FormRated Editorial Policy & Independence

1. Objective Evaluation Philosophy

FormRated was founded to solve a pervasive problem in the business services sector: superficial affiliate landing pages with arbitrary rankings and manufactured testimonials. Every review on FormRated follows a strict standardized evaluation framework. We do not invent fake star ratings, nor do we artificially adjust scores to appease corporate marketing teams.

2. Our 7 Core Scoring Pillars

Providers are rated on a rigorous scale from 0.0 to 10.0 based on seven measurable dimensions:

• Pricing & Fee Transparency (15%): Are base state filing fees accurately explained? Are mandatory government disbursements clearly differentiated from service charges? Are recurring renewal costs upfront?
• Feature & Document Completeness (20%): Does the provider furnish essential formation elements such as custom Operating Agreements, Banking Resolutions, Articles of Organization, and digital registers?
• Customer Support Quality (15%): Availability of knowledgeable human support, dedicated corporate guides, live chat response times, and ongoing post-incorporation assistance.
• Ease of Use & Dashboard (15%): The intuitive flow of the electronic onboarding questionnaire, document storage, and corporate compliance calendars.
• Corporate Transparency (10%): Public disclosure of ownership, physical headquarters, refund policies, and data privacy practices (e.g. pledging not to sell customer contact details).
• International & Non-Resident Support (10%): The ability to assist non-citizens, remote founders, and digital nomads without local tax IDs or domestic residential addresses.
• Total Value for Money (15%): Overall assessment of whether the service package represents real economic value compared to manual self-filing.

3. Affiliate & Commercial Disclosures

FormRated is financed through affiliate relationships and clearly marked advertising. When you click on an external link to a provider website and purchase a formation package, FormRated may receive an affiliate referral commission. This commission incurs no additional cost to you and frequently includes negotiated discount codes.

4. Separation of Editorial Rankings from Advertising

Our business agreements do NOT dictate our editorial opinions or numeric scores:

• A provider cannot pay for a higher rating or favorable review score.
• All commercial placements are visibly tagged as Sponsored or Advertisement.
• Negative aspects, overpriced add-ons, and restrictive renewal terms are explicitly documented in our "Cons" section regardless of affiliate partnership status.

5. Corrections & Fact-Checking

Corporate filing fees, state regulations, and provider packages change frequently. We conduct periodic audits and welcome corrections from both company representatives and community members. To report an inaccuracy or submit verified documentation, contact our editorial team via our Provider Portal.