Inc Authority markets itself as a free LLC formation service, and unlike some competitors that advertise “$0” and then quietly charge for the pieces you actually need, the core filing really is free beyond your state’s mandatory fee. Where it gets more complicated is everything Inc Authority sells you after that free filing, so I went through their actual pricing structure to show you what’s genuinely included and where the upsells start.
I write a lot about business formation for dropshippers here on Ecommerce Paradise, and Inc Authority comes up constantly because the free-formation model is genuinely appealing for a new store owner trying to keep startup costs low. The question isn’t whether the free plan is real. It is. The question is what happens after you sign up.
Inc Authority Pricing at a Glance
| Service | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free LLC/Corp Formation | $0 + state fees | Filing, registered agent (1 year), EIN, business name check |
| Starter Business Bundle | Phone quote only | Operating agreement, record book, meeting minutes, tax ID |
| Fast Track Business Bundle | Phone quote only | Everything in Starter plus web domain, 5 email addresses, annual compliance alerts |
| À La Carte Add-Ons | Priced individually at checkout | Bylaws, EIN filing service, tax prep, personal banker, custom website |
That “phone quote only” line on the two premium bundles is worth noting up front. Inc Authority doesn’t publish pricing for its Starter or Fast Track bundles anywhere on its website. You get those prices by calling their sales team, which is a meaningfully different buying experience than a service like Northwest or Bizee that lists every price openly online.
Form Your LLC for $0 Plus State Fees
Inc Authority’s free plan includes your LLC filing, a full year of registered agent service, and your EIN at no service cost.
What’s Actually Included in the Free Plan
Inc Authority’s free tier covers more than most “free” formation services I’ve reviewed. It includes a business name availability check, preparation and filing of your formation documents, a full year of registered agent service, INC CARE customer support by phone or email, secure cloud document storage, instant digital delivery of your paperwork, a tax planning consultation, and a business credit and funding analysis. Their marketing also advertises free EIN processing and a free custom-built website as part of the standard package.
That’s a genuinely strong free tier compared to competitors. For context, Inc Authority’s own pricing comparison shows LegalZoom running roughly $378 and ZenBusiness roughly $298 for a comparable bundle of LLC filing, registered agent, and tax ID service, both before state fees, while Inc Authority charges $0 for the same core pieces. I’d treat that comparison with the usual skepticism you apply to any company’s self-published competitor pricing chart, but the direction is accurate: Inc Authority’s base offering really is free where competitors charge for registered agent and EIN service separately.
Inc Authority backs that offer with a large volume of customer reviews. Their Trustpilot profile shows a 4.9 out of 5 rating from close to 48,000 reviews at the time I checked, and Google reviews sit at a similar 4.9 average across roughly 10,800 reviews. That volume of reviews is unusually high for a formation service, and it’s a reasonable signal that the free filing process itself works as advertised for the vast majority of customers, even if the upsell experience varies more.
Where the Upsells Start
The free formation is the entry point, not the whole business model. Inc Authority’s revenue comes from a menu of paid add-ons and premium services that get pitched during and after the free signup process, typically through a phone consultation with a formation specialist. This is the part of Inc Authority’s pricing that’s genuinely worth understanding before you sign up, because the sales calls can be persistent.
The individually priced add-ons include bylaws, a legal documents package, a separate paid EIN filing service (despite EIN being advertised as part of the free tier, worth clarifying directly with a rep which version applies to your filing), minutes and resolutions, an operating agreement, S-Corp amendment filing, business and personal tax preparation with a support hotline, a personal banker service, an “Inc Success Advisor” package, a branded website address and email, and a professionally designed custom website. None of these prices are published on the site itself, which means you won’t know the actual cost until you’re on a call or deep into checkout.
The Starter and Fast Track Bundles
Beyond the individual add-ons, Inc Authority sells two premium bundles that are explicitly phone-sales-only. The Starter Business Bundle covers registered agent service, business name verification, custom state-filed articles, a complete operating agreement or bylaws, a deluxe record book, ownership or stock certificates, initial meeting minutes and resolutions, and a business tax ID.
