Are you ready to form a limited liability company (LLC) and looking for online business formation services to simplify the filing process? We partnered with Northwest Registered Agent so our readers could receive the best LLC services for a fraction of the cost.
In this Northwest Registered Agent review, we’ll walk through the pros, cons, pricing, features, customer reviews, and more. By the time you finish reading our review, you’ll know if Northwest is the best LLC service for your small business in 2025.
Launch Your LLC Hassle-Free With Northwest
A majority of our readers form their LLC through a trusted service to save valuable time and avoid costly mistakes. Get started with Northwest for just $29 plus state fees.
Start NowWhat Is Northwest Registered Agent?
Northwest Registered Agent has built a strong reputation in the LLC formation industry, offering a comprehensive service that goes beyond basic paperwork filing. Their LLC formation package covers essential steps like preparing and filing articles of organization, providing registered agent service, and sending compliance reminders.
Northwest stands out for its commitment to privacy, using its own address on public documents to protect clients’ personal information. While their pricing may be higher than some competitors, many clients find value in their straightforward, no-upsell approach and ongoing support. For businesses needing additional assistance, Northwest offers services such as annual report filing and mail forwarding, positioning themselves as a lon-term partner in business compliance and management.
Northwest At a Glance
| Services | Business formation, registered agent service, website builder |
| Pricing | $29 + state fees |
| Best For | Entrepreneurs seeking affordable LLC formation with premium customer support and strong privacy protection |
Jump Ahead:
Pros and Cons of Northwest
What We Like
- If quality customer service a priority for you, you’ll love Northwest Registered Agent. Every customer can get support from a team of Corporate Guides, who assist you throughout the entire LLC formation process. You can even request a Corporate Guide you’ve worked with in the past.
- Free registered agent service for the first year. This can be a cost-saving advantage for startups or businesses looking to transition to a new registered agent.
- The vast majority of Northwest Registered Agent reviews online are very positive.
- Northwest Registered Agent places a strong emphasis on client privacy. They have a reputation for not selling customer data, ensuring that your business details remain confidential.
- Northwest offers the best registered agent service for small business owners, with mail forwarding and locally-scanned documents.
What Could Be Better
- The process for refunds and cancellations might be somewhat complex and necessitates a phone call
- Northwest doesn’t include an Employer Identification Number (EIN) in their plan. However, we recommend learning how to get an EIN for free.
Launch Your Business With Confidence
Start your business journey today with Northwest’s expert guidance and privacy-focused services – your trusted partner in formation, compliance, and growth.
Visit NorthwestNorthwest Registered Agent Pricing
Northwest Registered Agent offers one incorporation package for $29 plus state fee.
$29 LLC Formation Service
However, we partnered with them to secure an exclusive discount for our readers. You can now get Northwest’s full LLC formation service starting at only $29 – an incredible discount!
Northwest’s Incorporation Service includes:
- Corporate Guides® (experts) who will take care of the LLC filing
- Free registered agent service for a year
- Free operating agreement
- Online account to access important business documents
- Annual report reminders
- Free phone service for 60 days
- Business Address
- Privacy by Default®
You can also add on a variety of other features such as:
- Virtual office services: $50
- Federal Tax ID: $50
- Premium mail forwarding service: $20
Northwest’s Standout Features
Northwest Registered Agent sets itself apart with several key features:
Quick, Streamlined Formation Process
Entrepreneurs using Northwest benefit from quick and easy formation services without the hassle of constant upsells common with competing services. Plus, for businesses in a hurry, Northwest offers same-day filing and expedited services to make the formation process even faster.
Knowledgeable Customer Support
One of Northwest’s standout features is the Corporate Guide service. This group of dedicated business experts is available via email and phone to help Northwest customers quickly and easily resolve issues and find answers to important questions. This ensures businesses working with Northwest receive support throughout the formation process and beyond.
Data Privacy Protection
Northwest offers unmatched data privacy protection. The company refuses to sell customer data, ensuring customer privacy, and designs all of their services with privacy as their primary goal.
One Year of Free Registered Agent Service
Unlike many competitors, Northwest offers customers that form their businesses through their platform a year of free registered agent services. This is a requirement for most businesses and ensures the businesses maintain compliance with state requirements.
Free Operating Agreement
Operating agreements aren’t a requirement for all businesses but having one is generally good practice. Northwest offers a robust operating agreement free, rather than charging an additional fee.
