Thinking of starting a business before 2011 ends? Let Corporate Filing Solutions, LLC (“CFS”) help you spark that entrepreneur spirit and take advantage of our year end registered agent services sale. If you order Registered Agent Service between now and December 31, 2011 and mention 2011SPECIAL in the comments box when you complete your order we will give registered agent services for just $79 per year in each state you order registered agent service.  This is a 35% savings off our already low rate of $125 per year.  It doesn’t matter if you are an existing business looking to expand into a new state or a start –up looking to form an entity for the first time, CFS can act as your agent in all 50 states and D.C. Call or email us today 888-237-3410 customerservice@filingsmadeeasy.com

Many Florida entities have been receiving requests from a company named “Compliance Solutions”  for “Annual Minutes” and a fee of $125. The form looks very similar to reminders about filing your 2011 Annual Report in Florida. Compliance Solutions is NOT affiliated with the State of Florida. If you are ever unsure about request similar to this, be sure to check with the Secretary of State or Corporate Filing Solutions, especially if a fee is involved.

Many Massachusetts entities have been receiving solicitations entitled “Annual Minutes Requirement Statement Directors and Shareholders” from a company named “Compliance Solutions” in which they offer to complete corporate minutes for a fee of $125. The form looks very similar to official forms from the Massachusetts Secretary of State office however they are NOT in any way affiliated with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Secretary of State does not require corporations to file minutes with the state. If you are ever unsure about mailings, be sure to check with the Secretary of State or Corporate Filing Solutions, especially if a fee is involved.

If you are forming a business, you are probably wondering how long it will take the State to process your filing. Processing time all depends on the state and the entity you are forming. Some states have a turnaround time of just a few days, while others can take months. If you are looking to get your business formed with the state faster, some states offer an expedited service for an additional fee.

Filings Made Easy can:

-Inform you of current state processing times.

-Make sure all daily deadlines for expedited services are met and ensure your filing is completed in a quick efficient manner.

-Ensure that your filing is made with the state as promptly as possible. In most cases, Filings Made Easy makes filings with the Secretary of State the same day we receive an order.

There are lots of registered agents out there. Big ones. Small ones. National agents. Agents that service only one or two states. Expensive ones and cheap ones. Many are good at what they do, however, some agents really are running other businesses full time and just using their address to earn a few extra bucks (in other words, they are not full time registered agents and providing registered agent services is not their first priority).

Many agents offer free services for a year or heavily discounted rates for a year. The question is “what happens after that first year?” Many agents also have lots of add-on fees, such as charging for shipping a FedEx package or to scan a document or store a document for the client.

At FilingsMadeEasy, we offer you the following:

- Being a registered agent is our full-time job;
- We do not charge for FedEx packages;
- We promise that we will not increase your annual registered agent fees for at least five years;
- We operate in all 50 states and will provide discounts if you use our services in three or more states;
- If you are sued, we store copies of your documents that are served upon us in case you misplace them or if they are lost in transit; and
- We are operated by seasoned corporate lawyers and paralegals.

For more information, contact Malissa or Nichole at 888-237-3410 or customerservice@filingsmadeeasy.com.

Yes. Every corporation, limited liability company (LLC), limited partnership (LP), statutory trust, and limited liability partnership (LLP) needs a registered agent. A registered agent is sometimes referred to as a resident agent, registered office, agent for service of process, statutory agent or commercial registered office provider.

It is possible to serve as registered agent for your company, if you are physically present in the state for which services are needed. However, we recommend that you focus your attention and energies on running your business and the many challenges and opportunities that you will face. Leave these administrative matters to the professionals.

If we serve as your registered agent, in addition to accepting and promptly providing any legal documents that we receive on your behalf, we will ensure that you are fully aware when your filings with the state are due. The amount that you likely would pay in late fees and penalties for not making timely filings is often greater than our annual fee.

We live and breathe registered agent services and the reports that are due to be filed annually with the Secretary of State. Our annual registered agent fees are $125. We operate in all 50 states and our professionals are available to answer your questions.

Call us at 888-237-3410 or email us at customerservice@filingsmadeeasy.com with questions or with your order, or click here: Registered Agent Services

Unhappy with your registered agent?  Doesn’t return calls or emails promptly?  Don’t feel like your business is in good hands?  Filings Made Easy is obsessed with providing the registered agent services that its clients need and expect.  We operate in all 50 states and ensure that your needs are met and that your expectations are exceeded.  If you are less than 100% satisfied with your registered agent, call 888-237-3410 or visit our Registered Agent Services page to change your registered agent.

