Northwest Registered Agent
Privacy. Service. Value.
Inc Authority
100% Free Business Formation Services
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
Inc Authority
HQ: Reno, Nevada (3773 Howard Hughes Pkwy, Suite 500S)
Ownership: Private (independent)
Employees: 120+
Formations: 250,000+ entities
Key Milestones
- Founded 1989 in Reno, NV
- Pioneered free formation model
- Hit 250,000+ formations
- Partnered with Daymond John (Shark Tank) in 2021
- Inc. 5000 ranking for multiple years
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
Inc Authority Services
Formation types:
- ✓ LLC
- ✓ Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
- ✓ Foreign Qualification (limited)
- ✓ Change of Registered Agent
Differentiators:
- Truly free formation ($0 service fee + state fees only)
- Free 1-year RA + EIN
- Tax-deductible state fees
- Worry-free guarantee
- High-volume upsell support (credit, funding)
Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.
Pricing & Value
| Category | Northwest Registered Agent | Inc Authority | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year Total | ~$39 + state fees (RA included) | ~$0 + state fees (free formation + RA) | Northwest Registered Agent |
| RA Annual Fee | Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps) | Free Year 1; $99/year renewal (or higher bundles) | — |
| 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)
Inc Authority
Avg formation: 24 hours processing + state time
Expedited: Free 24-hour (standard)
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
Inc Authority — Pros
- ✓ 100% free service fee
- ✓ Free 1-year RA + EIN
- ✓ 24-hour fast processing
- ✓ Tax & funding analysis
- ✓ #1 rated on Trustpilot
Inc Authority — Cons
- ✗ Heavy marketing/upsells
- ✗ Persistent emails/calls
- ✗ Billing disputes
- ✗ BBB complaints
- ✗ Limited add-on depth
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 Inc Authority if: The ultimate free formation option—ideal for bootstrappers ignoring upsells. Delivers value if you want zero-cost startup with pro perks.
Higher rating: Northwest Registered Agent (9.1/10)