Inc Authority Overview
Professional & Clear:
- Inc Authority at a Glance
- Inc Authority: Company Overview
- Quick Look: What Is Inc Authority?
Informative & SEO-Optimized:
- Inc Authority Overview: Free LLC Formation & Business Services
- What Is Inc Authority? Key Services & Highlights Explained
- A Complete Overview of Inc Authority’s Free Business Formation
More Engaging:
- Behind the Hype: Inc Authority Overview
- Inc Authority Snapshot: What You’re Really Gettin.
⭐ Inc Authority Overview
Founded over 30 years ago, Inc Authority specializes in online LLC and corporation formation. They offer a genuinely free basic package, covering name availability search, document preparation, state filing, and the first year of registered agent service, with success in forming thousands of businesses (incauthority.com, LLC University®).
✅ What’s Included in the Free LLC Packag
- LLC formation at $0 (plus state filing fees), with no service charge, labor cost, or overhead fees (LLC University®).
- Free first year registered agent service, valued at around $179/year (venturesmarter.com, LLC University®).
- Tax planning consultation and business credit review (optional upsell tiers also available) (venturesmarter.com).
📄 Pricing & Upsells: What to Expect
While the foundational service is free, optional add-ons are a revenue driver:
- EIN filing ($49), Operating Agreement drafting ($89), company seal/record book, meeting minutes/resolutions (~$99 each) (LLC University®).
- Inc Success Advisor ($197/year) offers ongoing support but isn’t a licensed professional (LLC University®).
- Their upsell process has drawn criticism for being aggressive or unclear, making it hard to decline optional extras (LLC University®, Nav).
🔄 Registered Agent Renewal & Auto-Renewal Concerns
- After the first free year, the registered agent service renews at $179/year, notably above the industry average (~$119/year) (LLC University®, venturesmarter.com).
- Customers report difficulties canceling the service and being placed into renewal automatically even after stating they no longer needed it, sometimes leading to debt collection warnings (Better Business Bureau).
🕒 Turnaround Time & Filing Speed
- Standard processing time is around 5–7 business days before documents are submitted, then state turnaround applies (venturesmarter.com).
- Competitors like ZenBusiness often submit in 1–2 days (venturesmarter.com).
- Expedited service (roughly $49–149, plus state fees) can cut processing to under 24 hours (Nav).
💡 Customer Experience & Support
- Strong Trustpilot and Google ratings (averaging 4.8–4.9/5 across tens of thousands of reviews) reflect high customer satisfaction with support and ease of process (venturesmarter.com).
- Customers frequently mention helpful, patient, and knowledgeable agents by name, and appreciate the end-to-end guidance (Trustpilot, venturesmarter.com, usnews.com).
- However, negative reviews, especially on BBB, cite persistent upsells, billing after service cancellation, and difficulty obtaining refunds or stopping calls (Better Business Bureau, Nav).
🧾 Support Ratings Breakdown
| Platform | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | ~4.9/5 | 42,000+ reviews praising support and ease of use (Trustpilot) |
| ~4.8/5 | Consistent positive feedback (venturesmarter.com) | |
| Better Business Bureau | F rating | Complaints around upselling and billing issues (Nav) |
📈 Competitors Compared
ZenBusiness
- Similar free LLC offering but faster turnaround (1–2 vs 5–7 days)
- Registered agent is $199/year (slightly higher than others, but comprehensive)
- Better compliance management features
- Rated 4.9/5 overall; often considered superior for small businesses needing speed and reliability (incauthority.com, venturesmarter.com)
Northwest Registered Agent
- Offers both formation and ongoing agent for $39 + state fees
- No aggressive upsells or auto-renewal confusion
- Emphasizes lifetime guidance and transparency
- Transparent and reliable: recommended by independent reviewers as best if value and support matter most (venturesmarter.com, LLC University®, Nav)
Incfile / Bizee
- Free basic packages with slower average ratings (~4.0), registered agent renewal at $119/year
- More entity types supported like DBAs, non-profits (venturesmarter.com, Nav)
👥 Real Customer Feedback Highlights From Reddit and BBB complaints, multiple users described being pressured into optional products and facing collections threats even after requesting cancellation:
“This company is very fraudulent… they persistently sent messages … to take me to a collection agency for doing nothing as a registered agent!” (Reddit)
These complaints consistently cite aggressive auto-renewal and poor opt-out transparency.
🧭 Who Should Use Inc Authority?
- Budget-conscious entrepreneurs who need basic LLC filing with minimal cost.
- Those comfortable handling all essential documents themselves or using free templates elsewhere.
- Anyone seeking one full year of registered agent coverage and tax-planning consultation included.
Ideal for:
Less ideal if you:
- Prefer faster filing turnaround or stronger compliance features.
- Want transparency and control over recurring fees and upsells.
- Require formation of nonprofits or support for broader entity types.
- Wish to avoid potential billing challenges after the first year.
✅ Final Verdict
Inc Authority offers a legitimate, no-cost path to forming an LLC—you’ll only pay state fees upfront, plus enjoy one year of free registered agent service and basic business consultation. Their customer support is widely praised, and it’s genuinely one of the rare free formation services available (Trustpilot, venturesmarter.com).
However, be aware:
- Upsells are pervasive—you must actively decline multiple add-ons.
- Auto-renewal of registered agent service at $179/year is enforced unless explicitly canceled.
- Filing speed is slower than top-tier competitors (5–7 days vs 1–2).
- Users have reported difficulty canceling, along with collections notices even after discontinuing service (Better Business Bureau).
🔍 Recommendations at a Glance
- If you only need free LLC registration, and you’re disciplined about canceling agent service before renewal—Inc Authority is a solid choice.
- If you value speed, transparency, and fewer surprises, competitors like ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent may be preferable.
TL;DR Summary
- Free LLC formation + 1-year registered agent service included (you pay only state fees).
- Aggressive upsells and $179/year renewal after Year 1.
- Slower processing than ZenBusiness.
- Excellent Trustpilot/Google ratings, but BBB shows complaints on upsells.
- Good for those on tight budgets and willing to monitor renewal status.
Here are several refined title options specifically for the “⭐ Inc Authority Overview” section:
Professional & Clear:
- Inc Authority at a Glance
- Inc Authority: Company Overview
- Quick Look: What Is Inc Authority?
Informative & SEO-Optimized:
- Inc Authority Overview: Free LLC Formation & Business Services
- What Is Inc Authority? Key Services & Highlights Explained
- A Complete Overview of Inc Authority’s Free Business Formation
More Engaging:
- Behind the Hype: Inc Authority Overview
- Inc Authority Snapshot: What You’re Really Getting
