Northwest Registered Agent

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Founding Year

1998

Hourly Rate

Undisclosed

Company Size

10-24

Min. Project Size

Undisclosed

Locations
Headquarters

United States , Washington, Spokane

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Summary

Since its founding in 1998, Northwest has formed around two million businesses. Its base package is anything but basic, offering incorporation and registered agent service for only $49 for the first year, and $125 for the ones to come. The competitive pricing and personalized customer service have propelled this firm to the top.

Categories
Service focus

Company Formation

Registered Agent Service

Corporate Filings

Business Filings

Backed by 200+ corporate guides, with office locations across all 50 states, and over two decades of experience, it seems that Northwest Registered Agent has what it takes to help you form an LLC the right way. We take the guesswork out of the mix though by digging deeper through Northwest Registered Agent reviews to discover the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our research is backed by a comprehensive analysis of its services as well as a comparison to alternatives and industry standards.

 

Corporate Compliance by Local Corporate Guides

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Spokane, Washington, Northwest Registered Agent is a family-owned business formation company with extensive industry experience. The firm has remained one of the best rated online LLC formation service providers for over two decades, despite lower-priced competitors.

Northwest Registered Agent, LLC, is a mid-sized outfit with 200+ customer service employees across the nation. Unlike some competitors that outsource to third-party call centers, this firm's Corporate Guides have mastered everything about forming and running a business. 

Northwest Registered Agent reviews prove that its outstanding customer support is unmatched in the industry. You can even request a specific representative to talk to every time you dial the company's number. As a mid-sized entity, NW Registered Agent maintains competitive prices while rivaling some bigger and better-known alternatives with its highly personalized customer care. 

The team lives by its motto "We're Just Not Annoying" by delivering what clients need as fast as possible, without selling private data to third-party vendors or trying to trick customers into purchasing features they don't need. 

 

A Selection of Legal & Business Services

The company is best known for its registered agent service and the all-encompassing experience that comes with it. Just like its competitors, this LLC service provider offers a range of helpful legal and business expertise. 

Take a look at the Northwest Registered Agent services and how they compare to alternatives:

 

Name Availability Search

The team performs name availability search for every LLC formation to verify that another individual or company doesn’t own the chosen name. Unlike competitors that charge a fee to do so, this firm provides guides about each state on how to check by yourself, within minutes, for free. 

 

Should I Reserve My LLC Name Before Registering an LLC With Northwest?

If you’re not ready yet to form your LLC, it might be wise to reserve a name. Each state except Florida allows you to take this action before establishing a business. If you’re ready to start the LLC formation process immediately, there’s no need to reserve a name before forming an LLC or any other entity type with Northwest Registered Agent. Note that in some states like Alabama, you are obligated to reserve a name before starting your business. 

 

Preparation and Filing of Articles of Organization

The firm prepares and files all of the documents needed to form your LLC with the chosen state. This Northwest Registered Agent service comes with an extra layer of protection. The firm lists its address instead of yours on all formation documents to save clients from annoying junk mail, and even worse, personal data theft. It’s one of the rare firms that guarantee maximum business privacy. 

 

Operating Agreement

The state does not require this legal document that governs your LLC, but it’s highly recommended to have one. Northwest Registered Agent doesn’t offer the Operating Agreement as a separate service unless you hire it to form your LLC. 

The firm has free templates for different LLC types (including an Operating Agreement) on its website that everyone can download. However, these documents lack the personalization you’d receive if the corporate guides create them specifically for your company. Some LLC Service providers like MyCompanyWorks include customized Operating Agreement with every order.

 

Registered Agent Service

The Northwest Registered Agent service is one of the company’s most substantial assets. While its price falls somewhere in the middle compared to alternatives, it’s among the best in the industry. All thanks to the personalized attention and instant service that the corporate guides provide, among other advantages. If we compare Northwest Registered Agent vs Incfile, this competitor offers free registered agent service for the first year, which Northwest doesn’t supply. The company, however, provides the only national registered agent service that scans all of your documents locally. Every task is performed in-house, ensuring real-time delivery and premium experience.

