Head-to-Head

Inc Authority

100% Free Business Formation Services

VS

Registered Agents Inc

Simple Registered Agent & Business Formation

Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.

Founded
Inc Authority: 1989
Registered Agents Inc: 2008
Rating
8.4/10
7.4/10
First Year Cost
~$0 + state fees (free formation + RA)
~$99 + state fees (RA included)
Formation Speed
24 hours processing + state time
1-5 business days standard
RA Annual
Free Year 1; $99/year renewal (or higher bundles)
$99/year (flat, simple)

Company Background

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

Registered Agents Inc

HQ: Sheridan, Wyoming (45 E Loucks St, STE 301)

Ownership: Private (founder-led: Dan Keen)

Employees: 51-200

Formations: Hundreds of thousands (high volume in WY; 266k+ companies used address 2019-2024)

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2008 in Pacific Northwest by Dan Keen
  • Expanded to offices in all 50 states + DC
  • Became major WY incorporation hub (40% of new entities)
  • Launched wholesale services for other providers
  • Built nationwide RA network

Core Services

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)

Registered Agents Inc Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • Simple, no-frills RA + formation
  • Wholesale model for incorporation services
  • Nationwide offices with local experts
  • Secure platform for compliance
  • Focus on small business support

Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.

Pricing & Value

Category Inc Authority Registered Agents Inc Winner
First Year Total ~$0 + state fees (free formation + RA) ~$99 + state fees (RA included) Inc Authority
RA Annual Fee Free Year 1; $99/year renewal (or higher bundles) $99/year (flat, simple)
Value Score 8.5/10 7.5/10 Inc Authority

Speed & Performance

Inc Authority

Avg formation: 24 hours processing + state time

Expedited: Free 24-hour (standard)

Registered Agents Inc

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Available (varies)

Pros & Cons

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

Registered Agents Inc — Pros

  • Simple & straightforward
  • All 50 states RA
  • Wholesale model
  • $99 RA
  • Easy formation

Registered Agents Inc — Cons

  • ✗ Low Trustpilot (2.9)
  • ✗ Billing complaints
  • ✗ Support variability
  • ✗ Not accredited BBB
  • ✗ Basic features

The Verdict

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.


Choose Registered Agents Inc if: Solid for no-frills RA and formation—great if you need simple nationwide service. Watch reviews for billing/support; better for wholesalers than direct consumers.

Higher rating: Inc Authority (8.4/10)