Choosing between Discern and Entity Keeper comes down to whether you need automated compliance execution or centralized entity record management. Both platforms serve organizations with complex multi-entity structures, but they solve fundamentally different problems in the compliance workflow.
Entity Keeper built its reputation as a comprehensive entity management platform that centralizes corporate records, generates org charts, and tracks compliance deadlines across complex ownership structures. Their strength lies in providing a "single source of truth" for entity data and governance documents. Discern focuses on automation-first compliance execution, designed specifically for businesses where manual filing processes create operational bottlenecks and what customers describe as the "existential dread of not knowing" compliance status.
This comparison examines pricing models, automation capabilities, multi-entity support, and Delaware franchise tax handling to help determine which platform aligns with your compliance management approach.
Cost example for a 10-state operation: Discern's subscription model costs $35/year for registered agent coverage with annual reports included. Entity Keeper's traditional pricing structure typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,500 annually for comparable registered agent coverage, plus additional per-filing fees for annual reports that can add $500 to $1,500 more depending on the service provider relationships.
The pricing difference becomes more pronounced at scale. A portfolio company or fund with 50 state registrations would pay approximately $175 annually through Discern's subscription model, compared to potentially $5,000 to $10,000 through traditional registered agent providers that Entity Keeper integrates with. Entity Keeper's platform subscription (starting at $250/month) adds another layer of cost, though it provides capabilities beyond compliance filing alone.
Pricing philosophy: Discern bundles registered agent service and annual report filing into a single subscription at $3.50 per state per year, eliminating the invoice complexity that overwhelms many multi-entity operations. Organizations managing hundreds of entities often receive 400+ invoices annually from traditional providers, creating administrative burden that compounds the compliance workload. Entity Keeper follows a more traditional model with platform subscription fees (starting at $250/month) plus separate charges for registered agent services and filing work, often coordinated through third-party providers or law firms.
Delaware franchise tax handling: Discern automatically calculates Delaware franchise tax using both available methods (Authorized Shares and Assumed Par Value Capital) and selects whichever produces the lowest tax liability. This optimization happens within minutes, with automatic filing capability that can be set to perpetual auto-renewal. Entity Keeper offers Delaware franchise tax as part of their corporate filing services, where their team performs calculations and executes filings for customers. This reduces the need for users, their counsel, or registered agent providers to handle this work manually, though the process is service-based rather than automated. The distinction matters for organizations where Delaware franchise tax represents a significant annual expense and optimization across hundreds of entities can produce meaningful savings.
Compliance execution approach: Discern completes most filings in under 3 minutes using pre-filled forms from centralized data. The platform's data model captures entity information once and applies it across all future filings, eliminating repetitive data entry. Customers with 200+ state registrations report completing annual compliance in 5 to 10 minutes total. Entity Keeper emphasizes workflow management and deadline tracking, providing the infrastructure for compliance teams to coordinate filings but typically requiring external execution through law firms or registered agent providers. This approach works well for organizations with established legal counsel relationships who prefer maintaining those workflows.
Multi-entity complexity: Both platforms handle large entity portfolios, but differently. Discern supports 250+ entities with segregated payment management, allowing different bank accounts or credit cards for each entity. This feature proves essential for fund managers who must maintain strict separation between different funds and portfolio companies. Entity Keeper excels at visualizing complex ownership structures through automated org charts and provides granular user permissions for different entities, making it particularly strong for conglomerates with intricate subsidiary relationships requiring detailed governance oversight. Their org chart builder automatically calculates direct and indirect ownership percentages, a capability that saves significant time for organizations preparing transaction documentation or regulatory filings.
Document management approach: Entity Keeper provides comprehensive legal document storage, connecting formation documents, board resolutions, meeting minutes, and compliance records to each entity record. This centralization supports audit preparation and due diligence processes. Discern focuses on compliance document handling, scanning and forwarding legal documents received by registered agents and maintaining filing confirmation records, but doesn't emphasize broader corporate governance documentation.
Both platforms maintain SOC 2 Type II certification, demonstrating their commitment to protecting sensitive entity data. This certification matters particularly for organizations in regulated industries where data security requirements extend to third-party vendors.
