Northwest Registered Agent is the 2nd largest Registered Agent company. They offer LLC formation service and Registered Agent service in every state. Read our review to find out if you should hire them.
Let’s get right to it:
Should you hire Northwest to form your LLC?
If you’re looking for great customer service and the best price, yes, we recommend hiring Northwest Registered Agent. They charge $39 plus state fees to form your LLC.
Northwest offers discounted pricing to LLC University® readers (60% off).
About Northwest Registered Agent LLC
Northwest Registered Agent is headquartered in Spokane, Washington. However, they also have offices in all 50 states.
They are a well-established business and have been in operation for over 20 years.
Core Services
Northwest Registered Agent offers the following core services:
- LLC formation service
- Registered Agent service
- Address privacy (keeps your address off public record)
- Lifetime customer support
- Annual Report reminders
- Online document dashboard
Additional Services
Northwest offers the following extra services:
- EIN Number
- Annual Report service
- Operating Agreements
- Virtual office service
- S-Corp Election
- Mail forwarding service
- Foreign qualification
- Legal forms
- Legal services (in Utah)
- Incorporation services
Northwest Registered Agent reviews
| Rating | Number of Reviews | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google: | 4.6 stars | 339 reviews | Google reviews |
| Better Business Bureau: | 4.33 stars | 90 reviews | BBB reviews |
| Birdeye: | 4.4 stars | 443 reviews | Birdeye reviews |
| Yelp: | 4 stars | 49 reviews | Yelp reviews |
Here’s a few of our favorite customer reviews:
“These guys are real. They do LLCs. They do just as good a job as LegalZoom. They do it for much cheaper. And they do it with 1 or 2 day turnaround, for FREE, whereas Legal Zoom charges HUNDREDS of dollars for that. They also have great people available on the phone. I paid. I received service. It was not a scam. Legit business. I’m very, very happy I found these guys. LegalZoom would’ve taken a month and cost much more.”
Carlos Augusto, California
(source: Google reviews)
“Northwest Registered Agent is one of the more seamless companies to work with in regards to company formation and registered agents. Paul (the rep who helped me) is a beast. I rapid fired so many questions at him, all of which were answered patiently with specificity and experience. Within 30 minutes, I went from being someone who knew little to nothing about company formation, to being someone who was able to move things forward with certainty.”
Dylan P, New York
(source: Yelp reviews)
“Down-to-earth pricing with no hidden gotchas. Fast turnaround, responsive customer service, and an all-round pleasurable company to work with.”
Ozan B.
(source: Better Business Bureau reviews)
How much does Northwest Registered Agent charge to form an LLC?
| LLC formation: | $39 + state fee |
| Registered Agent service: | Free the 1st year (then $125 per year) |
| Address privacy: | Free |
Pros of Northwest Registered Agent
These are the pros of Northwest Registered Agent:
- Keep your address off public record (no other company offers this)
- Great customer support (call and ask any question – you’ll be impressed!)
- Very reasonable prices (use the LLCU discount)
- Been in business 20+ years
- They don’t sell your customer data (unlike most other companies in the space)
- They have offices in strategic locations (to help you save money on states where there’s a publication requirement: Arizona, New York, and Nebraska)
Cons of Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent is not the cheapest company. Other companies are cheaper, however, we think the saying holds true: you get what you pay for.
We don’t believe there are any cons to Northwest. We’ve compared Northwest with all other LLC filing companies. We haven’t found a single situation in which Northwest didn’t come out on top.
Northwest Registered Agent Guarantee
Northwest has a 100% Error-Free Guarantee:
“We form hundreds of LLCs every day, and each filing is backed by our 100% error-free guarantee. Although extremely rare, in the 20 years we’ve been in business, we’ve learned that mistakes do happen. Should an error occur, we’ll file every amendment required to make sure your company information is accurate (at no cost to you).”
Alternatives to Northwest Registered Agent
Alternatives to Northwest Registered Agent are:
- BizFilings
- CorpNet
- Harbor Compliance
- InCorp
- Incorporate.com
- IncFile
- LegalZoom
- MyCorporation
- My Company Works
- ZenBusiness
If you go with another company, we recommend looking into the following:
- Do they have hidden fees?
- Do they have lots of upsells?
- Do they charge extra to scan your mail?
- Do they have good reviews?
- Do they keep your address off public records?
