Head-to-Head

BetterLegal

Fastest Business Formation in 2 Days

VS

Active Filings

Fast & Affordable Business Formation Since 2001

Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.

Founded
BetterLegal: 2017
Active Filings: 2001
Rating
8.0/10
7.8/10
First Year Cost
~$419+ (formation + RA)
~$0 + state fees (RA included)
Formation Speed
2 business days standard
2-5 business days standard
RA Annual
$120/year ($10/month); add-on only
Free Year 1 (with formation); $99/year renewal

Company Background

BetterLegal

HQ: Austin, Texas (1003 Rio Grande St)

Ownership: Private (founder-owned; Chad Sakonchick)

Employees: 7

Formations: 20,000+ businesses formed

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2017 in Austin, TX
  • Grew to $4.1M revenue with 7-person team
  • Pivoted to no-code (Bubble) in 2022 for rapid features
  • Expanded to full one-stop shop (formation + partners)
  • Hit 20k+ formations; AI tools launched

Active Filings

HQ: Dania Beach, Florida (381 E Sheridan St)

Ownership: Private (independent, founder-owned; no VC backing)

Employees: 4

Formations: 100,000+ satisfied customers

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2001 by immigrant Roberto Neuberger in Florida
  • Expanded from FL-only to all 50 states + DC + PR
  • Pioneered online incorporation tech (pre-VC era)
  • Developed proprietary compliance review system
  • Remained independent (no institutional investors)

Core Services

BetterLegal Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • 2-business-day formation (fastest standard)
  • No upsells; one simple package
  • AI-powered legal translator (Chrome extension)
  • Freebies: website, tax analysis, insurance eval
  • All essentials included (EIN, docs, resolutions)

Active Filings Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • International Incorporation Plan (for non-US residents)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • More free services than competitors (lifetime support, checklists)
  • 19+ years experience; 3rd oldest service
  • Error-free filing guarantee
  • Proprietary compliance tech
  • Dedicated support for law firms & small biz

Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.

Pricing & Value

Category BetterLegal Active Filings Winner
First Year Total ~$419+ (formation + RA) ~$0 + state fees (RA included) BetterLegal
RA Annual Fee $120/year ($10/month); add-on only Free Year 1 (with formation); $99/year renewal
Value Score 8.2/10 7.8/10 BetterLegal

Speed & Performance

BetterLegal

Avg formation: 2 business days standard

Expedited: Included (2 days); same-day in select cases

Active Filings

Avg formation: 2-5 business days standard

Expedited: 2 business days (varies); same-day in select states

Pros & Cons

BetterLegal — Pros

  • 2-day formation (fastest)
  • Simple $299 package
  • AI translator & freebies
  • All docs/EIN included
  • No-hassle onboarding

BetterLegal — Cons

  • ✗ RA $120/year extra
  • ✗ Support issues on RA
  • ✗ Billing complaints
  • ✗ Basic vs. full suites
  • ✗ Small team scale

Active Filings — Pros

  • Lifetime free support
  • 3rd oldest; proven track record
  • All 50 states + international
  • Error-free guarantee
  • Strong Spanish support

Active Filings — Cons

  • ✗ Small team (less scale)
  • ✗ RA renewal after free year
  • ✗ Fewer reviews than giants
  • ✗ Basic tech vs. AI tools
  • ✗ Expedited varies by state

The Verdict

Choose BetterLegal if: Ideal for founders who prioritize speed over hand-holding—form fast, then layer RA. Watch reviews on ongoing service.


Choose Active Filings if: Veteran player with human touch—great for immigrants needing reliable help, but check pricing vs. budget options.

Higher rating: BetterLegal (8.0/10)