Northwest Registered Agent
Privacy. Service. Value.
Harbor Compliance
Multi-State Compliance & Entity Management Platform
Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.
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
Harbor Compliance
HQ: Lancaster, Pennsylvania (812 N Prince St)
Ownership: Private (founder-led; Mike Montali CEO)
Employees: 51-200
Formations: 40,000+ clients served (focus on compliance, not pure formation)
Key Milestones
- Founded 2012 by regulatory specialists & tech experts
- Hit Inc. 5000 for 7th year in 2025
- Acquired Labyrinth Inc. (added nonprofits)
- Launched Compliance Core™ algorithm
- Grew to 40k+ clients across 50 states
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
Harbor Compliance Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Nonprofit
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (all states)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
- ✓ Conversions & Mergers
Differentiators:
- Compliance Core™ scans 22,000+ requirements
- Air-Tight Onboarding™ (90% issue resolution)
- SaaS + managed hybrid for enterprises
- Direct SOS database feeds for real-time status
- Unlimited users & collaboration tools
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | Northwest Registered Agent | Harbor Compliance | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$39 + state fees (RA included) | ~$99 + state fees (RA-focused; higher for full compliance) | Northwest Registered Agent |
| RA Annual Fee | Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps) | $99 first year; $149 renewal (multi-year discounts) | — |
| Value Score | 9.2/10 | 7.9/10 | Northwest Registered Agent |
Speed & Performance
Northwest Registered Agent
Avg formation: 1-3 business days (10-min setup)
Expedited: Same-day possible (included)
Harbor Compliance
Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard
Expedited: Same-day document delivery (included)
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
Harbor Compliance — Pros
- ✓ 22k+ regulatory scans
- ✓ SaaS + managed hybrid
- ✓ All 50 states RA
- ✓ Entity management suite
- ✓ Proven for enterprises
Harbor Compliance — Cons
- ✗ Premium pricing
- ✗ Mixed Trustpilot (3.5)
- ✗ Billing complaints
- ✗ Steep for startups
- ✗ Basic formation vs. specialists
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 Harbor Compliance if: The powerhouse for complex, multi-state compliance—ideal for growing businesses needing software + service. Skip if you're a solo founder on a budget.
Higher rating: Northwest Registered Agent (9.1/10)