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Inc Authority Review 2022 – Is It the Best LLC Service? (All Pros & Cons)

IncAuthority is ranked #4 in our best LLC formation services list

Getting your business off the ground on your own can be tiresome and time-consuming, but using an online LLC formation service provider can alleviate some of the burdens.

However, how would you know which company to choose when there are many of them offering the same service? Well, to help you invest your money in good service and ensure you make the best selection that will benefit you as well as the future of your business, we took a deep dive into the intricacies of Inc Authority, one of the top-performing business formation services of today.

Through this review, we will reveal all of the details you need to know, from their programs to their customers’ feedback, as well as the answers to frequently asked questions, to provide you with a complete picture of Inc Authority. We will go through the details of their bundles, the pros and cons of using their service, and even look at two other options for you to consider if ever you do not see yourself dealing with Inc Authority.

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Sneak a Peek: Inc Authority Got 8/10

Before proceeding, it is helpful to be aware of what to expect from this in-depth review. The following are the aspects we consider when evaluating providers such as Inc Authority since we value these factors in the same way that most customers do.

Main Review Points:

  • Cost Efficiency
  • Reliability
  • Customer Service
  • Ease of Order Process
  • Service Speed

            These review points emphasize the most important aspects of this review and will help you make the best decision possible. These will also explain why Inc Authority received a promising score of 8/10.

Honestly, because of their $0 plan and incredibly good customer feedback, Inc Authority is currently one of our favorite LLC formation services. We appreciate the fact that every LLC formation purchase comes with a full year of registered agent service, which is pro-customer and pro-business. Plus, they have well-curated bundles, packed with just the essentials in incorporating.

However, when it comes to upsells, Inc Authority is a little pushy. For some, this may be inconvenient and, at worst, frustrating. If they do not interest you, it would be best to just disregard them.

Still, we consider Inc Authority as one of the best companies to form your LLC online. Despite the fact that they are not at the top of our list, we strongly advise you to use them. We are optimistic that you will be satisfied with their services.

VisitIncAuthority.com

Full Feature Review and IncAuthority’s Evaluation

Cost Efficiency: 8/10

The Inc Authority free bundle (plus state costs) provides basic LLC services at a low cost. This is somehow unique since there are only two companies that have this offer (Incfile is one of them). If you are a new entrepreneur or small business owner, this will be a perfect option to help you get started on your venture, as it covers some essential services that can get your company off the ground.

Meanwhile, their paid bundles appear to be the most expensive in the industry, outranking other more known providers. Their premium bundles start at $399 plus state fees, which is just too expensive for small-business owners on a limited budget. Given these matters, we recommend looking for other, more economical options.

Their Service Reliability: 8/10

Inc Authority was founded in 1989, and since then, they have formed over 145,000 companies. Currently, they have 8600 reviews in Trustpilot, giving them a maintained 4.8 stars out of 5. Meanwhile, in Google, they are boasting 4.5 stars out of 5 from around 800 reviews. These impressive ratings prove customers appreciate how they deliver their services and help maintain their businesses.

Inc Authority’s key selling point is that they are one of only two organizations that will form your LLC for free. All you have to pay is the state fees. Although this is a good deal in terms of the cost, this could also be not that good as it does not include other more essential features, such as operating agreement and EIN filing, which most services include in their most basic bundles.

Despite its extensive track record, Inc Authority is still not the largest or most well-known corporation in the business formation industry and the reason is obvious – their pricing. However, they are still a reliable company that ensures delivery of their services at their best.

Customer Service: 9/10

Inc Authority excels at providing high-quality customer service and support. While they do not have the personalized support system that some competitors offer, consumers are extremely satisfied with the assistance they receive from their agents, as some even submit their reviews and praises with the name of the agent who assisted them.

However, one drawback of Inc Authority’s support is its limited hours of operation. Their customer service hours are limited to Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, which is incomparable to most services that provide extended hours. This can also be an issue if you have queries or concerns that occur unexpectedly and require immediate attention.

Nonetheless, they have fast response times and competent personnel, so we would say that Inc Authority’s customer service is absolutely an asset.

Ease of Ordering Process: 8/10

As previously stated, they push a lot of upsells on their order form, which interrupts the entire process. However, it is unfair to judge them too much when they’re providing a service that doesn’t pay them anything until you pay more.

Despite this concern, Inc Authority’s order process is fairly simple and easy to use. There were only three steps to forming an LLC using their free formation service, with the checkout process having many upsells via sub-steps.

Overall, the procedure was simple and straightforward.

Service Speed: 9/10

With Inc Authority, you need not be concerned about this aspect. They base their processing speeds on how promptly each state handles business formations. As a result, their turnaround times are very similar to those of most of their competitors.

