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SolutionBuilt for founders who would rather build the business than chase paperwork. Formation, compliance, and the boring infrastructure, on autopilot.
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For first-time and serial founders
For Founders · File.Business

The operating system for getting started.

Forming a company is six different filings at three levels of government, plus banking, brand, and a dozen ongoing compliance deadlines. We handle all of it on one platform so you can focus on the actual business.

Built for your use case 60-day money-back Cancel anytime
220,000+
Founders served
5 min
Median setup time
$0
Service fee on formation
A+
BBB rated
$0
Free
formation service
51
Jurisdictions
filed in-house
220K+
Businesses
formed since launch
4.9★
Rating
8,200+ verified reviews
SOC 2 Type II · 2025 report 4.9 · 8,200+ reviews E&O Insured · carrier on request 51 Jurisdictions 220,000+ Formed
See disclosures + carrier names →
5 minutes to startOne short questionnaire
$0 formationState fee at cost
60-day money-backCancel anytime
How it goes

From day one to running.

01
Tell us about the business

Entity type, state, owners. Five minutes, pay only state fee. We surface the right answers if you are not sure.

Day 0
02
We file with the state

Articles of Organization or Incorporation submitted same day. State processing varies by state.

Day 1
03
EIN issued

We file IRS Form SS-4. Most US founders receive the EIN the same business day.

Day 2
04
Banking and inbox

Matched to a banking partner, you@yourbrand.com email working, domain locked.

Day 3
05
BOI filed, RA active

FinCEN BOI submitted. Registered Agent active in your state. Compliance calendar populated.

Week 1
06
The platform runs

Annual reports, franchise tax, BOI updates, state and local deadlines, all tracked. We file what you authorize us to file.

Ongoing
See your situation here?The fastest path is to start. Five minutes, pay only state fee.
Start your business →Pay only state fee
In their own words

How customers like you use the platform.

"I had banking, an EIN, and a real domain by the end of day three. Last company took six weeks."
HI
Hana ItoFounder, Glasshouse Software
"They caught a Pennsylvanian annual report I would have missed. The platform pays for itself the first time that happens."
PS
Pedro SalazarFounder, Cedar Light Electric
"Replaced four separate vendors with one bill. Saved $1,800 a year and stopped fielding random renewal emails."
NF
Naima FayeFounder, Maple Stand Coffee
60day promise

The File.Business Promise

If we miss a deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we cover the penalty. If you change your mind within 60 days, we refund our fee in full. Your data stays yours, always.

60-day money-back Penalty-free filings Cancel anytime No surprise fees
FAQ

Common questions.

Is formation really $0?
Yes. Our service fee is $0. You only pay the state filing fee, which we pass through at cost. State fees range from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts.
What if I am not sure which entity type?
Most founders form an LLC. Venture-backed startups raising outside capital form a Delaware C-Corp. Use our entity quiz, or talk to a specialist for free during business hours.
Do you support international founders?
Yes. We form US entities for non-US persons regularly. We file the EIN by paper SS-4 (1 to 3 weeks instead of same-day) and match you to banking partners that open US accounts for foreign founders.
What does ongoing cost?
Starter is $0 ongoing. Growth ($99/month) bundles platform tools (email, website, brand kit, social, e-signature) plus full compliance monitoring. Scale ($349/month) adds multi-entity, multi-state, and dedicated specialist support.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Cancel anytime. We refund our service fee within 60 days, no questions.
Will I outgrow it?
Customers stay through Series A and beyond. The cap-table tool covers SAFEs and priced rounds, the books tool exports to QBO for outside CPAs, and the Compliance Suite scales to multi-entity holdings.
What about my existing business?
We migrate existing entities. Bring your articles, EIN letter, and last annual report. We add you to the compliance calendar and pick up from there.
Who answers when I email you?
Real specialists, not first-tier support. Most replies in under two business hours during business hours.
Is my data secure?
SOC 2 Type II certified, AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit, audit trail on every document access.
Can I see what the dashboard looks like first?
Yes. See the platform tour.

Start your business.

Tell us a few details. We do the rest. You get a single dashboard for everything.

Pay only the state fee 60-day money-back Cancel anytime
0
businesses formed
since 2017
0
average rating
from 8,200+ reviews
0
US states + DC
covered
$0
service fee
for formation

Real outcomes from real founders

Composite stories from 220,000+ businesses we have helped form and operate since 2017. Names changed; outcomes are typical.

$129/yr Compliance Annual Filings · penalty-free

On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.

When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.

See compliance plans →
Form your business for $0Start →
File.Business is a private business filing and compliance service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any Secretary of State office. You may file directly with the appropriate state agency. SOC 2 Type II audited. 220,000+ businesses formed since 2017.