Northwest Registered Agent vs competitors
Check out the table below for pricing and reviews of the top LLC formation services.
| Price | Address privacy | Reviews | Free Registered Agent 1st year? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 + state fee (complete package) | Yes, the only company to offer this. | 4.6 stars Google rating | Yes |
| LegalZoom | $0 + state fee (basic package) | No | 3.6 stars Google rating | No, $299 per year |
| ZenBusiness | $49 + state fee (starter package) | No | 4.8 stars Google rating | Yes |
| IncFile | $0 + state fee (started package) | No | 3.4 stars on Trustpilot | Yes |
| Rocket Lawyer | $100 + state fee (non-subscriber price) | No | 4.7 stars on Trustpilot | No, $150 per year |
Northwest Registered Agent vs LegalZoom
Winner → Northwest Registered Agent
Why? Northwest Registered Agent has better customer support and better pricing. LegalZoom has misleading pricing and can be hard to cancel.
For more information, check out Northwest Registered Agent vs LegalZoom.
Here is LegalZoom compared to Northwest Registered Agent:
| LegalZoom | Northwest Registered Agent | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC price: | $0 + state fee | $39 + state fee | Northwest's filing fees are $110 cheaper. |
| Registered Agent price: | $249 per year | Free for 1st year, then $125 per year | Many LegalZoom customers say this service is hard to cancel. |
| Upsells: | 7 upsells | No upsells | LegalZoom upsells totaled $1,688. |
| Approval time: | 30 business days (unless you pay extra) | 3-5 business days (in most states) | Northwest is on average 3 weeks faster |
| Google reviews: | LegalZoom is 3.7 stars | Northwest is 4.7 stars | Northwest has better reviews. |
| Customer support: | Not easy to contact. Sometimes they try to sell you more products. | Industry experts who share knowledge. Friendly. No sales pitches. | Northwest has better customer support. And no "pushy" salespeople. |
| Data privacy: | LegalZoom sells customer info. | Northwest never sells any customer info. |
Northwest Registered Agent vs IncFile
Winner → Northwest Registered Agent
Why? While IncFile has cheaper filing fees, Northwest Registered Agent has much better support. And Northwest doesn’t sell any of your customer data.
For more information, check out IncFile vs Northwest Registered Agent.
Here is IncFile compared to Northwest Registered Agent:
| IncFile | Northwest Registered Agent | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC price: | $0 + state fee | $39 + state fee | While IncFile is cheaper up front, most people pay a lot more with the upsells. |
| Registered Agent price: | Free for 1st year, then $119 per year | Free for 1st year, then $125 per year | |
| Upsells: | 8 upsells | No upsells | IncFile upsells totaled $343. |
| Approval time: | 1-3 weeks (depends on the state) | 3-5 business days (in most states) | |
| Google reviews: | IncFile is 1.5 stars | Northwest is 4.5 stars | Northwest has better reviews. |
| Customer support: | This is where IncFile gets a bad reputation. Support can be hard to reach or not helpful. | Industry experts who share knowledge. Friendly. No sales pitches. | Northwest has better customer support. And no "pushy" salespeople. |
| Data privacy: | If you choose certain upsells, IncFile does sell your data. | Northwest never sells your data. |
Services provided by Northwest Registered Agent
In addition to LLC formation and Registered Agent service, Northwest also offers other products and services.
LLC formation
Northwest Registered Agent charges $39 + state fee. This includes free Registered Agent service for the 1st year.
Northwest will check your LLC name availability and then file the Articles of Organization with the state government. Once this document is approved, your LLC is officially created.
Note: In some states, the Articles of Organization is called the Certificate of Organization or Certificate of Formation.
With every order, Northwest includes the following for free: Annual Report reminders, mail scanning and uploading, and lifetime customer support.
Registered Agent service
Northwest will include Registered Agent service for free for the 1st year (if you hire them to form your LLC). After that, service renews at $125 per year.
What is a Registered Agent? A Registered Agent is a person or company who agrees to accept legal mail (called Service of Process) and state notices on behalf of your LLC.
Federal Tax ID Number (EIN)
Northwest will get your EIN Number from the IRS for $50 (if you have an SSN or ITIN).
If you’re a non-US resident, and don’t have an SSN or ITIN, Northwest can still get your EIN Number from the IRS. The price is $200.
LLC Operating Agreement
An LLC Operating Agreement is an agreement between the LLC owners (called “Members”). It spells out certain things, such as how much of the LLC everyone owns and how the LLC is managed.
