ZenBusiness vs Inc Authority

Both ZenBusiness and Inc Authority are reputable companies, so both are viable options for forming an LLC. Either company will file with the state and create a new, legally recognized LLC. The best choice will depend on a business’s specific needs and budget. It’s important to consider both upfront formation costs and any recurring annual fees before deciding.

Here at ZenBusiness, we’re transparent about pricing for both one-time and recurring services. Inc Authority’s pricing structure is less straightforward, so it’s important to review their terms carefully — especially any free trials or bundled offers — to avoid surprise costs once trials expire.

On Inc Authority’s website, the free LLC package appears to include LLC formation, an EIN, expedited processing, one year of registered agent service, and a business website.

That offer looks generous, but there are caveats. Like ZenBusiness, Inc Authority will form your LLC for $0 plus state fees and include one year of registered agent service. However, you can’t select both the free EIN and free expedited filing — you must choose one or pay $49 to get both.

The website builder tools are also limited trials: a 30-day premium website builder and one year of domain registration. After those trial periods, monthly or annual fees apply.

It depends on which add-ons are selected during the order process. Choosing both the EIN and expedited filing adds $49. Inc Authority also offers a website-building trial that renews at $49 per month after 30 days, and a compliance service trial that renews at $147 per year.

Optional upsells throughout the order form can bring total costs above $550 if selected, despite the initial “free” offer. While each add-on is optional, pricing for many of them only appears late in the checkout process.

It depends on the services included or opted into, but the long-term costs differ significantly once renewals are added.

ZenBusiness includes both registered agent service and Worry-Free Compliance in its Premium plan for $349 in the first year (renewing at $399/year). Purchased separately, registered agent service is $199 per year and Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199 per year. Both features are also included in the Pro plan, and Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year with the Starter plan.

Inc Authority doesn’t list registered agent renewal prices publicly. According to their customer service representatives, registered agent service renews at “about $199 per year,” though pricing may vary. Their compliance program costs $147 per year, and additional features like legal document access ($99) and an operating agreement ($89) add to the total.

Overall, ZenBusiness offers more value for similar costs by bundling key compliance tools directly into its higher-tier packages.

ZenBusiness processes LLCs in 7-10 business days with the Starter plan and in one business day with the Pro or Premium plans.

Inc Authority includes expedited processing as a free option if you skip the free EIN, or for $49 if you want both. They do not publish their standard (non-expedited) filing speeds on their website.

Actual approval times depend on state processing. Some states issue approvals within hours via online systems, while others take several weeks. Filing services like ZenBusiness and Inc Authority only affect how quickly your paperwork is submitted to the state, not how long the state takes to approve it.

ZenBusiness is much more transparent about pricing. Our formation plans pricing page clearly explains our service offerings, additional features, and renewal rates.

Inc Authority does not display most prices up front. Registered agent renewals, add-on services, and post-trial costs only appear partway through the order process, and some details are provided only by contacting customer support.

Which LLC service has the best customer support?
Inc Authority offers customer support via phone and email, with its support team available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday (excluding weekends).

ZenBusiness offers customer support via phone, email, and chat seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT on weekends.

Both services show total costs before checkout, but ZenBusiness clearly displays all package prices and renewal rates before collecting any personal details.

Inc Authority requires you to progress through most of the order form, including entering business information, before revealing complete pricing for add-ons or renewals.

Support hours vary by company. Inc Authority is available on weekdays only (7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. PT). ZenBusiness provides weekday and weekend support, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT on weekends.

On Trustpilot, ZenBusiness holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating across 26,114 reviews. Inc Authority has a 4.9 rating across 44,000+ reviews (as of this writing).

However, on the Better Business Bureau site, Inc Authority holds a 1-star average review score and an F rating, while ZenBusiness is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and higher customer satisfaction.

Both ZenBusiness and Inc Authority provide ongoing compliance tools, including registered agent service, compliance reminders, and website or business management resources. ZenBusiness also offers Worry-Free Compliance, business license reports, and integrated tools for accounting and banking, while Inc Authority focuses on basic formation and compliance features.