Terms and Conditions

Effective Date: August 6, 2026
Last Updated: August 11, 2026

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) are a binding agreement between you and Next Step Filings, LLC (“Next Step Filings,” “NSF,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) governing your use of the website located at nextstepfilings.com (the “Site”) and all services offered through the Site or through our order forms, mailings, and communications (collectively, the “Services”).

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY. THEY CONTAIN A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION AND A CLASS ACTION WAIVER (SECTION 16) THAT AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. BY USING THE SITE OR PURCHASING ANY SERVICE, YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT USE THE SITE OR PURCHASE ANY SERVICE.

1. Our Role: A Private, Third-Party Filing Service

Next Step Filings, LLC is a privately owned, third-party commercial filing and document services company. This section defines the limits of our role. Read it before purchasing any Service.

We are NOT a government agency. Next Step Filings is not a government agency, is not operated by any government, and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any federal, state, or local government entity, including any Secretary of State, State Corporation Commission, Department of State, or the Internal Revenue Service. Documents, notices, and communications from us are commercial solicitations or service communications from a private company, not government notices.

We are NOT a law firm and we are NOT attorneys. Next Step Filings does not practice law, does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or legal representation, and cannot advise you on your legal rights, remedies, defenses, entity selection, or legal strategy. No attorney-client relationship is created by your use of the Site or any Service. Nothing on the Site (including guides, articles, resources, FAQs, and blog content) constitutes legal advice. If you need legal advice, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

We are NOT a certified public accounting firm and we are NOT accountants or tax advisors. Next Step Filings does not provide accounting, bookkeeping, audit, or tax advice, and is not a CPA firm. No accountant-client relationship is created by your use of the Site or any Service. If you need tax or accounting advice, consult a licensed CPA or tax professional.

We are a document preparation and filing service. Our role is administrative: we prepare, assemble, and submit documents and filings based entirely on the information you provide to us, and we deliver related administrative services such as document retrieval, delivery, and compliance reminders. We do not select your entity type, interpret law for your situation, or exercise legal judgment on your behalf.

You can always do this yourself. Every filing we handle can be completed by you directly with the relevant government agency for the government’s own fee, without paying us anything. Our service fees pay for convenience, preparation, handling, and administrative execution. They do not purchase access to any government process, and they do not include the government’s own filing fee unless the order form says so. You have no obligation to use our Services to keep your business compliant. Where applicable, our order forms disclose the government’s direct filing fee alongside our total price.

2. Acceptance of These Terms

By accessing the Site, submitting an order, checking an acceptance box on an order form, or making payment for any Service, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms, our [Privacy Policy], and our [Refund Policy], each of which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. If you use the Services on behalf of a business entity, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity, and “you” includes that entity.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and capable of forming a binding contract to use the Services. The Services are intended for business use within the United States.

4. The Services

Depending on availability, our Services include:

1. Annual Registration and Annual Report Filing Services. Preparation and submission of your entity’s annual registration or annual report, including payment of the state fee on your behalf where disclosed on the order form.
2. Reinstatement Filing Services. Preparation and submission of reinstatement filings for entities that have been administratively dissolved, canceled, or placed in inactive status, including advancing accumulated state fees, penalties, and back charges disclosed at checkout. Reinstatement filings are time-sensitive and are often submitted the same business day an order is received.
3. Dissolution Filing Services. Preparation and submission of Articles of Dissolution or equivalent filings to close your entity with the state. Dissolution has legal and tax consequences we cannot advise you on; consult a licensed attorney or tax professional before dissolving an entity.
4. Formation Services and the LLC Launch Bundle. Preparation and submission of entity formation filings, and startup packages that combine a formation filing with other components listed on the bundle’s order page.
5. Certificates and Document Delivery Services. Retrieval and delivery of certificates of fact, good standing, or compliance and similar official documents from state agencies.
6. Registered Agent Services. Receipt and forwarding of service of process and official mail, as described in Section 11.
7. Labor Law Poster Compliance Packages. Physical poster sets with included update service as described on the order page.
8. EIN and MLC Form Services. Preparation and submission of Employer Identification Number applications and related compliance forms.
9. Digital Products. Downloadable templates, kits, calendars, and document packages, sold individually or as the Digital Products Bundle, as described in Section 4.1.
10. Administrative corrections, record updates, and compliance reminder services.

