Swyft Filings President Interview
We interviewed Travis Crabtree, President & Co-Founder of Swyft Filings in January 2021 and we are existed to share the Swyft Filings story and the direction of the company.
Describe your company to our readers
Swyft Filings exists to make the life of a budding entrepreneur easier. We help people take care of all of the administrative paperwork to form corporations, nonprofits, or LLCs in all 50 states. We know people don’t go into business to take care of the administrative paperwork. We do that, so you can focus on the part of the business you love – your passion.
What led you to start the company and does its progress so far fit your expectations?
I teamed up with serial entrepreneurs and we knew there had to be a better way. Yes, there were already online incorporation services out there, but they were either too expensive, too concerned about steering you into products you don’t need, or did not provide the breadth and experience we wanted. Because we know what people starting businesses need, we decided to build it and help others.
Like most of our customers, we didn’t sit down pouring over spreadsheets and detailed business plans for years. We knew there was a need, and we knew there was demand. We did not start with projections or specific targets, but in five years, we feel fortunate to be able to say we had a small role in helping start more than 150,000 businesses.
What do you see as the qualities that set you apart from the competition?
We wanted the sole focus of Swyft Filings to be helping small businesses get started and grow. We don’t try to sell you wills or legal plans or try to lock you into expensive subscriptions. When you call us, you deal with a team that eats, sleeps, and breathes new business start-ups. At the same time, we are continuing to add services that customers need such as permits, dba’s, and 501(c)(3) applications giving us the broadest set of services dedicated to new business formation. We listen to our customers and try to help find solutions to overcome the administrative hurdles placed in front of entrepreneurs and we continue to add services as we visit with our customers.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business and the incorporation filing industry?
Unlike the Great Recession which resulted in less business formations, COVID has caused a spike in corporate formations. We were happy to assist those that started new businesses during this time whether it accelerated plans, increased the needs for profitable side hustles or helped others work on solving the new problems facing society.
Even more important to us, however, is the way our whole team stepped up to support our small business customers. At the beginning of the restrictions, we ran a grant giveaway contest. The response was a little overwhelming and although we would have liked to have given money to support everyone who applied, we were still able to help customers who did not receive our monetary grants.
We purchased virtual exercise classes to keep our remote teams healthy and connected. We purchased food from some of our restaurant customers that was then donated to worthy front line responders in their neighborhoods. We donated to charities, we gave away some of our services and took other steps to help support the small businesses that were struggling.
In the month of September, we supported thirty customers and spotlighted their products on our social media channels every day that month. The entire team rallied because we know the impact our small business customers have on their families and their communities.
How do you envision the future of the industry?
The key will be getting ahead of the additional regulatory and other administrative burdens that pile on to small businesses at the outset and as they grow. We are investing in technical resources to position ourselves to be able to handle more and more of the paperwork and other burdens placed in front of small businesses.
What plans do you have for the future to make your company stand out?
We are going to continue to help new businesses overcome administrative hurdles. As regulatory burdens increase, we intend to increase our offerings. It will also include certifications and other services that not only check the box for minimal requirements but certifications that can help businesses thrive.