Northwest Registered Agent is one of the largest Registered Agents in the USA. It provides its customers with a Registered Agent service and an LLC formation service across the country in every state, and it is known for its high-quality customer service, fair prices, and many years of experience. It remains an excellent choice for anyone forming a company.
In our Northwest Registered Agent Review, we’ll take a closer look at what Northwest does, its mission and values, and the pros and cons of using its services.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Startup Honcho. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
What Is Northwest Registered Agent?
Northwest Registered Agent has its headquarters in Spokane, Washington, but has offices in 50 states. It has been operating for over 20 years, making it one of the country’s most well-established company formation services.
Its primary service is its registered agent service, but it also provides a range of business formation services. It provides a single paid plan that includes the registered agent service and LLC filing, and it offers many other services that it treats as add-ons.
This makes it different from many other similar services, which offer paid packages and include a registered agent either as an extra add-on or for free. These services often just scan legal documents and send them to you. Northwest includes five regular documents a year at no cost, and you can pay for more if you need it, making it a great option.
Northwest is a family-owned business, and it prides itself on its service and access to live support when needed. It does not pressurize customers to buy its add-ons, and there is no hard selling involved. These are opt-in services that are simply there if you need them.
When it comes to third-party services, Northwest only works with those necessary to file legal documents like attorneys, and it never shares or sells your personal information.
Mission and Values
One thing that makes Northwest stand out is its Privacy by Default®, which focuses on reducing access to your data and information by automatically minimizing exposure. This service is not an opt-in or paid service; it is just how they work.
If they can use their address instead of yours, they do. Where minimal personal information is required, that’s all that Northwest includes. They design everything to limit the exposure of personal data and who can access it, including the data they collect, protecting personal info as much as possible. And you know that they will never sell your data when you work with Northwest.
It claims to be “setting the standard for privacy,” which involves limiting the amount of personal info contained on public documents and the amount of private data that state agencies store. It also focuses on protecting your data from theft or loss.
Customer service is one of the things it prides itself on most. It is run by employees that care, and its Corporate Guides®, of which it has over 700 across the country, are customer service employees that know the local business environment. It has no investors and is proud to be family-owned.
Its slogan is “We’re Just Not Annoying®.” This means that it never sends “no-reply” emails and does not have partnerships and sell private info. Its phone number is always easy to find on every page of the website, there are no phone trees, so the person answering does not have to transfer you, and more.
If you get through to voicemail, they return the call within two hours, and they have same-day email answering and do not charge late fees.
Northwest claims that customers should always be able to reach them and talk to them and that customers should get what they want as fast as possible. It also sticks to its prices and does not suddenly increase them, so its customers know what to expect.
Main Services
Northwest offers a few primary services, including its registered agent service and LLC formation service. Here, we look in more detail at what these include.
Registered Agent Service
The registered agent service is the primary service for LLCs and corporations. You need to appoint a registered agent when you form a company. In whichever state you transact business, you must have a registered agent locally.
The service’s primary function is to make sure businesses are notified when involved in lawsuits. But they also provide more than this, like free mail forwarding.
You can pay annually for the registered agent service. Alternatively, it is included for free for the first year if you choose the LLC Formation service. After the first year, there is an annual cost of $125.
LLC Formation Service
If you are starting a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Northwest provides the service of forming the LLC and taking care of everything for you.
The cost is $39 + the state fee where you are. This includes the Registered Agent service for the first year free of charge.
The service involves checking the availability of your LLC name and filing the Articles of Organization, which is done with the state government. Annual Report reminders are included for free, as is mail scanning. Following the approval of the document, the LLC is ready.
Corporate Guide Service
With the corporate guide service, you pay a single monthly payment that covers several services, including state filing fees, business formation, registered agent service, business address, and EIN filing. After this, it covers the registered agent service, state filings, and a business address every year.
This may be useful when starting a business and facing many upfront costs like equipment, hiring, etc. It could help reduce startup costs.
