The words “free LLC” do a lot of work on both of these websites. They make the decision look simple. Pick a company, pay your state fee, and your business is formed.
That is only the first layer.
Inc Authority and Bizee can both prepare and submit basic formation documents without charging a package fee. The real differences appear after you begin the order: which services are included, what renews, how clearly prices are disclosed, and how much sales pressure you are willing to tolerate.
My short answer is this: Bizee is the better choice for most entrepreneurs who want predictable pricing and a self-service dashboard. Inc Authority can be attractive if you want a free first year of registered agent service and do not mind phone-based selling. Neither service is automatically cheaper than filing directly with your state.
Prices and offers change. The figures below were checked in September [year]. State filing fees are always extra and vary by state.
Inc Authority: Free formation built around personal sales
Inc Authority is a Nevada-based company with decades of experience. It charges no service fee for basic LLC filing and currently includes EIN help and one year of registered agent service.
It feels more like a phone-assisted sales operation than a software platform. That helps if you want guidance, but complaints about repeated calls and upselling have followed the brand.
Inc Authority does not currently present three clean, directly comparable formation packages. It leads with one free offer, then sells other services around it. The first registered agent year is included, but the order page says it automatically renews at $249 per year unless canceled within 12 months. That charge can erase the value of “free” formation.
Bizee: A more structured online filing service
Bizee started in Houston in 2004 as Incfile and later rebranded. It says it has served more than one million entrepreneurs.
Its model is easier to price. You choose Basic for $0, Standard for $199, or Premium for $299, plus the state fee. The checkout still contains optional services, but you can see the main package ladder before entering personal information.
Bizee feels like a conventional online platform. You complete a questionnaire, track the order, and retrieve documents through a dashboard.
Pricing and Packages
The table below shows the current public offers. Inc Authority does not publish “Gold” and “Premium” tiers comparable to Bizee, so putting invented packages in those columns would be misleading.
| Pricing level | Inc Authority | Bizee |
|---|---|---|
| Entry formation | $0 service fee plus state fee | Basic: $0 plus state fee |
| Middle package | No clearly published fixed tier; extras offered separately or during ordering | Standard: $199 plus state fee |
| Top package | No clearly published fixed tier; business services may be quoted or sold separately | Premium: $299 plus state fee |
| Registered agent | First year included; then $249 a year under the current offer | One year included with formation; then $119 a year based on Bizee’s stated annual charge |
| EIN | Included in Inc Authority’s current free offer | Included in Standard and Premium; extra with Basic |
| Operating agreement | Check the final order; not clearly promised as part of the basic public offer | Included in Standard and Premium |
| State fee | Extra | Extra |
Is the free plan really free?
The formation work can be free. The LLC itself is not.
Every state charges a filing fee. Some also impose an initial report fee, publication cost, franchise tax, or annual report charge. A $0 package does not remove these government obligations.
You also need to watch the services added around the filing. Registered agent service, a virtual address, compliance alerts, licenses, tax help, and expedited processing can create recurring charges. Read the last checkout page slowly. Save the receipt and note every renewal date on your calendar.
Which package offers the best value?
For a simple owner-managed LLC, Bizee Basic is enough if you can prepare an operating agreement and obtain an EIN. Standard makes sense when you want both handled. Premium is harder to justify unless its extra tools match something you already planned to buy.
Inc Authority’s free offer looks stronger at the start because the current promotion includes an EIN and one year of registered agent service. The catch is the $249 registered agent renewal. If you keep that service for year two, Inc Authority may become more expensive than Bizee.
Key Features Head-to-Head
Ease of Use and Dashboard
Bizee wins this category. Its dashboard handles filing tracking, document downloads, and service management.
Inc Authority’s order flow is straightforward at first, but the buying experience depends more heavily on calls and recommendations from representatives. Some people like that attention. Others feel they are being sold products before they understand what they need.
Download your filed articles, EIN letter, operating agreement, and invoices. Keep copies outside the platform.
Speed of Formation
There are two clocks in any LLC order: the service’s internal processing and the state’s review. Quick submission does not stop the state from taking days or weeks.
Inc Authority says its average completion is two to five business days and offers a premium rush service that submits an order within 24 business hours. Bizee also offers expedited processing options, but actual completion still depends on the state.
Do not pay for speed based only on the word “rush.” Ask what you are buying. Is the company processing your order sooner? Is it also purchasing the state’s expedited service? Those are separate things. A 24-hour internal submission does not promise 24-hour state approval.
Registered Agent Services
A registered agent receives lawsuits and government notices. The agent needs a physical address in the formation state and must be available during business hours.
Both companies include an initial year with formation. This helps keep your home address off the registered-agent field, though other parts of a state filing may still expose an owner or mailing address.
The renewal price makes the real difference. Inc Authority’s current order page discloses a $249 annual automatic renewal. Bizee has stated an annual registered agent fee of $119. On that basis, Bizee is the better long-term value.
Canceling a registered agent is not like canceling a streaming subscription. You must appoint a replacement and, in many states, file a change with the state before the old provider can step down safely. If you simply stop paying, your LLC could miss legal papers or fall out of good standing.
Operating Agreement
An operating agreement explains who owns the LLC, who manages it, how profits are distributed, how major decisions are approved, and what happens when an owner leaves or dies.
Many states do not require it to be filed, but banks may request it, partners need it, and a single owner can use it to document the company’s separate identity.
Bizee includes an operating agreement in Standard and Premium. Inc Authority’s basic public offer does not clearly promise one, so confirm the price before ordering. A template is better than having nothing, but multi-member companies, unusual profit splits, investors, or regulated businesses should use an attorney. The cost of fixing a weak agreement after a dispute is far higher than drafting it properly.
