This page explains how LLC Compass researches and checks its guides, how service reviews are put together, how the site earns money, and how to report an error.
Research process and sources
Our guides cover state filing requirements, so we start with the primary sources for each state:
- The Secretary of State (or equivalent business filing agency) website, including its forms, fee schedules, and FAQs.
- The state Department of Revenue or tax authority, for franchise taxes, annual LLC taxes, and related returns.
- The state’s LLC statute, where a fee, deadline, or penalty is set by statute rather than by the filing agency.
- Official announcements of fee or deadline changes.
We cite the official source in each state guide so you can verify the figure yourself; we do not take fees or deadlines from other guides or forum posts.
Fact-checking and updates
Before an article is published, each fee, deadline, and filing method is checked against the official page. Every article shows a publication date. The updated date changes whenever the article is edited, including site-wide changes such as replacing a link; when we recheck a state’s fees and deadlines, we say so in the article.
We aim to recheck every state guide at least once a year, and sooner whenever a state announces a fee or deadline change. A fee or deadline may change between checks. Always confirm the current figure on the state website before you file.
How service reviews are done
Our reviews and comparisons cover LLC formation and registered agent services. Depending on what the provider publishes, we look at some or all of:
- Total cost: the service fee plus the state filing fee, and what the base package includes.
- Registered agent pricing, including the renewal price after any free first year.
- Upsells and add-ons pushed during checkout.
- Processing time and any expedited options.
- Publicly available customer feedback, such as Trustpilot or Better Business Bureau records, where we have reviewed them.
Reviews are based on the provider’s published pricing, terms, and package details, together with public customer feedback. We have not yet purchased and tested these services ourselves. When we do, the review will say so and include dated screenshots of the order and the state approval. Ratings and recommendations are the author’s own assessment against the criteria above; another reviewer weighing the same facts could reach a different conclusion.
How we make money
LLC Compass is funded by affiliate commissions. When you click a link marked as an affiliate link and buy a service, the provider pays us a commission. You pay the same price either way. Affiliate links carry rel="nofollow sponsored", and every article that contains them has a disclosure at the top.
Our current affiliate relationships are all through the Awin network. We also hold a CJ Affiliate account with no active programs, which is why our Privacy Policy mentions CJ tracking cookies. The active relationships are:
- Bizee (formerly Incfile) — LLC formation.
- Registered Agents Inc — registered agent service.
- Zenind — LLC formation for non-US founders.
We have applied to other affiliate programs. If any are approved, they will be added to this list. We also link to services we have no relationship with; those links earn us nothing.
How affiliate status does and does not affect our content:
- It does not change a rating, a pros-and-cons list, or the facts stated in a review.
- It does not decide which topics we cover.
- It does affect which services appear in the recommendation boxes within and at the end of articles. We choose those from services we consider reputable, and a partner’s commission is one reason we feature it there instead of a comparable non-partner.
We do not accept payment for reviews, for placement in comparisons, or for changing a rating.
See also our Affiliate Disclosure.
Corrections
If you find an error, an outdated fee, or a broken link, email max81oslo@gmail.com or use the contact page. Include the article URL and what is wrong. We check the claim against the official source and, if we agree, publish the fix and note the correction in the article. We do not silently rewrite articles to hide a mistake.
Not legal or tax advice
LLC Compass provides general information about state business filing requirements. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The author, Maksymilian Tuszewicki, is not an attorney or a CPA. For advice on your own situation, consult a licensed professional in your state. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.