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ZenBusiness vs. Northwest Registered Agent: When you attempt to start an LLC or any sort of business in the United States, you must do it flawlessly to avoid discrepancies. A business formation service like ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent makes it easier for you as they have plenty of professional services that help you establish your business smoothly, irrespective of the state you’re in.
This page will explain a comparative guide between ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent. LLCBuddy editors, with their best possible knowledge, have come up with this comparison to ease your decision on which service to buy. Let’s dig up more on ZenBusiness vs Northwest Registered Agent guide for the aspiring entrepreneurs around us!
ZenBusiness vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Quick Review
| Services | ZenBusiness | Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation | Available | Available |
| Starting Price | $0 + State filing fee | $39 + state filing fee |
| Registered Agent Service | Available at $99 per year | Available at $125 per year |
| Legal Advice | Not Available | Available on call |
| EIN | Available at $99 | Available at $50 |
| Operating Agreement | $125 | Not Available |
| Annual Report | $100 + state filing fee | $100 + state filing fee |
| Attorney Service | Not available | Not available |
| Website | ZenBusiness | Northwest Registered Agent |
| Review | ZenBusiness Review | Northwest Register Agent Review |
ZenBusiness vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Our Take
ZenBusiness is one of the best LLC formation services available today. Their vast packages and diverse services can easily attract businesses. Like ZenBusiness, many other businesses offer LLC formation at $0, however, the company offers quick turnaround time (within 1 business day processing for Pro and Premium members) that no other close competitors offer. Besides, ZenBusiness is known for its 100% accuracy which makes it even more popular among aspiring entrepreneurs. However, 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 ZenBusiness offers LLC formation for free.. Now, it is up to your requirements, which one you choose.
We prefer LLC formation packages over subscriptions or memberships. We would also prefer to go with customized packages where you can pick services and make your own package. You must have your own preferences, budget, and requirements. You can explore the best LLC services to get an overall comparison among the top-rated companies in the market.
Our main aim is to share insights into the features and prices that both these services offer. We researched the details of ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent to bring the comparison study for you.
ZenBusiness vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Price and Packaging
This is the most crucial part you should consider before making a choice between ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent. Your requirements, your budget, the services they offer, and the price they charge should all be aligned so that you can make a smooth choice. However, the world isn’t that easy. You lose some, you gain some. If you’re looking only for the registered agent service and not the formation, you can explore the best Registered Agent services available. So, here we are with a comparative price and package study for ZenBusiness vs Northwest Registered Agent.
ZenBusiness Price & Package
- LLC formation Package starts from $0 and go up till $299 + state filing fees.
- Add-on services are available that can be purchased without the entire package.,
- Registered agent is available at $99 a year.,
- Business name reservation at $50.,
- Worry-free compliance at $199 a year.,
- Business document templates library is available at $99 (one-time cost).,
- New York publication service is available at $200 (one-time cost).,
- Business license report is available at $99 (one-time cost).,
- Annual report filing is at $100.,
- LLC formation document amendment can be done at $100.,
- Certificate of Good Standing filing costs $100.
Add-ons by ZenBusiness
- Standalone Registered Agent Service – $99,
- Business Name Reservation- $50,
- Annual Report Filing- $100 + state fees,
- New York Publication- $200 + publication cost,
- Filing Amendment- $100 + state fees,
- Certificate of Good Standing- $100 + state fees,
- Business License Report- $99,
- Business Document Templates Library- $99
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 | ZenBusiness | Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $0 + State filing fee | $39 + state filing fee |
| Processing time | 7 to 10 working days | 3 to 5 business days |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Available at $99 | Available at $50 |
| Operating Agreement | $125 | Not Available |
| Business Compliance | $199 a year | Not Available |
| Web domain & web hosting | Available at $129/year | Not available |
Pro/Mid-Level Package:
| Services | ZenBusiness | Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $199 + State Filing Fees | $39 + state filing fee (flat) |
| Processing Time | 1 business day | 2 to 3 business days |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Included | $50 |
| Operating Agreement | Included | Not Available |
| Business Compliance | Free for a year ($199/year after) | Not Available |
| Web domain & web hosting | $129/year | Not Available |
| Domain Name Registration | $25/year | Not Available |
| Business Email | $25/year | Not Available |
Premium/Top Level Package:
| Services | ZenBusiness | Northwest Registered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation | $299 + State Filing Fees | $39 (flat) + state filing fee |
| Processing Time | 1 business day | 2 to 3 business days |
| Business Name Search | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| EIN | Included | $50 |
| Operating Agreement | Included | Not Available |
| Business Compliance | Free for a year ($199/year after) | Not Available |
| Web domain & web hosting | Included | Not Available |
ZenBusiness vs. Northwest Registered Agent: How They Are Different or Similar
ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent offer similar yet different 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 ZenBusiness have with each other.