The Fast Track Business Bundle includes everything in Starter plus a corporate forms package, annual compliance notifications, a professional tax consultation, and a web domain with 5 email addresses. Both bundles offer add-ons like an INC Success Advisor package, a private banking specialist, personalized business advice, and expedited filing, but again, none of this is priced publicly. Inc Authority’s own page tells you to call their team to “save hundreds,” which is standard sales framing for a phone-only pricing model.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Genuinely free LLC filing with registered agent and EIN included | Premium bundle pricing is not published anywhere online |
| 4.9-star rating across both Trustpilot and Google with tens of thousands of reviews | Sales process leans heavily on phone consultations to upsell add-ons |
| Wide range of add-on services available in one place | Free EIN claim and paid EIN service listing can be confusing |
| Fast processing, with 24-hour express filing advertised as included | Individual add-on prices only appear at checkout, not upfront |
| Strong fit for cost-conscious first-time founders | Less transparent overall pricing than fully self-service competitors |
How Inc Authority Makes Money on a Free Product
It’s a fair question, and the honest answer is that Inc Authority operates on a classic freemium model similar to what you’ll see across the LLC formation industry. The free filing gets you in the door, and the company’s profit comes from the percentage of customers who purchase add-ons like the operating agreement, the custom website, tax preparation services, or one of the premium bundles during the onboarding process.
This isn’t unique to Inc Authority. Several formation services use a similar structure, though most publish at least some pricing for their upsells rather than routing everything through a sales call. If you’re comfortable saying no to add-ons you don’t need and sticking strictly to the free tier, Inc Authority’s core offer is hard to beat on price. If you’re the type of buyer who tends to say yes on sales calls, it’s worth going in with a clear list of what you actually need before you pick up the phone.
A practical way to approach the call is to write down exactly which add-ons you’re genuinely interested in before you dial in, whether that’s the operating agreement, the custom website, or the tax consultation, and treat everything else as a firm no. Formation specialists are trained to walk through the full menu of premium services, and it’s easy to end up agreeing to a bundle that costs more than you intended if you go in without a clear budget in mind.
Who Inc Authority’s Pricing Model Fits Best
Inc Authority makes the most sense for a bootstrapped founder who wants their LLC filed correctly, wants a registered agent covered for the first year, and doesn’t need much beyond that. If you’re launching a lean high-ticket dropshipping store and want to keep formation costs at exactly your state’s filing fee, the free tier delivers on that promise without hidden catches on the core service.
It’s a weaker fit if you want fully transparent, published pricing before you ever talk to a salesperson, or if you know you’ll need several of the add-on services (operating agreement, tax prep, custom website) and would rather compare exact costs across providers like MyCompanyWorks or Northwest Registered Agent before committing to a phone-based sales process.
I’d also say it’s a weaker fit for anyone who dislikes sales calls in general. Because Inc Authority’s business model depends on converting free customers into paid add-on buyers, you should expect at least one outreach call or email after you sign up. That’s not a red flag by itself, plenty of legitimate businesses use this model, but it’s worth knowing going in so you’re not caught off guard when the call comes.
What Happens After Your Free Registered Agent Year Ends
The registered agent service included with your free LLC filing only covers the first year. This is standard across the industry, and Inc Authority isn’t unusual here, but it’s a cost you need to plan for regardless of which provider you choose. Registered agent renewal pricing isn’t published upfront on Inc Authority’s site the same way it is with a competitor like Northwest Registered Agent, which lists a flat, published annual renewal rate.
Before your first year is up, it’s worth calling Inc Authority directly to confirm the exact renewal cost for your state, and comparing that number against what competitors charge for the same ongoing service. A registered agent is a legal requirement in every state, so this isn’t an optional cost you can skip, it’s just a matter of knowing the number ahead of time rather than being surprised by a renewal invoice.
What You’ll Still Pay Regardless of Provider
No matter which formation service you choose, state filing fees are unavoidable, and they vary significantly. Checking your specific state’s fee schedule through the Small Business Administration’s guide to business structures before you file gives you a realistic total cost rather than relying on any formation company’s advertised “starting at” price.
