BetterLegal
Fastest Business Formation in 2 Days
Filenow
Quick & Affordable Business Formation with 24-Hour Processing
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
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
Filenow
HQ: New York, NY (small team of experts)
Ownership: Private (independent; founder-led team of entrepreneurs/lawyers)
Employees: Small team (1-10)
Formations: Thousands (growing; focus on quality)
Key Milestones
- Founded 2018 by team of entrepreneurs, lawyers, tax pros
- Grew via affordable formation model
- Launched Incorporation Wizard for entity selection
- Achieved 4.8/5 on ShopperApproved (600+ reviews)
- Expanded to full compliance add-ons
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)
Filenow Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (all states)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
Differentiators:
- 24-hour order processing (no extra cost)
- Error-free guarantee (money back if errors)
- Transparent, no-hidden-fees pricing
- Incorporation Wizard (entity selector)
- Unlimited expert support (phone/email/chat)
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | BetterLegal | Filenow | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$419+ (formation + RA) | ~$49-$199 + state fees (RA included in Premium) | Filenow |
| RA Annual Fee | $120/year ($10/month); add-on only | Free Year 1 (Premium); $119/year renewal | — |
| Value Score | 8.2/10 | 8.3/10 | Filenow |
Speed & Performance
BetterLegal
Avg formation: 2 business days standard
Expedited: Included (2 days); same-day in select cases
Filenow
Avg formation: 24 hours processing + state time (fastest standard)
Expedited: Included (24-hour); 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
Filenow — Pros
- ✓ 24-hour processing included
- ✓ Starter from $49 + state
- ✓ Error-free money-back guarantee
- ✓ Free RA Year 1 (Premium)
- ✓ Unlimited expert support
Filenow — Cons
- ✗ Small team (emerging)
- ✗ RA $119 renewal
- ✗ Fewer add-ons
- ✗ Low review volume
- ✗ No enterprise tools
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 Filenow if: Excellent for founders who want fast, affordable setup with pro help—great alternative to giants if you prioritize transparency and speed.
Higher rating: Filenow (8.1/10)