LegalZoom vs Northwest Registered Agent: LLC formation compared (2026)

How do LegalZoom and Northwest compare at a glance?

The table pairs LegalZoom Managed Service, the plan our rating compares, with Northwest's single package, then lists agent price, renewal, cancelling and refund terms for each.

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

Both prices leave out the state's filing fee. Find yours in the state fee table, or have the LLC cost calculator add it for you. The every-plan view puts both next to the other providers we compare.

Where do LegalZoom and Northwest differ most?

They differ on how much is sold in the package, who pays for the agent and when, and how much each publishes about speed. The list below gives each point with its deciding fact.

• Lower two-year plan cost: Northwest Registered Agent: $39 vs $249
• More services included for good: LegalZoom: 4 vs 3
• Higher Trustpilot score: LegalZoom: 4.6/5 vs 4.1/5
• All-in-one platform: LegalZoom: sells 9 of 10 business service types we track vs 6
• Founders outside the U.S.: LegalZoom states it serves non-U.S. founders; Northwest Registered Agent doesn't say

One flat package against a tiered lineup

Northwest has a single LLC package. Beyond the filing, it lists a first year of agent service, an operating agreement or bylaws, a real business address, a free domain name, website, business email, legal form templates, a free phone line and free brand protection. The package list doesn't include an EIN; Northwest sells it for $50 if you have a Social Security number.^{1, 4, 5, 6}

LegalZoom lists Basic at $0, Managed Service at $249 and Expert Service at $299, each paid once. Managed Service is where the EIN, an operating agreement and a licenses and permits report come in. It also includes a legal forms library, eSignature and an advisor for a trial, after which the advisor plan bills $49/mo. Expert Service adds attorney and accountant time on the same kind of trial, then $99/mo.²

Plan totals hide the agent bill

Our figure for the first and second year combined is $39 for Northwest, against $249 for LegalZoom Managed Service. That count covers the plan fee only. Northwest's included agent costs $125/yr from year two, and LegalZoom's agent is $249/year from the first year, so a founder who needs a commercial agent pays more with either than the plan line suggests.^{1, 3}

Who files the annual report, and for what fee?

Both sell annual report filing as a paid service outside the package. Northwest charges $100 + state fees per filing; LegalZoom charges $99 + state filing fees for one filing or sells a subscription that starts at $199/year.^{7, 8, 9}

The sign-up differs. Northwest tells agent customers "you'll automatically be enrolled in our renewal service" and adds, "Renewal service is charged at filing." LegalZoom's single filing bills once, and its auto-filing plan is a separate purchase. Neither includes the filing in a formation package, and neither publishes business coaching or AI guidance, so each scores none of the three supports on our first-time founder measure. The annual report guide explains what states ask for.^{7, 8}

What does each publish about filing time?

LegalZoom states 5 to 14 business days (standard processing) and sells a rush option for $99. Northwest doesn't publish a processing time of its own or a rush product.¹⁰

LegalZoom says the rush option can send documents to the state in as little as one business day, and also that these are service processing times, not state approval times. It shows these figures on comparison pages that still use older plan names. If timing drives your choice, the fastest filing list leaves out providers like Northwest that state no time, and the timeline guide shows how long the state's part can take.¹⁰

How do they handle mail and the public record?

Both scan legal papers into an online account. Northwest caps the free part and charges for extras, while LegalZoom says it uploads other mail and emails you.

Northwest scans ordinary business mail up to 5 docs per year at no charge and its terms set a 15 per year limit on legal documents, above which a fee may apply. Its terms say mail is destroyed 30 days after scanning. If a scan fails, originals can be sent to you for a fee, within 30 days of original receipt, and a separate mail forwarding product costs $20/month in 24 select states. For LegalZoom's agent service, its overview page says "we will upload the documents to your account and email you."^{3, 4, 11, 12}

On the public record, Northwest says "We list OUR business address on your public filings instead of yours," and it ties a business address to the agent service. Every agent puts its own address in the agent field. Whether your own address appears elsewhere, such as the principal office, depends on your state's form; the registered agent guide covers what stays public.¹¹

What are the refund and cancellation terms?

Northwest lets you cancel any time through your online account with no cancellation fee, and its purchases are final and non-refundable after 90 days. LegalZoom takes cancellations by phone or online and may ask for proof of a new agent.^{13, 14}

Northwest says some of its services are billed via an automatic payment feature unless you choose to opt out. Agent customers are enrolled in its report service, and that charge has to be cancelled at least one business day before next charge date, so a founder who plans to file the report alone would need to opt out in time. Its terms also say "All state filing fees are non-refundable." On the LegalZoom side, the agent service renews at the purchase rate each year until you cancel it, with the rate subject to change. Its general guarantee covers subscriptions within 30 days of initial subscription purchase, and on cancelling it says proof of new RA may be required. Our guide to switching or cancelling a service lists the steps in order.^{3, 14, 15}

For help, LegalZoom lists phone, chat and email, open Mon to Fri 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT; weekends 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT. Northwest lists phone, email and a contact form and says "a real person picks up the phone or types out a response." Its support page doesn't mention live chat.^{16, 17}

Can a founder outside the U.S. use either?

LegalZoom says yes, on a page written for Australian founders. Northwest doesn't publish whether it forms LLCs for founders abroad, though it sells an EIN service for people without a Social Security number.

LegalZoom says it can get an EIN without the need for a Social Security Number and will help open your account with providers within days of formation. Northwest charges $200 for its Foreign EIN Service. The non-U.S. founder list shows which providers state that they serve founders abroad, and the guide to LLCs for non-U.S. residents covers the IRS route.^{6, 18}

Which reader suits each one?

These pairings follow published facts only. They describe terms, not how well either company does the work.

• If the lowest package price with a first year of agent service is the priority, Northwest at $39 + state fees, keeping in mind the agent renews at $125/yr. LegalZoom Basic costs $0 but includes no agent.^{1, 2}
• If you plan to keep a commercial agent for years, Northwest's $125 per year sits below LegalZoom's $249/year, and Northwest lists $100 per state for five or more states.^{3, 11}
• If you want an EIN and operating agreement inside the plan, LegalZoom Managed Service, which keeps 4 services for good against 3 for Northwest.
• If a published filing time or a rush option is needed, LegalZoom, since Northwest states neither.
• If you want one company for many business services, LegalZoom sells 9 of the 10 types we track; Northwest sells 6.
• If you form from outside the U.S., LegalZoom, whose own pages say it serves founders abroad.
• If a stated no-fee cancellation is part of the decision, Northwest, which says "There are no fees to cancel." LegalZoom doesn't publish whether it charges one.¹³

The LegalZoom review, Northwest review, LegalZoom pricing and Northwest pricing carry the full detail. To look wider, try LegalZoom alternatives or Northwest alternatives, both ordered by our rating.