LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Which LLC Service Is Better?

Comparing the Formation Price

As published on each company's own site in October 2026, LegalZoom's Basic LLC package is $0 plus the state's filing fee. Northwest Registered Agent's LLC formation package is $39 plus the state's filing fee. On the formation fee alone, LegalZoom's Basic package is $39 cheaper.

What Each Formation Package Actually Includes

The $39 difference does not tell the full story. Northwest Registered Agent's $39 package includes a free first year of registered agent service and an operating agreement at no separate published charge. LegalZoom's $0 Basic package includes neither: registered agent service is a separate $249-a-year charge, and an operating agreement is a separate $99 add-on. Once you add registered agent service, a LegalZoom customer's effective first-year cost ($0 formation plus $249 registered agent, before the state fee) is significantly higher than Northwest Registered Agent's bundled $39 package.

LegalZoom's Pro Package Is a Different Comparison

LegalZoom's $249 Pro package is a one-time formation-tier price that includes an operating agreement and EIN filing with the formation itself, a different product from LegalZoom's separately sold $249-a-year ongoing registered agent subscription; the two figures are coincidentally the same dollar amount but pay for different things. A customer who buys LegalZoom's Pro package still needs to add registered agent service separately if they want it.

Comparing Registered Agent Renewal Pricing

After the first year, Northwest Registered Agent renews registered agent service at $125 a year, a rate the company states is fixed and never raised. LegalZoom's registered agent service renews at $249 a year, the same as its first-year rate, though LegalZoom notes this rate is subject to change. Northwest Registered Agent's published renewal price is $124 a year lower.

EIN and Annual Report Filing

Northwest Registered Agent's EIN service is $50 with an SSN or $200 without one; its annual report filing is $100 plus the state fee. LegalZoom's EIN add-on is $79 in Basic (included in Pro); its annual report filing is $99 per filing plus the state fee, or $199 a year as a subscription.

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.

Answering "Which Is Better" With the Published Facts

If your priority is the lowest total first-year cost including registered agent service, Northwest Registered Agent's bundled $39 package publishes a lower combined price than LegalZoom's Basic-plus-registered-agent combination. If your priority is a one-time package that includes an operating agreement and EIN filing without an ongoing registered agent subscription, LegalZoom's Pro package is built for that. Neither company is objectively "better" in general; which published package matches what you actually need is the more useful question.

Compare the Combination You Would Actually Buy

Few new LLC owners buy registered agent service alone or formation alone; most need both. Add the formation fee and the registered agent fee together for each company before comparing, rather than comparing either line item in isolation.

A Lower Headline Price Can Hide a Separate Required Purchase

LegalZoom's $0 headline number looks attractive until you add the $249-a-year registered agent fee most LLCs need; always check what a headline price excludes before treating it as the full cost.

Northwest Registered Agent's Fixed Renewal Claim Is Specific and Checkable

Unlike a general claim about low prices, Northwest Registered Agent's statement that its $125-a-year rate is fixed and never raised is something you can verify yourself at your next renewal.

"Better" Depends on What You Are Optimizing For

A lower total cost, a flat price with no step-up, and a one-time bundle with more inclusions are three different things to optimize for, and the two companies compared here are structured differently along each of those lines.

This Is Not Legal or Tax Advice

Which company's package structure fits your business depends on your state, your budget, and how long you plan to keep the LLC. Talk to a tax professional about ongoing compliance costs, and verify all current prices directly on each company's site before ordering.