LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Registered Agent Service Comparison

How Each Company Prices Registered Agent Service

As published on each company's own site in October 2026, Northwest Registered Agent bundles one year of registered agent service into its $39-plus-state-fee LLC formation package, meaning new customers effectively get the first year free as part of that formation price. It renews afterward at $125 a year, a rate Northwest Registered Agent specifically states is fixed and never raised. LegalZoom does not include registered agent service in its Basic LLC package; it is a separate $249-a-year charge, the same amount in year one and at renewal, though LegalZoom notes the renewal rate is subject to change.

Comparing the Numbers

In year one, a customer choosing Northwest Registered Agent's bundled formation package pays $39 plus the state fee and receives a year of registered agent service with it, while a LegalZoom Basic customer who also wants registered agent service pays $0 plus the state fee for formation and $249 separately for registered agent service. At renewal, Northwest Registered Agent's $125-a-year rate remains $124 a year lower than LegalZoom's $249.

What Else Northwest Registered Agent Includes

Beyond the bundled first year of registered agent service, Northwest Registered Agent's formation package includes an operating agreement at no separate published charge. Its EIN service is priced at $50 with an SSN or $200 without one. LegalZoom's Basic package prices an operating agreement at $99 and EIN filing at $79 as separate add-ons, both included in its $249 Pro package.

Annual Report Filing at Each Company

Northwest Registered Agent charges $100 plus the state's own fee for annual report filing, charged at the time of filing. LegalZoom charges $99 per filing plus the state fee, or $199 a year for a standing Compliance Filings subscription. The two are close on a per-filing basis.

How LLC Register compares

LLC Register's registered agent service is $99 a year, the same price at renewal. LLC formation in year one and annual report filing are included, while most providers charge $99 to $199 a year extra for annual report filing. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before checkout.

What to Confirm Before You Choose

Northwest Registered Agent's published pricing is lower at every stage of this specific comparison: first year, renewal, and the operating agreement inclusion. If a flat, unchanging rate from day one matters more to you than the lowest total cost, LegalZoom's $249-a-year rate, while higher, applies identically in year one and beyond. Confirm both companies' current pricing directly before ordering.

A Stated Fixed Price Is a Specific, Checkable Claim

Northwest Registered Agent's statement that its $125-a-year price is fixed and never raised is a specific claim distinct from simply not having raised prices recently. You can check this claim yourself at each future renewal.

LegalZoom's Renewal Rate Is Explicitly Flagged as Variable

LegalZoom states its registered agent renewal rate is subject to change, which is a different, less certain commitment than Northwest Registered Agent's stated fixed price. Confirm LegalZoom's current renewal rate directly before assuming $249 will still apply at your renewal date.

The EIN Comparison Depends on Your Situation

Whether Northwest Registered Agent or LegalZoom's Pro package is less expensive for EIN assistance depends on whether you have an SSN and whether you also want the other services bundled into LegalZoom's Pro tier. An EIN itself is always free directly from the IRS regardless of which paid service you use.

Compare the Full Formation-Plus-Agent Cost, Not Just the Agent Price Alone

Northwest Registered Agent's $39 formation fee is a separate line item from its registered agent service; add both together, plus your state's own filing fee, for an accurate first-year total rather than comparing registered agent prices alone.

This Is Not Legal or Tax Advice

Which company's structure fits your business depends on your state and your plans for the LLC. Talk to a tax professional about ongoing compliance costs, and verify all current prices directly on each company's site before ordering.