Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness
Last updated July 2026
Northwest Registered Agent
The premier privacy-focused registered agent service
Advantages
- $125/yr flat, no upsells or surprise fees
- Uses Northwest's address on public state filings for privacy
- Excellent U.S.-based Corporate Guides for support
- Same-day filing of state notices
- No aggressive upsell during signup
Drawbacks
- No formation platform for LLCs beyond registered agent add-on
- No dedicated compliance software
- Multi-state customers pay full price per state
ZenBusiness
LLC formation and compliance platform with registered agent bundled
Advantages
- Bundled with ZenBusiness LLC formation and compliance software
- Free first year of registered agent when you form via ZenBusiness
- Worry-Free Compliance service tracks annual reports across states
- $199/yr for standalone registered agent
- Clean UX and helpful onboarding
Drawbacks
- Standalone registered agent price higher than Northwest ($199 vs $125)
- Worry-Free Compliance is a paid $199/yr add-on
- Aggressive upsell of formation and compliance products
- Less privacy-focused than Northwest
Northwest Registered Agent and ZenBusiness both offer registered agent service but with different pitches. Northwest is a specialist focused on privacy and transparent flat pricing. ZenBusiness is a formation-and-compliance platform where registered agent is bundled with LLC formation and ongoing compliance software. Standalone versus bundled decides it.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Northwest Registered Agent | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Price per State | $125/yr flat per state | $199/yr per state (standalone); free first year with formation |
| Multi-State Discount | None | Some bundle discounts |
| Compliance Software | Filing reminders only | Worry-Free Compliance ($199/yr add-on) |
| Privacy Protection | Uses Northwest's address on public filings | Uses ZenBusiness address; less privacy-focused than Northwest |
| Account Manager | Corporate Guides for all clients | Standard customer support |
| Additional Services | LLC/corp formation, virtual office, mail forwarding | LLC/corp formation, worry-free compliance, virtual mailbox |
| Support | U.S.-based Corporate Guides | Phone, chat, email |
| Online Dashboard | Yes | Yes |
Northwest Registered Agent Wins
Northwest wins on standalone price and privacy. ZenBusiness wins for new business owners who bundle registered agent with LLC formation and want compliance software.
For registered agent alone, Northwest's $125/yr beats ZenBusiness's $199/yr renewal price. ZenBusiness earns its role in year one when you form an LLC through them (registered agent free the first year) or when you specifically want Worry-Free Compliance to track annual reports. In year two and beyond, Northwest costs $75/yr less. Switch after year one if you want the savings.
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