You can purchase an Operating Agreement from Northwest for $50.
Other items
Certificate of Good Standing for $50. This is needed if you are registering your LLC as a Foreign LLC in another state.
Certified Copy for $60. This is needed in only certain states if you are registering your LLC as a Foreign LLC in another state.
Phone service. Northwest offers a free trial for a business phone number. If you like the service, it renews at $9/month.
Credit card processing. If you’d like to receive credit card payments for your business, Northwest can help you set up a merchant account. Prices will vary based on volume.
Top 5 reasons Northwest Registered Agent is the best
We compared Northwest Registered Agent to all the other companies. These are our top 5 favorite things about Northwest.
1) No Hidden Fees. No Upsells. No Confusing Packages.
With Northwest Registered Agent, what you see is what you get.
Their tagline is “We’re just not annoying.” What they mean by that is they offer a great service at a great price. They don’t have confusing LLC packages, they don’t upsell you, and there are no hidden fees.
They offer LLC formation packages and Registered Agent services at the best price.
Unfortunately, most other companies take advantage of you. They make their packages confusing and trick you into paying more (often for things you don’t even need).
2) They don’t sell your personal information
Northwest doesn’t sell your personal information to make more money (unlike many competitors)
Instead, they protect their customers’ information at all costs. The data that you provide stays with them. They don’t sell your information to other companies and disguise it as an “Accounting Consultation” (which is really your information being sold to a company with aggressive sales tactics).
This is one of the biggest reasons I personally use Northwest for my own LLCs. I trust that my information is safe and I’m not going to get unwanted spam or marketing solicitations.
3) You can use their address for privacy (keep yours off public records)
The address you put on your LLC filing (your Articles of Organization, Certificate of Organization, or Certificate of Formation) gets listed on public records with the Secretary of State.
From there, it may begin appearing on Google searches (since the state databases are publicly available), and even on other websites that copy the public records.
This used to drive me crazy. I’d get so much junk mail and I didn’t like it when my information was so readily available via a quick search.
So instead of using your home address (which is what most filers do), if you hire Northwest Registered Agent, you can use their business address throughout your LLC filing and keep your address off public records.
This also eliminates some junk mail, which I think is a great bonus!
4) Free Registered Agent Service for 1 Year
If you hire Northwest ($39 + state fee) to form your LLC, they will include Registered Agent service free for the 1st year.
That’s a $125 discount. After that, Northwest’s Registered Agent service is $125 per year.
This renews automatically every year, but you can cancel this at any time in your personalized dashboard.
If you cancel services with Northwest, nothing happens to your LLC. It doesn’t change status or do anything scary like that. Instead, you’ll just need to file a change of Registered Agent filing with the state and appoint the new Registered Agent.
5) They are LLC experts
If you call most other companies in this industry, you will probably speak to some sales rep who barely understands what a Registered Agent is or how to form an LLC.
On the other hand, I really like that Northwest doesn’t have any sales reps. Everyone in their company does customer support. There’s no dedicated “sales team.” So when you call, you speak with a friendly person who knows what they’re talking about.
Go ahead and give their customer service team a call right now: 509-435-9053. Their hours are Monday to Friday, from 9am to 8pm Eastern (6am to 5pm Pacific).
Ask any question you want. I think you’ll be impressed when the phone is answered right away (no phone prompts or extensions), the person you speak with is very friendly, and, most importantly, they are experts at what they do.
Is Northwest Registered Agent a good choice for your LLC?
Northwest Registered Agent has excellent customer service and they are industry experts.
They keep your address off public records and don’t sell your data to 3rd parties.
Northwest Registered Agent is our favorite company and they’re also a great option if you’re on a tight budget.
We’ve been using them for our own LLCs for many years and we highly recommend them.
I hope this Northwest Registered Agent review has been helpful!
Northwest Registered Agent FAQ
What happens after I hire Northwest?
Northwest will confirm that your LLC name is available. Then they’ll file your Articles of Organization with the state. Once your LLC is approved, you will get an email notification.
Then, you can log into your personalized dashboard and download your LLC forms. This will include the approved Articles of Organization (formation papers), your LLC Operating Agreement, and any other services you ordered.
Does Northwest offer a discount?
Yes, Northwest Registered Agent offers a 60% discount for LLC University readers. To learn more, see Northwest Registered Agent discount.
What are the turnaround times?
