By Jake Lawson, LLC Formation Strategist
Look, I’ve tested dozens of LLC formation services over the years, and some companies make my job easy—they’re either clearly great or obviously terrible. Incorporate.com falls into that second category, and I’m going to tell you exactly why.
Bottom line up front: Incorporate.com is overpriced, forces you into their expensive registered agent service, and uses misleading pricing tactics. After analyzing their packages and testing their process, I can’t recommend them to any of the entrepreneurs I work with.
Here’s the full breakdown of what I discovered.
About Incorporate.com: The CSC Connection
Incorporate.com is owned by Corporation Service Company (CSC), which has been around since 1899. CSC primarily serves large corporations, but they created Incorporate.com to target small businesses and entrepreneurs.
This corporate heritage sounds impressive until you realize it creates a fundamental problem: CSC approaches small business formation with big-company pricing and processes. It’s like asking Goldman Sachs to help you balance your personal checkbook—technically qualified, but completely wrong for what you need.
Incorporate.com LLC Packages: Overpriced and Restrictive
Incorporate.com offers three LLC formation packages, and honestly, all three represent poor value compared to competitors.
But here’s the real kicker—they force you to use their registered agent service for $235 per year. No exceptions.
Let me break down each package:
The Starter Package: $99 + State Fees + $235/Year
What You Get:
- Certificate of Organization filing
- Download access to approved documents
- Forced CSC registered agent service ($235/year)
My Take: This is a basic filing service that costs $334 in your first year ($99 + $235). Competitors like Northwest charge $39 plus state fees and include a year of registered agent service. You’re paying nearly 10x more for essentially the same thing.
The Essentials Package: $249 + State Fees + $235/Year
What You Get:
- Everything from Starter
- Corporate kit (binder and seal you don’t need)
- EIN filing service
- Forced CSC registered agent service ($235/year)
My Take: Now we’re at $484 for the first year. The EIN service is something you can do yourself in 10 minutes for free on the IRS website. The corporate kit is basically fancy stationery. Hard pass.
The Works Package: $349 + State Fees + $235/Year
What You Get:
- Everything from previous packages
- Operating agreement template
- Business license research
- Forced CSC registered agent service ($235/year)
My Take: $584 for the first year! You can download a free operating agreement template from dozens of reputable sources. This package is almost criminally overpriced.
The Registered Agent Trap: My Biggest Complaint
Here’s what really gets under my skin about Incorporate.com: they won’t let you choose your own registered agent. You MUST use CSC’s service for $235 per year—no alternatives, no exceptions.
This is a massive red flag for several reasons:
Why This Matters:
- No Competition: When you can’t shop around, prices stay high
- Poor Value: $235/year is roughly double what quality registered agents charge
- Lock-in Strategy: Makes it expensive to switch services later
- Unnecessary Restriction: Most states let you serve as your own registered agent for $0
What Other Companies Charge:
- Northwest Registered Agent: $125/year
- ZenBusiness: $119/year
- LegalZoom: $159/year
- Incfile: $119/year
CSC charges nearly twice what reputable competitors charge, and you have no choice in the matter.
Pricing Transparency Issues: Red Flags Everywhere
During my testing, I found several concerning pricing practices:
Hidden Costs and Misleading Claims
- “Included” Annual Report: Listed as included in higher packages, but actually costs an extra $150
- Unclear Pricing: Many optional services don’t show prices until checkout
- Expensive Upsells: EIN service costs $80 when the IRS provides it free
- Expedited EIN: They charge $75 extra for “same-day” EIN processing, even though IRS EINs are issued instantly online
The Delaware/Nevada Discount Trick
Incorporate.com offers slightly cheaper packages if you form in Delaware or Nevada, but this is likely because they want to steer you toward states that benefit them more than you.
Warning: Don’t fall for the Delaware mystique. Unless you’re planning an IPO, forming in Delaware as a small business usually creates more complexity and costs, not less.
User Experience: Frustrating and Over-Complicated
I went through Incorporate.com’s entire formation process to test their user experience. Here’s what I found:
The Good:
- Clean, professional-looking website
- Straightforward initial order flow
The Bad:
- Excessive Information Requests: They ask for details that aren’t required by most states
- Confusing Forms: Duplicate fields for the same information
- Unclear Requirements: Terms like “beneficial owners” without explanation
- Multiple Address Requests: They want 6+ different addresses for various purposes
The Ugly:
- Modification Nightmare: If you want to change anything after reviewing your order, you have to re-enter the entire form
- Aggressive Upselling: Multiple attempts to add services at every step
- No Clear Pricing: Final costs aren’t clear until the very end
Processing Times: Mediocre Performance
Incorporate.com quotes 2-3 business days to file your documents with the state. This is:
- Slower than: Northwest (1-2 business days)
- Same as: Most budget competitors
- Faster than: Some discount services
But here’s the thing: they don’t offer their own expedited processing. They’ll pass along state expedited options (which you can access yourself), but they won’t prioritize your paperwork internally.
For the premium prices they charge, you’d expect premium processing speeds. You don’t get them.
