FB
File.Business
$0 formation + paid compliance plans.
4Wins
4.9★8,200+ reviews
220KFormed
$149
RA/year
vs Northwest $125 + ups
Privacy
Included
same standard
Multi-entity
Native
dashboard included
51
Jurisdictions
same coverage
SOC 2 Type II · 2025 report
4.9 · 8,200+ reviews
E&O Insured · carrier on request
51 Jurisdictions
220,000+ Formed
Modern dashboard · same privacy standard
Northwest Registered Agent vs File.Business
Northwest Registered Agent is the gold-standard specialist registered agent service founded in 1998, with a strong reputation for privacy-first business filings. File.Business is the all-in-one business operating system that includes registered agent service free in year 1, plus banking integrations, payroll, compliance tracking across all 51 jurisdictions, BOI reporting, annual report tracking, 25 interactive legal forms, and 200+ contract templates. Here is the full comparison across pricing, features, and customer experience.
Pricing comparison: Northwest vs File.Business
| Item | Northwest | File.Business |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation service fee | $100 | $0 |
| Registered agent year 1 | $125 | Free |
| Registered agent renewals | $125/yr | $99/yr |
| BOI reporting | $9 add-on | Included |
| Annual report filing | $100+ add-on | Included with Pro |
| Compliance calendar across 51 states | No | Yes |
| 3-year total cost (single state) | $475+ | $198 |
Feature comparison: 30 dimensions
| Feature | Northwest | File.Business |
|---|---|---|
| Registered agent · all 51 jurisdictions | Yes | Yes |
| Same-day formation in 5 states | Limited | Yes (DE, WY, NV, FL, TX) |
| Document vault | Basic | Audit-ready, SOC 2 |
| Business banking partners | No | Mercury, Chase, Brex, Relay |
| Payroll integration | No | Gusto, ADP, Justworks |
| Bookkeeping integration | No | QuickBooks, Xero, Bench |
| 25 interactive legal form builders | No | Yes |
| 200+ attorney-reviewed contracts | No | Yes |
| Trademark filing | Add-on | Included |
| 8 calculators (S-Corp savings, formation cost, etc.) | No | Yes |
| Glossary (377 terms) | No | Yes |
| Public API | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | Yes |
| Penalty-free guarantee | No | Yes |
| SOC 2 Type II certified | No | Yes |
| Privacy-first registered agent | Yes (signature service) | Yes |
| Founded | 1998 | 2017 |
Where Northwest wins
- Brand recognition in privacy niche. Northwest is well-known for privacy-first RA service.
- 25-year track record. Longer operating history than File.Business (9 years).
- Specialist focus. If you only need a registered agent and prefer a focused specialist, Northwest is a strong choice.
- Document handling. Northwest scans and uploads received documents quickly.
Where File.Business wins
- Full operating system. Banking, payroll, bookkeeping, compliance, contracts, document vault in one product.
- Lower cost everywhere. $0 service fee + free RA year 1 + $99/yr renewals vs $100 + $125 + $125/yr.
- Built-in compliance calendar. Federal + 51 state deadlines tracked automatically.
- BOI reporting included. Northwest charges $9 per filing; we include it.
- Annual report tracking included. Northwest charges add-on fees.
- Penalty-free guarantee. If we miss a deadline, we cover the state late fee.
- SOC 2 Type II. Audited security.
- Public API. Build integrations, automate filings.
- 25 interactive legal form builders. Operating agreement, employment, contractor, NDA, etc.
- 200+ contract templates. Attorney-reviewed, ready to customize.
- 8 free calculators. S-Corp savings, formation cost, self-employment tax, business name generator.
- Glossary with 377 terms. Educational depth.
Switch from Northwest to File.Business
Migration takes 5 minutes and saves you over $250 in the first 3 years:
- Sign up for File.Business (free, no card).
- We file a change of registered agent with your state at no cost.
- We import your existing filings to your document vault.
- Your compliance calendar starts tracking deadlines automatically.
- Cancel your Northwest renewal and pocket the savings.
Northwest vs File.Business by service
FAQ: Northwest vs File.Business
Is File.Business as private as Northwest for registered agent service?
Yes. Our registered agent service shields business owners' personal addresses from public state filings the same way Northwest's does. The privacy mechanic is the same · what we do not list cannot be searched.
What does Northwest do that File.Business does not?
Northwest's specialty focus on registered agent service gives them strong brand recognition in that niche. We address this by including the same privacy protections plus the broader operating system around it.
How much can I save by switching from Northwest to File.Business?
Year 1: save $225 (no $100 LLC fee, no $125 RA fee). Year 2+: save $26/year (RA renewal $99 vs $125). Plus BOI reporting and annual report filings included instead of add-on.
Can I keep Northwest as registered agent and use File.Business for other services?
Technically yes, but you would be paying for two services that overlap. Most customers move fully.
Does File.Business have the same 24-hour mail forwarding as Northwest?
Yes. We scan and upload received documents within 24 hours, with email and SMS notifications.
Is Northwest better for high-privacy customers?
Both offer the same legal mechanism · the registered agent address shields the business owner. The actual privacy outcome is equivalent.
File.Business vs Northwest Registered Agent
Compared across the seven dimensions that matter to a US founder: pricing transparency, compliance automation breadth, international-founder support, API + builder access, customer support depth, brand recognition, and mobile experience. File.Business leads on the first four; Northwest Registered Agent leads on phone-support depth, privacy-by-default positioning, RA-focused brand for 20+ years. The full line-by-line breakdown is below.
NO
Northwest Registered Agent
$100 + $125/yr RA
2Wins
, Public reviews
, Customers
DimensionFile.BusinessNorthwest Registered Agent
Formation cost$0 + state$100 + state
RA price year 1Included$125/yr
RA renewalsIncluded$125/yr
Compliance dashboardFullMostly RA-focused
Phone supportYesYes
Privacy by defaultYesYes
$129/yr Compliance Annual Filings · penalty-free
On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.
When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.