The turnaround time depends on the state where you form your LLC. Please see How long does it take to get an LLC for state approval times. Please add a few days to the state approval time to account for Northwest’s processing time.
Can you be your own Registered Agent for an LLC?
Yes, you can be your own Registered Agent for your LLC. In most states, you need to be a resident of the state where you’re forming the LLC. Being your own Registered Agent will save you money.
However, your name and address will be listed in the Articles of Organization, which goes on public record. If you’d like to avoid that, you should hire Northwest and let them be your Registered Agent. This will keep your address off public records. Not only does Northwest let you use their address for the Registered Agent section, but they’ll use their address for the LLC principal office address and the LLC mailing address.
What is Service of Process?
Service of Process for an LLC is the delivery of legal documents, like a notice of a lawsuit.
Other documents that are delivered by Service of Process include subpoenas, summons, complaints, and writs. Service of Process is delivered to your LLC’s Registered Agent.
Receiving Service of Process is the main purpose of a Registered Agent. However, the Secretary of State may also send state notices to your Registered Agent. Any mail sent to your Registered Agent will be forwarded to you.
Is a Registered Agent really necessary?
Yes, a Registered Agent is required for forming an LLC in every state (except for New York and West Virginia).
However, we still recommend hiring a Registered Agent in New York to save money on the New York LLC Publication Requirement.
How much does Northwest Registered Agent cost?
If you use Northwest’s Registered Agent service, it costs $125 per year. People choose this standalone service if they are forming their LLC themselves.
However, if you hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), they’ll include Registered Agent service free for the 1st year.
Is Northwest Registered Agent legit?
Yes. They’ve been in business for 20+ years, and have an excellent BBB Business Profile.
They have the best customer service and we use them for our own LLCs. They don’t sell customer data and they keep your address off public records.
How to cancel Northwest Registered Agent?
You can cancel services with Northwest Registered Agent at any time by logging into your online account.
Click on “Services” at the top. Then click on your company name. Then check the box to the left of “Registered Agent service”. Then click the “Cancel services” button.
There is no fee to cancel Northwest Registered Agent. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to file a change of Registered Agent with the state to add your new Registered Agent.
How long to get an EIN with Northwest Registered Agent?
If you hired Northwest Registered Agent to form your LLC, they can also get your EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Once the IRS approves your EIN, they’ll issue an EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575). Northwest will provide the EIN Confirmation Letter along with your other LLC approval documents and they’ll give them to you at the same time. So it depends on what state you form your LLC in.
However, Northwest can usually get an EIN within a few business days if you have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer ID Number (ITIN). If you don’t have an SSN or ITIN, it can take a few months.
What does enabling compliance mean Northwest Registered Agent?
Enabling compliance with Northwest Registered Agent means they will file your LLC Annual Report for you every year.
Northwest does charge a service fee for this. And you’ll need to pay the state fees as well. Northwest Registered Agent will send you reminder notices by email before your LLC’s Annual Report due date.
Note: This service doesn’t apply for states where there are no LLC Annual Reports.
Which companies use Northwest Registered Agent?
Companies that use Northwest Registered Agent are usually small and medium sized businesses. Northwest Registered Agent offers services for businesses of all sizes, whether you’re a brand new entrepreneur or your business is expanding into multiple states.
Where is Northwest Registered Agent located?
Northwest Registered Agent is headquartered in Spokane, Washington. However, they have offices in all 50 states. So no matter where you need an LLC formed, or where you need Registered Agent services, Northwest can assist you.
What does Northwest Registered Agent do?
Northwest Registered Agent specializes in LLC formation and Registered Agent services.
A Registered Agent is a person or company who agrees to receive legal mail (called Service of Process) and state notices on behalf of your LLC.
What is the Northwest customer support phone number and email?
Northwest’s customer support phone number is 509-435-9053. Their hours are Monday to Friday, 6am to 5pm Pacific (9am to 8pm Eastern).
Their email is support@northwestregisteredagent.com
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
This “discount” offered via this website is a lie. I called Northwest directly and got the exact same price for company formation ($39 + state filing) as the supposed discount offered via this website. I was wondering why the review on Northwest seemed extremely favorable over the reviews on other companies, its was clearly biased and you clearly have a motive for promoting Northwest. I was personally going to go for Northwest anyway, but its clear you get a cut from sales made to their services via your website, we as customers don’t get any discount, so stop lying to people. It literally is the same prices they offer anyone who goes to them directly and not via your site. Zero credibility!
