Harbor Compliance
Multi-State Compliance & Entity Management Platform
Inc Authority
100% Free Business Formation Services
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
Company Background
Harbor Compliance
HQ: Lancaster, Pennsylvania (812 N Prince St)
Ownership: Private (founder-led; Mike Montali CEO)
Employees: 51-200
Formations: 40,000+ clients served (focus on compliance, not pure formation)
Key Milestones
- Founded 2012 by regulatory specialists & tech experts
- Hit Inc. 5000 for 7th year in 2025
- Acquired Labyrinth Inc. (added nonprofits)
- Launched Compliance Core™ algorithm
- Grew to 40k+ clients across 50 states
Inc Authority
HQ: Reno, Nevada (3773 Howard Hughes Pkwy, Suite 500S)
Ownership: Private (independent)
Employees: 120+
Formations: 250,000+ entities
Key Milestones
- Founded 1989 in Reno, NV
- Pioneered free formation model
- Hit 250,000+ formations
- Partnered with Daymond John (Shark Tank) in 2021
- Inc. 5000 ranking for multiple years
Core Services
Harbor Compliance Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Nonprofit
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (all states)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
- ✓ Conversions & Mergers
Differentiators:
- Compliance Core™ scans 22,000+ requirements
- Air-Tight Onboarding™ (90% issue resolution)
- SaaS + managed hybrid for enterprises
- Direct SOS database feeds for real-time status
- Unlimited users & collaboration tools
Inc Authority Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (limited)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
Differentiators:
- Truly free formation ($0 service fee + state fees only)
- Free 1-year RA + EIN
- Tax-deductible state fees
- Worry-free guarantee
- High-volume upsell support (credit, funding)
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | Harbor Compliance | Inc Authority | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$99 + state fees (RA-focused; higher for full compliance) | ~$0 + state fees (free formation + RA) | Inc Authority |
| RA Annual Fee | $99 first year; $149 renewal (multi-year discounts) | Free Year 1; $99/year renewal (or higher bundles) | — |
| Value Score | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | Inc Authority |
Speed & Performance
Harbor Compliance
Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard
Expedited: Same-day document delivery (included)
Inc Authority
Avg formation: 24 hours processing + state time
Expedited: Free 24-hour (standard)
Pros & Cons
Harbor Compliance — Pros
- ✓ 22k+ regulatory scans
- ✓ SaaS + managed hybrid
- ✓ All 50 states RA
- ✓ Entity management suite
- ✓ Proven for enterprises
Harbor Compliance — Cons
- ✗ Premium pricing
- ✗ Mixed Trustpilot (3.5)
- ✗ Billing complaints
- ✗ Steep for startups
- ✗ Basic formation vs. specialists
Inc Authority — Pros
- ✓ 100% free service fee
- ✓ Free 1-year RA + EIN
- ✓ 24-hour fast processing
- ✓ Tax & funding analysis
- ✓ #1 rated on Trustpilot
Inc Authority — Cons
- ✗ Heavy marketing/upsells
- ✗ Persistent emails/calls
- ✗ Billing disputes
- ✗ BBB complaints
- ✗ Limited add-on depth
The Verdict
Choose Harbor Compliance if: The powerhouse for complex, multi-state compliance—ideal for growing businesses needing software + service. Skip if you're a solo founder on a budget.
Choose Inc Authority if: The ultimate free formation option—ideal for bootstrappers ignoring upsells. Delivers value if you want zero-cost startup with pro perks.
Higher rating: Inc Authority (8.4/10)