Head-to-Head

Filenow

Quick & Affordable Business Formation with 24-Hour Processing

VS

US Registered Agents

Nationwide Registered Agent Services in All 50 States

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

Founded
Filenow: 2018
US Registered Agents: 1998
Rating
8.1/10
7.8/10
First Year Cost
~$49-$199 + state fees (RA included in Premium)
~$129 + state fees (RA included)
Formation Speed
24 hours processing + state time (fastest standard)
1-5 business days standard
RA Annual
Free Year 1 (Premium); $119/year renewal
$129/year per state (multi-state discounts)

Company Background

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

US Registered Agents

HQ: Nyack, New York (407 N Highland Avenue)

Ownership: Private (independent)

Employees: 11-50 (small to mid-size team)

Formations: Hundreds of thousands (focus on RA; high WY volume)

Key Milestones

  • Founded 1998 in Pacific Northwest (now NY-based)
  • Expanded to full 50-state + territories network
  • Became major provider for incorporation wholesalers
  • Added Canada representation
  • Built multi-jurisdiction change-of-agent service

Core Services

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)

US Registered Agents Services

Formation types:

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

Differentiators:

  • 50-state + territories coverage
  • Multi-state discounts & partner programs
  • Pays state fees for change of agent
  • Global network (Canada provinces)
  • Simple, wholesale-friendly model

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

Pricing & Value

Category Filenow US Registered Agents Winner
First Year Total ~$49-$199 + state fees (RA included in Premium) ~$129 + state fees (RA included) Filenow
RA Annual Fee Free Year 1 (Premium); $119/year renewal $129/year per state (multi-state discounts)
Value Score 8.3/10 7.9/10 Filenow

Speed & Performance

Filenow

Avg formation: 24 hours processing + state time (fastest standard)

Expedited: Included (24-hour); same-day in select states

US Registered Agents

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Available (varies by state)

Pros & Cons

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

US Registered Agents — Pros

  • All 50 states + territories
  • Multi-state/partner discounts
  • Pays change of agent fees
  • Canada representation
  • Simple RA model

US Registered Agents — Cons

  • ✗ Limited direct reviews
  • ✗ Basic support tools
  • ✗ RA $129/year
  • ✗ No free Year 1
  • ✗ Wholesale emphasis

The Verdict

Choose Filenow if: Excellent for founders who want fast, affordable setup with pro help—great alternative to giants if you prioritize transparency and speed.


Choose US Registered Agents if: The specialist for nationwide and territorial RA needs—ideal for businesses spanning states or wholesalers. Reliable coverage at a fair price; great if you need broad reach without complexity.

Higher rating: Filenow (8.1/10)