Worked with Amada over at Northwest and had an excellent experience with getting the LLC set up; friendly, knowledgeable, informative and “spot on” with experience and suggestions for any questions I posed. OUTSTANDING JOB for HER and of course your team for the hard work you’ve done to make the great referral! Thanks again! Best of luck and continued success!
Hey Frank, this is so great to hear! Thanks for sharing. Northwest has an amazing support staff. And likewise :) 🍻
Can you provide me your email dear Matt Horwitz
Hi Ahsan, we can’t post emails publicly here (since spam sites pick them and send so much junk), but you can contact me via our Contact page. Hope that helps.
Hi Matt,
First of all, thank you for your great content! It has been really helpful.
I have a question regarding Northwest’s phone service. I’m registered with them as my Registered Agent and also use their Corporate Phone service, which was very important to me. The number worked perfectly—I used it to register for various business services, and most importantly, for my Chase bank account.
However, about a month or two ago, without any prior notice, the service started working only partially outside the U.S. When I contacted Northwest, they told me they had stopped supporting usage outside the U.S., even though it had worked flawlessly before.
On one hand, I have no problem switching to a different phone service, but I’d prefer to avoid making changes that could raise issues with my bank.
Is there anything I can do with Northwest regarding this issue?
Do you think updating my phone number with Chase is straightforward, or could it cause complications or raise red flags?
Thanks so much for your help!
Hey Beny, you’re super welcome man! So great to hear. Oh wow, this is interesting. I wasn’t aware about the numbers no longer working outside the US. Thanks for letting me know. However, changing a phone number with the bank shouldn’t be an issue at all, and I wouldn’t be worried or concerned. Hope that helps :)
Their agent Amanda was amazing to work with. She helped me understand everything clearly and walked me through the entire process. She applied discounts that i didn’t know were available. She was very fun and pleasant to work with. Did I mention she was amazing? She’s amazing!
Haha, love it Sam! Thanks for sharing, and so great to hear :-) Northwest’s customer support is awesome.
Our agent Amanda Brooke was extremely helpful. She took her time and made sure to answer all my questions. Best customer service I’ve had in a long time.
Hi John, that’s really awesome to hear. Thanks for sharing! Hope things are going well.
Hello, the District of Columbia just. Sent me an email stating that I need a Certification of Good Standing letter in order to renew my broker’s license. Can you company assist with re-instating my LLC? My LLC was revoked in.2011 and 2016. Need to move fast lreal estate license xpires 02-25-25. Can u help me,resolve this issue?
Hi Adolphus, apologies for the slow reply. We don’t offer filing services at this time. Northwest Registered Agent may be able to help, but you’ll need to contact them directly.
If you want to get a Certificate of Good Standing yourself for your DC LLC, you can do it online through the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP): https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/. You’ll need to create an account. Then go to “Business Filings Search” to find your LLC. Once you’ve found your LLC, look for the option to request a Certificate of Good Standing (aka “Certificate of Status”).
I already have an EIN number – how do I attach it to my account here that I just set up?
Hi Sheila, this is LLC University. We are not Northwest Registered Agent (we recommend Northwest). Did you get an EIN under the exact same name of your LLC? If so, there is nothing you need to do to “attach” it to your Northwest Registered Agent account (it just exists as it is). If the EIN is from a different name or company, then you’ll need to get a new EIN for your new LLC.
Hello Matt,
Am I correctly understand that NorthWest registered agent service does not include business address (one where physical mail will arrive) and in order to read incoming mail, I have to purchase their mail forwarding service for 20 USD monthly?
Hi Alexander, generally speaking, Northwest will scan all your mail. If you want your mail physically sent to you (more than the amount they give you for free each month), then you can order mail forwarding. If you’re not sure, you can leave it off right now, and add it to your account in the future. Hope that helps.
We have an established LLC that was Admin Dissolved in Indiana. the registered agent was the owner’s husband(soon to be ex). He didn’t file the 2023/2024 entity report. We are in the process of getting the certificate of clearance so we can change our agent. We would consider Northwest. Do they take already established LLC’s? Do you just pay the $125 a year?
Hi Heather, yes, Northwest offers Registered Agent services for existing LLCs. If you look at the top of this page, in the opening paragraph, there is a Registered Agent service link. That’ll take you to the page where you can sign up for just Registered Agent service. And yes, it’s $125 for the 1st year, and every year after that. Hope that helps.
