NORTHWEST VS. INCORPORATE.COM
Which Is Better for LLC Formation?
Looking for the best service to start your LLC? We used Northwest and Incorporate.com to form LLCs, then compared their features.
In this Northwest vs. Incorporate.com review, we’ll let you know if either is worth your time and money. We also recommend checking out our list of the top 5 LLC formation services.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS: NORTHWEST VS. INCORPORATE.COM
When we started researching Northwest and Incorporate.com, we focused on three main questions:
- Is it a good deal?
- Is there a better deal?
- Who uses this service and how was their experience?
Answering these questions will boost your confidence so you can choose the best service to get your business up and running.
Which One is the Best Deal?
Both Incorporate.com and Northwest offer formation packages for roughly the same base price. Their customer support systems are also both exceptional.
That being said, Northwest offers a better deal than Incorporate.com. Northwest still includes a year of registered agent service in their $39 incorporation package.
Incorporate.com stands out with their Corporate Compliance Guarantee, which protects users in the event of invalid filing on the fault of the formation service. Their higher-tier packages also include features like EIN registration and annual report filing, while their highest-tier package includes business license research and operating agreement services. However, they do not include registered agent services, even though it is required to use their annual report filing service. Customers have to pay the additional $235, which is not mentioned until the checkout pages.
Who Uses Each Service and What Was Their Experience?
Incorporate.com
The verified reviews on Incorporate.com’s website are overwhelmingly positive, but online reviews elsewhere are more mixed. Users were satisfied with Incorporate.com’s strong customer service, but were sometimes frustrated with their hidden fees.
“I chose incorporate.com because it was a fast and easy way to protect myself and my business. Making the decision to become an LLC was the turning point in the legitimacy and profitability of my company. Incorporate.com sends me reminder emails when payments are due so it is easy to remain in good standing with the state.”
“Avoid this company at all cost [sic]. They automatically opt you in to registered agent services (without a way to opt out) then will bill you for yearly services. When you don't pay, they send to [sic] a collection agency and it will mess up your credit.”
Northwest
One of Northwest’s strengths is how satisfied their customers tend to be. Their online reviews are very positive and happy customers enjoyed a fast formation process as well as a strong customer support system.
“I contacted several registered agents while doing research on LLC formation. Northwest's client support was the fastest and thoroughest in responding to all my emails and I felt that they were willing to answer all my questions before onboarding me, whereas a lot of other services promised to do it only after signup, which raised a lof [sic] of red flags. Very happy to have chosen to go with Northwest Registered Agent.”
“I LOVE working with Northwest Registered Agent. It's everything I needed. Their customer service is ON POINT. Look no further!”
Is There a Better Deal Out There?
While Incorporate.com and Northwest are solid services, other formation companies offer similar services for less money. We like ZenBusiness, which starts its formation packages at $39 (plus state fees) and includes a year of registered agent services as well as web domain services.
Takeaway
While both companies offers similar base package prices, Northwest provides more of a deal with its included features and solid customer service. Incorporate.com also offers nice features, but the required registered agent fee on its higher tiers could prove to be costly.
Best LLC Formation Services
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
LegalZoom ($0 + State Fees)
ZenBusiness ($0 + State Fees)
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)
Bizee ($0 + State Fees)
Swyft Filings ($0 + State Fees)
Rocket Lawyer ($99 + State Fees)
RATING DETAILS: NORTHWEST VS. INCORPORATE.COM
This section takes an in-depth look at Northwest VS. Incorporate.com, in terms of:
- Value
- Customer service
- Ease of use
- Included features
Value
Incorporate.com offers competitive base formation prices. Their middle and high-tier packages include EIN registration and operating agreement services respectively, and their high tier package also includes business license research, which is a unique feature. However, their lack of registered agent service coupled with the need to pay for their $235 registered agent service in order to use their annual report service could be daunting to businesses on a budget.
Northwest offers one LLC formation package for $39 plus state fees. They include a year of registered agent service as well as privacy protection and premium customer support. That being said, there are still other formation services that offer similar services for a lower price.
Customer Service
Our experience with Incorporate.com’s customer service was exceptional. They offer phone, email, and live chat services during regular business days, and the representative we spoke with was friendly, knowledgeable, and didn’t try to sell us anything we didn’t want. However, the available online reviews for Incorporate.com report mixed feelings on their customer service, so your mileage may vary.
Northwest’s biggest strength is their customer support system. We also spoke with Northwest’s customer service and received helpful advice from a great representative. Their online reviews overwhelmingly agree with this sentiment. One of Northwest’s biggest standout for customer service is that you can choose to speak to a preferred representative every time, which can make the experience more personalized.
Ease of Use
Incorporate.com’s website layout is easy to understand, but their content can get confusing. While the package comparison page is straightforward, the checkout pages throw in additional information that may require a closer look. Some customer reviews were unhappy with the fact that registered agent service isn’t listed as a required fee for higher tiers until later in the checkout process.
Northwest has a clean website design, but navigating could take some time. It took us a while to find the actual LLC package comparison page, but once we got there the information was straightforward. The checkout process outlines each fee easily, and their online dashboard for customers organizes LLC paperwork neatly.
Included Features
Incorporate.com adds some nice-to-have features but misses some core features. Their higher tiers include annual report filing and their highest tier includes business license research, which many competitors don’t include. However, their lack of registered agent service on any tier is a drawback, and since you have to pay for the $235 service to access their annual report filing services, it’s almost easier to go with a different, lower-cost service that offers just as much.
Northwest does not offer many extras, but their $39 package gives you everything you need. The package doesn’t have much, but it does still include a year of registered agent service and basic LLC services.
OUR BUSINESS FORMATION SERVICE REVIEWS
ZenBusiness ($39 + State Fees)
Northwest ($39 + State Fees)
Incfile ($0 + State Fees)
Rocket Lawyer ($349.99 + State Fees)
LegalZoom ($79 + State Fees)
DIY - USE OUR FREE GUIDE
Our free guide teaches you how to form an LLC in all 50 states without using an online LLC formation service. You can also access other helpful resources:
PRODUCT COMPARISON: NORTHWEST VS. INCORPORATE.COM
Northwest and Incorporate.com do more than just form your LLC. They each offer additional services, either included in their formation packages or sold separately. NOTE: Since Northwest Registered Agent only offers one filing option, we will compare it to Incorporate's basic LLC package.
Please note that the service costs for each tier do not include the State filing fees.
Basic Plan Comparison
Northwest vs Incorporate.com Side by Side Comparison
Best LLC Formation Services
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
LegalZoom ($0 + State Fees)
ZenBusiness ($0 + State Fees)
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)
Bizee ($0 + State Fees)
Swyft Filings ($0 + State Fees)
Rocket Lawyer ($99 + State Fees)