 

Mail Forwarding & Scanning Services

The firm offers premium mail forwarding services in five states: Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. You get a unique address and suite number to use on your site, bills, and letterhead. It includes same-day digital scanning and weekly physical mail forwarding with no postage fees. It is one of the Northwest registered agent services you can rarely find elsewhere. Most competitors provide these features as part of their registered agent and virtual office services, with the exclusion of physical mail forwarding. 

 

Virtual Office & Office Leasing

The virtual office of Northwest Agency includes everything in the mail forwarding service, plus office lease and a second phone number. You can choose between locations in five states: Delaware, Idaho, Florida, Montana, and Wyoming. It’s an excellent option for businesses that need on-demand secretarial services. 

 

Corporate Book & Seal

While not required by law, you can purchase supplies such as corporation/LLC books and embossing seals only when you hire Northwest Registered Agent to form your business. Some competitors include this service in higher-tier packages, while others make it available for individual purchase. Northwest LLC reviews show that the firm’s kits and other corporate supplies provide all the necessary elements for the secure and professional storing of documents. 

 

Federal Tax ID Number (EIN)

The EIN is like a Social Security Number for your company. While you can obtain this 9-digit code by yourself for free, Northwest Registered Agent takes the complexity out of the process for only $50. It’s one of the lowest prices on the market, considering that some competitors charge up to $79 for the same thing.

 

Other Services

Northwest Registered Agent reviews show a high appreciation for the company's additional services. Like its alternatives, it offers a robust selection of business and legal support for LLCs and other entity types. The company can help you prepare Yearly Business Compliance Filing, Foreign Qualification, Certificates of Good Standing, Apostille, FMCSA BOC-3 Trucking Compliance, and FCC 499-A registration services. It also provides VOIP Phone Number. 

 

Does Northwest Help With New York Publication Requirements?

You can’t hire the company to handle the process for you, but it provides free assistance to complete this step painlessly. Northwest Registered Agent, LLC, has a template that you can use along with a list of the cheapest newspapers to publish with. 

If you hire the firm to form your NY LLC, you are allowed to use its registered agent address in Albany as either your “principal office” or “address for service of process”. Then, follow its step-by-step guide to publish your LLC in local newspapers.

 

Seamless Online Ordering Process

We tested the online ordering process for this comprehensive Northwest Registered Agent review to confirm that the website is functional. While not the easiest to use, the core services and optional items are laid out transparently for clients to purchase with confidence. After you place an order, the company connects you with a local corporate guide specializing in business formation in your state. All of the paperwork is conveniently stored on the online client dashboard.

Northwest Registered Agent is possibly the only LLC service provider that doesn't try to upsell throughout the ordering process. There is a selection of add-ons, most of them followed by a clickable question mark that provides more information, without using an annoying sales tone. Clients much appreciate that Northwest doesn't use aggressive upselling tactics.

 

Industry-Leading Processing Time

Reviews on Northwest Registered Agent speak highly of its turnaround time. The team promises to process each order the same business day. Some alternatives need a few days to file your articles of organization with the state, while others take up to a few weeks to do the same thing. Most companies offer faster filing for an additional fee. The prices go up to $100 for rush filing service. 

Northwest Registered Agent meanwhile starts working on your request right away for no additional charge, a practice that receives high praise in the Northwest Registered Agent LLC reviews across the web. The firm doesn't charge extra even if you choose the state's expedited option. You only have to pay a higher filing fee to the state for the faster service (where available). Also, your state's approval could take weeks to arrive. Upon ordering, Northwest Registered Agent provides filing estimates for each state. Note that the company doesn't have control over how fast the state processes your order. 

