MyCorporation starts at $109 plus state fees. Northwest Registered Agent starts at $39 plus state fees. Sticker-price differences between LLC formation services rarely tell the full story, since the cheapest tier usually excludes the EIN filing and operating agreement most filers need.

The registered agent renewal is the line item that actually matters over time: Northwest Registered Agent is $125 per year, MyCorporation is $179. Over five years that delta adds up to $216, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.

For most filers, the decision between two services is decided by three things: whether you need a $0 tier or can absorb a mid-tier to get the EIN and operating agreement bundled, how much the registered agent will cost you in year two and onward, and whether the support quality matters to you (it matters more if you're paying $200+ for the service in the first place).

Starting price
MyCorporation $109
Northwest Registered Agent $39
Northwest Registered Agent cheaper by $70
RA renewal (year 2+)
MyCorporation $179/yr
Northwest Registered Agent $125/yr
Northwest Registered Agent saves $54/yr
5-year total (cheapest tier + RA)
MyCorporation $825
Northwest Registered Agent $539
Northwest Registered Agent saves $286 over 5 years
Trustpilot
MyCorporation 3.7
Northwest Registered Agent 3.8
MyCorporation 279 vs Northwest Registered Agent 217 reviews

Key differences at a glance

  • Northwest Registered Agent is $70 cheaper at the starting tier (both charge upfront).
  • Northwest Registered Agent has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($125/yr vs $179/yr). Over five years that is a $216 difference.
  • Northwest Registered Agent includes a free operating agreement; MyCorporation charges for it as an add-on. For a single-member LLC that can use a template, this matters less. For anything with multiple members, a proper operating agreement is not optional.
  • Northwest Registered Agent includes mail scanning (physical mail delivered to the registered agent gets scanned and forwarded digitally). The other does not.
  • Northwest Registered Agent supports non-US founders without a US SSN. The other is primarily US-resident oriented.

Where each service fits

Pick MyCorporation when

MyCorporation is comparable to Northwest Registered Agent on most of the dimensions we measure. The tiebreaker is usually support quality or brand preference.

Pick Northwest Registered Agent when

Pick Northwest Registered Agent when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper); you want the operating agreement bundled at no extra cost; you need mail scanning bundled with the registered agent; you're a non-US founder.

What each service offers that the other does not

Only Northwest Registered Agent

  • Operating agreement included free
  • Mail scanning
  • Non-US founder support

Both services

  • Compliance dashboard
  • Phone support
  • Live chat support

What it costs under your specific situation

Running the same LLC through three common scenarios. Year-1 and 5-year totals exclude state fees, which are identical for both services.

Scenario MyCorporation Year 1 Northwest Registered Agent Year 1 MyCorporation 5-year Northwest Registered Agent 5-year
Just the basics: state filing, RA year 1, nothing else
You file the EIN yourself at irs.gov and skip a written operating agreement.
$109 $39 $825 $539
You want EIN and operating agreement handled too
Most new LLCs end up here. Assumes $70 EIN and $99 OA add-ons where the service charges for them.
$278 $109 $994 $609
Standalone registered agent only (no formation)
You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA.
$120 $125 $600 $625

Full feature comparison

Dimension MyCorporation Northwest Registered Agent
Starting price
Cheapest tier, excludes state fees
$109 $39
Registered agent year 1
Not included Included
Registered agent renewal
Year 2 onward, annual
$179/yr $125/yr
Free $0 tier
No No
EIN application
Paid add-on Paid add-on
Operating agreement
Paid add-on Included free
Compliance dashboard
Yes Yes
Mail scanning
No Yes
International founders
No Yes
Banking partner
None None
Phone support
Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time Mon-Fri 6:00am-5:00pm Pacific
Live chat
Yes Yes
Trustpilot rating
3.7/5 (279 reviews) 3.8/5 (217 reviews)

Pricing tiers side by side

MyCorporation

  • Basic — $109
  • Standard — $134
  • Deluxe — $234
    Includes RA year 1 · renews $179/yr
  • Premium — $334
    Includes RA year 1 · renews $179/yr

Northwest Registered Agent

  • Full Service LLC — $39
    Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr

Support and ratings, interpreted

MyCorporation offers phone, email, live chat. Northwest Registered Agent offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: MyCorporation is 3.7 across 279 reviews; Northwest Registered Agent is 3.8 across 217. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.

MyCorporation

Phone: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Business hours on weekdays; no explicit hours published.

Trustpilot: 3.7/5 from 279 reviews.

Northwest Registered Agent

Phone: Mon-Fri 6:00am-5:00pm Pacific.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Mon-Fri business hours Pacific.

Trustpilot: 3.8/5 from 217 reviews.

Before you pick either service

A few things apply no matter which one you choose. These catch enough first-time filers to be worth stating plainly.

The state fee is identical. Whether you use MyCorporation, Northwest Registered Agent, or neither, your state charges the same formation fee. Nothing a service does lowers that number. The fee ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts depending on where you form. See the state-by-state guide for exact numbers.

You can get an EIN for free at irs.gov in five minutes. Both MyCorporation and Northwest Registered Agent either bundle EIN filing or sell it as a paid add-on. You're never required to pay for EIN filing; the IRS charges nothing and the online form takes about five minutes. If a service is pitching "we'll handle your EIN" as a headline feature, that's convenience pricing, not necessity.

The registered agent renewal is what matters long-term. The formation fee is a one-time cost. The registered agent is what recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC open. Over five years, the RA renewal cost usually exceeds the formation fee. Compare on that number, not just the day-one sticker.

