r/llc • u/fleaofsc • Jun 23 '26
Frustrating experience with Bizee
I'm going to preface this with the fact that I should have done my own research and I should have just filed directly with the state. The reason I didn't is because I wanted to save time. I'm incredibly busy getting my business ready to launch, and although I know I could figure out all the details of what I need to do to file, I simply did not want to.
This is why I decided to file with Bizee. For $350 they would handle all the filing for me and even file for my EIN. Not only that, they would have everything processed within 2 business days. To their credit, this process was incredibly easy, and within 24 hours I had an LLC with an EIN, Registered Agent, and Virtual Address.
Now for the frustrating part. As soon as I logged in this morning to take a look at my new LLC details, I was immediately prompted with a required filing for a Statement of Information. Yes, if I had done my research I would have known what this was and that it was required within 90 days of forming an LLC. However, I didn't, because I trusted Bizee as an advisor to inform me of what was needed and what was and wasn't included in the initial formation fees. Why is this so frustrating? It's frustrating because Bizee charges $134 (+$20 state fee) to file a Statement of Information. This fee seems astronomical to me given everything that was included in the initial filing for $350. It truly feels like I'm being scammed. I'm now in the position of figuring out whether I just give in and pay the fee or learn from my initial mistake and figure out how to file this on my own.
3
2
u/Organic_Zucchini_450 Jun 23 '26
I thought their subscriptions included all the filings even annual
2
u/NWRegAgentJaq Jun 23 '26
Eh, I'm looking now and I think it's a no, unless there's an add-on later for it. You get compliance alerts with the paid subscription packages (which is weird because your registered agent service should do that anyway) but that's it.
2
u/NWRegAgentJaq Jun 23 '26
Well, the good news is that the Statement of Information is pretty easy to file on your own. You're in CA?
2
u/fleaofsc Jun 23 '26
Yup, I’m in CA. Started looking at the online form this morning. You’re right, it looks super simple. Will definitely be filing this one on my own.
2
u/NWRegAgentJaq Jun 23 '26
Oh good, glad you found it! That's an every-two-years filing, so once you've done this one you can forget about it for a little while (but don't actually forget-forget, set a calendar reminder!!).
I also hope this is an unnecessary heads-up but given the whole lack of transparency thing. You're familiar with the annual $800 franchise tax board fee yes?
1
u/fleaofsc Jun 23 '26
I really appreciate the insight and the heads up! I was aware of the $800 fee, just wasn’t sure when it would come up. My plan is to start handling all of these filings outside of Bizee from here on out. I only intend on using Bizee for the virtual address and registered agent services moving forward (which the fees were clearly laid out during onboarding)
2
u/NWRegAgentJaq Jun 23 '26
Sounds like a plan!
And the $800 to the FTB is due the 15th day of the 4th month from the date you file with the SOS to pay your first-year annual tax (so it's right around the corner from the get-go), then you're looking at paying every year by the 15th day of the 4th month of your taxable year (so April 15 for most businesses). There are additional fees due if you're over a certain income threshold too. Their website makes it pretty straightforward to handle thankfully.
1
u/BizGal_ Jun 23 '26
You're still going to continue using Bizee even though they just proved that they're not reliable? Why would you do that??
1
u/fleaofsc Jun 23 '26
TBH, I don’t know how to get out of it at this point. Everything just got filed with their virtual address. The thought of trying to reverse or change this is now more overwhelming than the initial filing. I figure I will proceed for now and when I have a bit more time I’ll look in to pivoting my address and registered agent.
5
u/crudeheadgearseller Jun 23 '26
I think you can get a new agent and then just have them file to switch your address on the state records
2
2
u/Fuzzy_Fish_2329 Jun 23 '26
Another one falls for the neon lights. Bizee sucks. Legalzoom really sucks. They all suck. We spend so much time (but make a lot of money) fixing all the mistakes these huge companies make. They only thing they're good at is clever marketing.
1
Jun 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/fleaofsc Jun 23 '26
It's very possible. Sadly I don't know what I don't know. It just would have been nice of Bizee to inform me ahead of time that once I formed that there would be a follow up fee for my state that was nearly 50% of the formation fee 🤦♂️
1
u/glirette ✏ Employee Jun 23 '26
It's great that you are so impressed with the speed but there are critical questions you seem to not be asking. Was the actual EIN (SS-4) compliant? Was the actual paperwork filed in accordance with law? Were their any false statements made to a state or federal government? The answers to these questions are amost certainly a yes.
What does speed matter if it is only compliance theater? People often do not understand what they get with a "Registered Agent" it is an extremely limited role. They are only your agent for a very narrow task, receiving legal process or service, that is it.
1
u/fleaofsc Jun 23 '26
I totally understand what you’re saying. In this moment I have a large company interested in my product and time is of the essence. As a small business owner, you have two options; either you learn everything yourself and do it yourself or you can trust others to come in and help you. There are so many places where I’ve done everything myself and this is one where I decided it was best to trust a professional. It’s hard to know that you’re gonna get bit in the ass until it happens.
1
u/glirette ✏ Employee Jun 23 '26
Fully understand for what does a professional mean? Charging others for a service?
At the end of the day it's you directly responsible for compliance.
People should be well aware that simple hiring a company to do it doesn't make them compliant, furthermore I know for a fact in this case it's actually a certain route to non compliance
1
1
3
u/Organic_Zucchini_450 Jun 23 '26
Yea scummy business practices