Hello. I am getting a registered agent in Maryland and have already been approved. Although, I am confused what the $400 renewal service is for? Can’t I just have the registered agent service for $125 a year?
Hi Angela, you’re correct that the Registered Agent service is $125/year with Northwest. The $400 annual fee you see is the $300 state fee for the Maryland LLC Annual Report, plus the $100 service fee that Northwest charges to take care of that filing every year. Hope that helps.
What’s up Matt? So I have a significant criminal background here in AZ. And I was curious if there were gunna be any kind of hurdles or hoops I’m going to have to jump through because of my criminal background?? Vice-versa are there any state programs that look to help felons starting businesses?? I have 1 violent crime but by court definition it was ruled non dangerous non repetitive and no one was seriously injured (e.g. nobody had to go to the hospital). And I have countless felony and misdemeanor drug charges. I just don’t want to waste my time with something if I’m gunna get turned away or the state makes it considerably more difficult because of my past. Thank you for your time and patience. And a reply would be amazing!! I’m very curious about this
Hey Jesse. Nope, there are no issues at all with you starting an LLC in Arizona. As far as I know, there aren’t any state programs specific to assisting felons starting a business. However, you can call the Arizona Small Business Development Center or SCORE, as they might know of some resources and/or be able to help. Best wishes!
Hi Matt,
Thank you for the easy to read format and thorough instruction guides. I am still in the early stages of looking for investment property and working out finance. Can I still start my LLC now or do I have to wait until I am ready to start my business transactions? Thank you for your time and advice.
Jessie
Hi Jessie, you’re very welcome! And yes, you can certainly start your LLC now ahead of any business transactions. In fact, it’s actually recommended. This is because it takes a little bit of time to get the LLC approved, get an EIN from the IRS, and open a business bank account. So this way, you can have things ready once activities begin to ramp up. Hope that helps.
I am a US citizen and want to set up a small business to operate tours in other countries. I will act as a subcontractor to other tour operators in the countries I work in but will need to handle some cash transactions for clients in the US that participate in the tours. I will also accompany the tours as a guide.
What type of LLC arrangement do you recommend?
Thank you, Robert
Hi Robert, a “regular” LLC in your home state is likely the simplest route to take for this. Hope that helps.
I’m reaching out because my wife and I are gearing up to purchase an apartment complex in Connecticut and are considering Northwest LLC formation for its reputed privacy protections.
To give you a quick rundown, both my wife and I will be owners and property managers, making privacy a top concern for us. Northwest’s services seem to align with our needs, but we wanted to hear from you about any specific advantages or features that could benefit us in this scenario.
Additionally, I wanted to mention that we’ve already drafted a pretty detailed Operating Agreement for our LLC. However, we’re still open to any guidance or insights you might have regarding its structure or content.
Lastly, as we’re mindful of our budget, we were wondering if there are any discount codes available that could help with the initial setup costs.
Your insights would be greatly appreciated as we navigate this new venture. Looking forward to your response!
THanks!!!
Hi Jerin, if you have financing lined up, make sure to speak to the lender re: taking title in an LLC name. Also, Connecticut’s filing form – the Certificate of Organization – doesn’t make privacy easy. For #5, they want a Member or Manger listed. The Connecticut LLC Annual Report also asks for the same information. Here are a couple of options to explore (might also be helpful to speak to Northwest by phone and/or a few local real estate attorneys):
A. Hold title directly in an out-of-state LLC. However, if that LLC needs to be registered as a Foreign LLC (since the LLC is “transacting business” in CT), then you’re back around to the same issue (see #11 on the Foreign Registration Statement; and there’s the same LLC Annual Report too). Foreign LLC rules are in place, but aren’t always strictly enforced, so a bit of a gray area.
B. Set up a “parent” LLC out of state (say, in Wyoming). Then have the Wyoming LLC own the Connecticut LLC (the “child” LLC). The Connecticut LLC would be managed by the Wyoming LLC, so you can list the Wyoming LLC, and its address, in #5 of the Certificate of Organization, and in the Annual Report too. This also has some “future proofing” in place. For example, if you buy more buildings in the future, you could set up additional CT LLCs, all owned by your Wyoming LLC. This offers additional asset protection and also consolidates your tax return. Reason being is that each child LLC wouldn’t have to file its own return since they would be Single-Member LLCs (aka Disregarded Entities). So all the child LLCs would be reported on the parent LLC’s tax return.
