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Bizee vs. Northwest Registered Agent Comparison

Written by:

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by:

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Bizee vs. Northwest Registered Agent Comparison

Business entity formation is a crucial element of launching a business, and because it’s often complex and tedious, many entrepreneurs hire a professional to do the job right. These business formation services also offer additional services that can be helpful to a new business owner.

Two of the leading online services to consider are Bizee (formerly Incfile) and Northwest Registered Agent. To help you determine which is best and which might be best for you and your business, we have thoroughly reviewed their services by putting ourselves in the shoes of an entrepreneur. Read on to make the choice that will put your business on the highway to success.

Services Overview

Business Formation Service
Bizee
Northwest Registered Agent
Plans and Pricing
3 plans: Silver, Gold, and Platinum; $0 – $299 + state filing fees
One business formation package at $39 + state filing fees
Registered Agent Service
Free for one year in all plans, then $119 annually
Included for one year, then $125 annually
Operating Agreement
Included in Gold and Platinum
Included
Annual Report Service
Lifetime company annual report alerts
Not Included, $100 + state fees
Processing Time
Standard, expedited
Varies from the state; there’s a fee if you want to expedite the filing process
Customer Support
Chat, email, phone; Mon – Fri 9am – 6pm CST
Chat, email, phone
Business Documents Online Library
Included in Platinum plan
Yes
Other Services Offered
Business compliance services, IRS filings, free tax consultation, business banking, domain name and email address
Business address, phone service
Number of Business Served
Over 1 million since 2004
Over 3 million
Money Back Guarantee
No
90 days

Our Verdict

Following an exhaustive evaluation, our conclusion is that Northwest Registered Agent provides a superior customer experience overall. While the Silver plan from Bizee does offer some cost savings, the personalized registered agent services and exceptional customer support provided by Northwest Registered Agent are unparalleled.

We firmly believe that Northwest Registered Agent delivers a more robust and beneficial experience overall.

Pricing

Turnaround Time

Help and Support

Customer Satisfaction

Ease of Use

Overall Score: 4.2/5

Learn More

Pricing

Turnaround Time

Help and Support

Customer Satisfaction

Ease of Use

Overall Score: 4.6/5

Learn More

After a thorough review, we are convinced that Northwest offers a better overall customer experience and an affordable business formation plan that includes registered agent services.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Affordable, with a free plan that includes all the basics
  • Unlimited name searches
  • Free registered agent service for a year
  • Access to an online dashboard
  • Unlimited access to phone and email support

Cons

  • Customer service may be less responsive than other services
  • Limited legal services available
  • Limited customer support hours, no weekend availability

Pros

  • Competitively-designed package offers good value (registered agent service included in the first year)
  • Great customer service
  • Website is intuitive and resourceful (free legal documents and form)
  • Transparent pricing/no hidden fees
  • Commitment to privacy

Cons

  • No free business formation plan
  • No business license filing or support
  • Not BBB accredited

Plans and Pricing — Winner: Northwest Registered Agent

Bizee

Bizee’s basic formation services (Silver plan) cost only state fees and provide a year of free registered agent services. After the first year, the registered agent service renews at $119/year. The Gold ($199) and Platinum ($299) packages offer substantial features, justifying their cost.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent offers a singular, comprehensive package priced at $39 plus state filing fees.

This package encompasses crucial services like business formation, a year of free registered agent service, provision of a business address, and the drafting of an operating agreement, among other additional features.

Even though Bizee offers a free plan, we still think that Northwest offers better value with its comprehensive package.

Experience — Winner: Northwest Registered Agent

Bizee

Bizee, established in 2004, has aided in the formation of over one million businesses.

Northwest Registered Agent

Operating since 1998, Northwest Registered Agent has served approximately three million customers over the years.

Customer Support — Winner: Northwest Registered Agent

Bizee

We tested Bizee’s customer service channels thoroughly, including chat, email, and phone, but only on workdays. The response times were impressive across all platforms, with almost instant replies on chat, immediate phone pickup, and an email response in less than a day. You can expect clear and helpful information from Bizee’s customer support, ensuring your queries will be handled efficiently and promptly.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest boasts personalized customer support through its Corporate Guide system. Their support team’s knowledge surpasses that of most competitors, and they are capable of answering even the most complex questions about LLC formations.

Turnaround Times — It’s a Tie Between the Two

Bizee

Bizee guarantees free same-day processing for their Premium plan, but you can also pay for expedited processing if you opt for Silver or Gold. It starts at $50 and varies from state to state. The turnaround time is also state-dependent, but usually, it takes around three weeks to form your business. Bizee provides a valuable comparison tool to help you estimate your turnaround time.

Northwest Registered Agent

The turnaround times at Northwest fluctuate based on the state where the business is being formed. Some states may process business formations within days, while others may take a few weeks.

Customer Reviews — Winner: Bizee

Bizee

Bizee has over 18,000 customer reviews on Trustpilot alone, with the majority of them sharing highly positive customer feedback.

Northwest Registered Agent

We found more than 100 positive reviews for Northwest Registered Agent online, praising their personalized customer support and quick processing of formations.

Ease of Use — Winner: Northwest Registered Agent

Bizee

The process of forming a business with this service is fast, simple, and user-friendly. The upgrade options provide clear and useful information rather than being pushy. However, if you go back to the homepage, you might be prompted to start the process over.

Despite this, the website is straightforward and easy to use overall, particularly if you’re prepared to complete the entire process in one go.

Northwest Registered Agent

Procuring a business formation service from Northwest is straightforward. We managed to complete the entire process, from their order form to the payment screen, in approximately 10 minutes, with no third-party info-selling attempts or upsells detected.

Additional Services — It’s a Tie Between the Two

Bizee and Northwest Registered Agent both offer an extensive range of auxiliary business services to their clients. It’s not surprising to find significant similarities in the services offered by these two companies, with both providing assistance in areas like foreign qualifications, registered agent service, procuring EINs, and preparing annual reports, among others.

FAQs

Why should I use a business formation service to start my LLC?

Using a business formation service to start your LLC frees you up to focus on growing your business. These services handle the filing process for you and offer additional services that can make life easier for a new business owner.

What should I take into consideration when choosing the right business formation service for my LLC?

When assessing whether or not a business formation service is right for you, it’s important to dive into the following four categories: included features, customer service, pricing, and turnaround time.

Where can I learn more about what real customers think of the various business formation services?

To learn more about the customer experience at a particular business formation service, check out the reviews and ratings on the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot websites.

Is Bizee a good business formation service?

Bizee is great for entrepreneurs on a budget, as their Silver Package covers the basics and includes a free year of their registered agent service. Competitors like LegalZoom and Swyft Filings have a more robust suite of services but can be more expensive.

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Bizee vs. Northwest Registered Agent Comparison