Customer Service: The One Bright Spot
I’ll give credit where it’s due: Incorporate.com’s customer service is decent. They offer both phone and chat support, and the representatives I spoke with were knowledgeable and professional.
This makes sense given their CSC heritage—large corporate clients demand good support. However, good customer service doesn’t justify the inflated pricing and restrictive policies.
Incorporate.com vs. Better Alternatives
Let me show you how Incorporate.com compares to services I actually recommend:
Incorporate.com vs. Northwest Registered Agent
Incorporate.com: $334 first year (Starter + registered agent)
Northwest: $164 first year ($39 + $125 registered agent)
Winner: Northwest saves you $170 and gives you flexibility
Incorporate.com vs. ZenBusiness
Incorporate.com: $484 first year (Essentials + registered agent)
ZenBusiness: $268 first year ($149 + $119 registered agent)
Winner: ZenBusiness saves you $216 and includes better features
Incorporate.com vs. DIY Filing
Incorporate.com: $334+ first year
DIY: $120-150 (just state fees, serve as your own registered agent)
Winner: DIY saves you $180+ and gives you complete control
Who Might Consider Incorporate.com?
In the interest of fairness, here are the rare situations where Incorporate.com might make sense:
Potential Fit If You:
- Have a large corporation budget and want the “name brand” recognition
- Prefer having everything handled by one large company
- Don’t mind paying premium prices for standard services
- Need extensive ongoing compliance services beyond just formation
Definitely Skip If You:
- Want good value for your money (skip)
- Prefer flexibility in choosing service providers (skip)
- Are starting your first business and need to watch costs (skip)
- Want transparent, upfront pricing (skip)
My Recommended Alternatives
Instead of Incorporate.com, here are the formation services I actually recommend to entrepreneurs:
For Budget-Conscious Founders: Northwest Registered Agent
- Cost: $39 + state fees + $125/year registered agent
- Why I Like Them: Honest pricing, solid service, no gimmicks
- Best For: First-time entrepreneurs who want quality without overpaying
For Premium Experience: ZenBusiness
- Cost: $149 + state fees + $119/year registered agent
- Why I Like Them: Great dashboard, helpful resources, responsive support
- Best For: Entrepreneurs who want hand-holding through the process
For DIY Entrepreneurs: File Yourself
- Cost: Just state fees ($50-500 depending on state)
- Why I Recommend: Maximum control and minimum cost
- Best For: Detail-oriented founders comfortable with paperwork
The Real Cost of Choosing Incorporate.com
Let’s do some quick math on what choosing Incorporate.com actually costs you:
5-Year Cost Comparison:
Incorporate.com (Starter): $1,274 ($99 + $235/year × 5 years)
Northwest: $664 ($39 + $125/year × 5 years)
DIY Filing: $150 (state fees only)
You’d save $610-1,124 over five years by choosing literally any other option.
That’s real money that could go toward marketing, inventory, equipment, or simply staying in your bank account.
My Final Verdict: Skip Incorporate.com
After testing Incorporate.com thoroughly, I can’t find a compelling reason to recommend them. They’re overpriced, restrictive, and use misleading pricing tactics that I find ethically questionable.
The Problems That Can’t Be Overlooked:
- Forced registered agent service at nearly double market rates
- Misleading pricing throughout their website and process
- Poor value proposition compared to any competitor
- Unnecessary complexity in their formation process
What They Do Right:
- Decent customer service
- Professional website design
- Backed by an established company
But those positives don’t come close to justifying the negatives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Incorporate.com
Is Incorporate.com legitimate?
Yes, they’re a real company backed by CSC, which has been around since 1899. They’ll successfully form your LLC—you’ll just pay way too much for it.
Can I switch away from Incorporate.com after formation?
Yes, but it’s expensive. You’ll need to change your registered agent (which involves state filing fees) and potentially transfer other services. Much easier to start with the right company.
Why is Incorporate.com so expensive?
They’re targeting customers who assume higher prices mean better quality. Their parent company (CSC) focuses on large corporations where price sensitivity is lower.
Do any legitimate review sites recommend Incorporate.com?
Most independent reviewers (like myself) don’t recommend them due to pricing and policy issues. Any positive reviews likely come from affiliate relationships or paid placements.
What if I already used Incorporate.com?
Don’t panic—your LLC is valid. But consider switching your registered agent to a more affordable service when your current term expires to save money going forward.
Bottom Line: Choose Better
Incorporate.com represents everything I dislike about the LLC formation industry: inflated prices, forced upsells, and misleading marketing. They’re banking on entrepreneurs who don’t know better options exist.
Well, now you know better options exist.
If you want quality LLC formation without the games, choose Northwest for budget-friendly service, ZenBusiness for a premium experience, or file yourself if you’re comfortable with paperwork.
Just don’t choose Incorporate.com. Your wallet will thank you.
Jake Lawson has tested over 20 LLC formation services and helped 1,200+ entrepreneurs launch their businesses. He has no financial relationships with Incorporate.com or CSC and receives no compensation for this review. His recommendations are based solely on service quality and value.