ZenBusiness vs Northwest — head-to-head
Two of the best LLC formation services in the market, very different in approach. ZenBusiness is the all-in-one platform optimized for first-time founders. Northwest is the privacy-focused service for owners who don't want their home address indexed by data brokers.
Pricing — at a glance
| Feature | ZenBusiness | Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Base formation | $0 (Starter) / $199 (Pro) | $39 (one tier) |
| RA Year 1 | Included | Included |
| RA Year 2+ | $199/yr | $125/yr |
| Operating agreement | Pro tier or above | Free template |
| EIN service | Pro tier or above | $50 add-on |
| Privacy by default | No | Yes |
2-year TCO comparison (typical setup)
- ZenBusiness Pro: $199 + $199 = $398 over 2 years (operating agreement + EIN included)
- Northwest: $39 + $125 + $50 (EIN add-on) = $214 over 2 years
When each wins
ZenBusiness wins when you want one purchase covering operating agreement + EIN + expedited filing, the all-in-one dashboard, or worry-free compliance (auto-files annual reports).
Northwest wins when privacy matters (your home address stays out of public records), when you want the lowest 2-year TCO without sacrificing customer support, or when you're forming in privacy-strong states (WY, NM, NV).
The two-year math favors Northwest. The convenience-and-features story favors ZenBusiness. Most operators end up with one or the other depending on whether privacy or all-in-one tooling matters more.