Inc Authority vs File.Business: registered agent service
Choosing between Inc Authority and File.Business for registered agent service? Here's the honest comparison. Inc Authority typically charges Free for entry-level service plus higher renewal fees. File.Business charges $0 service fee and uses transparent pass-through state fees.
Registered Agent Service comparison at a glance
| Item | Inc Authority | File.Business |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level price | Free | $0 |
| Registered Agent Service service fee | Free+ | $0 |
| RA renewal fee (year 2+) | $399/yr | $99/yr |
| Penalty-free guarantee | No | Yes |
| Compliance calendar | Partial / add-on | Included with Pro |
| SOC 2 certified | Varies | Yes (Type II) |
| Founded | 1989 | 2017 |
Where Inc Authority wins
Free formation tier.
Where File.Business wins
- Lower total cost. Aggressive sales calls, highest ra renewal adds up over years.
- Modern platform. Mobile app, public API, document vault, integrations built in.
- Penalty-free guarantee. If we miss a state deadline, we cover the late fee.
- Registered Agent Service included on Pro. We do not bill registered agent service separately.
- $0 service fee always. The state fee is your only formation cost.
3-year total cost (sample comparison)
For a single-state LLC over 3 years (formation + 2 RA renewals + annual reports):
- Inc Authority: $898 (entry-level + 2 RA renewals + state fees)
- File.Business: $298 (RA free year 1, $99/yr after + state fees)
- You save: $600 over 3 years
Migration playbook: switch from Inc Authority to File.Business
We make the switch easy. Steps:
- Sign up for File.Business and choose your service plan.
- We file a change of registered agent with your state (free in year 1).
- We pull your filings from Inc Authority and add them to your document vault.
- Your compliance calendar starts tracking deadlines automatically.
- Cancel your Inc Authority subscription with the cost savings.
FAQ: Inc Authority vs File.Business for registered agent service
Is File.Business cheaper than Inc Authority for registered agent service?
Yes. Inc Authority typically charges Free for entry-level service plus higher renewal fees. We charge $0 service fee and $99/year RA after year 1.
Can I switch from Inc Authority to File.Business mid-year?
Yes. We file a change of registered agent for your entity and import your existing records. No interruption to your business.
Does Inc Authority have anything File.Business does not?
Free formation tier. We address these gaps through our partner network.
What is the catch with $0 formation at File.Business?
No catch. We make money on optional add-ons (banking referral fees, partner attorney referrals, premium tiers) which you do not need to use to get value.
On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.
When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.