LLC Price Compare › Compare › Mainstay Filing vs Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness
Mainstay Filing vs Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness: 3-Year Cost and What’s Included
Over three years, service and registered agent: Mainstay Filing $597, Northwest Registered Agent $289, ZenBusiness $497. Mainstay Filing is our pick if you want one price that includes the annual report and does not rise; Northwest Registered Agent costs less to start.
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year plus state fees at cost
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness, which is better for forming your LLC?
The state filing fee and any state report fee are the same with either, so the choice is the service price and what it covers.
| Service | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3 years | What the price covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199 | $199 | $597 | Formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and every annual report filed |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 | $125 | $125 | $289 | Formation; agent included year 1; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee |
| ZenBusiness | $99 | $199 | $199 | $497 | Starter formation; agent bought separately; Pro ($199 a year) adds EIN and annual-report filing |
Where each one wins
- Year 1: Northwest Registered Agent
- Year 2: Northwest Registered Agent
- Three years: Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee. (checked October 20, 2026).
ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes. (checked October 20, 2026).
Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers formation, the registered agent, the EIN application and the annual report, renews at the same price, and has no add-on menu.
Questions
Northwest Registered Agent vs ZenBusiness, which is better for forming your LLC?
Mainstay Filing if you want one price that includes the annual report and EIN application and does not rise ($199 a year). Northwest Registered Agent if you want the lowest start ($39 in year 1).
Which is cheaper in the second year?
Mainstay Filing $199, Northwest Registered Agent $125, ZenBusiness $199.
See your state’s total: all 50 states.