Trademark Service
If you want to protect your business name or logo with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Northwest has attorneys that can help. They will review the trademark, provide advice, and prepare and file the application for a set fee.
Additional Services
Northwest provides many additional services, which it offers as add-ons. They do not pressure you to buy these services, and they are simply there if you need them.
These add-ons include services related to maintaining your business, including Annual Report Filings and Foreign Registration. They also include Mail Forwarding, Virtual Office, Payment Processing, and Phone Service, or helping you do business in the country, such as Non-US Resident Business Formation.
You can also get help with legal documents and records, including Certified Copies, Law on Call, Certificates of Good Standing, and purchasing an LLC Operating Agreement.
Costs
Northwest states that it has never changed its prices and will not suddenly ask for more money for its services. Overall, it offers very good value, and it is especially useful for anyone with basic requirements.
Filing an LLC costs $39, which is very reasonable. However, this does not include the state fee, which differs by state.
Northwest also offers a Pay In Full option. With this, it files your LLC in the state and provides registered agent services for the first year, all for $225.
The registered agent service is free for the first year if you opt for this service. After this, the registered agent service costs $125 per year.
There is no free plan like some other formation companies. However, its paid plans are more affordable than many competitors.
The registered agent service may be slightly more than some competitors, but it includes forward mail with up to five pieces for free. In contrast, many other competitors don’t include this.
All in all, Northwest is in the middle when it comes to costs. It does not sell itself as the most affordable option, but its fees are fully transparent, and it also won’t sell any of your data.
Add-ons are charged extra, so you can choose which services you need, such as compliance filing ($100), EIN filing ($50), and mail forwarding ($40 a month). In general, the add-ons range from $9 to $125. Many add-ons, however, are not needed when you are just starting a business.
Where you can pay monthly for an annual service, keep in mind that you have to pay for the whole year even if you cancel during the year. You can decide whether it is worth continuing at the end of the year.
Pros of Northwest Registered Agent
There are many reasons you should consider hiring Northwest when you form a company.
Privacy
One of the main advantages of Northwest is its focus on privacy. It makes a big point of protecting your data, taking all the necessary steps to make sure your privacy is protected as much as possible.
When you hire a company formation service, you may have concerns about sharing your data with third parties. Northwest categorically states that it will not do this. But it goes further, making sure it always keeps your personal information hidden wherever it can and uses its address where it can, reassuring customers.
On your LLC filing, you need to put an address. This goes onto public records, and it can lead to junk mail and make it easy for others to find your information. You can use Northwest’s business address instead to keep your address out of sight.
Customer Service
Northwest provides excellent customer service. When forming a company, one of the concerns you may have is that the registered agent will do the very basic amount of work and be hard to reach when you have questions. Northwest goes out of its way to make it easy.
- Its contact number is on every page of its website.
- You will always be able to speak to someone in person.
- If you have to leave a message, you will receive a reply within two hours.
- You can always reply to emails and know they get read.
These things are really important. They show that the company cares and wants to make the experience positive. You won’t just speak to a sales rep who does not understand. Instead, you will speak to genuine experts who all provide customer support.
There is no sales team, and the people you speak to are friendly, responsive, and know their stuff. You can see reviews from customers to get an idea of how good the customer service is.
Pay for What You Need
It offers a wide range of services, and everything is simple and clear. You only pay for the services you need. You can pay a simple annual fee for the registered agent service or pay extra for add-ons if you need them.
Transparency
Northwest focuses on transparency, and it does not hide its prices. You know what you are paying, and there are no automatic upgrades or price increases. You are never paying for a service you don’t need. Simply choose what you want, see the price clearly, and pay for what you need.
No Pressure to Buy Extra Services
Sometimes, companies hassle you to get you to upgrade to pay for something you don’t need. Northwest does not. It provides details of its services on its website, and you can decide if you need the extra services or not.
Excellent Reputation
Northwest has a lot of experience and is not a new company. It has been around for over 20 years, giving you peace of mind that it has the expertise you need.
Cons of Northwest Registered Agent
There are very few cons with Northwest, and it is one of the most popular Registered Agents.
