Northwest Registered Agent is a well-known, national registered agent service that many entrepreneurs leverage to get their businesses off the ground. And, for the most part, their customer reviews are pretty positive.
But, you can’t always believe what you read. And, you should know exactly what you’ll get before you sign up for any paid offer.
I’ve been reviewing competitors’ registered agent services lately – and it can only benefit you to learn as much as you can about all of your options before you decide which one to sign up for (if any). So, I wanted to review Northwest Registered Agent in-depth, and give you my take.
Here’s what’s in store:
- What is Northwest Registered Agent?
- What Does Northwest Registered Agent Do?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion: Is Northwest Registered Agent Legit?
Now, let’s get the show on the road.
What is Northwest Registered Agent?
Northwest Registered Agent is a company that helps businesses with important paperwork. They have lots of employees and help millions of businesses all over the country.
A registered agent is someone who receives legal papers for a business. Northwest Registered Agent does more than just get papers—they also offer a bunch of helpful tools and services like a free business dashboard, business email, and expert advice from their team of Corporate Guides.
First, they assign a special helper called a “Corporate Guide” to each business owner to provide you with personalized support.
Northwest Registered Agent started out helping businesses with paperwork. Now, they also assist with starting businesses as well as following rules and regulations. They even offer extra services like mail forwarding and virtual offices to keep your privacy safe (They give you a business address and forward your mail for free).
The company aims to make it easier to follow business filing rules in every state – including D.C. and Puerto Rico. Plus, they provide many resources needed to keep a business running smoothly. Whether you’re just starting out or already running an established business, Northwest Registered Agent might be able to help.
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How Much Does Northwest Registered Agent Cost?
Pricing for Northwest Registered Agent varies based on what you need.
You can create an account for free, which gives you access to an ‘Entity Management System’ where you can populate forms at no cost. And, you won’t be signed up for drip marketing campaigns or newsletters to use the tools.
Now, when you get into your account, you will enter information about your prospective or existing business, and the system will recommend registration or compliance next steps.
This is when you will be offered paid services.
But, you don’t have to take advantage of these services. In fact, the system will offer details and instructions for how or where to file certain forms on your own or take advantage of their agency services – it’s pretty cool.
And, pricing varies from service to service, for example:
- Registered Agent Services cost $125 per year plus filing fees
- Beneficial Ownership Information Reports (BOIs) cost $9
- Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) cost $50
- Operating Agreements can be generated for free or cost up to $49
- Trademark assistance costs $249 plus USPTO filing fees ($250)
- Corporate books & seals have varied costs starting at $10 per item
- The Business Identity Bundle (business address, WordPress website, email address, etc.) is $9 plus up to $9 per month per service after free trial expiration
The costs can vary tremendously, depending on which services you leverage.
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Northwest Registered Agent Company Overview
Spokane, Washington-based Northwest Registered Agent – also known as Bonanzitizing LLC — is a for-profit, privately-held company that was founded in 1998. In 2022, the company acquired AAEusocial Interweb Technologies.
Beyond that, it’s not super easy to find out solid information about company ownership or management. However, I found that Dan Keen was previously the President of the company. And, Dan VanGouden (if this is, in fact, a real person) is the “Chief Incompetence Officer.” 🤔
With this type of business, I can understand how it could be helpful to stay anonymous in-part…You don’t want your clients’ complaints to fall back on you. Plus, the staff directory is hilarious.
I haven’t found any major red flags from online reviews, but Trustpilot reviews are mostly indicative of a mid-range experience. Keep in mind, people are way more likely to complain than report satisfactory service. So, take this how you will.
While they’re not accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Northwest Registered Agent maintains an A rating and 4.55 out of 5 stars on the platform – This is despite 35 complaints closed in the past 3 years and 15 in the past 12 months (which are actually low numbers).
In all, the company appears to be legit – they’re actively registered in good standing in Washington state. I see no open class actions against them. But, since I haven’t used them myself, I can’t expressly recommend or vouch for them.
With that said, their offer is interesting and I like what I see.
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What Does Northwest Registered Agent Do?
At Northwest Registered Agent, you’ll find a range of helpful services to support your business journey. The offer is pretty robust. And, it might be helpful before you’ve ever registered and if you’ve already been in business for some time.
Let’s break down everything they might be able to help you with.
1. Business Formation & Maintenance
When you’re ready to kickstart your business, Northwest Registered Agent can assist you with setting up your LLC or corporation. They’ll guide you through the process and help you stay on top of annual filings and other maintenance tasks to keep your business running smoothly.
While the company doesn’t advertise Sole Proprietorship registration, they do mention DBAs. If you need help filing, there’s only one risk in using these services – if you never actively participate in a business that is filed with a business service, you may be charged annually until you close the business yourself.
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2. Registered Agent Services
With Northwest Registered Agent as your registered agent, you can rest easy with the idea that your legal correspondence will be handled promptly and confidentially. They’ll accept important documents on behalf of your business, to ideally make sure that you don’t miss critical communications.
You can be your own registered agent, certainly. But there are some instances where you may not want to be or it may be better for someone else to handle important filing deadlines.
A registered agent also enables you to keep your name private from business filings (which can be good or bad). Some consumers will do their due diligence before choosing to purchase from a business, and they may want to know that you’re transparent about your operations – for some businesses, this isn’t a concern.
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3. Federal Filings Assistance
Navigating federal filings can be tricky, but Northwest Registered Agent is here to help. Whether you need to obtain an EIN, elect S Corporation tax status, or file Beneficial Ownership Reports, they can help ensure that you’re on track.
However, many federal filings are free to file. So, you should be sure you actually need help before you pay for someone else to file for you.