Annual Report Service
To maintain compliance, many businesses are required to submit an annual or biennial report. Northwest offers this compliance service for $100 plus state filing fees which includes the preparation and filing of the report and guaranteed on-time filing.
Virtual Office
Available in 12 states and counting, Northwest’s virtual office service costs just $29 per month and allows businesses to reap the benefits of a physical office without the additional overhead costs and privacy concerns associated with one.
Mail Forwarding and Scanning
Northwest’s mail forwarding and scanning service is a permanent alternative to USPS mail forwarding, ensuring business owners receive important documents on a same-day or weekly basis. This is a free service included with Northwest’s formation packages but it can also be purchased separately.
Trademarking Service
One of the most important steps in establishing a brand is protecting it through a trademark. Using Northwest’s trademark service, businesses can trademark a name, logo, phrase, or design with Northwest taking care of the entire application process.
Northwest Registered Agent Reviews
Northwest Registered Agent reviews online are mostly positive. Their satisfied customers appreciate the company’s friendly and helpful customer support representatives, as well as Northwest’s general ease-of-use.
While most reviews are favorable, there are occasionally negative critiques. These tend to focus on longer than expected processing times for certain services or some filing errors. However, Northwest is quite responsive to negative feedback. They actively monitor review sites and quickly reach out to dissatisfied customers to resolve issues. The company takes feedback seriously to constantly improve their services.
Here are some verified Northwest Registered Agent reviews from Trustpilot by customers who used the service to help launch their businesses:
“My experience pertains to setting up a virtual office for a new business. Northwest Registered Agent have been tremendous to deal with. Their communications have been excellent, on point, warm and helpful. The portal toolset for business owners is easy to navigate and intuitive.”
“Ok I got tired of getting business mail to my home business. I run an acupuncture studio out of my house. I’m comfortable with my clients knowing where I live because a lot of them have being going to me for a long time. But I don’t want anyone to be able to find me because I’m living here by myself. So I started using NW for their address service, which gave me more privacy. (I googled “registered agent privacy” and they were one of the top listings that wasn’t a paid ad.) Now all my mail goes to the business address and I can see scanned copies in my portal. I think it’s well worth the $125 I spent.”
“I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5 only because there was a filing error, but my agent handled it so diligently and had the problem solved the same day. Super awesome customer service, no hidden agendas, and no hidden fees. Even though they had some errors at first, honestly the way they handled it and owned up to their mistakes is what will keep me as a customer.”
Northwest Registered Agent Alternatives
While we think Northwest is a top-tier provider for formation and registered agent services, it is important to compare competing providers to ensure Northwest is the right choice for your business needs. Tailor Brands, LegalZoom, and ZenBusiness are three popular business formation services, here’s how they compare to Northwest Registered Agent.
Tailor Brands vs. Northwest
Tailor Brands is an all-in-one business service provider offering LLC formation as well as branding and marketing services. Their platform makes the formation process simple and requires entrepreneurs to pay only state filing fees to have Tailor Brands form their LLC.
However, Tailor Brands truly stands out for their array of branding and marketing services including AI-powered logo design, website creation, and business card services. This platform is a great choice for business owners looking to form their company and establish their brand simultaneously.
LegalZoom vs. Northwest
LegalZoom is a trusted name in business services offering formation and legal assistance. Their free formation package is fairly basic but does include a name check service and custom website.
Where LegalZoom really shines is the extensive legal services available to businesses. Customers that opt to pay for one of their higher-end formation packages gain access to attorney consultations, EIN obtainment services, and more than 150 customizable legal documents.
ZenBusiness vs. Northwest
ZenBusiness is another popular formation service known for their competitive pricing and tech-forward approach. The company boasts an easy-to-use platform that streamlines the business formation process and makes accessing documents simple.
One of the stand out features offered by ZenBusiness is their Worry-Free Compliance, an ongoing service that ensures businesses maintain their good standing. However, for this and other valuable features, customers will have to upgrade their formation plan.
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a comparison chart focusing on the basic plan pricing and features for Northwest, Tailor Brands, LegalZoom, and ZenBusiness. Keep in mind that while the basic plans offer an affordable way to form your company, they may not include additional features like registered agent, operating agreement, or EIN, which can be added separately or found in higher-tier packages.
Basic Plan Comparison
*does not include state fees
Is Northwest Right For Your Startup?
