Northwest Registered Agent Alternatives: 6 LLC Formation Services Compared (2026)

Q: doola: best for non-US founders and all-in-one setup

When to pick: You are forming an LLC from outside the United States and need formation, EIN, and a US business address handled together. doola's Starter plan ($297/yr) bundles LLC filing, EIN application, and a US address -- no separate add-on purchases. Their tax and compliance tiers ($1,999/yr and $2,999/yr) add bookkeeping and tax filing if you want a single vendor handling everything.

Q: Bizee (formerly Incfile): best free formation with low RA renewal

When to pick: You want zero upfront service fee and are comfortable handling the EIN and operating agreement yourself. Bizee Silver ($0 + state fee) includes one year of free registered agent service -- one of the few free-tier formation services that does. Year-two RA renewal at $119/yr is the cheapest among the five alternatives.

Q: ZenBusiness: best for budget-conscious founders who want guided setup

When to pick: You want a free formation tier with a polished dashboard and AI-guided setup (ZenBusiness Velo). The Starter plan ($0 + state fee) files your Articles of Organization and checks name availability. Pro ($199/yr) adds the operating agreement and EIN. Their A+ BBB rating and 950,000+ businesses formed give them a track record.

Q: LegalZoom: best if you want attorney access bundled

When to pick: You value access to legal consultations as part of formation. LegalZoom's Pro plan ($249 + state fee) includes a 30-day trial of their Business Attorney Plan with 30-minute consultations. Premium ($299) adds unlimited consultations for 30 days. If you anticipate needing legal advice during setup, this is the only service in this comparison that bundles it.

Q: Firstbase: best for non-US founders who want mail + compliance bundled

When to pick: You need a physical US business address, virtual mailbox, and compliance management in addition to formation. Firstbase One ($199/mo billed yearly at $2,388/yr) bundles formation, mailroom, agent services, and accounting. Standalone formation (Start) is available separately, and the Agent Autopilot add-on ($299/yr) handles annual reports and compliance reminders.

2026-08-17 · by Aura Editorial · LLC formation registered agent Northwest Registered Agent doola ZenBusiness LegalZoom Bizee Firstbase alternatives business formation

Last updated: 2026-08-17

The short version

TL;DR: Northwest Registered Agent offers a $39 flat formation fee and free registered agent for year one, but the lack of tiered plans means no bundled EIN or operating agreement without paying extra. If you need formation plus bookkeeping and tax filing under one roof, doola's Starter plan at $297/yr bundles LLC filing, EIN, and a US business address -- and it works for non-US founders who can't get an EIN through the IRS website themselves. The registered agent renewals stack up fast across all providers once year one ends, so the real question is what you need beyond basic filing.

Northwest Registered Agent is a solid, no-nonsense LLC formation service. The $39 flat fee is real, the free first year of registered agent service is genuine, and there are no surprise upsells baked into the core filing. But "good" and "best fit" are different things. If you are running a business from outside the US, need bookkeeping or tax compliance bundled in, or want an operating agreement and EIN without buying separate add-ons, the alternatives below give you more for your money depending on your situation.

This post breaks down six services side by side: what they actually charge, what you get, and when each one makes sense. Every price below comes from the vendor's own pricing page as of August 2026.

Bar chart comparing Year 1 service fees for Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Northwest, Firstbase, and doola LLC formation services — Year 1 service fees (state fees excluded). Northwest charges $39 flat; the free-tier competitors charge $0 but charge more for registered agent renewals and extras.

What does Northwest Registered Agent actually cost?

Northwest keeps it simple: one flat $39 formation fee plus your state's filing fee. That covers Articles of Organization filing, a basic operating agreement template, and one year of registered agent service. After year one, registered agent renewals cost $125 per year per state.

The catch is what the $39 does not cover. You want an EIN? That is $50 extra for US residents (or free if you file directly with the IRS, which takes 15 minutes). Non-US residents without an SSN pay $200 for Northwest to handle it. Need an operating agreement beyond the basic template? Another $50. Rush filing? $150. S Corp election? $100. None of these are mandatory, but they add up if you actually need them.

Northwest does not offer tiered plans like its competitors. There is no "Pro" or "Premium" upgrade -- just the base filing plus individual add-ons. That is a pro if you want to keep costs lean and choose only what you need. It is a con if you want a single package that bundles everything a new LLC typically requires.

How do the alternatives compare on price?

Service	Formation Fee	Registered Agent Yr 1	RA Renewal	EIN Included?
doola Starter	$297/yr	Bundled	Included	Yes
Bizee Silver	$0 + state fee	Free 1 yr	$119/yr	No ($199 Gold)
ZenBusiness Starter	$0 + state fee	$199/yr	$199/yr	No ($199 Pro)
LegalZoom Basic	$0 + state fee	$249/yr	$249/yr	No ($249 Pro)
Northwest	$39 + state fee	Free 1 yr	$125/yr	No ($50 add-on)
Firstbase Start	~$199 + state fee	Separate add-on	$299/yr	Bundled

Which alternative fits your situation?

doola: best for non-US founders and all-in-one setup

When to pick: You are forming an LLC from outside the United States and need formation, EIN, and a US business address handled together. doola's Starter plan ($297/yr) bundles LLC filing, EIN application, and a US address -- no separate add-on purchases. Their tax and compliance tiers ($1,999/yr and $2,999/yr) add bookkeeping and tax filing if you want a single vendor handling everything.

