ZenBusiness Vs Northwest Registered Agent 2024: Best LLC Service

Introduction

Do you want to register your small business as an LLC with an easy online process?  If so, you will benefit from our in-depth review and analysis of business formation services – ZenBusiness vs Northwest Registered Agent. Each company offers a selection of business documents, basic LLC formation services, worry-free compliance services, and paid or free registered agent services.

ZenBusiness

Launched less than a decade ago in Austin Texas, ZenBusiness has made a name for itself as an up-and-coming provider of legal services for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Consumers find basic legal services such as document preparation and registered agent service. ZenBusiness espouses a mission of social consciousness, intuitive technology, and comprehensive service in order to create a strong brand identity.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent is a family-owned and operated business that maintains registered agent services in all 50 US states for over two decades. The company has slowly branched out into other business functions, such as LLC service. No matter what service they provide, Northwest prides itself on personal touch and old-fashioned business courtesy. This article provides a detailed comparison of these renowned business formation companies.

Read more: Best LLC Services 2024

ZenBusiness Vs Northwest, What Are The Similarities?

ZenBusiness vs Northwest – Both are companies that provide professional services; let’s look at some similarities between these two.

• If you use the services of either of these companies, you will be able to save a lot of money on your LLC formation compared to the business attorney that you may need to hire for your LLC formation process.
• Both these companies are recommended by the customers that have used their services, so you can be sure that you will have a positive experience with both these companies.
• When it comes to protecting their customers’ private information, both ZenBusiness and Northwest emphasized security and compliance. They take precautions against hacking and other security breaches using encryption techniques and multi-factor authentication.
• ZenBusiness and Northwest are known to have excellent customer support, so when you get on a phone call with one of their customer support staff, you will most likely get a satisfactory answer.
• Both these companies are known to be highly efficient, they streamline the back office process so your LLC formation will take much less time compared to other service providers.  

ZenBusiness vs Northwest – Brand Comparison Details

Best Overall Pricing and Value: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness

Here you will find excellent value, transparent pricing, and easy-to-understand tiers of service.  ZenBusiness offers the Starter ($0 plus state fees), Pro ($199 plus state fees), and Premium ($349 plus state fees) packages. Add-ons of additional services for registered agents, EIN, or annual compliance are reasonable. Because everything a business owner needs for LLC service and business filing services is available for a reasonable investment. When you calculate fees for any particular menu of services, ZenBusiness has a more affordable price. All prices are subject to the additional state fee.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest has $0 and $39 starting fees for the very basics, such as basic DIY documents. However, they do not advertise specific packages so that a la carte pricing will add up quickly. The price and service structure is not as transparent or easy to find on their website. Northwest is niched in premium registered agent services, providing value with their specialized service. So this might be better for a small segment of the market who evaluate the registered agent service once you are already set up as a business.

Best Track Record & Experience: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness

Each has specific strengths, the track record is a toss-up ZenBusiness vs. Northwest. Both companies have helped scores of clients successfully and their services are well-regarded. ZenBusiness has conducted a majority of transactions over the last 5 years, so it doesn’t have the decades of experience we see with Northwest. However, web-based reviews of their service are frequent and very high. They enjoy an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. At this moment, it’s hard to find a better-rated service.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest has a long history in the registered agent business. However, there seems to be much less information available about their current services, as their clientele seems much less likely to use Internet dating sites. For example, on the review aggregator site Trustpilot, only 13 users have scored Northwest Registered Agent. One of those reviewers has rated Northwest as 1-star. Northwest is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau Even though they have been around for a long time, their current LLC service has not been reported on enough to be considered fully vetted.

Best Common Features: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness

Prospective consumers can access business formation, limited liability company incorporation, registered agent services, Employer Identification Number, LLC service, and LLC filing. The Starter plan features include Worry-Free Compliance Expenses and Deduction Tracking. The paid Pro Plan also gives users access to Faster Expedited Filing Speed, Worry-Free Compliance, and a Guided Operating Agreement. The highest level, Premium, adds the Fastest Rush Filing Speed, a Business Domain Name & Email Address, and Customizable Business Website package, annual report service. Turnaround times of 1 business day are possible with Premium.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest offers filing, LLC formation, incorporation, nonprofit formation, compliance, phone service, payment processing, mail forwarding, virtual office, registered agent survive, blanket agent, national registered agent, bulk registered agent, trademarks, law on call, EIN, foreign qualification

Best Customer Support: Northwest Registered Agent

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness vs. Northwest features two different philosophies on support. Users have praised ZenBusiness’s polite, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable customer support. Their staff is invested in helping you start your own business. This area seems to be a concerted effort to gain customer satisfaction.  While ZenBusiess received mostly high marks here, there is a small but noticeable percentage of users who did not find the help they were looking for – so a good mark for excellent customer service overall, but not top of the class.