Regarding the Operating Agreement, we don’t offer custom services or review. But it sounds like what you have is solid. Also, keep in mind that you can always change your Operating Agreement if your operations expand or get more complex. The document isn’t “set it stone”. And as far as a discount code, there isn’t one for Northwest, since they already offer their best pricing through our referral links on this page. Hope that helps a bit and gives you a few things to look into!
Thank you in advance for answering my queries
I work as a W2 and recently been getting offers for contract work on 1099 too. This requires me to have an LLC (Both W2 as well as 1099 jobs are for “IT program manager”, currently remote working but may travel to offices too)
What would be the best kind of LLC to set up for tax purposes (deductions, Car purchase, travel, vacations with family) as well as less complexity?
Secondly, need your suggestion.
In addition, Im starting off some bit of investing on Robinhood and trading (say 4-6 trades a week). If successful, I may do more. I spent some money for Trading software and need to spend more on computers, monitors and WIFI etc.
what kind of LLC would help me deduct my expenses and losses? or should i continue to do this in my individual name?
Hi Jay, you actually don’t need an LLC for tax purposes. This is because a Single-Member LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship. Meaning, you can get all the tax benefits by simply operating as a Sole Proprietorship. Having said that, if you want to form an LLC, a traditional LLC in your home state is likely a solid route. I’d say for the trading, an LLC isn’t needed, especially if you’re just starting out. In terms of deducting expenses for investing, this falls under the “investor” vs “trader” status, as defined by the IRS. You’re likely not consider a “trader” by the IRS, unless this is your full-time/main source of income. So deducting expenses on this front may be more challenging, with or without an LLC. Having said that, you can likely deduct these expenses under your IT work, since computers and accessories could fall under that use case.
Hi Mark.
We are planning to get a LLC in the state of Pennsylvania, to make deliverys all across the USA, but also would like to make international deliverys, more like import-export, my question is:
Any LLC will work for both purposes?
Hi Jose, yes, you can use your Pennsylvania LLCs for business in the USA and international as well.
Does Northwest offer a discount for first year as a registered agent for military veterans forming an LLC in Texas on their own, using the Senate Bill 938 Exempt filing fee for veterans?
If so, send me the link to lock that in for my RA.
Thanks,
Hi Ken, unfortunately, they don’t. They only offer the discount for someone hiring them to form an LLC.
does LLCs have categories? If I need an LLC for my SaaS business online will it be considered different from my Amazon business LLC. Or can I use 1 LLC for both businesses online if the name is same. For example I can have a website that sells services and with same name I can have a store on Amazon to sell my products? It’s like a brand doing different things, like Google have different services and products. Is it possible to have one LLC for different businesses that are owned by same person?
Hi Ameer, it’s better to think of things in two categories: business entities and business activities (not “businesses”; it’s too vague and ambiguous).
So yes, an LLC can engage in multiple business activities (like being a SaaS business and selling on Amazon). Hope that helps. We have more information here: Can you have multiple businesses under one LLC.
Have you accepted my payment and began the process?
Hi Elizabeth, we are not Northwest Registered Agent. This is LLC University, and we recommend Northwest. You’ll need to contact Northwest Registered Agent to check on the status of your order.
Hi Matt, I am interested in an LLC in CA and I would be the only member. Is that permitted? Does it need to have a minimum amount of cash to start? For the most part, it will be an online business that publishes books, creates an online courses, and have a community platform for classes, etc. Would it be a good idea to create a dba for the different business lines? If yes, how much does it cost to create a dba? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, yes, Single-Member LLCs are permitted in California (and in every state!). And no, there is no minimum cash requirement to start an LLC. I don’t think you need (or would want) that many DBAs. It could be an administrative headaches, cause confusion, and honestly, it just doesn’t sound necessary. I’d start really simple, with just the LLC and I’d focus on acquiring customers :) Also, on the topic of California LLC costs, there is an $800 annual LLC tax, due by all California LLCs every year; FYI.
Do you offer also extra (paid)service on top of being the registered Agent such as “worry free compliance” or “annual compliance service” like companies such a Zenbusiness do? and if yes what are the prices for those extra services?
Thank you
Hi Marco, “worry free compliance” is a bit of a vague term. I see most companies using it to mean Registered Agent renewal (which isn’t really a service lol) and the filing of the LLC Annual Report. Northwest does offer an Annual Report service. This costs $100 per year (assuming your state has an Annual Report and not a Biennial Report) + the state filing fee. Hope that helps.