 

Top-Notch Responsiveness & Personalized Customer Service

Although it’s one of the oldest LLC service providers, Northwest Registered Agent has a significantly lower volume of customer feedback than newer alternatives. The firm, however, has a stellar track record for its exceptional customer experience. We found over a hundred glowing reviews and very few negative ones across a few platforms. The team has quickly responded to all Northwest Registered Agent complaints so far, offering to make things right.

The corporate guides are the firm’s biggest advantage. Instead of hiring customer service or sales representatives who follow a script, the company employs 200+ business experts who have mastered state bureaucracy. From accountants and advisors to lawyers and other field insiders, the local corporate guides know the ins and outs of business formation in every state and understand the business world. Clients praise these experts in nearly every Northwest registered agent review. 

The level of personalization that Northwest, LLC offers when it comes to customer care is unmatched. You can even request to talk to the same person every time you call, a premium treatment you won’t receive at any other LLC service provider. 

 

What Is the Northwest Customer Support Phone Number and Email?

You can get in touch with these experts through phone (509-768-2249) and the ‘Contact us’ form on the website, or by emailing [email protected]. The company doesn’t have a live chat, an option that some competitors offer. It's business hours are from Monday to Friday, from 6 am to 5 pm PT/ 9 am to 8 pm ET. 

Whichever option you choose, you’ll get an answer from a real human. The firm is one of the few with no robot phone trees, and no “no-reply” emails. If a corporate guide doesn’t pick up immediately, they call back within 10 minutes, in most cases. Emails are usually answered within a few hours. Judging by the Northwest Registered Agent Google reviews, the outfit provides the fastest, most knowledgeable, and attentive customer service in the industry. 

 

Flat Fees for Everyone

Unlike competitors that bundle their services into different packages, the Northwest LLC formation services come in with flat fees. The firm’s pricing policy is perfect for business owners who don’t want to pay for features they don’t need. While the company doesn’t offer the lowest prices on the market, the premium client support justifies the slightly higher cost. In the Northwest registered agent reviews we found, clients appreciate that the outfit never charges late fees or cancellation fees, stating that it makes the overall experience stress-free and enjoyable.

NW Registered Agent offers the unique possibility to create a free, no-obligation account before making any purchasing decisions. It provides access to the client dashboard with all the services and filings available for purchase as well as free tools, resources, and forms to help you get your business off the ground and run it the right way. 

Researching for this Northwest Registered Agent review, we found out that it's the only business formation service that doesn't sell your data to third parties. The company doesn't accept any partnerships in exchange for client data. There is nothing wrong with these third-party offerings, and most business owners can highly benefit from them. However, if you place a high value on data privacy or think that you don't need such services, Northwest Registered Agent is possibly your best bet. 

Northwest Registered Agent services are divided into primary and optional items. With a purchase of any of the core services, clients receive:

  • Annual report reminders
  • Receiving all documents for you
  • Company management system
  • Real-time notifications

Now, let’s review Northwest Registered Agent’s primary services and how its prices compare against industry standards:

 

Filling Service (for LLC, Corporation or Non-Profit Corporation) — $100

The flat $100 price tag (excluding state fees) is among the highest for filing services, as confirmed by Northwest LLC reviews. Plus, the company automatically adds the Registered Agent service for $125/year when you sign up to form your business. In our ZenBusiness reviews, you can see that the company offers one year of free registered agent service and a few other features on top of filing, for as low as $49. Northwest seems to provide less value than this attractive offer. 

For this reason, you might want to hire a cheaper alternative if you only wish to incorporate your business and do everything else by yourself. But, in the long run, Northwest makes one of the most reliable legal and business service partners.

 

Registration of an Existing Company in Other State — $100

While our Northwest registered agent review shows their business formation filling service may be a bit overpriced, the company seems to offer one of the lowest prices for getting your organization foreign qualified. Note that the state fees are not included in the $100 filing service, and the company automatically adds the registered agent service for $125 when you make an order. If we compare Northwest Registered Agent vs Legalzoom, a competitor with bigger brand power charging $229+ (excluding state filing fees), without a doubt, Northwest offers quite a deal. 