Although you might encounter a provider that processes orders faster in your state, Inc Authority has consistent response times in all 50 states which you can definitely rely on.

IncAuthority Scored 8/10!

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IncAuthority Plans, Their Features and Pricing

1. Entry Bundle ($0 + State Fees)

Overview: The most basic package from Inc Authority allows you to file for free and contains several vital services, such as name availability check, registered agent service, and digital storage. This is a great option for individuals searching for a basic formation package at a reasonable cost.

Although this bundle is free (except for state fees), you will, however, be offered a number of upsells as you approach checkout.

What’s included in this free service package:

  • Name Availability Verification: Before they file your application, Inc Authority will check the database of your formation state to see if the business name you want to use is still available.
  • Registered Agent Service (Free for a Year): Inc Authority will serve as your registered agent, receiving and transmitting any essential paperwork on your behalf, as well as safeguarding your personal information and ensuring that you never miss a delivery.
  • Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation: The articles of organization/incorporation are legal documents that must be filed in order for your new company to be formed. To begin the registration of your enterprise, Inc Authority will prepare these documents and file them with your state.
  • Digital Storage and Delivery: When your state of formation forwards your paperwork to Inc Authority, they will be uploaded to your online dashboard so you can access or download them whenever you want.
  • INC Care Support: Inc Authority’s customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST, to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.
  • S-corp Election (Optional): You can apply for S-corporation status for your corporation or LLC by filling out IRS Form 2553. This could provide some tax or organizational benefits in the long run.

Third-party Partnership Offers:

  • Business Checking Account (offered through Bank of America)
  • Tax Consultation (via Anonymous Third-party Vendor)
  • Credit and Funding Analysis (via Anonymous Third-party Vendor)

Note: Inc Authority’s Entry package does not contain an operating agreement, which is an important document for any company and is commonly included even in the most basic formation packages offered by competitors.

2, Starter Bundle ($399 + State Fees)

Overview: The Starter package from Inc Authority is a significant price increase above the entry bundle. Although it offers some useful services, it also includes some add-ons, such as EIN filing and an LLC kit (company seal and record book), which we consider unnecessary.

This is ideal for customers who anticipate their business needing additional legal support in the future, as this bundle includes Inc Protection Advisor – customer service that provides unlimited online and phone support specialized to addressing complex and legal concerns.

Thus, we do not recommend that you avail this plan because the additional services do not justify the $399 cost.

What does this package include:

All the services from the Entry bundle, plus…:

  • Operating Agreement: This is a confidential agreement between the members or owners of the LLC that describes each person’s ownership, rights, and duties, as well as specific ground rules for how the LLC will operate. This will be tailored by Inc Authority based on the demands and type of your company.
  • Record Book and Company Seal: Inc Authority will provide you a personalized box to assist you with getting your LLC up and operating. The box will be engraved with your firm’s name and will contain a transfer ledger as well as a professional binder for managing company documentation.
    While it appears to be attractive, it does not meet any legal standards.
  • Meeting Minutes and Resolutions: To maintain compliance, meeting minutes must be taken at all board meetings. An initial board meeting must be held in order to select executives, define regulations, and determine the issuance of shares.
    With the Starter package, you will receive personalized templates for minutes and resolutions. These would be very useful for organizations with various stakeholders or members.
  • Ownership Certificates: Each owner of your LLC will receive a certificate of membership from Inc Authority. Although the intention of this add-on is good, it is, in fact, not worth your money and is not a state requirement.
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN): An Employer Identification Number is also essential to acquire as soon as you establish your business (EIN). This is a 9-digit number that serves as your company’s Social Security Number. You can use this to open a business bank account, file business taxes, recruit employees, and do other things.
    You can get your own EIN from the IRS easily for free, but Inc Authority can save you time by getting it on your behalf.
  • INC Care Success Advisor (Free for a Year): Signing up for their Starter package gives you access to customer service for complex matters such as audits, business licensing, lawsuits, payroll, and banking.

3. Executive Bundle ($499 + State Fees)

Overview: To be completely honest, we do not recommend purchasing this bundle. However, if you are on a budget and you are willing to spend $499 plus state fees on a couple of add-ons, then the Executive Bundle may be just right for you.

While its business license report is useful, we believe it is advisable to outsource domain hosting and website setup to professionals.

What’s included in this service package:

All the services from the Starter bundle, plus…:

  • Business License Report: Inc Authority will grant you access to their business licensing program – a tool that will help you identify the licenses and permits your company needs based on your formation state and on its type.
  • Website Domain: Your business website’s domain will be hosted by GoDaddy, a third-party partner of Inc Authority.

