FB
File.Business
$0 formation + paid compliance plans starting $99/yr.
3Wins
4.9★8,200+ reviews
220KFormed
Lower RA, lower annual report, same 51 jurisdictions
CorpNet vs File.Business
CorpNet, founded in 2009 by Phil and Nellie Akalp, is a respected business filing service known for compliance specialty and business license research. File.Business is the modern all-in-one operating system covering formation, compliance, banking integration, payroll, contracts, and the 25 interactive legal form builders. Here is the honest, current comparison.
2026 pricing comparison
| Item | CorpNet | File.Business |
|---|---|---|
| Basic formation tier | $99 one-time + 3% convenience fee | $49 one-time (Starter) |
| Standard formation tier | Deluxe $219 one-time | Standard $149/yr |
| Premium tier | Complete $269 one-time | Pro $299/yr |
| Registered agent year 1 | 60 days free (Basic), 1 year free (Deluxe+) | Included on Standard+ |
| Registered agent renewal | $149/yr (volume discounts available) | Included on Standard+ |
| EIN application | +$69 online | Included |
| Annual report filing | +$99 per filing | Included on Standard+ |
| Express filing | +$150 (any tier) | Included on Premier ($599/yr) |
| 24-hour rush | +$250 (any tier) | Same-day on Premier (DE/WY/NV/FL/TX) |
| Business license research | Specialty service (included higher tiers) | $149 add-on |
| 3-year cost (single state, mid-tier) | $517+ plus state fees | $447 + state fees |
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | CorpNet | File.Business |
|---|---|---|
| Registered agent · all 51 jurisdictions | Yes | Yes |
| Same-day formation (5 states) | 24-hour rush available (+$250) | Same-day included on Premier |
| Business license research | Specialty strength | Add-on ($149) |
| Compliance calendar | Yes (basic) | Federal + 51-jurisdiction automation |
| Annual report automation | Per-filing pricing ($99 each) | Auto-file all 51 (Pro+) |
| Document vault | Yes (basic) | Audit-ready, SOC 2 certified |
| 25 interactive legal form builders | No | Yes |
| 200+ attorney-reviewed contracts | No | Yes (Standard+) |
| Business banking integration | No | Mercury, Chase, Brex, Relay |
| Payroll integration | No | Gusto, ADP, Justworks |
| 8 calculators (S-Corp, formation cost, etc.) | No | Yes |
| Glossary (377 terms) | No | Yes |
| Public API + webhooks | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | Yes (iOS + Android) |
| Penalty-free guarantee | No | Yes (Pro+) |
| SOC 2 Type II certified | No public certification | Yes |
| Phone support | Included all tiers | Pro+ tiers |
| Founded | 2009 | 2017 |
Where CorpNet wins
- Business license research is their specialty. CorpNet has built deep expertise in identifying federal, state, county, and city licenses required for specific industries. For highly-regulated industries (food service, alcohol, healthcare, contracting), their license research is genuinely best-in-class.
- 17-year track record (founded 2009) versus our 9 years. Longer history of compliance work.
- Phone support included at all tiers. CorpNet customers can call directly even on the $99 Basic tier. We reserve phone support for Pro and Premier customers.
- Family-owned, founders still active. Phil and Nellie Akalp remain involved. Some customers prefer this versus venture-backed competitors.
- Strong reputation in compliance specialist circles. Particularly known among accountants and small-business attorneys.
Where File.Business wins
- Modern all-in-one platform. Banking, payroll, bookkeeping, contracts, document vault, calculators, glossary, mobile app, public API. CorpNet is filings-focused without the broader operating system.
- Annual report automation across all 51 jurisdictions. CorpNet charges $99 per filing. File.Business Pro+ includes unlimited annual reports.
- Penalty-free guarantee. If we miss a state deadline, we pay the late fee. CorpNet offers no equivalent guarantee.
- SOC 2 Type II certification for document storage and customer data handling.
- Lower 3-year cost on comparable tiers: $447 vs $517+.
- No "convenience fee." CorpNet adds a 3% convenience fee on top of every package. File.Business does not add hidden fees.
- 25 interactive legal form builders with state-specific data: operating agreement, NDAs, employment agreements, contractor agreements, etc.
- Public API and webhooks for accounting firms and SaaS platforms automating multi-client formation workflows.
- 8 free calculators (S-Corp savings, formation cost, self-employment tax, business name generator, etc.).
Which is the right choice?
