Head-to-Head

Northwest Registered Agent

Privacy. Service. Value.

VS

LegalZoom

Legal Solutions Trusted By Millions

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

Founded
Northwest Registered Agent: 1998
LegalZoom: 2001
Rating
9.1/10
7.8/10
First Year Cost
~$39 + state fees (RA included)
~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra)
Formation Speed
1-3 business days (10-min setup)
1-5 business days standard
RA Annual
Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps)
$249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy)

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

LegalZoom

HQ: Glendale, California (101 N Brand Blvd)

Ownership: Public (NASDAQ: LZ)

Employees: 964+

Formations: 4,000,000+ businesses

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2001 in California
  • Pioneered online LLC formation
  • Went public (NASDAQ: LZ) in 2021
  • Acquired law firm operations
  • Expanded to 4M+ formations with attorney-backed services

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

LegalZoom Services

Formation types:

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

Differentiators:

  • Privacy-focused RA (uses company address)
  • Attorney-backed legal forms & reviews
  • All-in-one legal ecosystem
  • Corporate Veil protection guarantee
  • 24/7 chat during formation

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

Pricing & Value

Category Northwest Registered Agent LegalZoom Winner
First Year Total ~$39 + state fees (RA included) ~$249-$548+ (Pro + RA; state fees extra) Northwest Registered Agent
RA Annual Fee Free Year 1; $125/year renewal (flat, no multi-year traps) $249/year (not included; mandatory for privacy)
Value Score 9.2/10 7.5/10 Northwest Registered Agent

Speed & Performance

Northwest Registered Agent

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

Expedited: Same-day possible (included)

LegalZoom

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Same-day ($20+)

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

LegalZoom — Pros

  • 4M+ businesses formed
  • Privacy-first RA
  • Comprehensive legal ecosystem
  • 24/7 chat support
  • Trusted since 2001

LegalZoom — Cons

  • ✗ RA $249/year
  • ✗ No free Year 1 RA
  • ✗ High overall costs
  • ✗ Aggressive upsells
  • ✗ Basic for simple needs

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 LegalZoom if: The go-to for comprehensive legal services with privacy focus—ideal if you want forms, attorneys, and RA in one trusted place. Pricey but reliable for those valuing the brand.

Higher rating: Northwest Registered Agent (9.1/10)