Side by side · LLC formation
Northwest vs ZenBusiness
Who should pick which, from each company’s own pricing pages and terms.
We check it out so you don’t have to.
How we researched this page: we read each company’s own pricing pages and terms, independent tests, and customer reviews. We did not use these products ourselves. Prices change often, so each one shows the date we checked it.
In short: Northwest — privacy, no upsells. ZenBusiness — low cost plus ongoing compliance help. The details, prices and honest downsides are below.
| Item | Northwest | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Privacy, no upsells | Low cost plus ongoing compliance help |
| Starting price | $39 + state fee, checked October 25, 2026 | $0 + state fee, checked October 25, 2026 |
| Trial / refund | See the official site | See the official site |
Who Northwest fits
Owners who want privacy (Northwest’s address on public filings) and clear pricing.
Watch out for: Fewer bundled extras than ZenBusiness or LegalZoom, and a plainer website.
Who ZenBusiness fits
First-time owners who want a cheap start and reminders or help with yearly filings.
Watch out for: The $0 plan pushes you toward paid add-ons. Read what renews automatically.
Quick verdict
Northwest ($39 plus state fees) includes a year of registered agent service and puts its own address on public filings, which suits owners who want privacy and plain pricing. ZenBusiness starts at $0 but pushes paid add-ons, so read what renews automatically.
Visit Northwest’s official site
Visit ZenBusiness’s official site
More on each: our full Northwest Registered Agent review · our full ZenBusiness review
See every option in Best LLC Formation Services, including companies not covered here.
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