Northwest Registered Agent has been in the business of US company formation and registered agent service since 1998. Family-owned, privately held, and — notably — low on marketing noise compared to LegalZoom or Stripe Atlas. After comparing it head-to-head with every competitor that serves non-resident founders, Northwest remains our default recommendation for a first US company formation.
What Northwest does
Three core services:
- Business formation across all 50 US states. LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, or nonprofit.
- Registered agent service at $125/year — among the lowest published rates for this tier of service.
- Mail forwarding / virtual office add-ons for founders who want a US business address they don't personally occupy.
Secondary services: annual report filing assistance, EIN acquisition help, privacy-focused filing practices that keep your personal information off public records where state law permits.
Pricing — no asterisks
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee (Wyoming LLC) | $100 | Paid to the state of Wyoming, not Northwest |
| State filing fee (Delaware LLC) | $90 | Paid to the state of Delaware |
| Northwest formation service fee | $39 | One-time |
| Registered agent (first year) | Free | Bundled with formation |
| Registered agent (year 2+) | $125/yr | Industry-low for this service tier |
| Operating agreement template | Free | Generic but usable starting point |
| Delaware franchise tax (if applicable) | $300/yr | Paid to Delaware, not Northwest (LLCs) |
All-in year one for a Wyoming LLC: $139 ($100 state + $39 Northwest). Renewal year: $125 (registered agent only) plus whatever annual report fee Wyoming assesses.
All-in year one for a Delaware LLC: $129 ($90 state + $39 Northwest). Subsequent years include the $300 Delaware franchise tax.
What makes Northwest different
Humans answer the phone
Call Northwest during business hours and a real person picks up. The agent is trained to answer formation and registered-agent questions directly, not route you through a tree of automated prompts. This is unusual in an industry that's raced to automate customer service.
No upsell during signup
Compare Northwest's checkout flow to LegalZoom's. LegalZoom presents 6-8 add-on offers before finalizing an order (premium support, legal review, tax services, trademark monitoring, worry-free compliance). Northwest's checkout is almost boring — pick formation state, pick entity type, pay, done.
Privacy-first by default
Where state law permits, Northwest lists its own information on public filings instead of yours. For founders operating from countries where personal exposure on US filings is unwelcome, this matters. Most competitors require you to pay extra for equivalent privacy protection.
Independent ownership
Family-owned, not part of the private-equity-driven consolidation that has swept much of the industry. Product decisions are made by the owners, not by PE firms pursuing margin optimization.
How it compares to the alternatives
| Provider | Year 1 (WY LLC) | RA year 2+ | Bank intro | Upsell pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $139 | $125/yr | No (self-serve) | Minimal |
| Stripe Atlas | $600 (Delaware) | $125/yr from year 2 | Yes (Mercury) | Low |
| Firstbase | $499 | Varies | Yes (Mercury) | Moderate |
| doola | $397 | Varies | Yes (Mercury) | Moderate |
| LegalZoom | $349+ | $249/yr | No | Aggressive |
| Incfile / Bizee | $100 + state fees | $119/yr | No | Aggressive |
On pure price for a Wyoming LLC formation, Incfile/Bizee is marginally cheaper than Northwest, but the aggressive upsell flow and inconsistent service pulled reviewer sentiment lower across multiple communities. Harvard Business Services is cheaper than Northwest for Delaware-specific formations ($109 vs Northwest's equivalent) — if you're set on Delaware, HBS is a defensible alternative.
Where Northwest falls short
- No bundled banking introduction. You'll apply to Mercury, Relay, or Wise separately. For most non-resident founders, Mercury approves without formation-provider intro — but it's an extra step.
- No tax filing services. You'll engage a CPA separately. Northwest doesn't bundle Total Compliance or similar annual-filing packages that doola and Firstbase offer.
- Less polished dashboard. The interface is functional rather than beautiful. If you value UX aesthetics, Firstbase or Stripe Atlas feel more modern.
- Smaller brand recognition. LegalZoom is the name every non-technical American has heard. Northwest is quietly-known rather than broadly-known. For some founders, recognition carries value.
The end-to-end flow
- Pick state (Wyoming for non-residents default; Delaware if needed) and entity type at northwestregisteredagent.com.
- Provide your details — name, address (can be non-US), desired business name, member list.
- Pay: state fee + Northwest's $39. Free first-year registered agent included.
- Northwest files with the Secretary of State on your behalf — typically 1-2 business days.
- You receive formation documents via email plus physical copies via mail forwarding.
- Apply for EIN separately using Form SS-4 (Northwest can assist for a fee; most founders do this themselves or via a CPA).
- Open banking — Mercury is the default recommendation for most founders.
Who Northwest is for
- Non-resident founders launching online businesses who want the cheapest defensible path.
- Second-time founders who know what they need and don't want bundles.
- Privacy-conscious founders who prefer their personal info off public records.
- Anyone uncomfortable with aggressive upsell flows.
Who should look elsewhere
- First-time global founders who want a single vendor handling formation + EIN + banking + Stripe → Atlas.
- Delaware-set founders who don't need multi-state flexibility → Harvard Business Services.
- Founders who want bundled ongoing tax compliance → doola or Firstbase.
- Founders building a VC-track C-Corp → a startup law firm, not a formation service.
FAQ
Is Northwest only for US residents?
No. Northwest serves non-resident founders regularly. The formation process is identical; only the EIN application timeline differs (non-residents submit Form SS-4 by fax/mail rather than online).
Does Northwest handle the annual report filing?
They'll remind you and can file on your behalf for an additional fee. Many founders handle this themselves once they know the state's annual requirements.
What's the cancellation policy?
Once the state has accepted your formation filing, the work is done — no refund on state fees (those went to the state). Northwest's $39 service fee is nonrefundable after filing. For registered agent service, cancel anytime with a pro-rated refund on unused time.
Can Northwest file my EIN?
Yes, as a paid add-on. Roughly $200-300 depending on the package. Many founders save this cost by filing SS-4 themselves — it's a simple form once you know the responsible-party rules for non-residents.
Is Northwest's registered agent service any different functionally from LegalZoom's?
Functionally no — both receive service of process and forward official mail. The differences are price ($125 vs $249/year), privacy practices, and customer service responsiveness. Northwest leads on all three.
Last verified April 2026. Pricing subject to change — check northwestregisteredagent.com for current rates before ordering.