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Review Summary
Northwest Registered Agent is family-owned and -operated.
It has operated since 1998, making it one of the oldest and most experienced LLC service platforms.
Northwest Registered Agent is based in Spokane, Washington, but has local experts in all 50 states.
Northwest has only one LLC formation plan that starts at $39 plus state fees (One year of free registered agent services included).
Most add-on services and features like Certificate of Good Standing and annual reports are sold a la carte.
Northwest Registered Agent reviews highlight their efficient, knowledgeable, and outstanding customer care team.
Northwest has a 100% error-free guarantee and a 90-day refund policy.
Northwest Registered Agent at a Glance
Despite its rather confusing name, Northwest is among the most reputable LLC formation services today. Northwest started as a registered agent service provider before adding business filing to its catalog.
Northwest Registered Agent was formed in 1998, meaning they are among the pioneers of online business registration services. This is a 900-employee-strong, family-owned-and-operated business headquartered in Spokane, Washington. Northwest notes that they work with over 200 new companies and corporations daily. They share on their website that they maintain over three million businesses nationwide.
One thing we like about them is their emphasis on having the human aspect at the center of their operations. They achieve this by having local experts in all 50 US states. They also ensure their customers connect to an actual human throughout the business entity formation process.
During our Northwest Registered Agent review, this LLC service came out as super transparent about what it does and its charges. Plus, they seem to live by their slogan “We’re Just Not Annoying” by answering all emails within one day and responding to voicemails within two hours.
Northwest offers 6 categories of services and products on its website. You can choose whatever services you want for your business structure during formation.
Its core services are the main services that they offer. These are:
Registered Agent service
LLC formation
Incorporation service
Stay compliant (annual file reports)
Nonprofit formation
Trademark service
After formation, Northwest Registered Agent has a wide range of services that help maintain and grow your business. Here are your options:
Annual report filings
Federal tax ID service (EIN)
Foreign Registration
Mail forwarding services (available in 10 states only)
Virtual office service (available in 10 states only)
Phone service
Payment processing
Northwest also cements itself as a one-stop shop for all your records and legal documents when running and operating your business. Some of the products in this category include:
Law on call
Free legal forms
Certified copies
Certificates of Good Standing
Corporation books, seals, and certificates
Northwest Registered Agent also makes it easy for foreign nationals to set up and run a limited liability company without living in the US. Their website contains loads of information on how to establish a company in the US and the benefits that each state offers. They will also guide you on your legal obligations as a non-resident business owner and help you get an EIN.
A registered agent in the US is a person or business designated to receive tax and legal documents on behalf of your business. All businesses registered as LLCs or corporations must have and maintain a registered agent by law. Failure to have one increases the risk of missing important notices served to your business. You also risk having your business license suspended.
With its stay-compliant services, Northwest empowers your business by ensuring that it adheres to state requirements. On their website, Northwest has state-specific guides on how you can file your LLC’s annual report yourself and save money. But they can also get your annual report done in a few minutes at a small cost, of course.
Northwest Registered Agent Reviews- Plans and Costs
Unlike most LLC formation companies, Northwest does not have multiple packages. Northwest Registered Agent has a single package with a one-time, flat rate of $100. There’s an additional $125 for their registered agent services.
In total, Northwest charges $225 (plus state fees) to form an LLC, corporation, or nonprofit. LLC state fees vary from state to state. Individual state fees also depend on how fast you want the state to process your application.
Colorado has the cheapest LLC state filing fee at $1. The same process costs $99, $149, or $199 in the District of Columbia, depending on your preference between 15-day, 3-day, or 1-day processing.
Northwest expects you to use their registered agent services when forming a business entity with them. The fee automatically adds to your order summary and can’t be avoided. In comparison, most LLC formation companies offer these services as an opt-in, not mandatory. Others, like Incfile, offer free registered agent services across all tiers for the first year.
The cost of Northwest’s registered agent service is slightly above average. However, while you are obligated to use their agent services during formation, you can cancel after the first year. But remember that most states require you to file a form and pay a fee to make this change officially.
Northwest’s single-tier design means it doesn’t offer a free package like most of its competitors. Other LLC formation platforms like Incfile and ZenBusiness will file your documents free of charge, meaning you only pay the state fees and state-required items like EIN.
However, it must be noted that Northwest provides business owners with all the forms and templates they need to form their LLCs on their own. Their website also has comprehensive guides on every step of the business lifecycle, from formation to dissolution and reinstatement. Our Northwest LLC review found these forms to be super resourceful for DIY business owners on a tight budget.
Northwest Offers Two Payment Options
There’s no denying that Northwest’s full payment fee is quite steep compared to its competitors. And it gets even more expensive when you factor in state fees and other add-ons necessary for your business.
Luckily, Northwest Registered Agent offers you two payment options:
Upfront payment- $225 plus state fees
Pay in Full- ($225 plus state fees)
As the name suggests, this option involves paying the entire year’s filing fee (plus the state fee) upfront. The Northwest LLC full-service fee gets you the following features and services:
Business name availability check
Registered Agent service
Articles of association
Initial LLC resolutions
Operating Agreement
Filing annual reports
Mail forwarding services
60 days of free phone support
This payment option does not include the Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is a must-have when forming an LLC in any state. But an EIN can be obtained free of charge within an hour from the IRS website. Or let Northwest get the EIN for you at an extra cost of $50.
The upfront payment option seems expensive at first. But it’s a bargain compared to the VIP service. Plus, it does not add Northwest to your list of monthly bills. Our Northwest Registered Agent LLC service review team recommends the full-service fee option, that is, if your budget allows it.
