Inc Authority Review (2026) Free LLC Filing Tested
We formed an LLC with Inc Authority on June 8, 2026. The business was Mile High Bicycle Company LLC in Colorado. We paid $50 total, and that was the Colorado state filing fee only.
The LLC formation and first year of registered agent service cost $0. EIN was also $0 in our test because we chose it as the free premium service instead of 24-hour express processing. We documented the homepage, the free-service choice, the upsell screens, checkout, order confirmation and post-payment experience.
Inc Authority is the most generous free formation offer we tested, but it is also the thinnest platform after payment. You get the LLC, one free premium choice such as EIN, the first registered agent year and a logo builder. You do not get an ongoing compliance dashboard or business operating platform.
Quick Summary
| Category | Rating | Why it scored this way |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 5.0 | $0 formation, $0 EIN and $0 registered agent year one. Only the state fee was required in our test. |
| Ease of Use | 3.0 | Starting is simple, but the long upsell sequence with countdown timers makes checkout feel pressured. |
| Features | 2.5 | The post-payment logo builder is useful, but there is no ongoing dashboard, compliance tracker or document storage. |
| Turnaround | 3.5 | Colorado state processing averages about 7 days. Express submission is available as a $49 add-on or free service choice. |
| Support | 4.0 | Phone and live support are listed during weekday business hours, and a free 1-800Accountant tax consultation is included. |
| User Ratings | 5.0 | Inc Authority shows 4.9/5 on Trustpilot and Google, with very high review counts. |
Best for: founders who want to form an LLC at the lowest possible upfront cost and already have their own tools for accounting, compliance and operations.
Skip if: you want a dashboard, compliance tracking, document storage or lower long-term registered agent renewal pricing.
- Formation and first-year registered agent service were $0, and EIN was free because we chose it as the free premium service.
- The final order summary made the state fee and free services clear before payment.
- Trustpilot and Google ratings are very strong.
- The post-payment logo builder is immediately useful for a brand-new company.
- Inc Authority gives you very little after filing, so founders who want an operating platform will outgrow it quickly.
Best for Free Formation With EIN and RA Year One
Inc Authority
What You Actually Get for Free
Inc Authority's pitch is simple: form your LLC and pay only the state fee. In our Colorado test, that pitch held up.
What was genuinely free:
- LLC formation
- EIN, if chosen as the free premium service
- Registered agent service for year one
- Logo builder access after payment
- 1-800Accountant tax consultation
- 60-day money-back guarantee on service fees
The free-service choice is the key detail. The homepage lists both free EIN and free 24-hour processing. In the actual flow, you choose one.
We recommend choosing EIN for most founders because it is needed for banking, hiring and tax setup. If you choose EIN, Express Processing appears later as a $49 upsell.
The Homepage vs. Checkout Reality
Inc Authority's homepage lists seven free items: LLC filing, EIN, registered agent, 24-hour express processing, custom website, business funding analysis and a Visa business credit card bonus.
The checkout reality is more specific. Some items are genuinely free, some are either/or, and some become subscriptions.
| Homepage claim | Checkout reality |
|---|---|
| Free EIN | Free if chosen as your premium service. |
| Free 24-hour express processing | Free if chosen instead of EIN. |
| Free registered agent | Free year one, then $249/year. |
| Free custom website | Free for 30 days, then $49/month. |
| Free business funding analysis | Included. |
| Visa business credit card bonus | Bank of America referral with possible $300-$800 bonus. |
None of this makes the offer fake. The issue is that a founder expecting every homepage promise with no future charges could be surprised by the website subscription and registered agent renewal.
The Upsell Sequence
Between business details and payment, Inc Authority walked us through a long sequence of decision screens. Every paid upsell screen used a live countdown timer.
| Upsell | Price | Our take |
|---|---|---|
| Choose free service: EIN or Express Processing | $0 | Choose EIN for most founders. |
| Operating Agreement | $89 | Useful if you want Inc Authority to prepare it. |
| Minutes and Resolutions | $99 | Most single-member LLCs can skip. |
| 24-hour Express Processing | $49 | Skip unless timing matters. |
| Web address + 5 emails + website creator | $10 | Cheap first-year domain/email option. |
| Custom professionally designed website | Free 30 days, then $49/month | Use only if you want the subscription. |
| Compliance360 | Free 30 days, then $147/year | Consider if you want reminders without a full platform. |
| S-Corp Election filing | $79 | Discuss with an accountant first. |
| Bank of America banking | Free referral | Optional banking referral. |
The countdown timers were the most aggressive urgency tactic we saw across the formation services. They create pressure, but you should still slow down and read each screen.
After You Pay: What's Missing
After payment, Inc Authority gives you a post-payment page with AI-generated logo options, an order confirmation and a simple "what happens next" explanation.
There is no ongoing dashboard in the way Bizee, ZenBusiness, Tailor Brands or LegalZoom provide one. We did not find a compliance calendar, document library, banking integration, AI assistant or contract template workspace.
That is not automatically bad. If you want Inc Authority to file the LLC, get the EIN and then get out of your way, the simplicity is part of the appeal.