EIN Service
An Employer Identification Number is the federal tax ID for a business. You may need it to hire employees, open a bank account, file tax returns, or avoid using your Social Security number on business documents.
The IRS issues EINs for free through its EIN assistent. A formation company charges for preparation and convenience, not the number.
Inc Authority advertises EIN service in its free offer. Bizee includes it with Standard and Premium. A straightforward US applicant can usually apply directly. Foreign founders without a US taxpayer ID may face a slower paper or fax process, but no formation service controls the IRS timeline.
Customer Support Quality
Inc Authority provides US-based phone support. Positive reviews praise patient representatives. Negative reviews focus on sales pressure, repeated calls, renewals, and difficulty making changes.
Bizee lists support hours of Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central. Its trust pilot showed a 4.8 rating from more than 26,000 reviews at the time checked. Customers regularly praise individual agents for quick responses.
Public complaints describe filing corrections, delayed EINs, refunds, cancellation, and confusion over excluded services. Bizee’s BBB complaint pages show customer allegations and company responses. A complaint proves little by itself, but recurring themes show where to be careful.
Pros and Cons
Inc Authority pros
- $0 basic formation service fee, with state fees extra.
- Current promotion includes an EIN service.
- First year of registered agent service is included.
- Phone support suits founders who want personal guidance.
- Long operating history in the formation industry.
Inc Authority cons
- Public pricing beyond the free offer is not transparent enough.
- Registered agent service automatically renews at $249 a year under the current terms.
- Frequent upsells and follow-up calls are a common complaint.
- It is harder to compare the final cost before starting an order.
- Basic formation does not mean ongoing compliance is handled.
Bizee pros
- Clear $0, $199, and $299 package structure.
- Useful online dashboard for documents and order tracking.
- Standard includes an EIN and operating agreement.
- Registered agent renewal is cheaper than Inc Authority’s disclosed price.
- Strong volume of positive customer feedback.
Bizee cons
- Basic does not include every document a new owner may want.
- Checkout add-ons can raise the total quickly.
- Complaints mention correction delays, refunds, renewals, and cancellation friction.
- Premium includes extras that some owners will never use.
- State approval and IRS processing remain outside Bizee’s control.
Hidden Costs and Upsells
The biggest trap is assuming that formation equals compliance. It does not.
The formation company files your articles. You may still need a city license, industry permit, sales-tax registration, payroll account, beneficial ownership filing if applicable under current law, annual report, and state tax registration. Some paid “compliance” products are reminders, not legal work.
Inc Authority’s major cost risk is the registered agent renewal. A $0 first-year service becomes $249 in the next year unless canceled on time. Its sales-heavy model can also lead a new founder to buy credit, website, tax, or advisory products without comparing alternatives.
Bizee’s package pricing is clearer, but its add-ons deserve the same scrutiny. A virtual address may bill monthly. Registered agent service renews annually. Expedited filing may include a company fee, a state fee, or both. Premium is not a bargain if half the included tools sit unused.
Before paying, ask four questions:
- Is this a one-time charge or a subscription?
- When does it renew, and at what price?
- Can I do this directly with the state or IRS?
- What exact work will the company perform?
Real User Verdict: What the Reputation Actually Shows
Inc Authority tends to earn praise for human assistance and criticism for its selling style. If you answer calls, understand every line item, and decline services you do not need, the free offer can deliver real value. If you dislike phone sales or have trouble tracking renewals, the experience may feel expensive and intrusive.
Bizee earns praise for convenience, pricing, and helpful support agents. Its weak spots appear when a filing needs correction, a government agency is slow, or a customer wants to cancel a service tied to the public state record. Its high review rating is encouraging, but it should not replace reading the order terms.
Bizee makes the purchase easier to evaluate before checkout. Inc Authority may offer more first-year value, but demands more attention from the buyer.
Final Comparison Table
| Category | Inc Authority | Bizee | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic formation fee | $0 plus state fee | $0 plus state fee | Tie |
| Pricing transparency | Limited beyond free offer | Three public fixed tiers | Bizee |
| EIN | Included in current free offer | Included in Standard and Premium | Inc Authority for entry plan |
| Operating agreement | Confirm during checkout | Standard and Premium | Bizee |
| First-year registered agent | Included | Included | Tie |
| Registered agent renewal | $249/year under current offer | $119/year stated annual rate | Bizee |
| Filing speed | Standard plus paid rush options | Standard plus expedited options | Tie |
| Dashboard | Functional, more service-led | Stronger self-service approach | Bizee |
| Support style | Phone-focused and sales-driven | More platform-focused with phone/email support | Depends on preference |
| Best fit | Founder who wants guidance and will manage renewals | Founder who wants clear prices and online control | Bizee overall |
The Verdict: Inc Authority or Bizee?
Choose Bizee if you want the safer all-around buying experience. Its prices are easier to understand, its dashboard is better suited to self-service, and its registered agent renewal costs less based on the current disclosed rates. Basic works for a confident DIY owner. Standard is the practical sweet spot for someone who wants an EIN and operating agreement handled.
Choose Inc Authority if the first-year deal is your priority and you value phone guidance. The combination of free formation, an included EIN service, and one year of registered agent service is strong. Just decline unnecessary extras and set a reminder well before the $249 registered agent renewal.
For the lowest cost, file directly with your state, obtain the EIN free, prepare an operating agreement, and serve as your own registered agent if allowed. Your address may become public, and you must be available for official deliveries.
Between these two services, Bizee is my recommendation for most small business owners in [year]. It is not perfect, and its $0 plan is not the whole cost of owning an LLC. It simply gives you clearer choices, lower registered agent renewal pricing, and fewer reasons to wonder what the next sales call will cost.