If you’re a paralegal, there’s a good chance you’ve had to source a corporate service provider. And while the corporate service industry seems like it should be pretty straightforward, not all providers are created equal. To help you avoid unpleasant situations, we put together a shortlist of things you should think about when vetting a corporate service provider.

Can you talk to a real person? 

This seems antiquated and almost silly, but the ability to get a real, live person on the phone is a “must have” when it comes to corporate services. Say you’re on a tight deadline—leaving a voicemail or waiting for an email reply is unacceptable. 

What’s the order placing process like?

This is all about convenience. A modern corporate service provider needs to accept orders however the placer (aka you) prefers. Email. Web form. Over the phone. And they need to trust that whatever submission channel they chose isn’t going to impact or delay their order. 

Are charges clearly laid out? 

Are there hidden fees? What about state access fees or online access fees? (Hint: Those may be add-on fees.) 

What exactly do they mean by “expedited” services? 

When you need an order filled yesterday and your corporate service provider offers “expedited” service, ask them exactly what that means for each type of service. Do they include cut-off times so you know the drop-dead time for delivering documents? Said differently, if you have a closing in two hours and you need a good standing certificate, can they make that happen? 

What about jurisdictional coverage?

Does the corporate service provider cover all 50 states? Federal, state and county levels? What if you have international needs? 

How does the corporate service provider communicate back to you? 

Can you get an order status update? Is the process transparent?

Have they been around for a while?

Track record and experience matter when you’re dealing with complicated issues, multiple jurisdictions and different rules and regulations.

What happens if they make a mistake? 

The corporate service providers rooted in integrity will tell you immediately if they’ve made a mistake and they will do whatever it takes to rectify it. 

What about confidentiality? 

How do they handle account access? Can anyone from your firm or from your clients’ offices call in to get information? What security, privacy and confidentiality measures do they have in place? 

What about invoicing? 

Can you have your invoices organized by reference? What about semi-custom invoicing so that you can have invoices sent out to multiple people? 

Finally, what about performance? 

Ultimately, you need to know that the corporate service provider you use is reliable and capable to get what you need done, when you need it done.

And it goes without saying, Incserv is here to help. Contact us at 800-346-4646, info@incserv.com or place on order online.