Operating agreements are separately priced at most services. Any LLC with more than one member, and any LLC relying on its liability shield, should have a written operating agreement. It governs ownership percentages, profit splits, management structure, and dissolution. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require it by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended. Don't skip it to save $99.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is cheaper, MyCorporation or Northwest Registered Agent?

    Northwest Registered Agent is cheaper at the starting tier ($39 vs $109). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $286.

  • Does MyCorporation or Northwest Registered Agent have better support?

    MyCorporation offers phone, email, live chat. Northwest Registered Agent offers phone, email, live chat. Trustpilot: MyCorporation is 3.7 across 279 reviews; Northwest Registered Agent is 3.8 across 217. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.

  • Can a non-US founder use MyCorporation or Northwest Registered Agent?

    Northwest Registered Agent supports non-US founders without a US Social Security Number. The other service is primarily US-resident oriented and may require additional workarounds for the EIN application, since non-US applicants need to file paper Form SS-4 rather than use the instant online path. For heavy non-US founder needs, services like Doola, Firstbase, or Stripe Atlas are purpose-built for that market.

  • Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using MyCorporation or Northwest Registered Agent?

    You can. The state fee is identical whether you use a service or not. What these services sell is convenience: a handled registered agent (which you can also buy standalone), a bundled operating agreement, compliance reminders, and in some cases banking and tax integrations. If your time is worth more than $50 an hour and you would rather not research your state's specific filing quirks, a service pays for itself. If you like DIY administrative work, file directly at your state's Secretary of State portal.

  • How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?

    MyCorporation renews at $179/yr. Northwest Registered Agent renews at $125/yr. This number matters because it recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC. Over a five-year window, the registered agent renewal cost typically exceeds the formation fee, so it's worth more attention than most reviews give it.

Full reviews

Sources

  • Pricing: www.mycorporation.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
    Homepage and pricing comparison surface four LLC tiers: Basic $109, Standard $134, Deluxe $234, and Premium $334, each plus state fees. Rush filing add-on is $100.
  • Notes: www.mycorporation.com/business-formations/ein.jsp · verified April 21, 2026
    EIN (Federal Tax ID) service is a paid add-on at $79 across all LLC tiers; MyCorporation does not bundle the EIN at any package level.
  • Operating agreement: www.mycorporation.com/corporation-llc-documents/llc-operating-agreemen… · verified April 21, 2026
    Custom LLC operating agreement is a paid add-on at $99. Delivered as 12 to 16 page document in print and CD-ROM.
  • Registered agent only: www.mycorporation.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
    Standalone registered agent service is $120 for the first year. Renewal pricing varies across review sources ($179 vs $249); vendor page does not publish renewal figure clearly.
  • Features: www.mycorporation.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
    MyCorporation handles online filings via its site but also accepts phone signup through 877-692-6772. No named banking partner surfaced on vendor pages. Not marketed to non-US founders. MaintainMyBiz compliance dashboard and reminders bundled at Premium tier.
  • Support: www.mycorporation.com/contactus.jsp · verified April 21, 2026
    Contact page lists phone 1-877-692-6772 with support hours Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time. Email via contact form. Live chat advertised on the website. Address: 26025 Mureau Rd Suite 120, Calabasas, CA 91302. Area code 818 matches Calabasas.
  • Headquarters: www.mycorporation.com/contactus.jsp · verified April 21, 2026
    Headquarters at 26025 Mureau Rd, Suite 120, Calabasas, CA 91302.
  • Founded: www.mycorporation.com/aboutus.jsp · verified April 21, 2026
    About page states: 'We have been helping our customers form and maintain their businesses since 1998.' Acquired by Intuit in 2005 and later reacquired from Intuit by Deborah Sweeney in 2009.
  • Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/mycorporation.com · verified April 21, 2026
    Trustpilot profile for mycorporation.com shows approximately 3.7/5 across roughly 279 reviews as of early 2026.
  • Pricing: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/llc/cost · verified April 21, 2026
    Vendor cost page is Cloudflare-protected; pricing verified through vendor press release and multiple independent reviews citing the $39 promotional formation price (regularly $100) plus $125 per year registered agent renewal. Additional verification via Northwest press release https://www.einpresswire.com/article/887201355/ confirming the $39 discount continues through 2026.
  • Ein: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/ein · verified April 21, 2026
    EIN filing add-on is $50 with SSN/ITIN, $200 for non-US residents without one.
  • Registered agent only: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent · verified April 21, 2026
    Standalone registered agent service $125 per year, flat, with a price-lock guarantee. Multi-state 5+ rate is $100 per state.
  • Features: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/privacy-by-default · verified April 21, 2026
    Privacy by Default guarantee: Northwest states on its own page that it does not sell customer data. Formation includes operating agreement, address use, mail forwarding, phone service, and domain.
  • Headquarters: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/office-locations · verified April 21, 2026
    Corporate headquarters 522 W Riverside Ave Suite N, Spokane, WA 99201. Founded 1998 (27 years in business as of 2026). BBB profile https://www.bbb.org/us/wa/spokane/profile/incorporation/northwest-registered-agent-llc-1296-64196830 corroborates.
  • Support: www.northwestregisteredagent.com/contact-us · verified April 21, 2026
    US-based Corporate Guides available by phone (509-768-2249) and email (support@northwestregisteredagent.com). Hours published on contact page.
  • Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/www.northwestregisteredagent.com · verified April 21, 2026
    3.8 of 5 stars from 217 reviews. Low review count relative to Inc Authority and ZenBusiness because Northwest does not actively solicit Trustpilot reviews.