Bizee costs $39 less than Northwest in Texas in year one. Then the math flips. Here’s the short version: Bizee’s $0 Basic package wins the first year, while Northwest’s lower registered agent renewal ($125 vs. $149 a year) puts it ahead by year three if you keep the company as your agent.
A registered agent is the person or company your state lists to receive legal papers and official mail for your LLC. In Texas, the state fee is $300, so year one is $300 with Bizee Basic and $339 with Northwest. Filing it yourself is cheaper than both.
Disclosure: HowToIncorporateForFree.com earns a commission if you buy through our links to either Bizee or Northwest Registered Agent. That doesn’t change the numbers below, which come from each company’s own website and the state’s filing fee. This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Our recommendations are based on independent research and are never influenced by partners. Prices are as of October 2026 and change, so confirm them at checkout.
Last updated: October 17, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Year one in Texas: Bizee Basic is $300. Northwest is $339 ($39 + $300).
- Year three: Northwest is $589. Bizee Basic is $598, if the company stays your registered agent.
- Year five: Northwest is $839. Bizee Basic is $896.
- Cheapest overall: Filing yourself costs only the state fee ($300 in Texas) if you act as your own registered agent.
- An EIN is free from the IRS. Paying either company for one buys convenience only.
Our how to incorporate yourself guide walks through the DIY route step by step.
Bizee vs Northwest at a Glance: Texas Prices as of October 2026
Northwest’s pages were checked October 17, 2026. Bizee’s were checked October 15 and 17, 2026. Bizee was formerly called Incfile, and Bizee says the rebrand doesn’t affect existing services.
| Bizee (Basic) | Northwest Registered Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest package price | $0 + state fee | $39 + state fees |
| Does the package renew? | No, one-time formation fee | Registered agent renews after year one |
| Registered agent, year one | Free with formation | Included in the $39, per Northwest |
| Registered agent after year one | $149/year (standalone price) | $125/year ($100/year per state for five or more states) |
| EIN | Included in Standard ($199); free from the IRS | $50 with a Social Security number, $200 without; free from the IRS |
| Operating agreement | Included in Standard ($199) | Free template on Northwest’s site |
| Extras | Premium ($299) adds domain, email, phone | Domain, hosting, email, phone, business address, brand protection included, per Northwest |
| Refunds | Generally until payment is forwarded to the state | No published window found; ask before ordering |
Year One: What $0 and $39 Actually Get You
Bizee Basic: $0 + State Fee
According to Bizee’s order page, the package price ($0, $199 or $299) is a one-time formation fee. Registered agent service is free for the first year with formation, and Bizee lists its value at $149/year. Bizee also says its virtual address ($29/month value) is free for the first month. Both are optional to continue.
Basic is the bare-bones filing. Bizee says Standard adds your EIN, an operating agreement and faster processing, about 2 weeks instead of 4-6 weeks. Premium adds business contract templates, a custom domain and email, a business phone number, lifetime compliance alerts and what Bizee calls priority 4-day processing.
Northwest: $39 + State Fees
According to Northwest’s Texas page, the $39 includes a year of registered agent service plus a free domain name, web hosting, email address, phone line and brand protection. Its LLC page also lists a free business address.
The Year-One Math in Texas
Say you’re forming a one-person LLC in Texas. The Texas Secretary of State lists the LLC certificate of formation fee at $300.
- Bizee Basic: $300 (state fee; registered agent free in year one)
- Northwest: $339 ($39 + $300; registered agent year included)
- Filing yourself: $300
The $39 gap is the price of Northwest’s bundle. If you’d use the included business address, domain, email or phone, that may be worth it. If you only want the LLC filed, Basic is cheaper.
The state fee is the same either way. It goes to the state, not to the company.
Bizee vs Northwest Over Time: The Registered Agent Bill
Bizee’s formation packages don’t renew, but the registered agent service does. Bizee’s cancellation policy says the service may automatically renew, with the card on file charged by its registered agent partner (for example, LegalInc). Bizee lists the standalone price at $149/year.