For example, Northwest Registered Agent offers BOI filing through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for $9 and EIN filing through the Internal Revenue Service for $50. Both of these forms are free to file through their respective agencies.
If you want to file yourself:
- File your BOI through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Agency
- Apply for an EIN through the Internal Revenue Service (must be during normal business hours)
If you want help, a registered agent service can make the process faster and maybe more convenient.
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4. Online Presence & eCommerce Solutions
In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is crucial. Northwest Registered Agent offers a range of solutions to help you establish and grow your online presence, including domain registration, website hosting, email services, and SSL certificates for secure transactions.
Northwest Registered Agent doesn’t advertise which tools they use to help companies establish their online presence. But, I did find out that their “open-source websites” are built in WordPress.
Now, I love WordPress, but I never recommend it for business owners without any tech savvy – it is strictly free, but it’s not the easiest platform to navigate…at all. Even if you are proficient in digital technology, WordPress almost undoubtedly comes with the need to hire help to fix and maintain the website.
And, many of the tools needed for a fully-functional WordPress website come with an added monthly cost. Not to mention, WordPress usually isn’t the best platform for eCommerce (online product sales).
Do your research and explore multiple website building solutions before you choose your website platform.
Note: An online presence is also crucial to establish business credit…
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5. Expansion & Trademark Services
When you’re ready to expand your business or protect your brand with trademarks, Northwest Registered Agent can assist you every step of the way. From adding DBA names to securing federal trademark filings, they’ll help you navigate the process with ease.
Trademarks are an especially complex route to navigate, especially if you’ve never been on it before.
In my experience patent & trademark attorneys tend to charge from $500 to $1K for a single filing, not including U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) fees. These fees typically run from $250-350 per filing. The costs – both fiscal and mental – can add up pretty quickly.
Through Northwest Registered Agent, you can get trademark filing assistance for $249. This service is definitely worth looking into if you need a trademark, but don’t know where to start.
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6. Legal Support & Compliance
Staying compliant with state and federal regulations is crucial for business success. Northwest Registered Agent’s dedicated legal team can provide expert guidance and support to ensure you’re meeting all your legal obligations.
Moreover, when you first sign up, the platform can help you do a quick compliance check to see what you may need to stay above water. It’s super easy to get lost in the sea of business regulations, and smart to have a service that helps keep your business in line.
If nothing else, I see no harm in creating a free account with Northwest Registered Agent, just to see if you’ve filed everything you need to meet federal business regulations.
“Law On-Call” is an added service for active Registered Agent users that costs $9 per month and puts you in touch with a legal expert that can answer your personalized business questions.
Topics might include:
- Business employment
- Contracts
- Entity formation
- Nonprofit corporate bylaws
On this matter, I’d say the price is right.
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7. Payment Processing Solutions
Accepting credit cards is super important for businesses looking to increase revenue and reach more customers. Northwest Registered Agent offers a free consultation, which can make it easier for you to accept credit card payments and grow your bottom line.
I didn’t see which card processor(s) Northwest Registered Agent might work with, if any. So, this consultation may be a complimentary service.
The website also has a lot of information that explains how to accept credit cards, including how to sign up with a merchant account.
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8. Phone & Mail Services
Maintaining a professional image and ensuring privacy are important for businesses of all sizes. Northwest Registered Agent offers dedicated business phone numbers and addresses, as well as mail forwarding services, to help you stay organized and project a professional image to your customers.
Northwest Registered Agents’ business addresses are advertised as “free,” though you will pay a fee for added services like:
- Mail forwarding (not available in all states)
- Opening & scanning
Phone service costs an added $9 per month, and is hosted through an app called Corporate Phone® – Its a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) service. The price is competitive as Google Voice charges $10 for a comparable service.
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9. Corporate Supplies
Keeping your business documents organized and professional is key.
Northwest Registered Agent offers a variety of corporate supplies, including:
- Premium operating agreements
- Customized certificates
- Embossing seals
- Notary stamps
- GoBooks (zip-binders)
These products might help you maintain accurate records (and present a polished image to stakeholders). While you can get them anywhere, their prices may be a little high.
For example, Northwest Registered Agent charges $100 for a corporate kit, while you can get them for between $50-70 from various suppliers.
The trade-off is that getting supplies through a platform that already has all the required information about your business is much simpler and requires fewer steps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Northwest Registered Agent?
Northwest Registered Agent is privately owned and operated. They are not publicly traded and do not have shareholders. The company’s ownership structure is not publicly disclosed.
Where is Northwest Registered Agent located?
Northwest Registered Agent has its headquarters in Spokane, Washington. Additionally, they have offices and registered agent service locations in all 50 states, allowing them to serve businesses nationwide.
How to cancel Northwest Registered Agent?
To cancel your services with Northwest Registered Agent, you typically need to follow the cancellation process outlined in your service agreement or contract. This may involve submitting a formal request to cancel your registered agent services through your online dashboard or your Secretary of State, depending on the services you’re subscribed to – Review the terms of your agreement carefully and follow any specific cancellation instructions to ensure a smooth process.
Conclusion: Is Northwest Registered Agent Legit?
Overall, Northwest Registered Agent is legitimate, yes. Their services are pretty straightforward, comprehensive, and impressively non-gimmicky. I like this offer…a lot.
The main downside that I found is that the site and platform aren’t super easy to navigate, if you want to bounce around. However, you can still have a comprehensive experience if you move through the online onboarding process the way it’s initially laid out.
Now, you can also file all of your forms yourself, which is easier for some people than others. A registered agent and business services can save you a lot of time (and time is money).
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