The specific scope, price, and terms of each Service are stated on the applicable order form or service page at the time of purchase, and those order-form disclosures are part of your agreement with us. We may modify, discontinue, or add Services at any time. Changes do not affect orders already accepted and paid.

4.1 Digital Products. Digital products are delivered electronically after purchase. They are general-purpose templates and informational materials, not legal, tax, or accounting advice, and are not tailored to your specific situation; you are responsible for completing and adapting them, and for having them reviewed by a licensed professional where appropriate. We grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use purchased digital products for your own business. You may not resell, redistribute, sublicense, publish, or share digital products, or use them to build competing products. Digital product refunds are governed by the Refund Policy.

4.2 Bundles. Bundles are priced as a package. Each component of a bundle is governed by the section of these Terms applicable to that component type, and bundle refunds are calculated component by component under the Refund Policy, using the individual component values listed on the bundle’s order page.

5. Your Responsibilities; Accuracy of Information

Our Services depend entirely on the information you give us. You agree that:

1. all information you provide is accurate, current, and complete, and you will promptly update us if it changes before your filing is submitted;
2. you are authorized to request filings and changes for the business entity named in your order;
3. we may rely on the information you provide without independent verification, and we are not responsible for errors, rejections, delays, penalties, or losses caused by inaccurate, incomplete, or untimely information you supply;
4. you remain solely responsible for your business’s legal and compliance obligations. Purchasing a Service does not transfer your compliance obligations to us. If a filing is not completed for any reason (including cancellation, non-payment, missing information, or government rejection), the obligation to file remains yours;
5. if we request information or documents from you and do not receive them within fourteen (14) days, we may close your order as described in our Refund Policy.

6. No Guarantee of Outcome, Timing, or Government Action

Government agencies control the acceptance, rejection, processing, and timing of all filings. We do not and cannot guarantee: that any government agency will accept a filing; any particular processing time; that a filing will be completed before any deadline, especially for orders placed close to a filing deadline; or the accuracy of any government record, database, or status designation. Estimated timeframes on the Site are good-faith estimates, not commitments. We are not responsible for government delays, errors, outages, fee changes, rule changes, backlogs, or administrative actions, including administrative dissolution or status changes imposed by a state.

If we make a preparation or submission error that is solely our fault, our responsibility is limited to correcting and resubmitting the filing at no additional service charge, or refunding our service fee for that filing, as set out in Section 14 and our Refund Policy.

7. Fees, Payment, and Government Fees

Prices for each Service are stated on the applicable order form or checkout page. By submitting payment information, you authorize us to charge your payment method for the total amount disclosed at checkout, including our service fee and any government fees we advance on your behalf.

Government filing fees, state fees, penalties and back charges advanced for reinstatement orders, postage, courier charges, and third-party pass-through costs are set by third parties, may change without notice, and are non-refundable once remitted to the government or third party. If a government fee increases between your order and our submission, we may contact you for the difference or refund your order.

All amounts are in U.S. dollars. You are responsible for any payment-method fees charged by your bank or card issuer.

8. No Automatic Renewal; Legacy Subscriptions

Current Services do not auto-renew. Services offered for purchase on the Site are one-time purchases. We do not automatically renew your Service or automatically charge your payment method for a future service period. Instead, we send reminder notices ahead of relevant compliance dates, and you decide each time whether to purchase.

Legacy subscriptions. A limited number of customers previously enrolled in subscription-based renewal plans that billed annually. If you hold a legacy subscription: (a) you were informed at enrollment that the plan billed annually; (b) we will send you a renewal reminder notice before any renewal charge, identifying the amount and date of the upcoming charge and how to cancel; (c) you may cancel at any time before the renewal date by emailing hello@nextstepfilings.com, and no future charge will occur; and (d) we are retiring these plans, and your plan may be converted to reminder-based (non-billing) service, in which case you will be notified and no further automatic charges will be made. Refunds for legacy subscription charges are governed by our Refund Policy.