Filings Made Easy provides the resident agent (registered agent) services that you need — fast, easy, inexpensive and reliable. 

We are located two blocks from the Secretary of State’s office in Boston, MA, and can assist with any filings that you need made.  We are operated by trained and experienced paralegals and corporate lawyers and provide services to ensure that your entity maintains good standing with the Secretary of State and remains current with its annual filing obligations.  Our fee is $125 per year — mention this posting, and receive a discount for your Massachusetts resident agent needs.  Please visit:  http://www.filingsmadeeasy.com/lp/ra/massachusetts-ma-registered-agent-services/ or cal 888-237-3410.

For years now, Fortune 500 companies and smaller companies alike have sought incorporation within the state of Delaware. In fact, more than 50% of all publicly traded companies within the United States are incorporated in Delaware at present. There are various reasons why so many companies choose Delaware over any other state when it comes to incorporation. Before you decide to incorporate your business in Delaware, take a look at this list of pros and cons, and make sure to use a registered agent when it comes time to incorporate.

If you’ve recently decided to form a corporation, then you may want to consider the pros of incorporating within the state of Delaware. Some things to think about include:

• Income Tax: unlike many other states, Delaware does not charge any income tax on corporations that don’t operate within the state.

• Incorporation Fees: Delaware has very low incorporation fees as compared to many other states.

• Shareholder Taxes: company shareholders who do not live in Delaware do not have to pay Delaware state income taxes.

• Favorable Court System: Delaware’s “Court of Chancery” exists solely to handle business cases. This court is very sophisticated and efficient, and often followed by other courts throughout the United States.

• Quick Processing Times: Incorporating a business within the state of Delaware is faster and simpler than in most other states.

There are also some negative aspects associated with incorporating a business in the state of Delaware. While these factors are often disregarded, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of incorporating in Delaware closely. Here are some reasons why incorporation within Delaware may not work for your business:

• Heavy Bank Tax: while the state of Delaware does not tax most businesses heavily, banks are the exception to this rule. Banks are often taxed more than any other business.

• Your State Taxes: the incorporation taxes in Delaware are rather low, but you may still have to qualify your business in your home state.

• Home State Tax: you will still have to pay any taxes that apply to corporations in your home state.

While large companies and companies who receive (or expect to receive) venture capital financing may greatly benefit from incorporating within the state of Delaware, smaller closely-held companies might not enjoy the same benefits. If you own a small business it may be worthwhile to consider other states for your incorporation.

Are you considering structuring your business as a sole proprietor? If so, then there are a couple of important things that you should know before you decide upon this type of business structure. While operating as a sole proprietor can be a good idea for tax reasons, you are also responsible for all debts, liabilities, and obligations your business may encounter. Many business owners decide to incorporate a business for one simple reason: to avoid becoming personally liable for business obligations. The different types of legal structures (read: Incorporating Your Business: Types of Legal Structures for New Companies) allow varying degrees of protection from bankruptcy, lawsuits, and other business obligations. Operating as a sole proprietor cannot protect you from these things.

When it comes to structuring a company as a sole proprietor, you are still liable for anything that happens with your company. For example, if you have taken out loans to start your company and are unable to pay them back, lenders can seize both your business and personal assets until the money that you owe has been collected.

Another drawback to a sole proprietorship is that you may not be able to gather as many of funds from lenders as you would with a corporation. As a sole proprietor, the amount of money that you can gain from a lender largely depends upon the type of personal collateral that you have. It also is difficult to find investors who will invest in unincorporated businesses.

There are also a couple of benefits to becoming a sole proprietor including numerous tax benefits. While other types of incorporations are taxed heavily, a sole proprietor is only taxed on the business profits. In addition, the costs associated with setting up a sole proprietorship are low when compared to other types of businesses. You can also take comfort in knowing that becoming the sole proprietor of a business means having absolute control over that business.

Since attempting to form a corporation can be tricky, it’s a good idea to speak with an online formation specialist. An online formation specialist can help guide you through the incorporation process, so that you can decide whether or not a sole proprietorship is the right option for you. After you’ve made a structuring decision, you can incorporate your business online simply and efficiently.