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LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent: When you’re willing to start an LLC, LLC formation services like LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent are the first things you look for. They are competent, offer diverse deals in business formation, are affordable, and help you go through a hassle-free process of LLC formation. However, not all services are the same, like Northwest Registered Agent offers different services and prices than LegalZoom.
As we share our take on LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent, we pointed out the pros and cons of both services for you to decide which one is suitable for your business. LLCBuddy editors dug up a lot and brought a detailed comparative guide on LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent for the budding entrepreneur.
LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Quick Review
| Services | LegalZoom | Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation | Available | Available |
| Starting Price | $0 + State filing fee | $39 + state filing fee |
| Registered Agent Service | Available at $299 a year | Available at $125 per year |
| Legal Advice | Available at an additional fee | Available on call |
| EIN | Available at $79 | Available at $50 |
| Operating Agreement | $99 | Not Available |
| Annual Report | $99 + state filing fee | $100 + state filing fee |
| Attorney Service | Depends on services | Not available |
| Website | LegalZoom | Northwest Registered Agent |
| Review | LegalZoom Review | Northwest Register Agent Review |
Before we make a purchase, we always look for affordability and quality rather than the name or brand. Of course, brand matters, however, depending on your requirements, sometimes we have to choose unpopular names over a big brand. When it comes to deciding on which service we are going to choose or purchase, we look for a few general points.
- Reliable
- Reasonable
- Meet requirements
Our main goal is to share the insights of features and prices both these services offer. We researched the details of LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent to bring the comparison study for you.
LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Our Take
It is a bit difficult for us to say what you should choose. It depends on what services you’re looking for. Both services offer LLC formation, however, LegalZoom is more focused on legal assistance and attorney services. On the other side, Northwest is popular for its registered agent services. For those who are looking for basic LLC formation and affordable registered agent service, then Northwest will not be an option as LegalZoom offers LLC formation for free..
LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Price and Packaging
LegalZoom offers LLC formation at $0; however, the required state filing fee must be paid. On the other hand, Northwest Registered Agent offers the LLC formation at $39 plus mandatory state filing fees. When forming your LLC with LegalZoom or Northwest Registered Agent, there are many more things than the formation fees. With Northwest Registered Agent, a registered agent costs $125 per year. However, with LegalZoom, it is $299 a year. Hence, it is better to go with LegalZoom as it does not have any cost of forming your LLC. On the contrary, you must pay a higher price for Registered Agent. Hence, if you want only registered agent service and not the full formation package, you can go with Northwest Registered Agent.
LegalZoom Price & Package
LegalZoom offers three packages for LLC formation. Basic ($0 + state fees), Pro ($249 + state fees), and Premium ($299 + state fees).
- Business Formation Packages start at $0 + state fees and go up to $299 + state fees. Additional services can be added with a la carte options.
- Registered agent services cost $299 per year.
- Legal document review services start at $39 and can go up to $219, depending on the complexity of the document.
- Business compliance services start at $69 a year.
- Intellectual property services start at $199 and go up to $499, depending on the requirements.
Add-ons by LegalZoom
- Trademark registration: Assisting with the US trademark application process
- Copyright registration: Guidance on registering copyrights for creative works
- Patent services: Support in obtaining utility, design, and plant patents
- Estate planning: Offering personalized wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents
- Legal advice: Access to a network of lawyers for consultations and legal guidance
- Expedited Filing: With an additional $99, you can speed up your filing process.
Northwest Registered Agent Price & Package
- LLC formation package has single rate at $39 + state filing fee. Additional standalone services
- such as registered agent is available at $125 per year without buying the package.
- Registered Agent is free for a year with formation package. Afterwards it costs $125 per year.
- EIN is available at $50.
- Annual report can be filed at $100 + state filing fee.
- It also offers DIY formation package. It means you can choose the ones you need from its service menu
- pay for it
- and make your own DIY formation package.
Add-ons By Northwest Registered Agent
- Company formation for Non-US residents: Packages start from $925.
- EIN for Non-US residents: $50.
- Law on Call: $9 per month (get legal consultation on call immediately by paying the subscription fee).
- Certified copies of formation documents: The cost varies from state to state.
- Certificate of good standing: The cost varies from state to state.
- Corporate kits (books
- seals): It costs from $30 to $80.
Starter/Basic Package: Comparison
| Services | LegalZoom | Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $0 + state filing fee | $39 + state filing fee |
| Processing time | 30 days | 3 to 5 business days |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | $79 | Available at $50 |
| Operating Agreement | $99 | Not Available |
| Business Compliance | $280 per year | Not Available |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not Available (website building through WIX) | Not available |
Pro/Mid-Level Package:
| Services | LegalZoom | Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $249 + state filing fees | $39 + state filing fee (flat) |
| Processing Time | 15 days | 2 to 3 business days |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Yes | $50 |
| Operating Agreement | Yes | Not Available |
| Business Compliance | $280 per year | Not Available |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not Available (website building through WIX) | Not Available |
| Domain Name Registration | Not Available | Not Available |
| Business Email | Not Available | Not Available |
Premium/Top Level Package:
| Services | LegalZoom | Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation | $299 + state filing fee | $39 (flat) + state filing fee |
| Processing Time | 15 days | 2 to 3 business days |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Yes | $50 |
| Operating Agreement | Yes | Not Available |
| Business Compliance | $280 per year | Not Available |
| Web domain & web hosting | Not Available (website building through WIX) | Not Available |
LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent: How They Are Different or Similar
LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent offer similar services. Both companies have many things in common, while some things are different. Let’s look at the similarities and differences Northwest Registered Agent and LegalZoom have with each other.