 

Registered Agent Service — $125/year

Unlike some competitors, Northwest doesn’t provide a year of free registered agent service. The $125 price falls somewhere in the middle compared to alternatives. While you can find cheaper options, our LegalZoom Registered Agent review shows that you can also end up paying $299/year for the same service at this famous business formation provider. Very few can rival the all-inclusive service you’d receive with Northwest. You get access to local corporate guides, locally scanned documents, instant service, and free online tools for seamless navigation through the world of the state bureaucracy. The firm offers a discounted price of $100/year for five or more states, among the lowest costs in the industry.  

 

Other Primary Services

In the online reviews on Northwest Registered Agent, customers appreciate the ability to combine services as per their convenience. The company’s flexible pricing method allows them to create bundles that best suit their business needs. The following features are all available for individual purchase and come at a reasonable price:

  • Virtual Office (Delaware, Idaho, Florida, Montana, Texas, Wyoming) — $49/month
  • Mail Forwarding (Delaware, Idaho, Florida, Montana, Texas, Wyoming) — $40/month
  • Wyoming Domestication $525 (excluding certificate fees)
  • FCC 499-A Telecommunications Registered Agent — $125/year
  • FMCSA BOC-3 Trucking Compliance — $125/year
  • VOIP Business Phone Number — $9/number

 

Optional Items

In the Northwest Registered Agent reviews we came across, clients show appreciation for the selection of optional items that you can order depending on which main services you have purchased. While you can obtain some of these documents by yourself, an additional layer of professional support at a fair price might be just what a busy entrepreneur needs. Northwest’s fees for these services are either lower or very similar to what competitors offer. These add-ons are exclusive to clients and can’t be ordered separately: 

  • Federal Tax ID Number (EIN) — $50 with SSN, $200 without SSN
  • S Corporation Election — $50
  • Certificate of Good Standing — $50
  • Certified Copy — $50
  • Apostille — $400
  • Corporate Supplies — prices vary depending on the items you select
  • Yearly Business Compliance Filing — no initial fees to enroll, unless you decide Northwest to file your business’s compliance report which costs $100, excluding state fees.

In this review of Northwest Registered Agent, we carefully examined all important aspects to form an unbiased view. We can confirm that the company provides a great overall value, with prices that fall within industry standards. The unrivaled corporate guide support compensates for some of the higher-priced services. The possibility to create a custom mix of services could turn out to be a major advantage for some business owners and a deal-breaker for others. It all comes down to personal preferences.

 

Does Northwest Registered Agent Offer Any Discounts?

The company doesn’t offer any discounts or sales now or ever. Its services, however, are very reasonably priced. Plus, you can find multiple free resources and forms on its website if you wish to save some money by doing things by yourself. 

 

Do They Have a Refund Policy?

We couldn’t find many reviews about refunds. But, in case the company makes a mistake, rest assured that it won’t affect your wallet: 

“We form hundreds of LLCs every day, and each filing is backed by our 100% error-free guarantee. Although extremely rare, in the 20 years we’ve been in business, we’ve learned that mistakes do happen. Should an error occur, we’ll file every amendment required to make sure your company information is accurate (at no cost to you)“.

The Northwest Registered Agent refund policy is not the most straightforward. Generally speaking, you can get a refund only if you request it within 60 days of the purchase date. The firm charges a $25 processing fee for all refunds. 

 

Final Verdict

In a world of “no-reply” emails and phone trees, customers value talking to a real person. Judging by the Northwest Registered Agent reviews, no other business formation firm can beat this firm’s level of personalization and customer care. While a couple of its services come at a higher cost, the rest of the offerings are reasonably priced. Northwest Registered Agent makes a perfect option for business owners who place a high value on customer service and want a reliable partner to assist them for years to come.