If you want one place to run your business after formation, Inc Authority is the wrong fit. Bizee gives you more dashboard functionality at the same $0 formation price.
Registered Agent Renewal: Read the Fine Print
Registered agent service is free for year one. The renewal is the part to watch.
The order confirmation fine print says the service renews automatically each year until canceled, with a $249 charge approximately one year from incorporation.
$249/year is expensive. Northwest renews at $125/year, Bizee at $119/year and ZenBusiness at $199/year.
If you use Inc Authority, set a reminder before the first year ends. You can decide then whether to keep it, cancel or switch registered agents.
How Inc Authority Compares
| Feature | Inc Authority | Northwest | Bizee Basic | ZenBusiness Starter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formation fee | $0 | $39 | $0 | $0 |
| EIN | $0 if chosen as free service | $0 if done directly through IRS | $70 standalone or $99 bundle | $99 |
| Registered agent year 1 | Free | Free | Free | $199/year |
| Registered agent year 2+ | $249/year | $125/year | $119/year | $199/year |
| Post-formation dashboard | No | Basic account tools | Yes | Yes |
| Compliance tracking | No | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| 60-day money-back guarantee | Yes | 90-day refund policy | Not prominently shown | Yes |
On year-one cost, Inc Authority and Bizee Basic are the cheapest options. Both can get you formed for $0 plus state fees, and both include registered agent service for the first year.
The difference is after payment. Bizee has a dashboard and compliance tools. Inc Authority mostly stops at filing, confirmation and logos.
Third-Party Ratings
| Platform | Rating |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.9/5 |
| Google reviews | 4.9/5 |
Inc Authority's rating footprint is strong. Its own homepage showed 4.9 on Trustpilot from 47,682 reviews and 4.9 on Google from 10,785 reviews during this check.
Who Should Use Inc Authority and Who Shouldn't
Use Inc Authority if:
- You want free LLC formation with EIN and registered agent year one.
- You already use your own bank, accountant, compliance calendar and document storage.
- You can move through upsells without making rushed decisions.
- You want the lowest possible upfront formation cost.
- Strong Trustpilot and Google review volume matters to you.
Skip Inc Authority if:
- You want a business dashboard after formation.
- You want lower long-term registered agent pricing.
- You want compliance tracking, documents, contracts or banking tools in one platform.
- Countdown timers and urgency-based checkout tactics will bother you.
- You want to compare options slowly without pressure.
FAQs
Is Inc Authority Actually Free?
Yes, Inc Authority is actually free for LLC formation in the sense that Inc Authority charged us $0 for the formation service. In our test, first-year registered agent service was also $0, and EIN was free because we chose it as the free premium service. We paid only the $50 Colorado state filing fee.
What Is the Catch With Inc Authority's Free EIN and Express Processing?
The catch with Inc Authority's free EIN and Express Processing offer is that you choose one free premium service, not both. Inc Authority asks you to pick either EIN or Express Processing during checkout, and most founders should choose EIN because banks usually require it. Express Processing can be added later for $49 if timing matters.
What Happens After I Pay Inc Authority?
After you pay Inc Authority, you get an order confirmation and a post-payment page with AI-generated logo options. Inc Authority then submits your filing according to the selected processing speed, but there is no full business dashboard, compliance platform or document workspace like we saw with several competitors.
What Does Inc Authority Registered Agent Cost After Year One?
Inc Authority registered agent service renews at $249/year after year one. The auto-renewal language appears in the order confirmation fine print, so set a reminder before the first year ends if you plan to cancel, switch or compare registered agent providers.
What Is Inc Authority Compliance360?
Inc Authority Compliance360 is the company's compliance add-on. It includes state alerts, hotline access, two free amendments annually and annual report reminders, and it is free for 30 days before renewing at $147/year. Cancel before day 30 if you do not want the subscription.
Does Inc Authority Have a Money-Back Guarantee?
Yes, Inc Authority has a 60-day money-back guarantee on service fees. That guarantee applies to Inc Authority's service fees, not necessarily to government filing fees, which are usually paid to the state and handled separately.
Our Verdict
Inc Authority's offer is real when you read the fine print. We formed a Colorado LLC, got EIN included because we chose it as the free premium service, got registered agent year one included, and paid only the $50 state fee.
The tradeoffs are also real. The upsell sequence is intense, registered agent renewal is $249/year, and there is no real platform after payment.
If you want the cheapest possible LLC formation and already know how you will handle operations afterward, Inc Authority is a legitimate choice. If you want a dashboard, compliance tracking and business tools, Bizee gives you more at the same $0 formation price, while ZenBusiness offers a fuller platform.
Best for Free Formation With EIN and RA Year One
Inc Authority
Please stay a way from this business. They lie to you on what’s include in your bundle packs and then the staff who said it was included leaves. You can do the same thing for yourself and save hundreds of dollars. This service is not worth your hard earned money. Keep it in your pocket. Go to your State’s website and do this for yourself. It isn’t hard. I wish I would have. Trust me rbis is a waste of money.
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