Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness: Side-by-Side Comparison
Side-by-side comparison across 11 dimensions. Data is approximate and for informational purposes only.
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| Dimension | Northwest Registered Agent | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Entity Types | LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, Nonprofit | LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, Nonprofit |
| Setup Fee | $39 + state fees | $0 + state fees |
| Annual Fee | $125/yr per state (1–4 states; $100/yr each at 5+); 1st year included with $39 formation | $199/yr (Pro) – $399/yr (Premium); Starter $0 does not renew |
| Timeline | 1–5 business days | 2–3 weeks (standard) |
| States Available | All 50 states + DC and Puerto Rico | Unknown — ask vendor |
| EIN Filing | Add-on ($50 with SSN; $200 without SSN) | Add-on $99 (Starter); included in Pro ($199) and Premium ($399) |
| Registered Agent | 1 year free | Add-on +$199/yr (Starter/Pro); included only in Premium ($399/yr). $99 first year with formation, renews $199/yr |
| Banking Integration | None (WY DIY guide, Wells Fargo) | ZenBusiness Banking (Thread Bank), $5/mo |
| Compliance Support | Partial (GS assessment) | Partial (GS assessment) |
| Non-Resident Support | Full (GS assessment) | Limited (GS assessment) |
| Platform Type | Guided DIY | Guided DIY |
Key Notes
Northwest Registered Agent
Best known for registered agent services. Low base price but fewer bundled features. Privacy by default — uses their address on public filings. US-based customer support. One of only four services here that will obtain an EIN for a founder with no SSN, and the only one that names the price: $200, versus $50 with an SSN (the IRS side takes ~120 days rather than 4 — Northwest files in about 2 either way). It also files your annual report for $100 plus state fees, though that is auto-added and auto-charged when you use their registered agent. Two limits worth knowing: the free use of their address covers official state filings and about five pieces of ordinary mail, not a primary mailing address (a usable one is Virtual Office from $29/mo), and Northwest does not help with banking at all — "Can Northwest Open a Bank Account For My U.S. Business? Definitely not."
ZenBusiness
Free basic formation (pay only state fees), and compliance alerts are free at the $0 Starter tier. Files formations in all 50 states. Read the non-resident story carefully, because it is narrower than it first sounds: ZenBusiness says non-U.S. citizens and residents can form an LLC "with an ITIN in place of an SSN" — which assumes you have a US taxpayer ID. For a founder with neither an SSN nor an ITIN, its own EIN page answers the question by telling you to fill out an SS-4 and mail it to the IRS yourself, and it never states whether the $99 EIN service covers that path. Its pages also disagree on whether you need a US business address: the help centre says a foreign address is fine, the marketing page says a US business address is required, and the registered-agent product explicitly refuses to be that address. Annual reports are filed for you under Worry-Free Compliance; taxes are not, on their own words.
What Real Users Say
Anonymized and paraphrased observations from founder communities, review platforms, and forums.
Both are budget options. Northwest is transparent about pricing ($39 + $125/yr). ZenBusiness uses the $0 formation hook and makes it up on renewals and add-ons.
Source: Reddit r/smallbusinessNorthwest registered agent service is consistently rated higher than ZenBusiness for responsiveness and document handling.
Source: G2 reviewsZenBusiness has a slicker website and better marketing. Northwest has better actual service. Depends whether you care about the dashboard or the phone support.
Source: Trustpilot reviewsVisit These Services
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Compared
We collected pricing, included services, non-resident support levels, and formation timelines from each provider's public website. Costs are compared at initial setup and annual renewal rates.
Disclaimer: All data on this page is approximate and for informational purposes only. Pricing, features, and availability change frequently. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify all figures directly with each provider before making decisions. Data reflects conditions as of early 2026.
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