Northwest vs Bizee for Non-US Founders: LLC Formation Comparison

Quick comparison: Northwest currently advertises business formation for $39 plus state fees and includes its registered-agent service for the first year. Bizee currently advertises a Basic LLC package at $0 plus state fees, Standard at $199 plus state fees, and Premium at $299 plus state fees, with a free first year of registered-agent service in its formation packages.

For a non-US founder, the headline filing price is only one factor. The more important questions are whether you understand what is included, what renews later, which address can legally be used for which purpose, how EIN assistance works, and whether you actually need the paid add-ons.

If you have not decided whether a U.S. entity makes sense yet, start with our 2026 non-US founder step-by-step guide.

Northwest and Bizee at a glance

Northwest Registered Agent positions its formation service around privacy, registered-agent service, a business-address option, and direct support. Its current public formation price is $39 plus the state filing fee, and its site says the first year of registered-agent service is included.

Bizee focuses on a low entry price. Its current LLC page lists Basic at $0 plus state fees, Standard at $199 plus state fees, and Premium at $299 plus state fees. Bizee also says its formation packages include the first year of registered-agent service.

Prices and package features can change. Treat these numbers as a current snapshot and confirm the checkout page before paying.

What non-US founders should compare before price

A formation service does not replace your legal, tax, or banking analysis. The service files documents with the state and may bundle registered-agent service and other administrative tools.

For founders living outside the United States, four details matter especially: the registered-agent relationship, what address appears on public or company records, whether EIN assistance is included or sold separately, and the renewal cost after the first year.

You should also separate a registered-agent address from a principal place of business or trading address. Financial providers may reject a registered-agent or mail-forwarding address when they ask where the business actually operates.

Northwest: what the current package emphasizes

Northwest currently advertises formation at $39 plus state fees. Its public formation page says the package includes the first year of registered-agent service, operating agreement or bylaws, and several business-identity tools.

Its positioning may appeal to founders who value privacy-oriented handling, ongoing registered-agent support, and a more bundled administrative package rather than simply the lowest formation price.

Review the current official package on Northwest Registered Agent before ordering, especially the registered-agent renewal amount and any optional services you select.

Bizee: what the current packages emphasize

Bizee currently markets its Basic formation package at $0 plus the state filing fee. Its Standard and Premium tiers add more services for higher one-time prices.

The Basic package can be attractive to a founder who mainly wants help preparing and filing the formation document and prefers to decide separately which extra services are worth paying for.

Higher Bizee tiers can include services such as EIN assistance and other business documents. Compare the exact package rather than assuming every add-on is required.

See Bizee’s current package details on its official LLC page.

Registered agent service: the first-year offer is not the whole cost

Both services currently promote a free first year of registered-agent service with formation. The meaningful long-term comparison is the renewal price after that first year and whether you still want the same provider once the introductory period ends.

A registered agent receives official state and legal documents. The registered agent must satisfy the state’s requirements and maintain an address in the relevant state.

Do not use “free registered agent” as the only reason to choose a formation provider. The renewal relationship can last for years, so support quality, document handling, privacy practices, and cancellation or switching procedures matter.

Business address vs registered-agent address

This distinction is especially important for international founders. A formation service may offer an address feature, but that does not mean every financial provider will treat it as your real operating address.

Mercury states that a registered-agent address, P.O. box, or UPS Store address cannot serve as the principal place of business for its application. Wise similarly says a trading address must be a real physical place where the business operates and rejects registration agencies, mail-forwarding services, and virtual addresses for that purpose.

Before buying any address add-on, decide what problem you are trying to solve: public-record privacy, legal service of process, mail receiving, or financial-provider verification. They are not the same use case.

EIN assistance: convenience vs doing it yourself

The IRS issues EINs. Formation companies can help prepare or submit the application, but the government number itself is not a proprietary service.

International applicants may need to use the IRS international EIN process rather than the online application. The IRS currently provides telephone, fax, and mail options for applicants whose principal place of business is outside the United States.

If a formation package charges for EIN help, compare that fee with the time and confidence benefit you receive. For a simple ownership structure, some founders prefer to complete Form SS-4 themselves; others prefer paid assistance to reduce administrative friction.

Do not let an LLC package choose your tax status

Formation websites often promote tax elections as upgrades. A tax election should be based on eligibility and tax facts, not the checkout funnel.

For example, the IRS says S corporations may not have nonresident alien shareholders. A non-US founder who is a nonresident alien should not assume an S-corp election is available simply because a formation provider offers Form 2553 preparation.

Foreign-owned single-member LLCs can also have Form 5472 information-reporting obligations. That issue exists regardless of whether Northwest, Bizee, another service, or the founder filed the state formation document.

Which service fits which type of founder?

Northwest may fit a founder who is comfortable paying a modest formation fee in exchange for a privacy-focused service model, first-year registered-agent coverage, and a more bundled support relationship.

Bizee Basic may fit a founder who wants the lowest advertised formation-service price and is comfortable evaluating optional services separately rather than buying a larger bundle up front.

Neither description is a universal recommendation. State fees are the same government obligation regardless of the filing service, and your real compliance cost depends on state, entity, tax filings, registered-agent renewals, professional advice, and any extra services you choose.

Questions to ask before checking out

What is the formation service fee before state fees? What is included in the first year? What renews automatically? What will registered-agent service cost in year two? Is EIN assistance included? Is an operating agreement included? Are address, mail, or phone products optional? What is the refund or cancellation policy? How do you switch registered agents later?

Screenshot or save the checkout summary and renewal disclosures. Formation websites change packages over time, and having your original order terms makes future billing questions easier to resolve.

Our practical view for a non-US founder

If your priority is minimizing the upfront service fee, Bizee Basic deserves a look. If your priority is a privacy-oriented registered-agent relationship and bundled support, Northwest deserves a look.

The formation decision should still come after the entity and state decision. A $0 service in the wrong state or with unnecessary add-ons can cost more over time than a paid filing service that matches the business structure.

Once the entity is approved and the EIN is in progress, the next common step is banking. Read our Mercury vs Wise Business comparison before applying.

Bottom line

Northwest and Bizee can both reduce formation paperwork, but they sell convenience rather than a complete legal or tax solution. Compare current package price, registered-agent renewal, address limitations, EIN handling, and optional add-ons before paying.

For a foreign founder, the best formation workflow is the one that leaves you with clean state records, correct ownership documents, a workable registered-agent arrangement, and enough budget left for tax and compliance support where it actually matters.