The main difference between Incfile and Inc Authority is that Inc Authority offers a free LLC formation package.
Our IncFile vs Inc Authority guide will help you pick the best service to start an LLC.
Comparison Between IncFile and Inc Authority
A popular approach to creating a company is by forming a limited liability company, commonly known as an LLC. However, the procedures can be quite confusing and complex if you have no experience with them and are trying to do this on your own.
The good news is that help is available from companies that provide services in helping businesses register as LLC. Two examples are Inc Authority and IncFile. However, how would you go about selecting the company that is best for your needs?
The following guide will help you make that decision between these two reputable services. We have summarized their highlights in an easy-to-read format so you can conveniently compare the features and make an informed decision.
Inc Authority and IncFile are leading providers of LLC registration services. They are well-known and trusted for their expertise in forming LLCs, making sure that the entities they help form are compliant with regulations in every aspect. Although both companies provide multiple benefits, we believe IncFile is a better fit for the majority of our readers.
One notable trait of these two companies is that they do not charge a fee for their LLC formation services. There is a fee that you pay to the state, but none of it goes to the service. Both companies receive positive reviews from their clients, but when you look at the volume of feedback received by each company, IncFile received more 4-5 star reviews than Inc Authority. In addition, in terms of the number of clients who formed LLCs over the years, Inc Authority only has about one-fourth of IncFile’s volume.
If you are interested in reading more about these two companies, read on. You will learn what they have in common and how they differ. After you read this article, you will be in a better position to make the most appropriate choice for your business.
Are There Better LLC Services Out There?
Although IncFile and Inc Authority are both highly respected in the industry, neither one of them is our top pick. There is a company called ZenBusiness which is our preferred choice for LLC formation.
In our opinion, ZenBusiness scored higher all-around compared to others in the industry. Their services are very affordable, and client reviews are stellar. Although IncFile and Inc Authority still beat ZenBusiness in terms of cost, we think ZenBusiness scored higher in other features overall.
Both IncFile and Inc Authority have the following features in common:
1. No charge for LLC Formation Service: The only fee you pay is the state fee. These two services do not charge for anything else. No other LLC formation company offers free services.
2. High level of customer satisfaction: In general, both companies received above-average ratings from their clients.
3. Registered Agent Service Included: Both companies provide 12 months of registered agent services in their LLC formation packages. This is a sweet benefit because all LLCs require a registered agent. What is an LLC registered agent?
4. Solid Customer Service: Both companies provide a reliable network of customer support which is invaluable for those complex issues. You never have to worry that you have to deal with a problem on your own.
5. Fast and Efficient: Both companies pride themselves in processing the LLC registration efficiently. If time is of the essence, you have the option to expedite the registration.
6. Extensive Experience: Both companies have been in the business for a number of years and have helped thousands of businesses form successful and compliant LLCs. They are well-respected for their experience and expertise.
7. Extra Services: Both companies provide added services that a business might need like helping with acquiring a federal tax ID, compiling LLC operating agreements, foreign qualifications, etc. This provides extra convenience to the client who needs those extra services.
How Do They Compare Side-by-Side?
Cost
Both Inc Authority and IncFile offer their LLC formation services free of charge, so that is hard to beat. As of the writing of this article, no other LLC formation company offers free services.
The only fee you pay is the fee to your own state. In that sense, you still pay something out of pocket. However, with these two companies, you will incur the least cost.
So, in terms of cost, both companies are tied. Let’s see how the other aspects of these two companies compare.
Experience
Inc Authority: Since the company started in 1989, they have formed over 140,000 corporation businesses and LLCs.
IncFile: The company was formed in 2004, so it is much younger. However, they boast of a much larger client base of over half a million customers.
Processing Times
In general, both companies have comparable turnaround times. The speed of processing often depends on how fast each state can process the registration. The faster ones can complete it in just several business days, while the slower ones can take a few weeks.
Order Processing and Tracking
Both companies provide a tracking tool for your order so you can see the progress. All you have to do is to log on to your account, go to your profile, and look for your order status.
Easy Process
Both companies simplify the LLC formation process and take the pain out of doing it on your own. The process with IncFile is easy to follow because their website is nicely formatted and streamlined. Their user interface is a little more user-friendly than the interface from Inc Authority’s website.
Extra Services
Both companies offer a comparable list of extra services. The list includes registered agent service, help with trademarks, company bank accounts, etc. Each company does offer something that the other does not have.
For instance, IncFile offers support with amendments, dissolutions, and accounting services for your business. These are not offered by Inc Authority, but they do offer credit assistance for your business as well as a revocable living trust, which IncFile does not offer.
Features
The biggest feature that both companies offer in their free package is their one-year registered agent service. As mentioned earlier, all LLCs require a registered agent, so having one year covered by these companies is a nice bonus.
For the other extras, Inc Authority provides an S corporation tax form while IncFile provides a lifetime alert system to help you stay informed about filing deadlines and such. Neither one of these extras is particularly valuable to an LLC. However, since LLCs usually do not need an S corporation tax filing anyway, the alert service from IncFile might prove to be a tad more useful.
Customer Support
Inc Authority: Support hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday-Friday. Customers can seek support by email, chat, or phone call.
IncFile: Support hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday-Friday. Customers can contact them by email or by phone.
Both companies are tied in terms of the quality of their customer service. Their response time is generally quick. Their customer support staff are well-trained, knowledgeable, and always friendly.
Registered Agent Service
All LLCs in the United States must have a designated registered agent. This can be an individual or a company. The designated agent performs several important functions. The agent is the point of contact for the state and receives all documents sent from the state government. It is the agent’s job to notify you of the receipt of these documents and to send them to you.
Both Inc Authority and IncFile provide one entire year of registered agent services for the first year free of charge. After the first year, if you choose to keep them as your registered agent, you will have to pay their annual fee. IncFile’s annual fee is $119, while Inc Authority charges $99 per year.
Client Reviews and Ratings
Both companies earned high marks from their clients, but IncFiles has the edge in terms of the volume of positive reviews.
Inc Authority has over 6,500 reviews from its clients. Most of these are 4 to 5 stars. The two aspects of the company that earned their highest praise include the fact that their high-quality services are free and that processing is fast and efficient.
Those high marks are hard to beat, but IncFile was able to beat that. They have almost 27,000 reviews, and their average rating is 4.8 stars out of 5. Because IncFile has about four times as many 4 to 5-star reviews as Inc Authority, they surpass Inc Authority in terms of quantity.
Which LLC Formation Service Is the Best Choice For Your Business?
Both Inc Authority and IncFile are reputable and highly respected LLC formation services in the industry. They have a lot in common, but they also have notable differences that make them unique. Choosing one can be tough. If you are still sitting on the fence, one way to help you choose is by going over some sample situations that might benefit from going with one company over the other.
No matter which company you end up selecting, we are confident that you will be impressed by their quality of service.
If you want your LLC to have an S corporation filing status, Inc Authority would be the better choice because their LLC formation package includes this tax form.