Choose CorpNet if: Your business operates in a heavily-licensed industry (food service, alcohol, healthcare, contracting) and you value their business license research depth as the primary need. You also want phone support at the lowest tier and prefer a family-owned company.
Choose File.Business if: You want the full operating system (formation + banking + payroll + compliance + contracts + tools) at a lower 3-year cost. You value automation (annual reports auto-filed in all 51 jurisdictions), modern technology (mobile app, API, SOC 2), and the penalty-free guarantee. You can pay $149 for our business license research add-on if needed.
Migration playbook: switch from CorpNet to File.Business
Most CorpNet customers save $70-$200 over 3 years and gain banking/payroll/contract integration by switching. Process:
- Sign up for File.Business Standard or Pro.
- We file a change of registered agent with your state at no charge.
- We import your existing entity records and filing history into your document vault.
- Your compliance calendar starts tracking all your deadlines automatically.
- Cancel your CorpNet renewal and pocket the savings.
CorpNet vs File.Business by service
LLC formation$99 CorpNet vs $49 File.Business Starter
Registered agent service$149/yr vs included in Standard
Annual reports$99/filing vs auto-file all 51 jurisdictions
BOI reporting (foreign entities)For foreign-formed only
Compliance suiteFederal + 51 jurisdictions
Foreign qualificationMulti-state ops
TrademarkUSPTO filing
EIN application$69 vs included
Business bankingPartner integrations
FAQ: CorpNet vs File.Business
How is File.Business different from CorpNet?
CorpNet is an established, reputable filing and compliance service, so the difference is less about capability and more about model: File.Business puts every filing, deadline, and document in one connected system with transparent, pass-through state-fee pricing, rather than a traditional a-la-carte service. Both can form your company; we focus on keeping everything in one place afterward.
Can I move my business from CorpNet to File.Business?
Yes: your entity belongs to you, so you can switch your registered agent and move ongoing filings to us with a simple change filing, without re-forming the company. We handle the agent change with the state and consolidate your compliance so it is not spread across providers.
Do you offer the same range of filings?
Yes: formation, EIN, registered agent, annual reports, amendments, dissolution, foreign qualification, and the broader set of state filings are all handled, plus ongoing compliance tracking. The difference is the single system that keeps your filings and deadlines together rather than as separate orders you have to remember.
How does your pricing compare?
We pass state fees through at cost with no markup and keep service pricing transparent on the pricing page, so you can see exactly what is the state's fee and what is ours. Rather than compare headline numbers, look at the multi-year cost including the registered agent and any recurring compliance.
Will switching disrupt my company?
No: changing providers does not affect your entity, name, EIN, or formation date, since those live with the state and IRS, not the service. We become your agent and take over your filings going forward, so the transition is invisible to your business, its bank, and its records.
Do you handle ongoing compliance, not just formation?
Yes: beyond forming the company we track your annual reports, franchise or state fees, and other deadlines, and can file them for you, so good standing is maintained rather than left to you to watch. Ongoing compliance in one place is the core of what we do.
Is File.Business good for multi-state businesses?
Yes: we handle foreign qualification, registered agents in multiple states, and the annual reports each state requires, keeping a multi-state entity's obligations in one system. For businesses operating across state lines, consolidating that in one place is where the value shows up.
Can File.Business handle my registered agent nationwide?
Yes: we provide registered agent service in any state and coordinate coverage across every state where you are registered under one account, so you are not managing separate agents. We keep each state's record current and forward service of process and state mail promptly.
File.Business vs CorpNet
Compared across the seven dimensions that matter to a US founder: pricing transparency, compliance automation breadth, international-founder support, API and builder access, customer support depth, brand recognition, and mobile experience. File.Business leads on the first four; CorpNet leads on business-license research depth, extended phone-support hours, on-shore 100+ staff. The full line-by-line breakdown is below.
CO
CorpNet
$99-$269 + state
0Wins
, Public reviews
, Customers
DimensionFile.BusinessCorpNet
Formation cost$0 + state$99 Basic + state
Business license research$149 add-onIncluded on Deluxe+
Phone support hoursBusiness hoursExtended
Convenience feeNone3% on payments
Compliance dashboardFullLimited
SOC 2 Type II audited
220,000+ businesses. 60-day money-back. State fees passed through at cost.
Your operating system, not a transaction
Every deadline auto-tracked across your entities. Compliance Score visible year-round.
Transparent pricing
No hidden fees. No upsells at checkout. State fees disclosed upfront.