Avoid if: You are a US resident who can get an EIN free from the IRS in 15 minutes, and you only need basic filing. The $297 fee is higher than competitors' free or $39 tiers.

Cost: $297/yr for Starter. State fees additional. All plans billed annually.

doola also recently expanded its Formation API to power native LLC formation for Whop Global (announced August 14, 2026), signaling deeper partnerships for founders who sell digital products or run marketplace businesses.

Bizee (formerly Incfile): best free formation with low RA renewal

When to pick: You want zero upfront service fee and are comfortable handling the EIN and operating agreement yourself. Bizee Silver ($0 + state fee) includes one year of free registered agent service -- one of the few free-tier formation services that does. Year-two RA renewal at $119/yr is the cheapest among the five alternatives.

Avoid if: You need an EIN or operating agreement bundled into the initial order. The Gold plan ($199) adds those but jumps the cost closer to what you would pay elsewhere.

Cost: Silver $0 + state fee. Gold $199 + state fee. Platinum $299 + state fee. RA renewal $119/yr after year one.

ZenBusiness: best for budget-conscious founders who want guided setup

When to pick: You want a free formation tier with a polished dashboard and AI-guided setup (ZenBusiness Velo). The Starter plan ($0 + state fee) files your Articles of Organization and checks name availability. Pro ($199/yr) adds the operating agreement and EIN. Their A+ BBB rating and 950,000+ businesses formed give them a track record.

Avoid if: Registered agent service is not included in the Starter plan -- it costs $199/yr separately. That makes ZenBusiness the most expensive RA option of the group.

Cost: Starter $0 + state fee. Pro $199/yr + state fee. Premium $399/yr + state fee. Registered agent $199/yr.

LegalZoom: best if you want attorney access bundled

When to pick: You value access to legal consultations as part of formation. LegalZoom's Pro plan ($249 + state fee) includes a 30-day trial of their Business Attorney Plan with 30-minute consultations. Premium ($299) adds unlimited consultations for 30 days. If you anticipate needing legal advice during setup, this is the only service in this comparison that bundles it.

Avoid if: You just need to file an LLC quickly and cheaply. The Basic plan is free ($0 + state fee) but includes no operating agreement, no EIN help, and no registered agent. The registered agent costs $249/yr -- the highest renewal price of any vendor here.

Cost: Basic $0 + state fee. Pro $249 + state fee. Premium $299 + state fee. Registered agent $249/yr.

Firstbase: best for non-US founders who want mail + compliance bundled

When to pick: You need a physical US business address, virtual mailbox, and compliance management in addition to formation. Firstbase One ($199/mo billed yearly at $2,388/yr) bundles formation, mailroom, agent services, and accounting. Standalone formation (Start) is available separately, and the Agent Autopilot add-on ($299/yr) handles annual reports and compliance reminders.

Avoid if: You just need basic LLC filing. The all-in-one bundle is expensive, and the standalone pricing for individual pieces is not always transparent on their site.

Cost: Firstbase One $199/mo (billed yearly). Standalone components priced separately.

What about Northwest's strengths?

Northwest Registered Agent is not a bad choice. The privacy-first approach -- they do not sell your data to third parties -- is a real differentiator. The $39 flat fee with no upsells at checkout is honest. The Business Identity bundle (domain, hosting, email, phone, mail scanning) included with formation adds value that other $39 or $0 services do not match.

The real reason people look for alternatives is usually one of three things:

You are outside the US and need formation plus EIN plus a business address as a single package, not a base filing plus $200 in add-ons.
You want bookkeeping or tax filing bundled in from day one, not as a separate purchase from a different vendor.
The registered agent renewal at $125/yr is fine, but you found a service that bundles more at a comparable or lower total cost.

Northwest is still the right call if you are a US-based founder who wants a clean, simple filing with no upsells and values privacy above all else. For everyone else, the alternatives above may fit better.

FAQ

Is Northwest Registered Agent legit?

Yes. Northwest has been operating since 1998 and is one of the most established LLC formation services in the US. The $39 formation fee is real, the free first year of registered agent service is included, and there are no surprise charges during the filing process.

How much does an LLC cost in total?

It depends on your state. State filing fees range from about $40 to $500. Service fees range from $0 (Bizee, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom) to $297 (doola). Registered agent renewals after year one run $119 to $249 per year.

Which service is cheapest for a simple LLC filing?

Bizee Silver and ZenBusiness Starter are both $0 in service fees. Bizee edges ahead because it includes free registered agent service for year one; ZenBusiness charges $199/yr for RA on the Starter plan.

Can non-US residents use these services?

Yes. doola is specifically built for non-US founders and bundles EIN and a US address. Firstbase also serves international founders. The others allow it too, but EIN assistance costs extra.

Quick decision checklist

US resident, basic filing: Bizee Silver ($0) or Northwest ($39).
Non-US founder, need EIN + US address: doola Starter ($297/yr).
Want bookkeeping and taxes bundled: doola Tax and Compliance ($1,999/yr).
Want legal advice during setup: LegalZoom Pro ($249).
Tight budget, handle EIN yourself: Bizee Silver or ZenBusiness Starter.
Physical US mail + compliance: Firstbase One.

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