Head-to-Head

Northwest Registered Agent

Privacy. Service. Value.

VS

Active Filings

Fast & Affordable Business Formation Since 2001

Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.

Founded
Northwest Registered Agent: 1998
Active Filings: 2001
Rating
9.1/10
7.8/10
First Year Cost
~$39 + state fees (RA included)
~$0 + state fees (RA included)
Formation Speed
1-3 business days (10-min setup)
2-5 business days standard
RA Annual
Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps)
Free Year 1 (with formation); $99/year renewal

Company Background

Northwest Registered Agent

HQ: Spokane, Washington (522 W Riverside Ave Suite N)

Ownership: Private (family-owned)

Employees: 51-200

Formations: 3,000,000+ businesses maintained

Key Milestones

  • Founded 1998 in Spokane, WA
  • Expanded to offices in all 50 states
  • Pioneered Privacy By Default®
  • Launched Business Identity Package (address, mail, email, domain)
  • Hit 3M+ businesses maintained

Active Filings

HQ: Dania Beach, Florida (381 E Sheridan St)

Ownership: Private (independent, founder-owned; no VC backing)

Employees: 4

Formations: 100,000+ satisfied customers

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2001 by immigrant Roberto Neuberger in Florida
  • Expanded from FL-only to all 50 states + DC + PR
  • Pioneered online incorporation tech (pre-VC era)
  • Developed proprietary compliance review system
  • Remained independent (no institutional investors)

Core Services

Northwest Registered Agent Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • Registered Partnerships
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • Privacy By Default® (uses their address, no data selling)
  • Business Identity Package (address, mail, email, domain, hosting)
  • In-house experts & custom software
  • No upsells or aggressive marketing
  • Family-owned with dedicated Corporate Guides

Active Filings Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Nonprofit
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • International Incorporation Plan (for non-US residents)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • More free services than competitors (lifetime support, checklists)
  • 19+ years experience; 3rd oldest service
  • Error-free filing guarantee
  • Proprietary compliance tech
  • Dedicated support for law firms & small biz

Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.

Pricing & Value

Category Northwest Registered Agent Active Filings Winner
First Year Total ~$39 + state fees (RA included) ~$0 + state fees (RA included) Northwest Registered Agent
RA Annual Fee Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps) Free Year 1 (with formation); $99/year renewal
Value Score 9.2/10 7.8/10 Northwest Registered Agent

Speed & Performance

Northwest Registered Agent

Avg formation: 1-3 business days (10-min setup)

Expedited: Same-day possible (included)

Active Filings

Avg formation: 2-5 business days standard

Expedited: 2 business days (varies); same-day in select states

Pros & Cons

Northwest Registered Agent — Pros

  • Privacy By Default®
  • Free RA Year 1 ($125 after)
  • Business Identity Package
  • In-house experts
  • No annoying marketing

Northwest Registered Agent — Cons

  • ✗ RA renewal required
  • ✗ Basic formation vs. bundles
  • ✗ Limited reviews depth
  • ✗ No 24/7 chat
  • ✗ Expedited varies

Active Filings — Pros

  • Lifetime free support
  • 3rd oldest; proven track record
  • All 50 states + international
  • Error-free guarantee
  • Strong Spanish support

Active Filings — Cons

  • ✗ Small team (less scale)
  • ✗ RA renewal after free year
  • ✗ Fewer reviews than giants
  • ✗ Basic tech vs. AI tools
  • ✗ Expedited varies by state

The Verdict

Choose Northwest Registered Agent if: The gold standard for privacy-focused RA—perfect for founders who want real protection, expert help, and a fair price without the sales pressure. Top pick for most.


Choose Active Filings if: Veteran player with human touch—great for immigrants needing reliable help, but check pricing vs. budget options.

Higher rating: Northwest Registered Agent (9.1/10)