Northwest Registered Agent review for non-residents (2026)

Northwest Registered Agent is the least exciting provider in this comparison, which is why it is the default for a straightforward European-owned LLC. The price is published, the registered-agent renewal is published, and the company does not try to sell you a monthly software subscription with your formation.

What you get for $39 + state fees

The LLC package is $39 plus state fees. Northwest lists registered-agent service, a business address, mail scanning, compliance reminders, a domain, website, email and phone line as part of the package. The standalone registered-agent service is $125 per year; the company says that price has not changed in 20 years and that five or more states cost $100 per state per year.

For an EIN without an SSN, Northwest publishes a $50 standalone service. That is a convenience fee: the IRS issues the EIN for free, and you can apply by phone, fax or mail yourself. The value is in having someone prepare the SS-4 and handle the follow-up, not in the number itself. If you are comfortable with the IRS process, skip it and save the $50.

Public prices from Northwest's pages, checked 22 October 2026.
Item	Published price	What it means
LLC formation	$39 + state fees	The state fee depends on Wyoming, Delaware, New Mexico, Florida or another state.
Registered agent	$125/year standalone	The LLC package lists agent service; confirm the first-year inclusion and the renewal date.
EIN without SSN	$50	Optional. The IRS itself charges $0.
EIN with SSN	$25	Not relevant for most European applicants.
Virtual office	$50 standalone	Optional mail/address service; check whether it satisfies a bank's operating-address rule.

What is good

Price transparency. The formation fee and the agent renewal are both on the page. You do not need a checkout experiment to find the annual cost.
No mandatory annual software plan. The LLC package does not lock you into a $199 or $299/year dashboard. You pay the agent renewal and the state fee.
Privacy defaults. Using the agent's address keeps your home address off the public formation document in states that publish it.
EIN service for non-residents. The $50 option is specifically for applicants without an SSN, which is the situation most European founders are in.

What to watch

It is not a tax firm. Northwest will not file Form 5472 or your pro forma 1120. You need an accountant or a separate tax service.
The first-year agent inclusion needs checking. The package lists registered-agent service, but the renewal date and the first-year scope should be confirmed in the checkout summary.
The free domain/website/email bundle is not a reason to choose a formation provider. Value it at zero unless you actually need those tools.
No bank guarantee. Northwest can provide an address and documents, but Mercury, Relay or Wise make their own decisions.

Who it is for

A solo consultant, freelancer, e-commerce seller or content business that wants a US LLC with low fixed costs and is prepared to arrange its own tax filing. It is also a sensible choice if you already have a US accountant and only need the formation and agent layer.

Who it is not for

You want one vendor to handle bookkeeping, federal tax, state annual reports and a dashboard. In that case, compare doola's tax plan or a US CPA's package. You should also look elsewhere if you need a US office address that a bank will accept as an operating address; a registered agent address is not the same thing.

The three-year cost

Wyoming: $100 state + $39 formation + $125 agent + $50 EIN = about $314 in year one; $60 state + $125 agent = $185 a year after that. New Mexico: about $264 in year one and $125 a year after that. Delaware: $70 + $39 + $125 + $50 = $284 in year one, then $400 + $125 = $525 a year. Florida: $125 + $39 + $125 + $50 = $339 in year one, then $138.75 + $125 = $263.75 a year.

These are estimates before tax filing and any add-ons. Use the calculator to change the assumptions.

Verdict

Northwest is the best-value transparent option in this comparison for a simple European-owned LLC. It is not the fastest, the flashiest or a tax solution. If you want a provider that does one job, publishes the price and leaves you alone, it is the one to beat.

Questions

Frequently asked

Is Northwest good for non-residents?

Yes, for formation and registered-agent service. Northwest publishes an EIN service for applicants without an SSN ($50) and uses its address for privacy. It does not file your Form 5472 or home-country tax return, so you still need a tax adviser.

Does Northwest include a registered agent in the $39 package?

The LLC package lists registered-agent service, and the standalone agent price is $125/year. Confirm the first-year inclusion and renewal date in the checkout, because package contents can change.

Can Northwest open a US bank account for me?

No. It can provide formation documents and an address, but the bank makes its own decision. Mercury, Relay and Wise each have separate eligibility and address rules.

Is the $50 EIN service worth it?

It is worth it if you do not want to handle the IRS phone or fax process and want someone to prepare the SS-4. The IRS itself issues the EIN for free, so a DIY applicant can save the fee.

Sources and checks

All figures on this page were checked on 22 October 2026. A link is not an endorsement; it is where the number or rule comes from.

Not legal, tax or insurance advice. This article explains general rules and public prices. It does not apply them to your situation and does not create a lawyer–client or adviser–client relationship. Company formation, tax residence, CFC rules, VAT and banking eligibility depend on facts that this page cannot verify. Before you form or move an entity, take advice from a qualified professional in the country where you live. For EU residents: a US LLC does not remove home-country tax, VAT or social-security obligations.

Northwest Registered Agent review