as a 30-minute tax consultation.
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How does Swyft Filings compare to other formation services?
Swyft Filings is a good service, but some competitors can offer the same services for a lower price. Swyft Filings also relies heavily on partner companies and doesn’t offer certain services directly.
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How is Swyft Filings rated?
Swyft Filings is rated highly on sites such as Trustpilot (4.6/5) and Sitejabber (4.5/5).
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Does Swyft Filings Have Good Customer Support
Yes, Swyft Filings has good customer service. They assign a business specialist to every customer and provide a direct phone number and email to contact them. You can reach Swyft Filings customer service here, by email at info@swyftfilings.com, or by phone at (877) 777-0450.
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What states does Swyft Filings serve?
Swyft Filings can form LLCs in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. They can also help form business entities for non-US residents.
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How do I cancel Swyft Filings?
Contact them or their partner company. Swyft Filings provides most ongoing services through partner companies, such as LegalCorp Solutions. If you have bought a partner service through Swyft Filings, you might have to contact that partner service directly.
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Do Swyft Filings have a refund policy?
Yes, but only in limited circumstances. The terms of service specify that you can get your money back if Swyft Filings has made a filing error and you request a refund within 60 days. State fees, third-party fees, and shipping costs are not refundable.
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Where are Swyft Filings located?
Swyft Filings are located in Houston, Texas. If you would like to reach them, you can do so online, by email at info@swyftfilings.com or by phone at (877) 777-0450.
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Who owns Swyft Filings?
Swyft Filings is a privately owned company. The current president of Swyft Filings is Travis Crabtree.
***Update***
Swyft registered agent fee is quarterly not annually. That’s 149 per quarter.
Hi Robert,
Thank you for bringing this to our attention!
We have spoken to the Swyft Filings team and they confirmed their registered agent pricing has changed from $149/year to $596/year. We were not aware of this change and it is not reflected on their website, which continues to quote “Starting at $149” at the time of writing.
We will be amending this review accordingly and withdraw our recommendation for their service.
Thank you!
Best,
Andrey
Swyft Filings is charging me $149 per every 3 months (not per year) for a registered agent!!! This is ridiculous!!
Hi Abby,
We were made aware of this just recently. They haven’t updated their site accordingly.
We recommend to switch to ZenBusiness’s registered agent service ($99/year) or to Northwest Registered Agent ($125/year).
We have added a disclaimer to this review article and will re-score it soon.
I am just now learning about this fee change, and having a tiny nonprofit makes it even worse. Super disappointed.
Hi Amanda,
I share your disappointment. This must feel very disheartening, especially for a non-profit.
I recommend you look into switching to ZenBusiness ($99/year) or Northwest Registered Agent ($125/year) for your registered agent needs. We have good faith in both of these companies!
Wishing you the best of luck with your non-profit!
Best,
Andrey
Terrible company, charged me 150$ For no reason.