Business Formation
LegalZoom provides a complete business formation service that helps customers create their legal entity. They offer various business entity types, including LLC, Corporation, and Non-profit. LegalZoom offers different packages for each business entity type, including a basic package that offers the basic requirements for business formation, such as legal document filing and registered agents. With LegalZoom, you can get access to attorneys and other legal services.
Northwest Registered Agent does not provide conventional LLC formation package like LegalZoom. It rather offers DIY package that can be chosen by the user. It offers flat $39 for LLC formation. Northwest mainly focuses on registered agent service. It not only offers standalone registered agent service but also provides National Registered Agent and wholesale registered agent. LegalZoom does not provide such variation in registered agent. In fact, the cost of registered agent is much higher in LegalZoom compared to Northwest. In Northwest, along with LLC formation, EIN, annual report, trademark services, law on call and more at a flat price.
Legal Support & Attorney Services
LegalZoom, as per its name, provides in-and-out legal support to entrepreneurs. The company also offers attorney consultation services. LegalZoom is your solution if you want to hire an attorney to form your business. Not only the professional purpose but LegalZoom offers personal legal help as well. Property lawyers, Will, Power of Attorney, and other personal legal services are available in LegalZoom.
Northwest Registered Agent does not have the provision of Attorney consultation. They do have “law on call” service. Apart from this, Northwest does not offer any other type of legal services. If anyone is looking for attorneys or other legal services then it will be better to choose LegalZoom.
Overall Cost
LegalZoom offers LLC formation at $0. However, other services, like a registered agent, cost $299 a year, making the overall cost more than other close competitors. It is a bit expensive compared to Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest Registered Agent, like LegalZoom, does not offer free LLC formation. But, Northwest offers registered agent at a very low cost (free for first year and then $125 a year) compared to LegalZoom registered agent service. On the other hand, Northwest offers a slective plate of services that have flat rates. Hence, in terms of cost, Northwest is cheaper than LegalZoom for specific services. However, it will be worth spending a little extra in LegalZoom as it provides a series of useful services at a very reasonable price.
Customer Support
Regarding customer support, LegalZoom has the best in the industry. The company is old, and the team is much more experienced than Northwest Registered Agent. LegalZoom’s customer service is swift and available during working hours. One can contact them by asking questions and by phone. The LegalZoom official site has many business-related articles that help you understand their services.
Northwest Registered Agent has three points of contact, email, phone and live chat through their offcial website. Customer support manager/assistant is available during business hours.
Northwest Registered Agent Additional Services
There are some services that LegalZoom does not provide, but Northwest Registered Agent does. The following services are offered by Northwest Registered Agent, but LegalZoom has no such services.
BOC-3 Registered Agent: You will get one registered agent for your LLC in one state and blanket for 50 other states through Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
National Registered Agent: National Registered Agent service includes a group of registered agents for every state. Once you sign-up for national registered agent, you will auomatically get agents in every state wherever you have your business formed.
Wholesale Registered Agent: Not only you can hire registered agent, you can actually offer services through wholesale registered agent service from Northwest.
LegalZoom vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Pros & Cons
Before you choose either of these options, you must specify what requirements you have. If you’re establishing an LLC and looking for a basic business formation package, then both these companies, LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent, can be considered. Both companies offer LC formation at a reasonable price.
LegalZoom: Pros & Cons:
| Pros of LegalZoom | Cons of LegalZoom |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive legal services: LegalZoom offers a vast range of legal services that can help entrepreneurs meet all their legal obligations. | Higher prices: LegalZoom has higher prices than other competitors in the business formation industry, especially for add-on services. |
| Established brand: LegalZoom has been around since 1999 and has helped over four million businesses. Thus, it has a reputation and tracks records of forming businesses. | Limited customer support: LegalZoom offers customer support, but it may not be as extensive as expected. Some customers have mentioned they had difficulty getting support from LegalZoom. |
| 100% satisfaction guarantee: LegalZoom offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, and if you are not satisfied with their services, you will get a full refund. |
Northwest Registered Agent: Pros & Cons:
| Pros of Northwest Registered Agent | Cons of Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|
| Privacy: Northwest Registered Agent offers high privacy protection for business owners, as they serve as registered agents for their clients. This means that their address is used instead of the client’s on public documents, offering an added layer of privacy and security. | Limited services: Northwest Registered Agent provides very limited services. Hence, compared to other competitors Northwest has much lesser options. |
| Exemplary customer service: Northwest Registered Agent is known for its outstanding customer service. Their team is known to be highly responsive, knowledgeable, and helpful in assisting with any questions or issues that may arise. | No BBB Accredited: Northwest registered agent service isn’t BBB accredited. |
| Competitive pricing: Northwest Registered Agent offers competitive prices for their services. Also, they offer flat prices for each service they offer. This makes them a cost-effective choice for entrepreneurs and small business owners. |
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Conclusion
LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent are reputable companies offering quality services at competitive rates. However, which one you choose depends on your specific business needs. LegalZoom is an excellent choice if you are looking for a more straightforward pricing model and a wide range of legal support services. If you are looking for a more affordable option and an excellent business formation package, Northwest Registered Agent is the perfect choice.
It is worth noting that both companies offer a satisfaction guarantee, so if you are not satisfied with their services, you might get a refund.
To summarize the comparison, LegalZoom is suitable for entrepreneurs who want a one-stop shop for all business-related and legal services. It has higher prices, but it is worth the investment for entrepreneurs who want personalized advice from legal professionals. On the other hand, Northwest Registered Agent is better for budget-conscious entrepreneurs who want a more streamlined and efficient business formation process.
Finally, before making your final decision, it is crucial to research other business formation companies and determine which one is the best fit for your business needs. By doing so, you can make an informed decision that will help you build a strong legal foundation for your business.