If you want to handle your EIN application yourself instead of paying for Inc Authority’s EIN service, you can apply directly and for free through the IRS’s official EIN application portal. Inc Authority’s own legal disclaimer confirms this is an option, noting that customers can complete the EIN application themselves at no charge through IRS.gov rather than paying for the service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inc Authority actually free?
Yes, the core LLC or corporation filing is free. You only pay your state’s mandatory filing fee, and the free tier includes a year of registered agent service and EIN processing.
How does Inc Authority make money if the LLC filing is free?
Through paid add-ons and premium bundles like operating agreements, tax preparation, custom websites, and business credit services, most of which are pitched during a sales call after you sign up for the free filing.
Why doesn’t Inc Authority list prices for its premium bundles?
The Starter and Fast Track bundles are sold exclusively through phone consultations with their sales team, so you won’t find published prices for those packages on the website.
Should I buy Inc Authority’s paid EIN service if EIN is already free?
You can apply for your EIN yourself for free directly through the IRS website. Inc Authority’s paid EIN service exists for people who’d rather not handle the application themselves, so it’s optional.
How does Inc Authority compare to Bizee on price?
Both offer free base LLC formation, and I’ve broken down the specific differences in registered agent renewal costs and add-on pricing in more detail elsewhere on the site.
Do I have to buy any add-ons to keep my LLC in good standing?
No. The core free filing satisfies your state’s formation requirements on its own. Add-ons like the operating agreement or tax consultation are useful for some businesses but aren’t legally required to keep your LLC active, beyond renewing your registered agent service once the free first year ends.
More Resources from Ecommerce Paradise
Whether you’re forming your first LLC or scaling past your first store, here’s everything Ecommerce Paradise offers to help you build a profitable business.
Our Services:
Private Coaching — Work directly with Trevor to build, launch, and scale your high-ticket dropshipping business with expert guidance and accountability. Learn more here.
Done-For-You Starter Store — Get a professionally built Shopify store designed for high-ticket dropshipping, ready to launch fast. Learn more here.
Turnkey Business-in-a-Box — We handle everything: niche research, suppliers, store build, and launch so you can step into a fully operational business. Learn more here.
Supplier Recruiting & Product Uploading — We recruit quality suppliers and upload profitable products so your store grows without the tedious setup work. Learn more here.
Google & Bing Shopping Ads Management — Professional setup and management of Shopping campaigns to drive qualified traffic and consistent sales. Learn more here.
Ecommerce SEO Service — Build sustainable organic traffic with ecommerce-focused SEO that helps your store rank higher and attract ready-to-buy customers. Learn more here.
Free Resources:
Free Beginner’s Guide to High-Ticket Dropshipping — The step-by-step starter guide covering niches, suppliers, store structure, and what it actually takes to launch. Get the guide here.
Resources Page — Trevor’s curated list of recommended tools, platforms, and services for building a high-ticket store. Browse resources here.
Ecommerce Paradise Blog — In-depth guides, reviews, and strategies updated regularly for high-ticket dropshippers at every stage. Read the blog here.
Courses on Patreon — Access the full course library and supplier directory inside the EP Patreon community. Join here.
For the fundamentals of the business model behind every store I recommend, start with my guide on what high-ticket dropshipping actually is.
Once you understand the model, check out my breakdown of the best high-ticket niches.
From there, my step-by-step walkthrough covers finding suppliers for high-ticket products.
And for the full picture on setting up your business the right way, my guide to business formation for dropshippers covers everything from entity type to taxes.
Now Find a Niche Worth Building That Free LLC Around
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Related Articles
If you found this useful, these guides go deeper on related topics:
- Inc Authority Review 2026: The Best Free LLC Formation Service for Ecommerce Entrepreneurs?
- Bizee vs Inc Authority in 2026: Why US Founders Save $240 Over 5 Years Choosing Bizee for LLC Formation
- Tailor Brands Pricing 2026: Lite, Essential, and Elite Plans Broken Down
- Northwest Registered Agent Pricing 2026
- LegalZoom Pricing 2026: What You Actually Pay for LLC Formation
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
