Rocket Lawyer
Legal Made Simple
Filenow
Quick & Affordable Business Formation with 24-Hour Processing
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
Company Background
Rocket Lawyer
HQ: San Francisco, California (182 Howard Street #830)
Ownership: Private (VC-backed; $290M+ funding)
Employees: 201-500
Formations: 1,000,000+ businesses (millions of documents created)
Key Milestones
- Founded 2008 in San Francisco
- Launched Rocket Lawyer On Call® attorney network
- Raised $290M+ funding
- Expanded to business formation + RA
- Hit 1M+ business customers
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
Rocket Lawyer Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Nonprofit
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (limited states)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
Differentiators:
- Bundled membership ($39.99/mo) with attorney access
- Thousands of legal forms & templates
- Rocket Lawyer On Call® (discount attorney advice)
- e-Signature & document storage
- Free 7-day trial
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 | Rocket Lawyer | Filenow | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$99.99 + state fees + $479.88 membership (full value) | ~$49-$199 + state fees (RA included in Premium) | Filenow |
| RA Annual Fee | $149.99/year (add-on; discounted for members) | Free Year 1 (Premium); $119/year renewal | — |
| Value Score | 8.0/10 | 8.3/10 | Filenow |
Speed & Performance
Rocket Lawyer
Avg formation: Instant docs + 1-5 business days filing
Expedited: Available (add-on)
Filenow
Avg formation: 24 hours processing + state time (fastest standard)
Expedited: Included (24-hour); same-day in select states
Pros & Cons
Rocket Lawyer — Pros
- ✓ Unlimited attorney calls
- ✓ Legal form library
- ✓ Membership discounts
- ✓ e-Signature included
- ✓ 1M+ customers
Rocket Lawyer — Cons
- ✗ Membership required for value
- ✗ RA $149.99 extra
- ✗ Auto-renew issues
- ✗ Not formation-focused
- ✗ Higher ongoing cost
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 Rocket Lawyer if: Perfect for businesses needing more than just formation—attorney access and forms make the membership worthwhile. Ideal if you value legal support beyond setup.
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: Rocket Lawyer (8.3/10)