What Is Northwest Registered Agent?
Northwest Registered Agent is a service provider offering registered agent services, business formation and more. It prides itself on being a family-owned and -operated business that’s neither a startup nor a legacy company. It focuses on the human aspect of its operation, so it ensures you will always speak to a live person who can help. Even if you have to leave a voicemail, you should get a call back in two hours, tops.
Pros
- No-pressure upsells: Compared to all business formation services, Northwest Registered Agent might have the least amount of pressure to add on services. The company focuses primarily on registered agent services, so forming an LLC is just another revenue stream, which helps.
- Easy checkout process: It’s simple to select the services you want and get the ball rolling through Northwest Registered Agent’s website.
- Never sells your data: Not selling your data in today’s day and age is a big deal. You know your information is secure and protected when using Northwest Registered Agent to form your business.
- Transparent fees: Northwest Registered Agent isn’t the most affordable solution out there but it might be the most transparent with what it charges.
- Customer reviews: Northwest Registered Agent’s customers have very positive things to say about working with the company.
Cons
- EIN service costs money: Many services will provide EIN registration for free, and it’s simple enough to do on your own that it’s not needed to pay the company to do it for you.
- Add-ons can get pricey: The initial service offering can get expensive enough but the company also requires add-ons for most other services beyond business formation.
- Not BBB accredited: This could be a deal-breaker for some customers as it adds a layer of validation to the safety of working with the company.
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
LegalZoom
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
3
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
Northwest Registered Agent Services
Most of the add-ons Northwest offers aren’t necessary for those who are just starting a business. You may need an EIN, but it’s free to file for your tax ID number. It could be worth the $50 cost if you don’t have time to hunt for the applications and file yourself, though. As with any other business formation service, you’re paying for convenience. However, here are some of the most popular additional services that the company offers.
Registered Agent Services
The bread and butter of Northwest’s business is offering registered agent services. This service allows Northwest to receive legal documents and official correspondence on behalf of your business.
This service includes:
- Documents scanned locally
- Business address use
- Mail forwarding
- Mail scanning
- Annual report reminders
- Company management system
Northwest is experienced and effective in making sure that all legal documentation is dealt with properly and in a timely manner and can coordinate with the state on your behalf. Northwest is generally well-regarded for its registered agent services, with users reporting how efficient and professional the company is. However, some users have complained about lost documents or delayed delivery.
LLC Formation and Incorporation Services
Northwest offers basic incorporation services and business formation. Whether you’re an LLC, corporation or nonprofit, Northwest Registered Agent can help.
Given how accessible the company makes business formation services, it’s no wonder users rave about how responsive and quick it is. Although some users complain about document errors, you can avoid this by carefully reviewing all the documents before they are filed.
Articles of Organization
When forming an LLC, you’ll need to file your Articles of Organization with the state. This is a document outlining the basics of your business and the ownership interests and management rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in the business at formation. Northwest provides a free template for this when registering your LLC.
Annual Report Filing
Filing an annual report is often necessary to maintain good standing with the state where a business is registered. Northwest Registered Agent can assist with this process. It will remind you when to file your annual report, sending emails or postal notices if needed so you can complete the deadline.
Your annual report gives details about your business, such as its name, address, ownership structure and any significant changes that have transpired since the last report. These changes could be related to a change in the business’s name, address or ownership structure.
Once Northwest has all of the required information, it will prepare and submit the annual report document according to any state requirements.
You are provided confirmation once Northwest has successfully filed your annual report. Annual reports are important because they help your business maintain good standing with the state.
Business License Registration
A business license is a document issued by the federal, state or local government that authorizes your business to conduct its operations. The requirements and processes for obtaining a business license vary widely depending on your location and business type.
Northwest Registered Agent no longer provides business license registration services.
Name Availability Search
Northwest Registered Agent offers resources to help users perform a name availability search in the state of their choice. It also provides information on how to take the necessary steps to secure an available name on your behalf. This ensures that you’ll have a legally valid name to do business with. The company can also file a doing business as (DBA) name if you don’t want to operate using your legal name.
Online Document Access
The company makes it easy to access all of your business formation or legal documents through its registered service business online whenever you need them. This keeps you organized and helps you have a centralized place to store your legal documentation for when you need it.
