Inc Authority LLC review 2024: Cost, plans, features and more

Our take

Inc Authority allows business owners to select the services they need instead of paying for the frills included in prepackaged plans.

What is Inc Authority?

Inc Authority is one of a few LLC services that will file your LLC paperwork for free. It also offers many other business formation and support services.

If you choose LLC filing, these services are completely free. However, you will be asked to upgrade to along almost every step of the way. If you can get by without upgrading or getting too annoyed, Inc Authority is a great way for new cash-strapped businesses to set up their LLC in a cost-effective manner. 

Free LLC filing includes a business name check within your state, a tax planning consultant to help you save more of your business income and one year of registered agent services to ensure you will never miss a legal notice. 

On top of the free services, Inc Authority offers add-on services such as a private banking specialist, personalized business advice and expedited company formation filing. These add-on packages can be expensive and it is advised to make sure you want to invest in them before purchasing, as no refunds are allowed. 

Inc Authority LLC overview and facts

Inc Authority is headquartered in Reno, Nevada, and has been in business for more than 30 years. In addition to providing LLC filing services, Inc Authority offers a comprehensive suite of start-up business services designed to help first-time entrepreneurs start, run and grow their businesses. These services include business funding, business plan creation, website registration and federal trademarks.

While it does not have a Better Business Bureau accreditation, 93 percent of the more than 20,000 Trustpilot reviews rate the company five out of five stars. These positive reviews commonly mention great customer service and an easy, hassle-free company filing and preparation process. 

Inc Authority LLC plans and pricing

Unlike many LLC services, Inc Authority’s business model shies away from prepackaged LLC plans and focuses on custom offerings. While prepackaged plans are available, they are pricey, and most business owners won’t ever find them because they require calling and speaking with a sales representative. Instead, Inc Authority primarily makes use of a sales pathway that allows users to build their own plan and add on the services they need. Therefore, pricing is up to you.

It’s possible to get free LLC filing with Inc Authority if you don’t add on any additional services; however, according to company representatives, not many business owners go through the process without adding on at least one service.

Every LLC filed by Inc Authority, including its free LLC services, comes with the following:

• Business name check (within your state).
• Preparation and filing of formation documents.
• One year of free registered agent services.
• Optional preparation and filing of the S-Election document Form 2553 with the IRS.
• A digital copy of your articles of organization or articles of incorporation.
• INC CARE support via email or phone.
• A tax planning consultation (state and federal).
• A business credit and funding consultation.

If you need additional services beyond what is offered for free, we recommend going through the normal pathway on Inc Authority’s website. Choosing a prepackaged plan will likely cost you significantly more than you would otherwise pay by building your own service.

Note: Regardless of which provider you choose for your LLC filing services, even free LLC services will require you to pay state filing fees.

Starter

Inc Authority’s Starter plan costs $299 plus state filing fees. Beyond the offerings of the free LLC service, the Starter plan includes:

• Operating agreement.
• Record book.
• Ownership or stock certificates.
• Initial meeting minutes and resolution templates.
• EIN/tax ID number.
• Corporate forms package.
• Annual compliance notifications.
• Web domain and five email addresses.

For $299, these additional services come with a high price tag. While many business owners will want an operating agreement and EIN, choosing these services as add-ons or opting for another LLC provider are the more cost-efficient methods of obtaining them.

Tip: You can file for your EIN for free on the IRS website. While this isn’t as easy as having a company formation service do it for you, it is an easy way for business owners on a budget to save a few bucks. 

Fast track

The Fast Track plan comes in at $499 and has all the features of the Starter plan with the addition of a private banking specialist, personalized business advice, expedited filing and an Inc success advisor for phone and online support to answer your tax, law and banking questions.

100% FREE online LLC registration

Only pay required state fees – and they're tax-deductible.

Get Started

Inc Authority add-ons and optional features

Inc Authority’s business model heavily relies on add-ons and optional features. To purchase services from Inc Authority, you’ll need to go through a pathway of optional services on its website.Beyond LLC filing, you can add services to aid you with federal trademarking, revocable living trusts, business credits, business funding, business planning and marketing. 

Federal trademark

The Federal Trademark plan will help you easily register your trademark so that you have the exclusive right to use it in the United States. The plan includes a comprehensive U.S. search, a trademark specialist, 24-hour expedited e-filing and the government filing fee. 

Business plan 

The Business plan add-on includes a personalized one-on-one advisor to write, edit, research and analyze your business plan. The dedicated business plan advisor will also walk you through your opportunity to raise capital through investors and private lending.

Note: These add-ons are common across LLC formation companies, including big-name services like LegalZoom and ZenBusiness. For business owners with more complicated business plans or doing business in more regulated industries, companies like LegalZoom that employ a staff of experienced attorneys are better equipped to provide hands-on legal and business guidance. 

Inc Authority customer support and experience

Inc Authority offers phone support to its customers from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. For those who would prefer not to pick up the phone and call, Inc Authority offers a U.S.-based live chat feature during the same hours, and email support. However, when we used chat support to get information about pricing, we were told to call an agent so a phone call may be your best bet.

While many business owners will prefer upfront, transparent pricing that doesn’t require talking to a sales team, Inc Authority’s user reviews highlight the company’s exceptional customer service. Unlike many of its competitors, however, Inc Authority does not have a dedicated knowledge base on its website to help solve frequently asked filing questions. Instead, you’ll need to connect with the Inc Authority team if you have any questions or technical issues with the service 

Is Inc Authority right for your business?

Inc Authority is a great choice for budget-conscious business owners who want an affordable way to form a new LLC or corporation. If you don’t add on any services to Inc Authrity’s LLC filing, you can file your formation documents, receive a free year of registered agent services and meet with tax planning and business funding consultants for the price of just your state filing fees.

However, if you’re looking for a simple company formation package that includes everything you need, Inc Authority isn’t your best option. Prepackaged plans aren’t part of Inc Authority’s primary business model and are far more expensive than competitors. Inc Authority is best suited for business owners that know exactly what they need and want a custom plan without the additional frills.