Northwest Registered Agent vs Stripe Atlas: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026Northwest Registered Agent starts at $39 plus state fees. Stripe Atlas starts at $500 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: Stripe Atlas is $100 per year, Northwest Registered Agent is $125. Over five years that delta adds up to $100, 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).
Key differences at a glance
- Northwest Registered Agent is $461 cheaper at the starting tier (both charge upfront).
- Stripe Atlas has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($100/yr vs $125/yr). Over five years that is a $100 difference.
- Stripe Atlas includes EIN filing in its default price; Northwest Registered Agent sells it as a paid add-on. You can always get an EIN directly from the IRS in five minutes for free.
- Northwest Registered Agent offers live chat support; the other relies on phone and email only.
- Northwest Registered Agent includes mail scanning (physical mail delivered to the registered agent gets scanned and forwarded digitally). The other does not.
Where each service fits
Pick Northwest Registered Agent when
Pick Northwest Registered Agent when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you need mail scanning bundled with the registered agent; you want live chat support.
Pick Stripe Atlas when
Pick Stripe Atlas when you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper).
What each service offers that the other does not
Only Northwest Registered Agent
- Mail scanning
- Phone support
- Live chat support
Only Stripe Atlas
- EIN included free
- Banking partner integration
Both services
- Operating agreement included free
- Compliance dashboard
- Non-US founder 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 | Northwest Registered Agent Year 1 | Stripe Atlas Year 1 | Northwest Registered Agent 5-year | Stripe Atlas 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. | $39 | $500 | $539 | $900 |
| 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. | $109 | $500 | $609 | $900 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $125 | $0 | $625 | $0 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | Northwest Registered Agent | Stripe Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | $39 | $500 |
| Registered agent year 1 | Included | Included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $125/yr | $100/yr |
| Free $0 tier | No | No |
| EIN application | Paid add-on | Included free |
| Operating agreement | Included free | Included free |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | Yes | No |
| International founders | Yes | Yes |
| Banking partner | None | Mercury |
| Phone support | Mon-Fri 6:00am-5:00pm Pacific | No |
| Live chat | Yes | No |
| Trustpilot rating | 3.8/5 (217 reviews) | Not published |
Pricing tiers side by side
Northwest Registered Agent
- Full Service LLC — $39
Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr
Stripe Atlas
- Atlas — $500
Includes RA year 1 · renews $100/yr
Support and ratings, interpreted
Northwest Registered Agent offers phone, email, live chat. Stripe Atlas offers email. Northwest Registered Agent is the only one of the two with live chat, which matters if you anticipate back-and-forth questions during filing.
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.
Stripe Atlas
No phone support.
Email: yes.
No live chat.
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 Northwest Registered Agent, Stripe Atlas, 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 Northwest Registered Agent and Stripe Atlas 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, Northwest Registered Agent or Stripe Atlas?
Northwest Registered Agent is cheaper at the starting tier ($39 vs $500). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $361.
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Does Northwest Registered Agent or Stripe Atlas have better support?
Northwest Registered Agent offers phone, email, live chat. Stripe Atlas offers email. Northwest Registered Agent is the only one of the two with live chat, which matters if you anticipate back-and-forth questions during filing.
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Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using Northwest Registered Agent or Stripe Atlas?
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.
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How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
Northwest Registered Agent renews at $125/yr. Stripe Atlas renews at $100/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.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. - Pricing: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Pricing page: $500 one-time fee that includes government filing fees and first year of registered agent. Registered agent renews automatically at $100/yr after year one. - Registered agent renewal usd: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas page states: 'US$100 annually after your first year (renews automatically).' - Features: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas supports three entity types on its signup flow: C corporation, LLC, and Subsidiary. C-corp is listed first and historically the primary product; LLC is offered but commonly steered to Delaware or Wyoming. Only Delaware is named on the pricing page as the incorporation state for C-corps. - E in cluded: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
EIN acquisition is included in the flat $500. - Operating agreement: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas includes bylaws for C-corps and operating agreement templates for LLCs, produced in collaboration with Cooley LLP. - International: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas states startups in over 140 countries have used the service. Explicitly designed for non-US founders who want a US entity and US payments access. - Annual report filing: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas does not file Delaware annual franchise tax reports on the customer's behalf; compliance reminders are surfaced in the dashboard but the filing itself is not a bundled service. - Banking partner: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas partners with Mercury for bank account opening. Account is provisioned after the Delaware filing completes. - Founded: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Stripe Atlas launched in 2016 as a Stripe product. Parent company Stripe was founded in 2010. - Headquarters: stripe.com/about · verified April 21, 2026
Stripe (parent) has dual HQ in South San Francisco, CA and Dublin, Ireland. Atlas is a product line, not a separately incorporated company. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/stripe.com · verified April 21, 2026
The only Trustpilot profile for Stripe covers the entire Stripe payments business, not Atlas specifically. Setting rating to null because the profile is unrepresentative of Atlas. - Support: support.stripe.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas customers receive support through the Stripe dashboard and email. Stripe does not publish a phone support channel for Atlas; live chat is via the general Stripe support product.