Not the Cheapest
The only potential disadvantage with choosing Northwest is that you may be able to find similar services for less elsewhere. But it is not expensive either.
If you want many services, you have to pay for add-ons instead of a plan. Depending on what you need, this could work out as more pricey. But if you only need a few services, it is not too expensive.
Northwest Registered Agent Competitors
If you consider using Northwest Registered Agent when forming your company, it’s always worth looking at the competitors. Northwest is a great option, but it faces some stiff competition.
$49 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
LegalZoom
One of the largest online incorporation services, LegalZoom provides lots of services covered in three plans, the cheapest being $79 and the most expensive being $349
It provides lifetime customer support and has a team of attorneys, and it is a popular choice.
Rocket Lawyer
Another popular option, Rocket Lawyer, offers a premium plan that costs $39.99 a month. It is free to join, but its legal and incorporation services go up to $149.99.
Zen Business
A popular LLC service, Zen Business provides three plans starting at $39 and going up to $249. It provides good features and is very flexible, and it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Incfile
Incfile provides a free service for LLC formation and incorporation, and you only pay state filing fees. They prepare and file state’s articles of organization and registered agent services, and they also provide other packages for additional incorporation services starting from $149.
Northwest FAQs
It’s normal to have questions when choosing a Registered Agent. Here, we look at some of the most common FAQs to help you decide.
Is Northwest a reputable company?
Absolutely. This is one thing you don’t have to worry about when you choose Northwest, which has been in business for over two decades. It has a great reputation, exceptional customer service, and a commitment to customer privacy. It’s a highly reputable company.
Is Northwest expensive?
While whether it is expensive or not is subjective, its prices are somewhere in the middle compared with other similar services. One of the good things about Northwest is that you only need to pay for the specific services you need.
If you choose the LLC formation service, you get the registered agent service free for the first year. If you need other services later, you can pay for them as add-ons. But you only pay for what you need. If you need lots of services, this may end up more expensive than a plan from a competitor.
Can’t I just be my own registered agent?
This is something you may have considered. And yes, you can be your own registered agent. Having a registered agent is a legal requirement in most states, but it can be yourself.
However, in most states, you must be a resident in the state where you form the LLC. If this is the case, you can do it, but this will mean your name and address go on the Articles of Organization and in the public record. You may not want this. Northwest will use its own address for more privacy, and they can also use their address as the LLC principal office and the mailing address.
What is the process for hiring Northwest?
Hiring Northwest is easy. Simply order the service you need, and they will get started. If you want to form an LLC, Northwest will first check whether your name is available. They then file the Articles of Organization, and they will notify you when the LLC is approved. You will get your own dashboard where you can download the forms, including the Articles of Organization and LLC Operating Agreement.
How long will it take?
Northwest is quick, but the service can depend on where you are based. Turnaround times for forming an LLC can differ from state to state, so keep that in mind.
Can I get a refund from Northwest?
You can cancel the service at any time, and it is a simple process. There is also no cancellation fee. However, you pay annually for the registered agent service. If you are paying monthly, you still need to pay for the whole year if you cancel during the year. Northwest does not provide refunds.
How does Northwest ensure my privacy?
Northwest has a strong commitment to protecting the privacy of its customers. It will not use your name or address anywhere it does not have to, and it uses its own address on everything possible. It never sells your data to third parties, and it is committed to protecting your information.
Conclusion
That wraps up our guide to Northwest Registered Agent. Hopefully, this will help you to decide whether it is the right choice for you and your business.
Some things that may persuade you are its nationwide presence, its focus on customer service, its commitment to your privacy and that it won’t sell your data to third parties, and its reasonable pricing. Choosing the specific services you need rather than paying for a plan that includes services you don’t want is also a plus.
It is not the most affordable, and there are cheaper services, but you tend to get what you pay for.
If you want an experienced registered agent service, a service you can trust, with experts who can always answer your questions and concerns and who are easy to reach, Northwest Registered Agent is a great choice.