The bottom line? Northwest Registered Agent offers a competitive balance between cost, customer service, and valuable features. Their commitment to client privacy and their personalized approach with Corporate Guides® differentiates them from many other services in the market.
While they might not have the same volume of clients as larger competitors like LegalZoom, the focus of Northwest seems to be on quality service. Their positive customer feedback, combined with their proactive approach to addressing any issues, speaks volumes about their service quality.
It’s particularly well-suited for:
- Entrepreneurs who value privacy and personal service
- Business owners who need ongoing support and guidance
- Companies requiring registered agent services in multiple states
However, it may not be the best fit if:
- You prefer a fully automated, self-service online platform
- You’re looking for basic formation services with no added features
All things considered, for entrepreneurs looking for a reliable, value-driven LLC formation service with a personal touch, Northwest Registered Agent is a solid choice. Their emphasis on customer experience and transparent offerings makes them a recommended option for business formation needs.
Privacy-First LLC Formation
Form your LLC with Northwest and get a free year of registered agent services plus unmatched data privacy protection.
Start NowReview Methodology
To provide a comprehensive and honest review of Northwest Registered Agent, we considered several key factors:
Pricing and Value
While Northwest doesn’t have the cheapest formation service on the market, their $29 formation package offers more value than many competitors. Not only does the service include a free operating agreement template, business address, free mail forwarding, and a free domain, customers also receive a year of free registered agent service which is not offered by many competitors.
Ease of Use
With Northwest’s Corporate Guides service, forming a business through their platform is seamless. Not only does Northwest take care of the entire formation process for you but their local guides help address any questions or concerns along the way.
Customer Support
Northwest customers have lifetime access to email and phone support from hundreds of locally-based Corporate Guides. As mentioned above, this service ensures the formation process (as well as any other business service purchased through Northwest) is smooth and seamless.
User Reviews and Reputation
Since its inception, Northwest has helped form and maintain over 3 million businesses across the US making them an experienced and reliable formation service. Their reviews are average on Trustpilot, earning 3.2 out of five stars. However, with only 97 customer reviews available, there is limited data.
FAQs
Is Northwest Registered Agent legit?
Northwest Registered Agent is a legitimate company that offers registered agents, as well as business formation service. They have been in the industry for many years and are known for their focus on privacy and a responsive customer service team.
Where is Northwest Registered Agent located?
Northwest Registered Agent has multiple locations, but its headquarters is in Spokane, Washington. They also have office locations across all 50 states as mentioned on their website, which suggests they have a wide geographic presence to better serve their clients across the U.S.
Additionally, there are specific physical addresses listed on their LinkedIn profile for offices in San Francisco, California, and Tampa, Florida, indicating a broader physical presence beyond their Spokane headquarters.
How much does Northwest Registered Agent cost?
Northwest Registered Agent’s services start at $29 plus state fees.
Does Northwest offer legal services?
Utah clients looking for more comprehensive online legal assistance can access Northwest Registered Agent’s “Law on Call” service. This service provides an avenue for individuals and businesses to gain legal insights and support. While Northwest Registered Agent offers this convenient service, for those seeking a broader range of online legal services, LegalZoom is often recommended.
What services does Northwest Registered Agent offer?
Northwest Registered Agent offers a variety of services, including business formation, annual report service, S-corp election, virtual office service, registered agents during normal business hours, and more.
How do I cancel Northwest Registered Agent and what’s their refund policy?
Directly from Northwest Registered Agent’s website: “If we screw something up, we will give your money back.” You can contact Northwest Registered Agent at 509-768-2249.
Are there any hidden fees?
Nope. Northwest Registered Agent does a good job of being upfront about all expenses related to your company formation.
Is my information safe?
Northwest Registered Agent takes your security seriously, as they write all their own code and don’t allow any third-party apps on their website.
Can I just form a business myself?
Yes. You can form your own LLC, draft an Operating Agreement, and be your own registered agent. However, Northwest and other reputable formation services provide peace of mind that everything was done correctly, and save you time.
More Northwest Registered Agent Reviews
- Another excellent review of this service: Northwest Registered Agent LLC Review
- Northwest Registered Agent Services Review
- Northwest Registered Agent vs. LegalZoom
- Northwest Registered Agent vs. Tailor Brands
- Northwest Registered Agent vs. Incfile
- Northwest Registered Agent vs. ZenBusiness