HI Matt, i am about to start the process of creating an llc with Northwest. i read above that readers of Llcuniversity get an additional discount, is that correct, or still apply ? what do I need to gain access to it ?
Many thanks, by the way, very useful site – thank you for all the help provided!
Hi JM, you’re very welcome! Yes, the Northwest Registered Agent discount will apply if you click on any of the links above on this page. Hope that helps.
Definitely great company, one thing to keep in mind though. Even though their website says “EVERY LLC we create comes with a FREE year of Registered Agent service”, they only do that for the first. Also the $39 price is only for the first formation, it is $100 for any other filing you may have. The way I had understood was that it would be for any LLC and would renew for the $100 fee and Registered Agent service would be included for the first year. However, they do not do that. After a bit of pushback and showing them where their website says that, they said they would give me the first year of RA service free for one more LLC, but I was in the process of creating several. Now my upfront investment is much higher than initially calculated.
Also, their operating agreement is pretty basic. You get a template to be able to print them, then fill it out yourself, and sign.
Hi Gonzalo, thank you for your detailed comment :) I think it will be very helpful for other readers.
Great Info I like this
Hi Matt,
How do I set the effective date to Jan 1, 2023 when creating an LLC using Northwest as the registered agent? My LLC is in Georgia.
I started the LLC formation process but paused because I didn’t see anywhere I can input the effective date while I was signing up. Their public customer service number is not currently functioning.
Hi Chloe, you’ll need to contact them before submitting the order.
i have made by myself an llc in florida and i have the statement number already (i don`t really know if it is relevant) and now i am looking to obtain the EIN, can you please tell me the costs associated with that thru the NW. And since it takes a while to get it can you recommand some acountants services that work with non us citizens in order to have the company up and running without any issues please!
Hi Cosmin, the cost for Northwest to get an EIN for US citizens/US residents is $50 (service link). However, the cost for Northwest to get an EIN for non-US resident is $200 (service link). This is because the process requires more paperwork and more time.
And for accountants for non-US residents, check out O & G Accounting or GW Carter. Hope that helps!
Hey Matt,
This is Alex Oware, CPA and CEO of O&G accounting. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my excitement and gratitude for the huge mention up there. Your website is one of the best out there in terms of All things LLC.
Thanks again!
Hey Alex, you’re very welcome. You do great work! Thanks for the kind words :)
Hey Matt,
Loving the content so far!
Quick question, I noticed that with the CA Assembly Bill 85 that I would not be required to pay the CA $800 fee the first year of LLC formation. So my question is: do you know if Northwest would still have me on the hook for the state filing fee (assuming I formed by December 31st, 2023)? Or would I only be expected to pay the $39 fee?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks Lainey! No, you wouldn’t be on the hook for the $70 state filing fee. That is because California waived LLC fees until June 30, 2023. So if you form an LLC with Northwest, you just pay $39 for the Northwest service fee and a $20 state fee. The $20 is for the initial Statement of Information, which they file for you (it’s due within 90 days of the LLC being formed). Hope that helps!
Oh great, thanks so much for clarifying that, Matt! And thanks for the quick reply!!
I’m so excited- I filed my FBN and started my business in March of this year and am hoping to transition to LLC by January of next year. I just can’t wait!! 👍 Thanks again and thank you for the work you do! ☺️
You’re very welcome Lainey! And thank you for the kind words :) Heck yeah, go get ’em! Best wishes with the business!
Hi Matt:
I plan to set up a LLC with my friend. But we haven’t thought what business we will do. Does it mean we don’t know what exactly legal transactions will take place. So we can not decide which state to set up LLC, is it correct? In additional, I checked Northwest, I didn’t quite understand the choice of additional items: EIN, operate agreements…., Can I do it by myself after the company set up? How does Northwest can make our multi members LLC legally without hiring an attorney?
Thank you!
Hi Vivien, while you can hire an attorney to form an LLC, that is not a legal requirement. You could also form the LLC yourself or hire an LLC filing company. By completing an LLC Operating Agreement and creating the LLC with 2 or more Members, the LLC will automatically be a Multi-Member LLC. Northwest does offer an Operating Agreement and they’ll get your EIN, but you don’t have to hire them for those things if you’d prefer to get them yourself. As far as which state, where are you guys located? Do you have any ideas about what the business might do?