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Why You Should Choose a Local Firm to Establish Your Company: A Q-and-A
With A.I. and the Internet offering many choices for people to do things themselves or to do things for seemingly small amounts of money, you should ask yourself the question: Why should I choose a local company, like RCSG, to help me establish my business?
If you think it’s strange that we thought about this, we think that it’s instructive. If we are asking a question like this of ourselves, then we are certainly asking a lot of questions about your company and how we can serve you better than any similar company.
So, let’s get down to it:
Why shouldn’t I just follow a set of instructions on the Internet for setting up my company?
Great question! You can do this, but we hope that you know exactly what you’re doing and the pitfalls that mistakes can lead to. There are things that do-it-yourselfers thrive doing using a few easy-to-follow instructions on the Internet: making a great French omelet; preparing a wall for paint; or learning how to wash pillows the right way. Frankly, there isn’t a lot of risk in following any of these instructions. Worst case: You screw up a few eggs, have clean walls or have to throw away a pillow. If you aren’t ready for all that comes with establishing a company on your own, you could cost yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines or missed opportunities. This is why having a corporate formation done professionally can be an investment that really pays off!
What about using one of those companies that promises to do all of this for a very low cost? Isn’t that a better value than paying more to a local corporate services company or registered agent?
Well, that’s exactly what they want you to think. We’re not going to accuse anyone of the old bait-and-switch, but teaser rates are common from a lot of the big companies that advertise claims offering big results for a token investment. Sure, you’ll get in the door cheap, and then the upsell comes. Do you want a fast turnaround for your corporate formation? That’ll be an extra charge! By comparison, RCSG does everything “rush,” meaning we assume our customers want things done quickly. At the big company, you may deal with a new agent every time you or they have a question. With RCSG, you will have a dedicated agent. Plus, companies like RCSG know the local landscape and can give you great insight into what to expect as your business evolves. Some guy three time zones away isn’t likely to offer this kind of local knowledge. And he’s probably going to have to charge you to research and acquire that knowledge, which we already possess.
RCSG claims that it’s a corporate services group, but really aren’t you just a registered agent?
RCSG is more than a registered agent, but being a registered agent is part of the services we provide. As a corporate services company, we can work to get your company up and running with proper incorporation and consideration given to the type of entity that serves you best, be it an LLC, partnership, S-Corp, C-Corp, trust or foundation. We can do regulatory compliance work on your company’s behalf, functioning in the role of company secretary. We can arrange for bookkeeping, payroll and other financial services if you don’t already have someone in place to perform these roles. We will open your mail and keep your filings up to date. We can provide document searches if this is something you need. In short, RCSG and companies like us function as a vital support system in taking these back-office functions off your plate and allowing you to focus on your business.
You talk about being a multi-state corporate services group. What does this really mean?
RCSG has offices in four states – New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida – as well as an affiliate in Delaware, Shoreline Corporate Services Group. Because of our reach, we can provide you with a virtual office in any state where we have a presence. This is a tremendous advantage for your company. And if you’re wondering how to know if you need to have a multi-state structure, this is something we are very comfortable advising clients about. Because of our experience, we will analyze your business needs and growth plans to see if a multi-state solution is in your best business interests.
RCSG calls itself business forward. What does this mean?
Business forward is getting things done. Earlier we spoke about things like being upsold on services or approaching a corporate formation as a do-it-yourself project. These represent opportunity costs that you don’t necessarily want to or have the capacity to absorb. Business forward is about removing obstacles from your path and using RCSG as your corporate services group will help you to streamline your paperwork and focus on your business.
How do you ensure effective communication with your clients? How do you provide timely updates?
RCSG is very sensitive to the idea of effectively communicating with clients. Often, our clients need results and need them to meet tight deadlines. This is why regular updates are essential. Also, we are very mindful not to include any sensitive information in emails or other messaging systems where there can be a potential security breach. That would prove embarrassing.
Does RCSG have any professional memberships or licensing?
We are members of NALA, the National Association of Legal Assistants, which is a national organization representing paralegals. This is an organization that offers us continuing education, much like lawyers taking continuing legal education seminars. We are also a founding member of the Richmond County Paralegal Association. Outside of work, members of our company have an extensive history of serving on the boards of charities and organizations.
Fees are determined on a case-by-case basis, although our Worksheets do provide prices for some services. These should be treated as initial estimates for planning more than a final cost for a complete job. An important component of what we do is that we must assess the work we’re being asked to perform before we can derive a comprehensive cost estimate.
