Inc Authority vs Northwest Registered Agent: LLC formation compared (2026)

Inc Authority next to Northwest Registered Agent

Below, the plan our rating uses for each company sits beside the other, with prices before state fees, what each keeps for good, what runs out, processing, agent price, renewal, cancelling and refunds.

Auto-renewal, cancelling and refunds are as each provider states them for its registered agent and subscription services.

The state's own filing fee is added with either company. Our state fee table lists it for every state, and the LLC cost calculator combines it with a plan. Other providers' plans are in all plans side by side.

What does each plan put in the box?

Northwest's package carries more paperwork and business setup items; Inc Authority's comes with a stated processing time. Neither includes an EIN as a counted item.

For $39, Northwest files the LLC and adds an operating agreement, legal form templates, a business address, a domain, website and business email, a phone line, report reminders and brand protection. Our count gives it 3 items kept for good against 1 for Inc Authority.²

Inc Authority's Free LLC covers preparing and filing the LLC itself. Its operating agreement is a custom document sold for $89, and its EIN service is $49, though one Inc Authority blog post says free-plan buyers can select either a free EIN or expedited filing as part of the basic package. Northwest's EIN service costs $50 with a Social Security Number. The package contents guide explains which items plans tend to keep.^{1, 4, 5, 6}

How far apart are Inc Authority and Northwest?

On price the gap is small; on stated speed, items kept, service range and Trustpilot score it is wider. The list names the fact behind each point.

• Lower two-year plan cost: Inc Authority: $0 vs $39
• More services included for good: Northwest Registered Agent: 3 vs 1
• Higher Trustpilot score: Inc Authority: 4.9/5 vs 4.1/5
• All-in-one platform: Northwest Registered Agent: sells 6 of 10 business service types we track vs 4

The parts of our rating show the same split. Inc Authority leads on satisfaction (9.8 to 8.2) and on plan value (6.3 to 3.7). Northwest leads on services and dashboard, 6.8 to 3.2. The method is on how we rate.

What do you pay once the first year is over?

The registered agent is the main second-year bill with both, and Northwest's costs less: $125/yr against $249/year at Inc Authority. Annual report filing can add to Northwest's bill if you keep its agent.^{2, 3}

A registered agent is the person or company that takes legal papers for the LLC at an address in its state. Inc Authority's terms state that its agent service renews automatically each year. They add that the cost of your subscription is subject to change. Northwest's auto-pay terms say "Some of our Services are billed via an automatic payment feature unless you choose to opt out", without naming the agent service as one of them. Northwest's multi-state agent rate is $100 per state.^{3, 7, 8, 9}

Northwest also files annual reports for $100 + state fees, charged at filing. Its annual report page adds, "When you sign up for our registered agent services, you'll automatically be enrolled in our renewal service." Inc Authority doesn't publish an annual report filing service. The annual report guide covers what states require and when.¹⁰

Which one files faster?

Only Inc Authority publishes a time for its own step, 24 hours. Northwest doesn't publish one for its own work, or a rush option.

Inc Authority's FAQ defines its rush service as meaning your order is submitted within 24 hours during business hours. That is the time to submit, not the time the state takes to approve. The blog post quoted above suggests free-plan buyers may have to choose between expedited filing and a free EIN. See the LLC timeline guide for the state's part and the fastest filing list for stated times across providers.¹

How do mail and addresses work?

Northwest publishes more about mail. It scans legal documents and normal business mail, up to 5 docs per year free, and its document terms allow a fee for legal documents above the current 15 per year limit.⁹

Northwest states that its address is listed on public filings instead of the owner's, and it sells mail forwarding at $20/month in a limited set of states. Inc Authority's agent page says "Keep your home address private", which every agent does for the agent field itself. Other public fields follow state rules.^{9, 11, 12}

What are the cancelling and refund rules?

Inc Authority gives a stated refund window, and Northwest gives an easier exit. Inc Authority offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on initial online purchase, less state/third-party filing fees; Northwest's terms make purchases final and non-refundable after 90 days.^{7, 8}

Cancelling Inc Authority's agent works by phone or email, and the company may require proof of new agent or dissolution. Northwest lets you cancel through its online account with no cancellation fee. Support differs in channels too. Inc Authority lists phone support M-F 7:30am-5:00pm Pacific, while Northwest says that when you call or email, a real person picks up the phone or types out a response. The guide to cancelling or switching lists the steps that keep an agent on file.^{7, 13, 14, 15}

Can founders outside the U.S. use either?

Neither company publishes whether it serves founders abroad. Inc Authority's free LLC page notes only that an LLC has no limitations as to how many members can be involved or where they're located.¹⁶

Northwest sells a foreign EIN service for anyone without a Social Security Number, at $200. That covers one step, not the whole formation. The non-U.S. founders list shows providers that state they serve owners abroad.⁶

Which reader does each one fit?

Inc Authority fits a reader who wants the lowest price to form and a stated filing time; Northwest fits one who wants more included and a cheaper agent later.

Each line below names the deciding fact, not a view on service quality.

1. Lowest price to form, Inc Authority at $0 against $39.^{1, 2}
2. Lower agent bill from the second year, Northwest at $125/yr against $249/year.^{2, 3}
3. A stated processing time, Inc Authority at 24 hours; Northwest publishes none.
4. More items kept for good, Northwest with 3 against 1, including an operating agreement and website tools.
5. Annual reports filed for a set fee, Northwest at $100 + state fees per report.¹⁰
6. More kinds of business services from one company, Northwest, with 6 of the 10 types we track against 4. The all-in-one list has more.
7. A paid adviser for startup questions, Inc Authority, whose Inc Success Advisor costs $299/year. Northwest doesn't publish coaching.¹⁷
8. A higher Trustpilot score, Inc Authority at 4.9 / 5 from 49,233 reviews, against 4.1 from 306 reviews.^{18, 19}

New founders can compare support across all providers on the first-time founder list. The Inc Authority review, Northwest review, Inc Authority pricing and Northwest pricing give full details, and Inc Authority alternatives or Northwest alternatives list other options.