9. Refunds, Cancellations, and Chargebacks

Refunds and cancellations are governed by our Refund Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms. In summary, refund eligibility depends on the Service and how far work has progressed, and government fees are non-refundable once remitted. Initiating a payment dispute or chargeback without first contacting us at hello@nextstepfilings.com voids eligibility under our standard refund process and may result in a dispute-handling fee as stated in the Refund Policy. We reserve the right to present order records, disclosures, communications, and delivery confirmations in response to any payment dispute.

10. Communications

By placing an order or submitting your contact information, you consent to receive transactional and service communications from us by email, mail, and phone regarding your order, filings, and compliance dates. You may receive marketing communications, including compliance reminders and offers, by email or direct mail; you may opt out of marketing at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in the communication or emailing hello@nextstepfilings.com. Opting out of marketing does not stop transactional messages about an active order.

Our mailings and emails are commercial solicitations from a private company. They are not government notices, and we identify ourselves as a non-government company in our communications.

11. Registered Agent Services (If Purchased)

If you purchase registered agent service: we will receive service of process and official mail on behalf of your entity at the designated address and forward or make it available to you; you must keep your contact information current so we can reach you, and we are not responsible for consequences of undeliverable forwarding caused by outdated contact information; if you cancel or the service ends, you are responsible for promptly appointing a successor registered agent with your state, and we may resign as your registered agent in accordance with state law if the service is not renewed, is canceled, or payment is not received.

12. Site Content; Educational Resources

Guides, articles, state compliance summaries, FAQs, and other resources on the Site are provided for general informational purposes only. They are not legal, tax, accounting, or professional advice, may not reflect the most current legal requirements in every jurisdiction, and may not apply to your specific circumstances. You use Site content at your own risk and should verify requirements with the relevant government agency or a licensed professional.

13. Intellectual Property; Acceptable Use

The Site and its content, including text, graphics, logos, page designs, and software, are owned by or licensed to Next Step Filings and protected by intellectual property laws. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive license to access the Site for your own business purposes. You agree not to: copy, scrape, or republish Site content for commercial purposes; misrepresent your identity or authority in an order; use the Site or Services for any unlawful purpose or to submit fraudulent filings; interfere with the Site’s operation or security; or frame or mirror the Site. We may suspend or terminate access and refuse service for violations of this section.

14. Disclaimer of Warranties

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SITE AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE, OR THAT ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY WILL ACCEPT OR TIMELY PROCESS ANY FILING. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

15. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW: (A) NEXT STEP FILINGS AND ITS OWNERS, MEMBERS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF GOODWILL, GOVERNMENT PENALTIES, LATE FEES, ADMINISTRATIVE DISSOLUTION, OR LOSS OF GOOD STANDING, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SITE OR SERVICES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES; AND (B) OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SITE OR SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL SERVICE FEES (EXCLUDING GOVERNMENT FEES) YOU PAID TO US FOR THE SERVICE GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE) AND EVEN IF A REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW CERTAIN LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU; IN THAT CASE, OUR LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THESE TERMS LIMITS LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE LIMITED BY LAW, INCLUDING LIABILITY FOR FRAUD OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

16. Dispute Resolution: Informal Resolution, Binding Arbitration, and Class Action Waiver

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT REQUIRES INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES AND WAIVES YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.

16.1 Informal Resolution First (Required). Before filing any arbitration or court claim, you and we agree to first attempt to resolve the dispute informally. The party raising the dispute must send a written notice describing the dispute, the supporting facts, and the requested relief to the other party (to us: hello@nextstepfilings.com, Subject: “Formal Dispute Notice,” or by mail to our principal office; to you: your email or address on file). Both parties agree to negotiate in good faith for sixty (60) days from receipt of the notice. Most concerns can be resolved this way, quickly and at no cost. An arbitration or court filing made without completing this process shall be stayed or dismissed pending compliance.

16.2 Binding Arbitration. If a dispute is not resolved informally, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Site, or the Services, including disputes about the scope or enforceability of this arbitration provision, shall be resolved exclusively by final and binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules then in effect. The Federal Arbitration Act governs this provision. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator may award the same individual relief a court could award, and must apply these Terms as a court would.

16.3 Arbitration Procedure. Arbitration will be conducted by a single arbitrator. Unless the parties agree otherwise, any hearing will be held by videoconference or, if in person, in the county where you reside or another mutually agreed location. Payment of filing, administration, and arbitrator fees will be governed by the AAA’s Consumer Arbitration Rules. Each party bears its own attorneys’ fees and costs unless applicable law or the AAA rules provide otherwise.