Northwest Registered Agent Add-on Products
In addition to its bundled features, Northwest has a list of add-ons you can opt in during checkout. Northwest is known for being transparent and straightforward with its fees. Northwest won’t force you to buy add-ons you don’t need. What you see on your order summary is what you pay for and get.
And the best part is that most of these add-ons are single payments, not subscription-based. So you don’t have to worry about unexpected credit card charges from Northwest. Remember- they are just not annoying.
Here are Northwest Registered Agent add-on features and products, plus their prices:
EIN- a nine-digit TAX ID number obtained from the IRS. It’s used to identify business entities operating in the US for tax purposes. The EIN will be included in your package if you opt for the Northwest VIP payment service. Otherwise, the service costs $50.
Trademark registration- this gives your brand a form of legal protection so that only you can use it. Northwest charges a one-time fee of $499.
Virtual office- if you’re operating purely online, a virtual office will give your business a recognized address where you can receive mail. It saves you the overhead costs of maintaining a full-time office rental while ensuring your security. Northwest virtual office services cost $29.
S corp election- a request to the IRS declaring your business as a separate entity from your personal finances, therefore, exempting you from corporate income taxes. Costs $50.
Virtual phone service (VoIP)- Northwest gives you a US phone number that works with your devices. It comes with unlimited talk, text, call forwarding, and voicemail, among other benefits, just for $9. The first 60 days are free.
Premium mail forwarding- for $20, Northwest will get you an address and suite number for your business in your state of choice. You can choose to have your mail digitally scanned and forwarded on the same day or physically mailed weekly.
Certificate of Good Standing- serves as evidence that your business is authorized to operate in the state and has filed all necessary reports and paid the required fees to the Secretary of State. Costs $50.
Certified Copy of Articles of Organization- a simple yet crucial document that establishes your business’s existence. Costs $55.
Law on call- for just $9 per month (first two months are free), Northwest LLC promises instant legal advice whenever you need it, thus eliminating the need for retainer fees and weeks of waiting. Their legal partners also offer traditional full-blown legal services at reasonable hourly rates. At the time of this Northwest Registered Agent review, their legal services are available in Utah only.
Getting Started with Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest’s website is nicely arranged and simple to understand. And this makes it quick and easy to create your business.
Northwest Registered Agent offers you three options for starting your LLC or Corporation:
You can download all the necessary forms and create the business entity yourself.
If you’re not confident enough, create a free account with Northwest, and they will guide you throughout the process. You can choose to hire them as your registered agent.
Or you can let Northwest do everything for you.
If you hire Northwest to form your business, you begin by choosing the type of business you want to start: LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit Corporation. Next, select where you intend to start your business and your desired processing time (where applicable).
The next step involves filling in your company details, including the name of your business, the physical and mailing addresses you prefer to record with the state, and the type of management. After that, create a free account with Northwest, provide your contact information, choose your preferred add-ons, and proceed to payment.
Northwest Registered Agent LLC Service Reviews- What Others Say
We searched the internet for Northwest Registered Agent reviews and complaints from current users. Northwest doesn’t have a lot of reviews yet, but we found some on Google, TrustPilot, and Better Business Bureau (BBB).
While Northwest is not BBB-accredited, it boasts an A rating on the website and a 4.25/5-star rating from an average of 132 customer reviews. Northwest has a 3-star rating on TrustPilot from an average of 36 reviews.
While perusing the reviews on BBB, it’s easy to tell that most Northwest Registered Agent customers are satisfied with the services. Reviewers praise the customer care team highlighting them as friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and helpful. First-time business owners say they learned much from Northwest’s corporate guides.
Most Northwest Registered Agent complaints rotate around their prices and address issues. Several reviewers also found Northwest’s website challenging to use.
Northwest Registered Agent Review- Refund Policy
Northwest Registered Agent has a 90-day money-back policy. However, they specify that they may decide to issue or prorate refunds. Like other LLC services, all fees paid to the state while dealing with Northwest are non-refundable.
Who is Northwest Registered Agent Best For?
Northwest Registered Agent is a dependable company determined to streamline the process of forming a business in the US. Their two-and-a-half-decades in the industry and error-free guarantee make them a worthy contender if you want to deal with an experienced LLC formation platform.
Regarding pricing, Northwest’s single-package design and add-ons will impress business owners who prefer paying only for what they need.
Our Verdict: Is Northwest Registered Agent LLC Worth It?
Yes. Northwest Registered Agent is one of our favorite LLC services for several reasons. We like that they are super transparent about what they do and their charges. What stood out for us in this Northwest LLC review is that their support team is easy to reach through their online chat feature, email, or phone.
We wish Northwest offers several packages, like Incfile, ZenBusiness, and others. But what’s nice is that there’s no confusion when choosing what plan to go with. Plus, their a la carte style means you only pay for what you use.
Northwest offers entity formation services in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. However, some business management and law services are available in select states.
Northwest charges a flat rate of $100 for LLCs, Corporations, and Nonprofit Corporations. They will also add a $125 Registered Agent fee to your order besides your state’s filing fees.
No. Northwest expects you to use their Registered Agent services when forming a business entity with them. The fee automatically adds to your order and can’t be struck out. You can change the Registered Agent after the first year, though.
Northwest takes 5-14 days to form your LLC. Unlike most major LLC formation services, Northwest does not stretch the formation process unnecessarily to force you to pay for expedited services. Northwest LLC offers expedited services only if available from the state and maintains the standard fees.
