GenZone vs Northwest Registered Agent: Pricing and What's Included
Comparing the non-resident formation stack, side by side, on price, the registered agent, the EIN, tax filing, and ongoing service.
Northwest's a la carte stack (formation $39, Foreign EIN $200, mail forwarding $240/yr) reaches about $479 before state fees, close to GenZone's all-in $499. But Form 5472 and hands-on banking are not in Northwest's public catalog, so those come from a separate provider. GenZone's Advanced plan folds them in at $999.
*Northwest first-year estimate covers formation ($39), the Foreign EIN Service ($200), and one year of premium Mail Forwarding ($240), before state fees. Form 5472 and 1120 filing and bank-application support are not listed in Northwest's current public service catalog. Verified against Northwest Registered Agent's incorporation service page, September 2026; confirm current pricing on each provider's site before deciding.
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It took them under two days to get two US LLCs up and running, with the paperwork submitted. Honestly I couldn't have started my business in the UAE and expanded this quickly. I'm still surprised how fast the CEO, Kevin, jumps in when needed, deep into the night. Clearly dedicated, and it shows.
Super fast, no headaches, amazing support. I opened my company in Dubai, got my UAE residency and ID, and opened two more companies in the US. I didn't have to worry about anything, they handled everything from start to finish. Every time I had a question, I got a reply in under five minutes.
I reached out to several companies to set up my US LLC, and the difference with GenZone was night and day. They set up my LLC in just one day, and I had my EIN and everything sorted within a week. Unbelievably quick. The whole team made what I expected to be a complicated process feel effortless.
We chose GenZone after seeing them on YouTube for Dubai setup. They handled our Dubai FZCO and our residency visas, and the whole process was streamlined and effortless. Communication is top notch, often answered within minutes. They then handled our US LLC too, again super easy. Recommend to anybody.
GenZone is everything they claim they are and more. They helped me start my US LLC in almost no time at all. They act fast and they deliver. Wonderful cooperation, pleased to have used their services.
GenZone made setting up my US LLC as a non-resident incredibly smooth. Albert and the team were super helpful throughout, and the LLC was formed quickly with all documents organized neatly. The EIN took a little longer than expected, but the team followed up and got it sorted. Would definitely recommend to other international entrepreneurs.
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The Full Breakdown
Both GenZone and Northwest form US LLCs, but only one bundles the complete non-resident service package into a single price.
Northwest Registered Agent is a company specializing in business formation and registered agent services, primarily catering to US residents.
While non-residents can form an LLC through Northwest, crucial post-formation services, such as obtaining an EIN, filing Forms 5472 and 1120, and hands-on banking support, are either priced separately or not publicly listed in their service catalog.
GenZone, however, bundles the entire non-resident service stack into one flat annual price, ensuring the cost you see at signup is the all-inclusive price.
Northwest offers formation and registered agent services on an a la carte basis: a low headline fee, followed by separate charges for an EIN, real mail forwarding, and any foreign-owned tax compliance. This model is straightforward for a US resident who only needs an entity and a registered agent.
For a non-resident, this same model means assembling the full compliance package yourself, often one purchase and one provider at a time. The key question isn't whether Northwest can form your LLC, but how many separate pieces you'll need to source afterward.
Formation is Cheap; Everything Else is Separate
Northwest's formation fee is a flat $39, plus the state filing fee. This covers the LLC filing, the first year of registered agent service, and a basic operating agreement template. The provided address is intended for official filings and legal mail, not for day-to-day business correspondence.
The additional features Northwest includes at this price, a domain, a hosted site, and business email, are geared towards a US resident launching a local business, rather than the compliance needs of a founder operating from abroad.
Everything a non-resident truly needs next falls outside that $39. The EIN is a separate $200 charge. Usable mail forwarding starts at $20 a month. Form 5472 filing and banking support are not listed on their price list at all.
GenZone's Basic plan, however, includes the registered agent, a physical address with mail forwarding, and the non-resident EIN for a single annual price of $499, state fees included.
The EIN: A Separate Charge, an Undisclosed Timeline
Northwest does obtain a non-resident EIN through its paid Foreign EIN Service, priced at $200 on top of the $39 formation fee. However, its website does not provide a turnaround time for the non-SSN route.
It lists IRS processing windows for the Social Security Number path but offers no equivalent commitment for founders filing without one, a process that is inherently slower with the IRS.
GenZone includes the same non-resident EIN with every plan and specifies the turnaround: 3 to 5 business days, handled directly with the IRS. This is a committed timeline rather than an estimate, and it's not a separate line item to purchase.
The Filing Not Found on Northwest's Price List
Certain foreign-owned single-member LLCs are required to file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 annually, even in years with no US income tax liability.
A Published Guide Is Not a Filing Service
When Form 5472 is required, the IRS can impose a $25,000 penalty for failure to file. Northwest's formation, registered agent, compliance, and tax-education pages list no dedicated service for this filing and no price for one.
While it publishes content explaining the obligation, this is not the same as filing it for you.
A non-resident forming an LLC with Northwest is left to source Form 5472 from a separate CPA or filing service. GenZone's Advanced plan, starting at $999, includes Form 1120 and 5472 filings by in-house CPAs, all within the same annual price that already covers the agent and address.
New to the surrounding paperwork? The guide to W-8 and W-9 forms for foreign owners explains which one applies and when.
Banking: Guidance, Not a Service
Northwest provides reading material on how to approach a bank and a free bank resolution template. There is no page advertising hands-on document preparation tailored to a specific bank's approval criteria, which is the crucial step that actually advances a non-resident application.