Customizable Business Forms
Northwest Registered Agent offers numerous free business entity forms. These forms can be used if you are DIYing your business setup. It provides forms for LLCs, corporations and nonprofits.
Some of the free customizable forms offered for LLCs are:
- Articles of Organization, including a form for Guam
- Operating Agreement, including versions for single-member LLCs, multi-member LLCs and manager-managed LLCs
- Meeting minutes
- Capital contributions bill of sale
- Membership certificates
- Articles of amendment
In addition to the LLC forms, Northwest also offers free customizable forms for corporations including:
- Articles of Incorporation, including a form for Guam
- Corporate bylaws
- First shareholder meeting template
- Certificate of stock
- Issuance of corporate stock
- Board of director meeting template
- As well as forms related to the shareholders and their annual meetings
Other Services
Northwest offers various services related to business compliance and registered agent services. Here are some of the additional services it offers:
- Change of registered agent
- Mail forwarding and scanning services
- Virtual office and office leasing
- Federal IRS EIN registration
- S-corp tax election
- Corporate book and seal
Northwest offers even more services for those looking to expand their business, companies coming from overseas and those providing wholesale or white-label corporate services.
Northwest Registered Agent Pricing and Plans
Northwest Registered Agent’s no-nonsense approach to business carries over to a single paid plan. If you choose the “Pay In Full” option, Northwest charges $39 to file for your LLC in your state, plus state fees, and then an additional fee for either one- or seven-day processing. This fee varies by state.
DIY
This isn’t a plan, per se, but it is an option on Northwest Registered Agent’s website. The DIY plan provides you, through a free account, access to documentation that can help you file your LLC on your own. No one at the company will help you through the process but they are available if you need registered agent services.
Add-ons
Most of the add-ons Northwest offers aren’t necessary for those who are just starting a business. You may need an EIN, but it’s free to file for your tax ID number. It could be worth the $50 cost if you don’t have time to hunt for the applications and file yourself, though. As with any other business formation service, you’re paying for convenience.
Northwest only works with third-party services necessary for filing legal documents, such as couriers and attorneys. Otherwise, the services Northwest provides are by Northwest, so your info isn’t shared or sold to any other company. The $39 fee is somewhat higher than the low-priced plans from other business formation companies, and you can purchase add-ons during the checkout process. Those add-ons aren’t hard sells, and most of them are opt-in, so you shouldn’t be surprised when any of them renew in a year.
Here are the add-ons you may want to consider from Northwest Registered Agent:
- Compliance filing: $100
- EIN filing: $50
- S corporation (S-corp) filing: $50
- Mail forwarding: $20 per month
- Virtual office: $29 per month
- Virtual phone service: $9 per month
- Corporate supplies, such as binders and embossers: $15 to $125
Easy To Use: Getting Started With Northwest Registered Agent
It’s extremely easy to get started with LLC formation services at Northwest Registered Agent. You simply go to its website and elect for the company to complete the process for you. Then you’ll select the type of business you want to form (LLC, corporation or nonprofit).
From there, you’ll select your state and whether you would like to pay for a seven-day processing period or a one-day period. After that, you’ll only have to pay and submit basic documentation about you and your business, then the company will take it from there to get your business registered.
Nationwide Coverage and Availability
Northwest provides its services primarily within the United States. Its registered agent and business formation services are available in all 50 U.S. states plus D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam.
Excellent Customer Service With Dedicated Corporate Guides
Northwest Registered Agent has very positive reviews of its customer support services online. Support is quick to respond whenever you chat with someone online, send an email or call. When you read through Northwest’s terms of service, you’ll see the company tries to uphold its trademarked slogan “We’re just not annoying” by never charging a late fee or hounding its customers.
You can contact support by submitting an online form, via email, or by calling its support number at any time. The team gets excellent marks from its customers for having a quick response time and providing knowledgeable answers.
Privacy and Data Security
Northwest takes great pride in prioritizing privacy and security to protect its customers’ sensitive information. Here are some general principles and measures it employs in protecting customers’ details:
- Data encryption protocols protect sensitive information when customers access online systems or submit documents.
