Incfile LLC Service Review
ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Inc Authority LLC Service Review
Read the Inc Authority LLC service review below or choose ZenBusiness today.
Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
About Inc Authority
Inc Authority has been in business since 1989, and they’ve formed more than 130,000 business entities since then. Their claim to fame is that they will set up your limited liability company (LLC) absolutely free of charge, making them one of just a handful of companies (along with ZenBusiness) we’re aware of that offer truly free business formation services (just pay your state’s fee).
This Inc Authority LLC service review takes an in-depth look at the details of their offering to help you determine if they’re the right choice for you.
Pros and Cons of Inc Authority
Pros of Inc Authority
✔ Customer feedback is a pro for Inc Authority. They have 23,000+ reviews available online with a 4.9/5 average score on Trustpilot.
✔ Along with ZenBusiness, Inc Authority is one of a small handful of companies in this industry that is currently offering LLC formation service for free.
Cons of Inc Authority
✖ Their premium packages are expensive, and you’ll need to contact Inc Authority for an exact pricing quote. At ZenBusiness, we also will form an LLC for free (just pay the state’s required fee) but with affordable premium packages as an alternative.
Inc Authority LLC Formation Packages
Like most competitors, Inc Authority provides several different “packages” of features for LLC formation customers to choose from.
Free = $0 + State Fee
Here’s what you get in their free standard LLC formation package:
➢ Name Availability Search: Inc Authority will run a search through your state government’s website to determine whether the business name you want to use is available in your state or not.
➢ Preparation and Filing of Articles of Organization: They will draft your LLC formation documents and file them with the state to officially create your new business entity.
➢ One Year Registered Agent Service: Inc Authority will act as your registered agent for a period of 12 months. After the first year, you can renew this service at a rate of $99 per year.
➢ Federal Tax ID Number (EIN) Acquisition: Inc Authority will acquire your employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS. This is essentially a Social Security number for businesses, and it allows you to hire employees, open business bank accounts, and more.
Starter = Call For Pricing + State Fee
This package starts with all features from the Inc Authority free business formation package, then adds:
➢ LLC Operating Agreement: Every LLC should have an operating agreement, which is an internal document that outlines important aspects of how the business will operate. Inc Authority will draft this document on your behalf.
➢ Record Book and Company Seal: This is a largely symbolic feature, providing you with a binder to keep your business documents in, and a customized seal that replicates how documents were authenticated in the old days.
➢ Ownership Certificates: Inc Authority will provide a certificate of membership for each one of your LLC’s owners.
➢ Customizable Business Form Templates
➢ Compliance Notifications System: Inc Authority will send regular reminders for annual reports and other state-specific LLC compliance requirements.
➢ Website Domain Name and Five Business Email Addresses
Fast Track = Call For Pricing + State Fee
This package starts with all features from the Inc Authority Starter business formation package, then adds:
➢ INC Success Advisor Package
➢ Private Banking Specialist
➢ Personalized Business Advice
➢ Faster Filing
ZenBusiness LLC Packages
Compare Packages
Identify the LLC package and services that fit your needs and then get started.
Starter
Premium
Starter
$0
Top Features
We do everything needed to file your application with the state and make your business official. Standard LLC Filing
We’ll file your paperwork quickly and accurately. If there are any errors with your filing, our team will do what’s needed to make it right. 100% Accuracy Guarantee
Keeps you compliant with all state-required annual report and amendment filings to maintain LLC protections and avoid fines. Worry-Free Compliance
This essential document is like the constitution for your business. Operating Agreement
Our fastest service puts you to the front of our line of filings. Our Fastest Filing Speed
Our team will secure your EIN from the IRS so you can open a business bank account, hire employees, and pay taxes. EIN
Includes over 25 templates for contracts, service agreements, waivers, and more. Business Documents
Get online with a website builder tool optimized for traffic and customers. Business Website Builder
Build and protect your brand by registering a private domain name that matches your business name. Domain Name with Privacy
Stay organized and give your business more credibility with a business email. Business Email Address
File in 2 to 3 weeks **
1 year free, then $199/yr*
+$99
+$79
+$99
+$99
+$15/mo
+$35/yr
+$25/yr
*SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.
**These filing times are averages and include our processing times and Secretary of State turnaround times which vary by state.
Should you form an LLC with Inc Authority?
Inc Authority certainly has plenty of positive aspects, but their services won’t be the perfect fit for every entrepreneur. With that in mind, let’s finish this review with a quick discussion on when Inc Authority is and is not a good choice to form your LLC.
✔ When to Use Inc Authority
Does the idea of having your LLC professionally formed for free appeal to you? Perhaps you place a high value on positive customer feedback? These are two good reasons to consider Inc Authority.
✖ When NOT to Use Inc Authority
If you’re looking for advanced features, competitors like ZenBusiness offer valuable LLC service bundles at reasonable price points. In addition, if using a company with a modern, user-friendly website is a priority to you, Inc Authority probably isn’t your best bet.
Start your LLC with ZenBusiness
Pricing starts at just $0 + state fee
Frequently Asked Questions About Inc Authority
Inc Authority has been in the business services industry since 1989. To date, they’ve formed more than 130,000 business entities. They also have thousands of customer reviews available online, and they maintain solid average rating scores.
Inc Authority offers customer support via phone, email, or web chat. With all three options, you’ll receive timely support from friendly and knowledgeable representatives. Inc Authority reps are available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on weekdays.
Inc Authority does not seem to allow refunds. In their own words, “All sales are final due to the hard cost incurred with the filing of entities with your selected state.”
If you order services from Inc Authority, you should make certain you won’t have buyer’s remorse because they won’t grant a refund.
This is always an option, and quite a few entrepreneurs do form their own LLCs every day. However, because the process to form an LLC varies from state to state, there can be a considerable amount of work involved to make sure you’re completing the process correctly. On the other hand, some people hire business lawyers to form their LLCs, but this is a far more expensive option than using an online business formation service.
This step is unnecessary for the vast majority of our readers, but for some of you, it is advisable. If you’re not yet ready to enter the LLC formation process but you want to ensure that the name you want is still available when the time comes, you should reserve a name.
The other situation where this is a good idea is if you’re forming a business in Alabama, which has a name reservation requirement for all LLC formations. Otherwise, reserving a name in advance is probably not necessary.
You sure can. In fact, just about anyone can form an LLC in the U.S. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or resident, you don’t need to have a physical presence in the U.S., etc.
This is one of the reasons the LLC is so popular ― there are very few restrictions regarding who can form and operate one.
Inc Authority will reserve your business name in Alabama, but they do not offer publication service in the handful of states that require it.
If you form a business in one of these states (like New York), you will need to take care of your own publication requirement. Or, you can choose an LLC service like ZenBusiness that offers New York publication services.
Inc Authority provides a selection of other business services, including operating agreements and corporate bylaws, meeting minutes, ownership certificates, EIN acquisition, business credit and funding evaluations, tax consultations, business license research, trademark protections, business credit assistance, and more.
Each state has its own in-house processing times, ranging from a few days all the way up to a couple of months. Inc Authority bases its turnarounds on these state estimates, so you’ll see quite a bit of variety in expected processing speeds between different states. All that said, Inc Authority’s turnaround times are usually competitive with other services.
It’s hard to answer this question in an objective manner, as it’s truly a matter of personal preference. We have always enjoyed the convenience of having our EIN confirmation in the same place as our LLC formation paperwork, so in our opinion, it is worth the extra money. However, if you’re operating on a tight budget, you can obtain your own EIN for free from the IRS.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
LLC Services Reviewed