16.4 Small Claims Carve-Out. Either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court in a jurisdiction with proper venue, instead of arbitration, so long as the claim remains in small claims court and is not removed or appealed to a court of general jurisdiction.

16.5 Class Action and Jury Trial Waiver. ALL DISPUTES MUST BE BROUGHT IN THE PARTIES’ INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE CLAIMS OF MORE THAN ONE PERSON OR PRESIDE OVER ANY CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. YOU AND WE EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY. If the class action waiver in this Section 16.5 is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, then this entire arbitration provision shall be void as to that claim only, and that claim shall proceed in court under Section 17, with the class waiver enforced to the maximum extent permitted.

16.6 Mass Filings. If twenty-five (25) or more similar arbitration demands are filed against us by the same or coordinated counsel or organizations, the parties agree the demands shall be batched and resolved in staged proceedings under the AAA’s Multiple Consumer Case Filing procedures (or equivalent), with bellwether cases proceeding first, and applicable fees due only as each batch proceeds.

16.7 30-Day Opt-Out. You may opt out of this arbitration provision (Sections 16.2–16.6) by emailing hello@nextstepfilings.com with the subject line “Arbitration Opt-Out” within thirty (30) days of first accepting these Terms, stating your name, your business entity’s name, and your order number or email on file. Opting out of arbitration does not affect any other part of these Terms, including the class action waiver’s application to court proceedings to the extent enforceable, the limitation of liability, or the informal resolution requirement.

16.8 Exceptions. Either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in court to protect intellectual property or prevent unauthorized access to or abuse of the Site, without first completing informal resolution or arbitration.

17. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to them or the Services are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and applicable federal law, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles, except that the Federal Arbitration Act governs Section 16. For any claim not subject to arbitration, you and we consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Virginia. Nothing in this section deprives you of protections of consumer laws of your state of residence that cannot be waived by contract.

18. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Next Step Filings and its owners, members, managers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, penalties, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) inaccurate, incomplete, or unauthorized information you provide; (b) your violation of these Terms or of any law; (c) your business’s compliance obligations or failure to meet them; or (d) filings we prepare or submit in reliance on your instructions and information.

19. Termination and Refusal of Service

We may refuse, suspend, or terminate any order or Service, or restrict access to the Site, if: you breach these Terms; we suspect fraud, unauthorized activity, or unlawful use; required information or payment is not provided; or completing the Service would require us to act unlawfully. If we terminate an order for reasons other than your breach, we will refund service fees for work not performed in accordance with our Refund Policy. Sections 1, 5, 6, 9, 14–18, and 20–22 survive termination.

20. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The “Last Updated” date at the top reflects the most recent version. Material changes will be posted on the Site, and for active service relationships we will provide notice by email or at your next order. Changes apply prospectively: the version of these Terms in effect when you place an order governs that order. Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms for future use.

21. Force Majeure

We are not liable for delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including government agency closures, outages, or backlogs; changes in law or agency procedure; natural disasters; internet or utility failures; labor disruptions; or acts of war or terrorism. Deadlines are extended for the duration of the event, and we will make commercially reasonable efforts to complete affected Services promptly.

22. General Provisions

Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, the Refund Policy, and the order-form disclosures for the Services you purchase, constitute the entire agreement between you and Next Step Filings regarding the Services and supersede all prior understandings.

Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible and the remaining provisions will remain in full force, except as stated in Section 16.5.

No Waiver. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of the right to enforce it later.

Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with notice to you.

No Third-Party Beneficiaries. These Terms create no rights in any third party.

Headings. Section headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

Notices. We may provide notices by email to the address on your order, by posting on the Site, or by mail. You may send notices to the contact information below.

23. Contact

Next Step Filings, LLC
Email: hello@nextstepfilings.com
Phone: 1-888-851-6604

1312 17th Street # 846, Denver, CO 80202, United States

Next Step Filings, LLC is a privately owned document preparation and filing service. It is not a government agency, is not affiliated with any government entity, is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and is not a certified public accounting firm and does not provide tax or accounting advice.