Harbor Compliance
Multi-State Compliance & Entity Management Platform
BetterLegal
Fastest Business Formation in 2 Days
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
Company Background
Harbor Compliance
HQ: Lancaster, Pennsylvania (812 N Prince St)
Ownership: Private (founder-led; Mike Montali CEO)
Employees: 51-200
Formations: 40,000+ clients served (focus on compliance, not pure formation)
Key Milestones
- Founded 2012 by regulatory specialists & tech experts
- Hit Inc. 5000 for 7th year in 2025
- Acquired Labyrinth Inc. (added nonprofits)
- Launched Compliance Core™ algorithm
- Grew to 40k+ clients across 50 states
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
Core Services
Harbor Compliance Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Nonprofit
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (all states)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
- ✓ Conversions & Mergers
Differentiators:
- Compliance Core™ scans 22,000+ requirements
- Air-Tight Onboarding™ (90% issue resolution)
- SaaS + managed hybrid for enterprises
- Direct SOS database feeds for real-time status
- Unlimited users & collaboration tools
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)
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | Harbor Compliance | BetterLegal | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$99 + state fees (RA-focused; higher for full compliance) | ~$419+ (formation + RA) | BetterLegal |
| RA Annual Fee | $99 first year; $149 renewal (multi-year discounts) | $120/year ($10/month); add-on only | — |
| Value Score | 7.9/10 | 8.2/10 | BetterLegal |
Speed & Performance
Harbor Compliance
Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard
Expedited: Same-day document delivery (included)
BetterLegal
Avg formation: 2 business days standard
Expedited: Included (2 days); same-day in select cases
Pros & Cons
Harbor Compliance — Pros
- ✓ 22k+ regulatory scans
- ✓ SaaS + managed hybrid
- ✓ All 50 states RA
- ✓ Entity management suite
- ✓ Proven for enterprises
Harbor Compliance — Cons
- ✗ Premium pricing
- ✗ Mixed Trustpilot (3.5)
- ✗ Billing complaints
- ✗ Steep for startups
- ✗ Basic formation vs. specialists
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
The Verdict
Choose Harbor Compliance if: The powerhouse for complex, multi-state compliance—ideal for growing businesses needing software + service. Skip if you're a solo founder on a budget.
Choose BetterLegal if: Ideal for founders who prioritize speed over hand-holding—form fast, then layer RA. Watch reviews on ongoing service.
Higher rating: BetterLegal (8.0/10)