Entity Keeper emphasizes their security infrastructure as a core feature, with detailed information about encryption standards, access controls, and audit logging. Their user permissions system allows organizations to configure exactly who can view, edit, or administer different entity records, supporting the principle of least privilege access.
Discern's security approach focuses on protecting the compliance workflow, ensuring that filing data, payment information, and legal documents remain secure throughout the automation process. The platform's real-time processing provides transparency into filing status without exposing sensitive details to unauthorized users.
Getting started with either platform requires different levels of preparation and commitment.
Discern's onboarding process begins with a comprehensive pre-onboarding audit that identifies compliance gaps and historical issues across your entity portfolio. The platform's team verifies good standing status for each entity and corrects outstanding obligations before transitioning registered agent services. This cleanup process ensures organizations start with a clean compliance slate rather than inheriting accumulated problems from previous providers.
Entity Keeper implementation typically involves more extensive data migration, particularly for organizations transitioning from spreadsheet-based entity management. Uploading historical documents, configuring ownership structures, and establishing user permissions requires dedicated setup time. However, this investment creates a more comprehensive corporate record that supports ongoing governance needs beyond compliance filing.
Both platforms offer integrations with common business tools, though their focus areas differ. Entity Keeper emphasizes connections with legal practice management systems and document storage platforms that support outside counsel workflows. Discern focuses on payment system integrations that enable the segregated fund management capabilities crucial for investment firms.
Discern works well for:
Entity Keeper works well for:
The fundamental distinction comes down to operational philosophy. Organizations that view compliance as a background process to be automated will gravitate toward Discern's execution-focused approach. Those that treat entity management as a core governance function requiring detailed documentation and oversight will find Entity Keeper's comprehensive platform more aligned with their needs.
Managing multiple entities creates two distinct challenges: organizing corporate data and governance documents, and executing ongoing compliance obligations efficiently. The choice between these platforms depends on which challenge creates more operational burden for your organization.
Entity Keeper serves as comprehensive corporate infrastructure, providing the foundation for proper governance, detailed ownership tracking, and collaborative entity management. Organizations that need to generate complex org charts, maintain detailed corporate records, and provide external counsel with secure access to entity data will find Entity Keeper's feature set well-suited to these requirements.
Discern transforms compliance execution from manual administrative work into automated background processes, eliminating the uncertainty and time drain of traditional filing approaches. For organizations where missed deadlines, invoice overload, and filing coordination consume disproportionate staff time, Discern's automation-first approach delivers immediate operational relief.
Ready to see how Discern handles entity management for organizations like yours? Book a demo to explore automated annual reports, Delaware franchise tax filing, and multi-state registered agent services from a single platform.
Which platform actually files documents with states?
Discern executes filings directly with state agencies, completing most submissions in under 3 minutes. The platform pre-fills forms using centralized entity data, validates information before submission, and provides real-time processing updates. Entity Keeper focuses on tracking and workflow management, with actual filing typically handled by users, their legal teams, or through Entity Keeper's corporate filing services team who execute filings on behalf of customers.
Can I migrate from Entity Keeper to Discern?
Yes. Discern conducts comprehensive pre-onboarding audits to identify compliance gaps and resolve historical issues before transitioning entities. This includes verifying good standing status and correcting any outstanding obligations across all jurisdictions. The migration process typically takes a few weeks depending on portfolio complexity.
How do Delaware franchise tax capabilities compare?
Discern automates the entire Delaware franchise tax process including calculation, method optimization, and filing. The platform compares both calculation methods (Authorized Shares and Assumed Par Value Capital) and automatically selects whichever produces the lowest tax liability. Entity Keeper offers Delaware franchise tax filing through their corporate services team, who perform calculations and submit filings on behalf of customers.
What about segregated fund management?
Discern supports entity-specific payment methods across 250+ entities, crucial for fund managers maintaining strict separation between different investments. You can assign different bank accounts or credit cards to each entity, eliminating the commingling concerns that complicate fund administration. Entity Keeper provides data organization but doesn't include payment processing functionality.
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