ZenBusiness vs Inc Authority

Yes, it matters which company you use to form your LLC, because pricing, included services, and ongoing support can vary a lot between providers.

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 depends on your business’s specific needs and budget. Make sure you compare what is included in each formation package, how fast they file, and what you will pay to keep your business compliant each year.

At ZenBusiness, pricing for both one-time and recurring services is clearly listed so you know what you are paying for before you check out. Inc Authority’s pricing structure is less straightforward, so it is important to review their terms carefully, especially any free trials or bundled offers, to avoid surprise costs once trials expire.

Inc Authority does not offer AI-powered business guidance as of September 2026. Velo is ZenBusiness’s built-in AI assistant that helps you start, stay compliant, and grow your business. It answers your questions, completes filings, and guides you through every stage of your business journey. Velo is included with every ZenBusiness plan. If AI-powered support matters to you, ZenBusiness is the clear choice.

Inc Authority’s free LLC package includes LLC formation, an EIN or expedited processing (but not both for free), one year of registered agent service, and limited website tools.

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 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 which package you start from. On registered agent service alone, Inc Authority costs less in year one: they include the first year free, then renew at $199 per year. ZenBusiness charges $199 per year and you can add it to any package.

The difference shows up in the base package. ZenBusiness Pro is $199 plus state fees and includes your EIN, an operating agreement, 1-day processing, and Worry-Free Compliance. The Premium Package is $299 plus state fees and renews at $299 per year. Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year with Starter and $199 per year on its own.

Inc Authority’s formation service is free, but the EIN, operating agreement, expedited filing, and compliance program are each priced separately. Those prices are not published on their website. To see what any of it costs, you have to enter your personal and business details and work through their checkout.

ZenBusiness publishes its prices. You can compare your full first-year and renewal costs on this page, without giving up your information first.

The ZenBusiness Pro and Premium Packages generally form LLCs the fastest, with 1-day processing, while the ZenBusiness Starter Package takes 7 to 10 business days and Inc Authority’s standard processing time is not clearly published.

ZenBusiness processes LLCs in 7 to 10 business days with the Starter Package, and in 1 business day with the Pro or Premium Packages when ZenBusiness has all required information.

Inc Authority offers expedited processing for free if you skip the free EIN or for an added fee if you want both services, but Inc Authority does not publish its normal, non-expedited filing times on its website, so direct timing comparisons are limited.

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.

The ZenBusiness LLC formation service is more transparent about pricing because our plans, included services, and renewal costs are clearly listed before you check out.

Our formation plans pricing page explains what is included in each package, which services are optional add-ons, and how renewals work, so you know your costs up front.

Inc Authority does not show most prices until partway through the order. Details like registered agent renewals, add-on service fees, and post-trial costs only appear during checkout or after you contact customer support.

Inc Authority offers customer support via phone and email, with its support team available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.

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.

Yes. ZenBusiness clearly shows all LLC package prices and any renewal rates upfront, before you enter personal or business details.

Inc Authority also shows total costs before checkout, but you usually need to go through most of the order form and enter business information before you can see full pricing for add-ons or renewals.

Support hours vary by company. Inc Authority is available on weekdays only (7:30 a.m.–5:00 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 32,969 reviews. Inc Authority holds a 4.8 rating across 48,800+ reviews.

On the Better Business Bureau site, ZenBusiness is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating. Inc Authority is not BBB accredited.

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.