Starting a business right begins with a registered agent—so that’s where we began. We started our journey offering services in every state, growing into the top national registered agent service with offices across the nation. This gave us the ability to better protect your privacy with use of our business address on your public documents. As an established registered agent, we started handling the state filings. We began developing free legal forms to provide extra support after formation. We even began buying our own buildings, allowing us to add more privacy-focused services, like mail forwarding and virtual office. We now offer domains, web hosting, email, and phone service so you can create a complete business identity from scratch.
But we couldn’t offer the privacy protection or the services we do without first being a registered agent service. It’s who we are. Just read Our Manifesto.
A registered agent is an individual or company that accepts service of process—lawsuits—on behalf of the business. Every state and US jurisdiction outlines registered agent requirements for businesses in state statutes. These state laws typically require businesses such as LLCs, corporations, nonprofits and registered partnerships to appoint and maintain a registered agent.
Registered agents must:
Ideally, however, your registered agent should do much more.
At Northwest Registered Agent, we value the investment you make in us. In turn, we invest in privacy, software, forms, and in-house experts and filers. Whether you hire us for service in just one state or in all 50, you’ll be provided with top-of-the-line tools and services, including:
When we say you get more with a registered agent, we mean it.
© 1998–2025 Northwest Registered Agent, LLC. All rights reserved.
A great pick if you care about privacy, real human support, and clean filings without tricks. You will not find the absolute cheapest registered agent renewal, but you get consistent service, in-house offices, and fewer headaches than “$0 plus upsells” shops.
LLC or corporation formation: $39 + state fee. Includes one year of registered agent, an operating agreement or bylaws, business address with limited digital mail, and their Privacy by Default policy built in.
Registered agent renewal: $125 per year in 1–4 states, or $100 per year if you use them in 5+ states. Flat rate, no surprise hikes. Northwest Registered Agent
Annual report filing (optional): $100 + state fee. Useful if you want a deadline-proof setup. Northwest Registered Agent
EIN add-on: $50 for U.S. residents and $200 for non-U.S. residents, if you do not want to file with the IRS yourself. Wise
Mail address upgrades: Premium mail forwarding at $20/month and a virtual office at $29/month if you want a daily-use business address, unique suite number, and phone line.
What you get in the $39 formation
State filing handled, with custom-drafted formation documents where applicable
One free year of registered agent service
An operating agreement or bylaws template included
Business address with limited digital mail forwarding inside the RA bundle
Access to a domain, website, email, and phone trial, if you want them
Privacy by Default applied across the process
These are explicitly listed in Northwest’s own formation pages.
Pros and cons
Pros
Simple price: $39 + state fee with the essentials included
Solid privacy posture with Privacy by Default and use of Northwest’s address on public forms
In-house registered agent network, not resellers
Optional address products for real-world needs at $20 or $29 per month
Annual report help for a fair fee if you want to offload compliance
Cons
$125/year RA renewal is not the cheapest on the market
Some extras still cost money, like EIN filing for non-US founders
If you want rock-bottom day-one pricing, a $0 formation competitor may look cheaper in the cart, but check the add-ons
Pricing Comparison
To provide context, here’s how Northwest’s pricing compares to key competitors for LLC formation (excluding state fees):
While Northwest is not the cheapest option, its pricing reflects the value of personalized service, privacy protection, and a no-upsell philosophy. For businesses prioritizing quality over cost, Northwest’s pricing is justified.
Customer Feedback and Reputation
Northwest Registered Agent enjoys a strong reputation in the industry, backed by thousands of positive reviews. On Trustpilot, customers praise the company’s transparency, ease of use, and responsive support. Common themes in reviews include:
Ease of Setup: Clients appreciate the straightforward formation process and clear instructions.
Reliable Document Handling: The local scanning and immediate document access are frequently highlighted as superior to competitors.
Knowledgeable Staff: Many reviews mention specific interactions with Corporate Guides who went above and beyond to resolve issues.
However, some negative reviews mention the higher cost of formation services and occasional delays in document processing during peak filing seasons. These complaints are relatively rare and often overshadowed by positive feedback.
How Northwest compares to common alternatives
Versus $0 formation brands: Northwest charges a modest service fee up front but includes registered agent for one year and an operating agreement. With $0 options, RA, operating agreement, and mail privacy often become add-ons that raise your actual total. If you value fewer upsells and a cleaner order, Northwest usually wins.
Versus legal marketplaces: If you want broad legal services, marketplaces can bundle more, but you may pay higher RA renewals and face heavier upsells. Northwest is narrower and more privacy-focused. Recent third-party roundups confirm the $39 entry and $125 RA renewal as standard for Northwest.
Frequently asked questions
Is the $39 price real? What is the catch?
Yes. You pay $39 + your state’s filing fee. That includes one year of registered agent service and an operating agreement or bylaws template. Renewal for RA is $125/year after the first year.
What does “Privacy by Default” mean in practice?
Northwest tries to reduce exposure of your personal data and lets you use their business address on public filings when possible. They also commit to no data sales.
Can I add a real business address?
Yes. Use mail forwarding at $20/month or virtual office at $29/month for a daily-use address, unique suite number, phone, and forwarding.
Will they remind me about compliance?
Yes. Expect annual report reminders and a dashboard with scanned documents. They can also file the report for $100 + state fee if you want.
Verdict
Northwest Registered Agent is a smart, low-stress choice for new LLCs and corporations that value privacy and direct support. The $39 formation keeps the shopping simple, and the RA renewal is a fair trade for reliable in-house service. If you want fewer moving parts and less upsell noise, this is an easy recommendation.
If you want, I can turn this into a comparison page against LegalZoom, ZenBusiness, and Bizee with a pricing table and “who should pick which” scenarios tailored to your audience.
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