Inc Authority
100% Free Business Formation Services
Van Buren Financial
Delaware Registered Agent & Full-Service Financial Solutions
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
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
Van Buren Financial
HQ: Wilmington, Delaware (615 West 18th Street)
Ownership: Private (founder-led: James Van Eperen, CEO)
Employees: 11-50
Formations: Not publicly disclosed (focus on RA clients; hundreds served)
Key Milestones
- Founded 2008 in Wilmington, DE
- Grew as full-service CPA/financial firm
- Expanded registered agent services (10+ years)
- Integrated tax/accounting with RA for DE entities
- Became go-to for DE LLCs needing financial tie-in
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)
Van Buren Financial Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (Delaware focus)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
Differentiators:
- Delaware specialist with in-house CPAs
- Financial services bundled with RA (taxes, payroll, accounting)
- Local Wilmington office (staffed business hours)
- One-stop for DE entity + financial needs
- Personalized for small business owners
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | Inc Authority | Van Buren Financial | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$0 + state fees (free formation + RA) | ~$99 + state fees + RA bundle | Inc Authority |
| RA Annual Fee | Free Year 1; $99/year renewal (or higher bundles) | $129/year (call for DE quote; bundled discounts) | — |
| Value Score | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 | Inc Authority |
Speed & Performance
Inc Authority
Avg formation: 24 hours processing + state time
Expedited: Free 24-hour (standard)
Van Buren Financial
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
Van Buren Financial — Pros
- ✓ Delaware specialist
- ✓ RA + accounting bundle
- ✓ Local Wilmington office
- ✓ Financial planning tie-in
- ✓ Personalized service
Van Buren Financial — Cons
- ✗ DE-focused (limited nationwide)
- ✗ Low review volume
- ✗ Call-to-quote pricing
- ✗ Smaller scale
- ✗ Basic tech
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 Van Buren Financial if: The perfect DE partner for businesses wanting RA + full financial/accounting support in one local firm. Ideal if you're forming in Delaware and need tax expertise built-in.
Higher rating: Inc Authority (8.4/10)