4. Tycoon Bundle ($799 + State Fees)

Overview: Currently, the Tycoon bundle from Inc Authority is one of the most expensive formation plans available. The additional services are largely third-party provided, involving credit and loans. We do not encourage purchasing this bundle because it is too costly, and we always advise going straight to reliable financial institutions for services of this nature.

What’s included in this service package:

All the services from the Executive bundle, plus…:

  • Express Processing: Your filing will be prioritized above all others by Inc Authority, which means it will “cut the queue” and be processed faster. This also means that your paperwork will be delivered to your formation state the following business day.
  • BizCredit Express: This is an online tool that can assist you in building your business credit. The following resources are included:
  • Business Credit Coach

This is a one-on-one business credit coaching session for 90 days.

  • Multi-tiered Credit Building System

A method for steadily increasing your company’s credit ratings. Unfortunately, information about this method is limited.

  • Business Credit LaunchPad

A step-by-step program that guides you through each stage of the business credit growth process.

  • D&B Credit Bureau Registration

Dun & Bradstreet is one of three major credit bureaus that give corporate credit scores. With this bundle, you will become a member of a recognized business credit rating agency.

Their Customers Feedback and Testimonials

While most of their competitors charge a fee to form your new LLC, Inc Authority can do it for free as long as you settle your own state tax. They even provide a full year of registered agent service at no additional cost.

Not only that, but they have a lot of positive customer feedback, with hundreds of reviews and near-perfect average rating scores. We discovered approximately 5,000 reviews of Inc Authority’s services, the majority of which were divided between Trustpilot and Google. Almost all of these reviews are positive, with a Trustpilot rating of 4.8/5 and a Google rating of 4.7/5.

So far, here are some of the most notable features  that customers liked about them:

  • Free Bundle
  • Ease of Use
  • Friendly Customer Support

There are not many disadvantages to Inc Authority’s free LLC services, but one factor that turned us and most customers off is the cost of their premium formation bundles, which go beyond the standard of the industry.

Now, to help you make a better decision, we have gathered a few screenshots of valid customer reviews, both positive and negative, from various platforms and placed them here for your convenience.

Here are some screenshots from IncAuthority’s Google reviews page:

incauthority review page google
incauthority reviews google
incauthority reviews positive negative google

Here are some reviews from Trustpilot as well:

incauthority reviews page trustpilot
incauthority review positive trustpilot
incauthority review negative trustpilot
incauthority review positive 2 trustpilot

All Pros and Cons of IncAuthority

Pros:

  • Free Bundle

Inc Authority is now one of just two firms in the same industry that provides free LLC formation services. In comparison to their competitors’ basic plans, which run from $40 to $100, they are one of the most cost-effective business formation services on the market.

  • Customer Support

In case you require assistance, their customer service team is present and ready to assist you from Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The staff will assist you through the entire process and answer any questions you may have, from forming an LLC up to the most complicated ones.

Also, the majority of customers’ reviews are overwhelmingly positive, praising their skilled and well-trained customer support agents.

  • Registered Agent Service

Every business formation package from Inc Authority includes a free year of registered agent service – an essential that not all providers include in their bundles. After a year, you have the option to renew it or not.

  • Tax Consultation

Inc Authority arranges a meeting with a competent tax adviser at no additional cost to save you time and provide you with accurate information. Once you’ve signed up with them, you can utilize this service to better understand the tax regulations that apply to your business.

  • Customer Feedback

Inc Authority has a significant advantage in terms of customer feedback. They not only have great average rating scores, but they also have approximately 6,000 online reviews to back up their good name and track record. There’s no reason why you should not have confidence in Inc Authority!

  • Limited Liability Protection

Through this, you will not be liable for any lawsuits filed against the company, nor will you be liable for any debts. Inc Authority will provide this protection to you and your business whichever bundle you avail from them.

Cons:

  • Over-priced Premium Packages

The formation of a limited liability company (LLC) is free at Inc Authority through their $0 bundle. They do, however, offer pricey premium packages that even include “not so essential” additional services. While they are less expensive than paying an attorney to put up an LLC for you, they are still more expensive than most of their competitors.

  • No Clear Refund Policy

Unlike most LLC formation services that implement a refund or cancellation policy, Inc Authority does not have any. Once you place your order, there is no going back. They automatically reject every refund request they receive.

  • No Customer Support on Weekends

Despite having good customer service and competent and cheerful staff, they do not work on weekends, unlike most of their competitors who offer extended customer service hours or weekend customer support.

Is IncAuthority The Best Choice For You?

Is Inc Authority the best option for you? Although it may not be appropriate for every business’s needs, Inc Authority nonetheless offers services that may be great for you if you consider the following scenarios in which you should or should not hire them for LLC formation service:

When TO use them

  • If you have a budget and want a year of registered agent service included with your LLC formations;
  • If you like working with smaller organizations – Inc Authority has lots of longevity and experience, but they are not among the industry’s powerhouses; and
  • If you highly regard customer feedback.