Northwest Registered Agent

Many consumers will appreciate Northwest’s theory of customer support. They espouse a focus on human connection, pledging live support instead of chatbots, slow reply emails, or a long menu of buttons on an automated system. This is a point of pride. However, the experience is really dependent on which customer service rep you encounter, with most reviews sky high on service but a notable minority, displeased. Thus, we give a slight nod to Northwest as they bring something different to the table.

Best Ease of Use: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness

The business formation experience and an online dashboard for both companies are user-friendly.   ZenBusiness offers more of a modern web experience, with more intuitive features. Customer feedback in this area is strong but some complaints about numerous upsell questions slowing the process. Generally, the LLC formation process is very fast, intuitive, and straightforward.

Northwest Registered Agent

Though an online platform, Northwest funnels customers to their staff, deemed Corporate Guides. The guides are helpful and customer service oriented. However, this process is not designed to be fast and easy the same way ZenBusiness is. Northwest does not fully capitalize on the speed and automated functions to be – but it isn’t trying to. If you like talking to someone on the phone and having them help you instead of intuitively using an interface, you may even think Northwest is easier.

Best LLC Formation: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness

Business owners are guided through a series of questions about their business, and the proper forms and documents are generated. ZenBusiness takes care of the filing for you. ZenBusiness also offers a few specialty items such as New York Publication, giving a layer of convenience for that special state requirement. Furthermore, ZenBusiness has a few more features and add-ons available – therefore is slightly better if you want everything you may need. We considered it the best LLC service in this comparison.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest has helped over 3 million businesses, so there is no question they can help with business formation. However, their service is more on the basic side, with registered agent service and responsiveness to customers more of their focus. So while you won’t go wrong with Northwest, they offer fewer features and less value for LLC formation.

Best Registered Agent Services: Northwest Registered Agent

ZenBusiness

When you start your own business, you need a legal address to receive official correspondence.  ZenBusiness provides registered agent service to establish the legal address, receive official correspondence, and even be served if you are sued (not pleasant, but knowing the documents are handled properly is valuable). ZenBusiness provides adequate registered agent services, though the glowing recommendations from customers are more directed toward their LLC formation service.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest specializes in premium registered agent services – of course, it is right in the name! Their network of agents will receive your legal and government correspondence, keep all your data in-house and private, and forward emails. Your agent serves as the Corporate Guide through the entire process and is available for consulting anytime. Thousands of businesses have trusted Northwest for this service.

Best Speed of Formation: ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness

Though their free filing service may take a few weeks, entrepreneurs in a hurry can pay for faster service. The higher-tiered packages both come with faster-filling options. If you are faced with a particularly fast deadline, ZenBusiness also offers expedited filing for an additional fee – which guarantees 1-2 day filing.

Northwest Registered Agent

It all depends on what you pay for in comparing Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness. Northwest offers next-day filing for a fee, or up to nine weeks depending on your state for lower-cost incorporation. However, this is not in line with the best-intended use of Northwest. They shine when you want to move slower, engage in a phone consultation with your guide, and engage in a slower business pace. If you want speed of formation, you are better off using ZenBusiness.

Which Should You Choose?

ZenBusiness vs Northwest Registered Agents, in this comparison, shows that both have built successful brands in the LLC formation and registered agent field. Overall, ZenBusiness is more current and innovative, has a larger selection of services, and is cheaper and faster.  

This is not to say Northwest is without competitive advantages of its own. They are highly specialized and experienced in registered agent services and are committed to old-fashioned personal touch in customer service. ZenBusiness will serve the majority of business owners better, but those whose vision of service is aligned with Northwest will truly value their commitment to old-fashioned business relationships.

Choose ZenBusiness if:

If you want a free plan, need more services, or believe 10,000 recent reviewers can’t all be wrong. Overall, this company provides more options in the comparison of ZenBusiness vs. Northwest. Additionally, if you value a social change mindset from partner companies, you will find ZenBusiness’s mission compelling.

Choose Northwest Registered Agent if:

You only want registered agent services, or if you put a high value on the personal touch and premium customer support. Northwest also uses all its own employees for services, so choose them if you want as few as possible hands on your data. Additionally, those who want a digital platform that best connects them to traditional business practices.

Final thought

So our in-depth comparison of ZenBusiness vs Northwest Registered Agent shows two different philosophies. Northwest Registered Agent brings three intriguing strengths to the table – personal touch, data privacy, and a long track record in registered agent service. However, customers indicate varying levels of satisfaction. Does not really specialize in LLC formation. ZenBusiness is easy to use, intuitive, and offers many services. ZenBusiness is the clear choice for a large segment of the market, but those who are drawn to Northwest’s differentiators will likely find their service unique.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)