Head-to-Head

Northwest Registered Agent

Privacy. Service. Value.

VS

Business Initiative

Business Intelligence That Forms Your Business

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

Founded
Northwest Registered Agent: 1998
Business Initiative: 2021
Rating
9.1/10
8.7/10
First Year Cost
~$39 + state fees (RA included)
~$310+ (LLC formation + RA)
Formation Speed
1-3 business days (10-min setup)
7-14 business days standard
RA Annual
Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps)
$125/year per state (multi-company discounts)

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

Business Initiative

HQ: New York, NY (virtual/nationwide operations)

Ownership: Private (founder-owned)

Employees: 1

Formations: Not publicly disclosed (quality-focused, low volume)

Key Milestones

  • Launched 2021 as educational platform
  • Evolved to full-service formation + RA services
  • Built AI tools, stats library, and provider directory

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

Business Initiative Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Partnerships
  • Foreign LLC/Corp qualifications
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • All state/federal fees included upfront
  • Business intelligence platform (stats, AI selector, education)
  • Directory of other providers
  • Founder-led, transparent education

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

Pricing & Value

Category Northwest Registered Agent Business Initiative Winner
First Year Total ~$39 + state fees (RA included) ~$310+ (LLC formation + RA) Northwest Registered Agent
RA Annual Fee Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps) $125/year per state (multi-company discounts)
Value Score 9.2/10 8.5/10 Northwest Registered Agent

Speed & Performance

Northwest Registered Agent

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

Expedited: Same-day possible (included)

Business Initiative

Avg formation: 7-14 business days standard

Expedited: 1-3 business days ($25-$200); same-day before 1 PM EST

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

Business Initiative — Pros

  • All fees included (transparent value)
  • Privacy-first RA ($125 flat)
  • Educational platform (stats/AI tools)
  • Fast human support
  • Nationwide + foreign quals

Business Initiative — Cons

  • ✗ Newer (fewer formations track record)
  • ✗ Limited review volume
  • ✗ Basic add-ons
  • ✗ No 24/7 chat
  • ✗ Virtual-only operations

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 Business Initiative if: Beats competitors on all-in costs and smarts—perfect for informed operators who want a partner, not just a filer.

Higher rating: Northwest Registered Agent (9.1/10)