When NOT to use them

  • If you want more advanced features and well-curated bundles, you may definitely get them at a lower price elsewhere; and
  • If having a user-friendly website is important to you, Inc Authority is definitely not your perfect option.
VisitIncAuthority.com

Substitutes and Alternatives for IncAuthority

With so many companies providing formation services, we understand that you’re reading this review to explore not only Inc Authority, but also competitors that may perform similarly at a lower cost or with a better deal. To assist you, we looked for two alternative providers with who you would be interested in working and who would be able to meet your company’s needs.

Alternative #1: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness, one of the best LLC services available online, is the best Inc Authority substitute. ZenBusiness will incorporate your new LLC for $39, including registered agent service and an operating agreement. ZenBusiness is our #1 overall recommendation for LLC formation service because of their excellent customer reviews and good customer support.

We also recommend reading our full Zenbusiness review here.

$49 + State Fees

Go tozenbusiness.com
zenbusiness logo new-min

ZenBusiness is the top-rated LLC service with one the best quality to price ratios in the market. It ranks #1 in our best LLC services list.

Alternative #2: NorthWest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent is another alternative, with LLC formation services starting at $39. Any formation package from Northwest includes a year of registered agent service. Inc Authority delivers excellent customer service, but it falls short of Northwest’s guide system, which provides highly personalized and convenient client service.

In case you want to know more – take a look at our full Northwest review here.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest is one of the most favorite LLC services out there. It ranks #2 in our top LLC service list. They’re a perfect choice for those who want unparalleled customer service and no hidden costs of upsells.
Start your LLC today with Northwest – visit www.northwestregisteredagent.com.

Final Judgement and Evaluation

Inc Authority outperforms the great majority of its competitors in this industry in some aspects. Their free business formation service is a huge plus, as they back up this with essential features and solid support. We like how they give a full year of registered agent service with each LLC formation order. We are also impressed with their customer feedback, which is predominantly positive, and ratings, which are almost perfect.

However, we are less impressed with several of Inc Authority’s premium bundles, which are lousy but too expensive. Furthermore, their website lacks important details such as turnaround times, costs, and details of seemingly sophisticated services.

The main disadvantage of their services is how many upsells given by third-party partners are pushed throughout the order process. We are sceptical of upselling since it takes time as well as money, and interacting with third-party providers can be risky.

Overall, Inc Authority is one of the top 10 companies for forming an LLC. Again, they are not at the top of our list, but we are convinced that if you employ their services, it will be a win-win situation.

VisitIncAuthority.com

FAQs

Since 1989, Inc Authority has provided business services. They have incorporated almost 145,000 company organizations so far. They also have thousands of online reviews publicly available, and with their large volume of reviews, they maintain high average rating scores.

All business formation companies, including Inc Authority, offer registered agent services. With all of their formation bundles, they include a full year of registered agent service for free. After that, this service will cost you $99 per year. This service automatically renews, so cancel it before your year is up if you no longer require it.

The free, entry-level bundle from Inc Authority is clearly their best. This is an appealing bundle for new entrepreneurs and small business owners looking for a basic formation.

The absence of an Operating Agreement in the Entry package is, however, a significant disadvantage. Nonetheless, if you buy it a la carte, you will get an Operating Agreement, a year of registered agent service, and your formation or incorporation for $89. Even if it is not free, that is still a good deal.

Without a doubt! Inc Authority’s inclusion of 12 months of registered agent service is a fantastic starting point for any new corporation intending to remain compliant in the future.

Inc Authority does not, in fact, authorize refunds under any conditions. According to their terms and conditions page, “All sales are final due to the hard cost incurred with the filing of entities with your selected state.”

Therefore, you must ensure that you are satisfied with your purchase before proceeding, especially if you are purchasing one of their premium bundles.

The monthly and yearly services of Inc Authority are automatically and without notice renewed. So, as soon as you make a purchase, make sure you are aware of any recurring services you may have signed up for. If you find yourself not needing some of them in the future, you can cancel during the 14-day period to avoid any fees.

If you already have the information and are aware of all that you will need, the ordering process should take no more than 10 minutes.

In terms of turnaround time, Inc Authority guarantees that all orders will be forwarded to the formation state the following business day. The overall application will be heavily influenced by how quickly your state returns your documents and the plan you purchased.

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So should I consider IncAuthority for my LLC?

IncAuthority is ranked #4 in our best LLC services list. And it’s truly one of the best companies for your LLC incorporation. Based on their customer reviews – they outperform many of its competitors. It is also one of the best choices you can make if you’re looking to form an LLC for free.

Go toincauthority.com

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