Business Formation
ZenBusiness offers business formation services, such as LLC formation, filing formation documents with SOS, registered agent services, operating agreement, EIN, worry-free annual compliance, business domain and creating websites, and many more. The processing time in ZenBusiness is incredibly fast compare to the other service.
Northwest Registered Agent does not provide conventional LLC formation package like ZenBusiness. 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. ZenBusiness does not provide such variation in registered agent. In Northwest, along with LLC formation, EIN, annual report, trademark services, law on call and more at a flat price.
Legal Support & Attorney Services
ZenBusiness does not provide attorney consultation of direct legal services. It does provide legal documentation and templates for compliances and such. However, if you’re looking for legal help then ZenBusiness might not be an ideal choice for you.
Northwest Registered Agent does not have the provision of legal service. They do have a “law on call” service. Apart from this, Northwest does not offer any other type of legal services compared to ZenBusiness which offers legal document for compliance.
Overall Cost
ZenBusiness offers LLC formation service at $0 + state filing fee. Other services, such as registered agent service are available at $99 a year. On the contrary, obtaining EIN is a bit pricey. ZenBusiness offers EIN at $99. Besides, ZenBusiness offers annual compliance free for a year with the basic package. Hence, in terms of overall cost, ZenBusiness is cheaper compared to any other service. But, EIN and Operating Agreement costs are higher than many other companies.
Northwest Registered Agent, like ZenBusiness, 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 ZenBusiness 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 ZenBusiness for specific services. However, it will be worth spending a little extra in ZenBusiness as it provides a series of useful services at a very reasonable price with an excellent processing time.
Customer Support
ZenBusiness has three main ways for customers to reach them. These three ways are Live Chats, Phone Call, and Email. You can reach out to them during working hours through live chat and phone call. You can also drop a mail anytime via their official email ID. The easiest way to reach out to them is through their live chat during business hours.
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 ZenBusiness might not have expertise in while Northwest Registered Agent does have dominance over them. Here’s a list of some ‘exclusive’ services that Northwest Registered Agent offers!
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.
ZenBusiness vs. Northwest Registered Agent: Pros & Cons
As we are talking about forming an LLC or any business, both ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent can be your choice. However, establishing a business is not only about filing the papers; a whole lot of work is involved. Hence, let’s get into the Pros and Cons of each service before you jump to any conclusion.
ZenBusiness: Pros & Cons:
| Pros of ZenBusiness👍 | Cons of ZenBusiness👎 |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective: ZenBusiness offers affordable pricing plans for business formation services, making it accessible for small business owners or entrepreneurs on a budget. | Limited customization: While ZenBusiness offers a streamlined process, it may lack in terms of flexibility and customization options. Some entrepreneurs might prefer more personalized solutions tailored to their specific business needs. |
| Streamlined process: The platform provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the business formation process. It guides users through necessary steps and ensures all required documents are filed correctly and promptly. | Upsells and add-on costs: While ZenBusiness offers affordable pricing for its basic services, they have several additional features at an extra cost. Customers need to be mindful of these add-ons and consider their necessity before purchasing. |
| Additional features: ZenBusiness offers a range of features, such as registered agent services, annual report filings, and ongoing compliance reminders. These services help businesses stay organized and in compliance with legal requirements. | Customer support: Some users have reported inconsistent or slow customer support responses. This lack of prompt assistance may cause frustration, especially when urgent matters need to be addressed. |
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. |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Conclusion
ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent are both popular and top-rated companies that have made a lot of difference in the business world in the past few years. We shared this comparative guide to make your way easier while choosing the right option for yourself.
While doing our research, we have come up with a perspective that brands are not always helpful. You can go for the pricey and most popular company. But it is all about your company’s formation requirements. It is all about what they offer and what you need. Whether their offering is useful for your company or not, no matter how big their company or brand name is. We personally preferred ZenBusiness (LLC formation at $0 + state fees) for its vast services and packages at a very affordable price.
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.