- Data access controls restrict access to customers’ information to authorized personnel only. Northwest employees who handle customer information have been trained in data security best practices.
- Firewalls and intrusion detection mechanisms help businesses prevent unapproved access to its internal systems.
- Secure data centers utilize physical security measures, redundant systems and backup generators to prevent data loss or breaches.
- Regular security audits and assessments are conducted to detect vulnerabilities and address potential security threats.
- Compliance with data protection laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation.
In addition to the measures Northwest takes to secure your data, it also has a privacy policy outlining how customer data is collected, used and protected. Customers should read this to understand how their personal information will be handled.
Northwest provides all of its services through a secure online platform. It also educates its customers on best practices for protecting sensitive business information, such as using strong passwords and activating two-factor authentication.
Northwest Registered Agent Alternatives and How They Compare
Northwest Registered Agent vs. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is our number one ranked business formation service provider and it offers more services than Northwest Registered Agent. However, Northwest Registered Agent does prevail in the area the company is named after—registered agent services. The business was founded on offering this service option and does it well while also keeping the costs lower than ZenBusiness.
Northwest Registered Agent vs. Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Bizee offers one-day processing of your business formation documentation without charging you an extra fee as Northwest Registered Agent does. However, Northwest Registered Agent provides a 90-day money-back guarantee that Bizee doesn’t match and can offer a more trusted registered agent service option.
Northwest Registered Agent vs. LegalZoom
Northwest Registered Agent is likely more affordable than LegalZoom, depending on the services you select. While LegalZoom offers a myriad of legal services for businesses that have more complex situations, Northwest Registered Agent offers high customer ratings and an easy, straightforward process to register your business and start managing it. Learn more about Northwest Registered Agent vs LegalZoom.
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
LegalZoom
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
3
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
Who Is Northwest Registered Agent Best For?
If Northwest’s principles resonate with you, or you prefer to choose business services in an à la carte style, it could be a good choice for you. Its customer support gets excellent marks, so that could be worth the extra cost. For a more affordable option, you would be better off choosing Bizee’s free plan or ZenBusiness’s lowest-priced plan.
It’s important to note that the right service option for you is going to depend on not just cost but also on the types of services that you need when launching your business. For most businesses, Northwest Registered Agent can be a great option, especially if you’re in need of someone managing the state relationship and dealing with all legal documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need a registered agent to operate a business?
While you don’t need to hire someone to act as a registered agent, having a registered agent is a requirement to operate corporations, LLCs and partnerships. With that said, there are plenty of benefits of using registered agent services, such as the ability to operate in multiple states.
How much does Northwest Registered Agent cost?
It depends on which services you need. If you’re looking to form an LLC alone, the price is $39. There are a number of other services and products ranging from $9 to $125.
Are registered agents worth it?
A registered agent provides a publicly available address for sending lawsuits and other legal documents to your business. This provides privacy and ensures you don’t miss any legal notifications. Registered agent services typically cost $100 to $300 per year. Whether privacy and guaranteed legal notifications are worth the price is subjective.
How long does it take to form an LLC with Northwest Registered Agent?
The processing time for forming an LLC can vary from state to state. Some states have streamlined online filing systems, allowing quicker processing, while others may have more extensive paperwork and longer processing times.
Northwest offers standard, expedited and even same-day processing in some cases.
Does Northwest Registered Agent send you documents?
Northwest typically sends you important legal and business documents as part of its services. If you have the registered agent service, you will receive five to 10 free mail forwarded documents a year, depending on your state. You can hire Northwest for $20 a month for unlimited documents if you need more than that.
Does Northwest Registered Agent offer a virtual address for my LLC?
Technically, yes and no. All LLCs must have a business address and a registered agent address. Your business address can be a virtual address, but whoever you list as your registered agent must have a physical address and has to be available to accept mail during business hours.
Can I be penalized for not having a registered agent for my business?
There are consequences for not having a registered agent: You won’t receive important government and tax documentation and could risk missing important notices about any lawsuits against your company. Not having a registered agent could result in the state suspending your company’s right to conduct business.
How do I cancel my service with Northwest Registered Agent?
To cancel any service with Northwest Registered Agent, you should log in to your account on its website and cancel there.
