One of the most important steps toward starting a new business is selecting a business structure. Many business owners opt to form a limited liability company (LLC) and use a professional service to ensure their new venture is formed correctly with their state.
With a myriad of online business formation services available to entrepreneurs, it can be difficult to determine which service is best for your business. Inc Authority is a trusted name in LLC formation with over 30 years in business. But, is it the right choice for your business?
We’re here to help you find out with this Inc Authority LLC formation review, which will outline the pros and cons, pricing, and features of the service as well as how it compares to other formation platforms.
What Is Inc Authority?
Inc Authority is an online business formation platform that has been in business since 1989. With more than 250,0000 businesses formed through the platform, Inc Authority has solidified itself as a trusted name in LLC formation. Notably, the company offers a free LLC formation plan with unparalleled features included for the price.
The company stands out primarily for their focus on client experience, however, boasting high customer satisfaction rates stemming largely from a top-tier customer support team. With Inc Authority, businesses can form an LLC, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN), draft an Operating Agreement, and more all from the company’s website.
Jump Ahead:
Pros and Cons of Inc Authority
Pros
- Free LLC formation package available.
- Highly-rated by verified customers.
- One year of free registered agent services.
Cons
- Creating an Operating Agreement costs extra.
- Lack of transparency surrounding processing times on the website.
Inc Authority Alternative: Northwest
Northwest makes forming an LLC easy and affordable with one free year of registered agent included.
Get StartedInc Authority Pricing and Features
Inc Authority offers a free LLC formation package. You will be responsible for paying for state fees as well as any add-on services, such as Operating Agreement creation, that your business requires.
There are several services included in Inc Authority’s free formation package, such as:
- One year of free registered agent services
- Free EIN registration
- Free express processing
- Business name check
It is important to note that once the free year of registered agent services expires, customers are auto-renewed for registered agent services through Inc Authority at a cost of $199 per year.
Inc Authority Reviews
Inc Authority boasts a wealth of positive reviews from verified customers who primarily praise the company’s knowledge and attentive customer support staff. The company has a 4.9 out of five stars on Trustpilot with 94% of reviews earning five stars.
Negative reviews, however, center largely on hidden or unexpected fees. Because Inc Authority markets their formation package as free (and it technically is), many customers dealt with frustration over auto-renewal charges and upsells during the formation process.
Here are some verified reviews from Trustpilot by people who used Inc Authority to help launch their businesses:
“I am so grateful for the step-by-step process Inc Authority has provided. Everyone has been very helpful and kind. I am clueless about all this and they have made the whole process less daunting.”
“It’s nice to have someone help walk you through the LLC steps. But a lot of us are small business[es] just starting out [and] the hidden fees that seem to [pop up] everywhere can be a killer.”
“Inc Authority has real employees who actually care about their customers. Thank you Jonathan for helping our small business obtain our LLC and EIN. Thought I could do it all on my own but it can be a little overpowering. I highly recommend Jonathan and the rest of the team for your business, big or small.”
Overall, Inc Authority’s customer reviews are exceptional. Through the company’s verified customer reviews alone, it is clear that client experience is a priority of the platform. Entrepreneurs looking for top-tier support throughout the formation process will likely be happy with this service’s hands-on approach.
However, with negative reviews citing upsells and potentially hidden fees for additional services, it is important for businesses to be sure about the services they need before moving forward with the formation process to avoid additional costs they may not want.
Inc Authority Alternatives
While Inc Authority is a trusted name in online business formation, there are several competitors offering similar services at varying price points. Before you settle on a formation service, it is important to see how it compares to other platforms’ pricing, included features, and user experience.
Inc Authority vs. Northwest
Our top choice for LLC formation services, Northwest Registered Agent is unparalleled in value. Plus, the service delivers excellent customer support and reliable formation services to ensure your business is formed correctly. While the platform doesn’t offer a free formation package like Inc Authority, for Operating Agreement creation, EIN registration, registered agent services, and LLC formation, the total for Northwest’s services are cheaper.
Inc Authority vs. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is a well-known and trusted name in business formation services. The company offers a free formation service similar to Inc Authority, however, their registered agent services are not free for the first year. While LegalZoom is a little more expensive than Inc Authority, the platform sets itself apart from competitors by offering legal help and expediting filing.
Inc Authority vs. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is a popular platform for business formation that also offers a free formation package. For more robust features, such as EIN registration and expediting filing, however, users are better off opting for one of the platform’s paid plans that start at $199 plus state fees.
While many services, such as Operating Agreement creation and EIN registration (you can get an EIN for free on the Internal Revenue Service website), are optional during the formation process, they can be valuable inclusions for business owners that are seeking comprehensive business formation services. Therefore, we’ve outlined the costs associated with LLC formation from Inc Authority, Northwest, LegalZoom, and ZenBusiness in the table below.
| Service | Inc Authority | Northwest | LegalZoom | ZenBusiness |
| LLC Filing | $0 + state fee | $29 + state fee | $0 + state fee | $0 + state fee |
| Registered Agent | Free for 1 year | Free for 1 year | $249/year | $199/year |
| Operating Agreement | $89 | Free | $99 | $99 |
| EIN | Free | $50 | $79 | $99 |
| Total First-Year Cost | $89 + state fee | $79 + state fee | $427 + state fee | $397 + state fee |
The Bottom Line
Inc Authority is a budget-friendly choice for online LLC formation services. While the company does offer helpful services, such as registered agent service and EIN registration in their free LLC formation plan, they truly stand out for their exceptional customer service and high rating from verified customers.
While ongoing expenses like registered agent services are more expensive than companies like Northwest, Inc Authority is a strong option for budget-conscious entrepreneurs who don’t want to sacrifice valuable features during formation.
Review Methodology
To provide a comprehensive and honest review of Inc Authority, we considered several key factors:
Pricing and Value
Our reviews consider not only the price, but also the value of the included services in each package to ensure new businesses pay only for what they want and need to get their venture off the ground.
Ease of Use
Starting a new business is time consuming, therefore, it is important in our reviews to determine whether a formation service like Inc Authority offers a seamless, user-friendly experience.
Customer Support
As issues and questions arise during formation and beyond, we take care to determine whether or not formation services are providing knowledgeable, attentive customer support that helps their clients achieve their goals.
Customer Reviews and Reputation
Finally, customer reviews play an important role in our review process. We dedicate time to reviewing both positive and negative customer reviews as well as the platform’s reputation rather than simply taking the company’s word for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inc Authority a legit business?
Yes, Inc Authority is a legitimate business with more than 30 years of experience and 250,000 businesses formed through the platform.
How long does it take for Inc Authority to process an LLC?
While processing times can vary by state, Inc Authority notes LLC processing times are typically between one week and six months.
What does Inc Authority do?
Inc Authority provides online business formation services to entrepreneurs. This entails completing the formation process with states as well as any other services required to register a new LLC or corporation.
Can I form an LLC myself?
Yes, you can form an LLC yourself by submitting the appropriate paperwork to the state in which you plan to do business as well as completing the necessary additional steps to form an LLC. However, most business owners choose to utilize a professional LLC formation service to save time and ensure their business if formed correctly.