Northwest Registered Agent Review: Is It Worth It? (2026)

Northwest Registered Agent: Overview

Northwest Registered Agent has been in the registered agent and business formation industry since 1998, making it one of the longest-running services available. Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, the company has built its reputation on two pillars: privacy protection and customer service. Unlike competitors that have pivoted toward flashy dashboards and bundled SaaS tools, Northwest has stayed focused on doing the fundamentals well.

The company serves as a registered agent in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and offers LLC formation services alongside its core registered agent product. What sets Northwest apart is its approach to privacy — every formation package includes a free business address you can use on public filings instead of your home address. This is a feature that most competitors charge extra for.

Northwest is not the cheapest option on the market (that distinction goes to ZenBusiness and Bizee at $0), but its $39 formation fee is still very affordable. Where Northwest truly earns its 4.8 rating is in the quality of its support and the transparency of its pricing. There are no surprise charges, no confusing tier structures, and no pressure to buy add-ons you do not need.

Pricing Breakdown

Northwest keeps pricing refreshingly simple. There is a single Full Service package at $39 plus your state's filing fee. Everything is included — no confusing tier structures or feature gating.

The Full Service package covers LLC formation, free registered agent service for the first year ($125/year after), a free mail forwarding address, an operating agreement template, EIN filing with the IRS, same-day filing in most states, digital document storage, and compliance alerts. After the first year, registered agent service renews at $125/year — which is one of the most competitive renewal rates in the industry. For comparison, ZenBusiness charges $199/year and LegalZoom charges $249/year for registered agent service.

There are no hidden fees baked into Northwest's checkout flow. The price you see is the price you pay, which is a meaningful differentiator from services like LegalZoom and Tailor Brands that present $0 formation fees but then add costs during checkout.

Features & What You Get

Registered Agent Service: Northwest's core product. They provide a physical address in your state of formation to receive legal documents, tax notices, and compliance reminders on your behalf. Documents are scanned and uploaded to your online account, typically within one business day. The first year is included free with formation, then $125/year — well below the industry average.

Free Mail Forwarding Address: This is Northwest's standout feature. Every customer gets a business address they can use on their Articles of Organization, business cards, and other public documents. This keeps your home address off the public record — a privacy benefit most competitors charge $50-$150/year for separately.

Compliance Monitoring: Northwest tracks your state's filing deadlines and sends reminders before annual reports, franchise taxes, and other compliance obligations are due. They will not auto-file on your behalf (some competitors do this for an extra fee), but the reminders help ensure you never miss a deadline and lose your good standing.

Operating Agreement & EIN: The Full Service package includes a customizable operating agreement template appropriate for your state and EIN filing with the IRS. While both of these are things you can do yourself for free, having them bundled into the formation process saves time and ensures nothing falls through the cracks during the LLC setup process.

Customer Support

Customer support is where Northwest genuinely outperforms nearly every competitor. Their entire support team is based in the United States, and they answer the phone when you call. That might sound like a low bar, but in an industry dominated by chatbots, overseas call centers, and 48-hour email response times, it is a meaningful advantage.

Northwest assigns a Corporate Guide to every customer — a real person who handles your account and can answer questions about formation, compliance, and registered agent service. This personal touch matters most when you are dealing with a time-sensitive issue like a missed compliance deadline or a legal document that needs immediate attention.

Phone support is available during business hours (Pacific time), and email inquiries typically receive a response within a few hours. The company does not offer 24/7 live chat, which is one area where ZenBusiness has an edge. However, the quality and knowledge of Northwest's support team consistently earns them top marks in customer satisfaction surveys and independent reviews.

Who It's Best For

Privacy-focused founders: If you work from home and do not want your home address on public business filings, Northwest's free mail forwarding address is the best solution in the industry. Competitors either do not offer this or charge extra for it.

Founders who want human support: If you are forming your first LLC and want the ability to call someone and get clear, knowledgeable answers, Northwest's US-based Corporate Guides are unmatched. This is especially valuable for first-time business owners who have questions about state-specific requirements.

Long-term registered agent customers: At $125/year for registered agent renewal, Northwest is one of the cheapest ongoing options. If you plan to keep a registered agent service for 3-5+ years, Northwest saves you $74/year versus ZenBusiness and $124/year versus LegalZoom. Over 5 years, that adds up to $370-$620 in savings.

How It Compares to Other Services

Northwest vs. ZenBusiness: ZenBusiness wins on upfront price ($0 vs. $39 for formation) and offers a more modern dashboard. Northwest wins on registered agent renewal cost ($125/yr vs. $199/yr), privacy features (free mail forwarding), and customer support quality. If you are budget-focused and want $0 to start, go with ZenBusiness. If you value privacy and support, go with Northwest.

Northwest vs. LegalZoom: Northwest is the better choice for most small LLC founders. It is significantly cheaper on both formation and registered agent renewal ($125/yr vs. $249/yr), and its customer support is rated higher. LegalZoom's advantage is brand recognition and access to attorney consultations for complex legal needs.

Northwest vs. Bizee: Both are solid options. Bizee offers $0 formation (like ZenBusiness) with a $119/year registered agent renewal — slightly cheaper than Northwest's $125/year. Northwest's advantages are its free mail forwarding address, faster standard processing (5 days vs. 10 days), and superior customer support.