GenZone's banking support, included with the Advanced plan, is active: documents are prepared, and applications are supported across providers such as Wise, Mercury, and Slash, with over 3,000 global business accounts opened.
GenZone is not just a US LLC provider. We build and run your full global structure, from companies to residency to banking.
- Dubai company setup and UAE residency for legal tax repositioning and a 0% position.
- Golden visa and long-term UAE residency for qualified high-net-worth founders and investors.
- UAE accounting and bookkeeping that keeps your Dubai company compliant and clean.
- Business banking across many countries, including the US, Dubai, Panama, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, Liechtenstein, and the Bahamas, plus digital accounts with Wise, Mercury, Relay, Slash, Stripe, and more.
Pricing, Added Up Honestly
GenZone publishes three fixed annual tiers on its US LLC page: Basic at $499, Advanced at $999, and Done-For-You at $1,999.
State fees, the registered agent, the address, physical mail forwarding, and the non-resident EIN are included from the Basic tier. Form 5472 and 1120 filing, plus active banking setup, are included from the Advanced tier.
Northwest's headline price is lower, but only because it includes fewer services. Add the Foreign EIN Service and usable mail forwarding to the $39 formation fee, and a non-resident is already close to GenZone's Basic price.
That is even before considering Form 5472 and banking, which would then need to be sourced from other providers at additional cost. It's one flat number versus several separate ones.
Support: A Shared Queue or a Dedicated Person
Northwest's support operates through a shared team, accessible by phone and email, with no named account manager for its standard formation package. Each time, you explain your situation to whoever answers.
GenZone pairs its own platform with a dedicated relationship manager on WhatsApp, assigned from the first message and available throughout formation, banking applications, and every subsequent renewal.
For a founder eight time zones away, deciding which of several providers to call about which task, one point of contact matters more a year in than on day one.
Each Firm Serves a Different Founder
Choose GenZone if you...
- Want the EIN, the address, and Form 5472 filing in one price, not sourced from separate providers.
- Need the EIN on a stated timeline, not an open-ended IRS route.
- Want a named advisor on WhatsApp instead of a shared support queue.
- May want a US structure paired with Dubai residency and a UAE company later.
Northwest may fit if you...
- Already have an accountant handling Form 5472 and don't need it bundled.
- Want the lowest formation fee and are comfortable buying the rest separately.
- Mainly need a registered agent and privacy on public filings.
- Have no near-term interest in a Dubai or UAE structure.
Final Verdict
Northwest Registered Agent forms LLCs and acts as a registered agent at a low, itemized price. For a foreign-owned company, it is not a complete solution: the EIN is an add-on, and Form 5472, Form 1120, and hands-on banking are not part of the package.
A non-resident who chooses Northwest typically ends up coordinating two or three providers to achieve what GenZone's single annual plan already covers, on one timeline, with one point of contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northwest Registered Agent suitable for non-resident founders?
Northwest can form the LLC, act as registered agent, and sell a non-resident EIN as a paid add-on. But Form 5472 filing and hands-on banking, the pieces a foreign-owned LLC cannot skip, are not in its public catalog. GenZone bundles all of them into one annual price built for non-residents.
Does Northwest charge non-residents for an EIN, or do they have to obtain it themselves?
A non-resident does not have to self-file: Northwest runs a paid Foreign EIN Service. But it costs $200 on top of the $39 formation fee, a separate purchase before any compliance. GenZone includes the non-resident EIN on every plan at no extra charge, issued in 3 to 5 business days.
How long does Northwest's non-resident EIN service take?
Northwest publishes no turnaround for the non-SSN route and guarantees none for its $200 Foreign EIN Service. Its estimates describe IRS methods in general, not non-resident applicants. GenZone commits to 3 to 5 business days for the same non-resident EIN, handled directly with the IRS.
Does Northwest file Form 5472 for foreign-owned LLCs?
Northwest publishes articles explaining Form 5472, but lists no service that files it and no price for one, so you would source it from a separate CPA. GenZone includes Form 5472 and 1120 from its $999 Advanced plan, filed by in-house CPAs inside the same annual price.
What is the approximate first-year cost for a non-resident using Northwest?
About $479 before state fees: formation ($39), the Foreign EIN Service ($200), and usable mail forwarding ($240). Add a third-party Form 5472 filer, typically $300 to $600, and the real total reaches roughly $780 to $1,080 across separate providers. GenZone's Advanced plan covers all of it for $999, from one provider.
Does Northwest assist with opening a US bank account?
Northwest offers guidance content and a free bank resolution template, but no dedicated application service. GenZone is hands-on: it prepares your documents and matches your profile to the bank most likely to approve, across Wise, Mercury, and Slash, with over 3,000 global business accounts opened.
Is Northwest cheaper than GenZone?
Only on the formation line: $39 plus state fees against GenZone's $499 Basic plan. But the $39 buys far less. Once a non-resident adds the EIN, real mail forwarding, and Form 5472, the totals converge, and GenZone delivers them in one price, from one team.
Can I switch to GenZone after forming with Northwest?
Yes. An LLC already formed with Northwest can move its registered agent, ongoing compliance, banking support, and Form 5472 filing to GenZone without reincorporating, consolidating several separate providers into a single annual plan.
Is GenZone a better alternative to Northwest?
For a non-resident who wants the EIN, address, Form 5472 filing, and banking in one annual price, yes. GenZone bundles the full stack, with a named WhatsApp advisor and a Dubai option. Northwest suits a founder who already has compliance handled and only needs a low-cost registered agent.