Northwest’s registered agent service is $125/year, according to its registered agent page. Northwest says it hasn’t raised that price in 20 years and that it includes a business address and mail scanning. For five or more states, Northwest says it’s $100/year per state. Past pricing doesn’t guarantee future prices, so check before you renew.
Texas Totals If the Company Stays Your Registered Agent
| Time frame | Bizee Basic | Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | $300 | $339 |
| Three years | $598 ($300 + $149 + $149) | $589 ($339 + $125 + $125) |
| Five years | $896 | $839 |
Northwest pulls ahead by year three, and the lead is small: $9 at three years, $57 at five. It grows by $24 with every renewal. It would shift if either company changed its prices, and it would grow if you used Northwest’s discounted multi-state rate.
The cheapest-looking package isn’t always the cheapest plan. The renewal is where the real cost hides, so price out year five before you pay for year one.
Don’t Forget the State’s Yearly Report
Neither company’s totals include annual state paperwork. In Texas, the yearly filing is a franchise tax report, which carries no filing fee for most small LLCs. Other states charge different fees.
Northwest says its annual report filing service is $100 + state fees per filing, and that it offers free annual report reminders. Check our annual report fees by state guide before paying anyone to file it. You can also run your own state’s numbers in our LLC cost calculator.
EIN and Operating Agreement: Skip the Upsell or Pay for Convenience
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your LLC’s federal tax ID, used for banking and taxes. An operating agreement is the document that sets out how your LLC is owned and run.
You don’t need to pay anyone for either. According to the IRS, you can get an EIN directly from the IRS for free, and you never have to pay a fee for one. Apply only through IRS.gov. You can also write your own operating agreement.
If you’d rather have the company handle them:
- Bizee Standard: $499 in Texas ($199 + $300). It includes the EIN and operating agreement, plus the faster processing Bizee describes.
- Northwest: $389 in Texas ($39 + $50 EIN service + $300). Northwest says the EIN service costs $50 if you have a Social Security number and $200 if you don’t, and that it files the EIN once the state approves the business. Its site offers a free operating agreement template.
- DIY EIN with Basic or the $39 package: $300 or $339, plus a few minutes on IRS.gov.
On price alone, the Northwest route is $110 cheaper than Bizee Standard in Texas. Our Bizee review covers what each tier is worth in more detail.
Privacy and Extras: What Northwest Bundles vs. What Bizee Sells Up
Northwest calls its approach “Privacy by Default.” It says it uses its own information instead of yours on public filings where the state allows. If you don’t want your home address in public records, that matters. Whether your name or address can be kept off a filing depends on the state, so check what yours requires.
Northwest says its package includes a business address, domain, hosting, email and phone line. Bizee’s equivalents sit higher up. Its Premium package ($299 + state fee) adds a custom domain and email and a business phone number, and Bizee says its virtual address is free for the first month, with a listed value of $29/month. That’s a different pricing model, not an apples-to-apples one.
Extras only pay off if you use them. A domain, email and phone line you never set up are just a $39 line item.
Refunds: Bizee’s 24-Hour Window and What to Ask Northwest
Bizee’s cancellation policy says an order is generally refundable until payment is forwarded to a government entity such as a state, typically within 24 hours of the order being placed, less any other expenses paid or incurred. After that, the state fee is gone.
We didn’t find a published refund window for Northwest formation orders on the pages we checked. That doesn’t mean there’s no refund. Ask Northwest before ordering, and get the answer in writing if you can.
For either company, double-check your LLC name and details before you submit. A name search on your state’s Secretary of State portal is free.
Which Should You Choose: Bizee, Northwest or Filing Yourself?
Choose Bizee if:
- You want the lowest year-one cost and only need the filing (Basic: $300 in Texas).
- You might replace the registered agent after year one anyway.
- You want a tiered path to an EIN, operating agreement and faster processing (Standard) or a business bundle (Premium).
Choose Northwest if:
- You expect to keep the company as your registered agent for three or more years. In Texas, the numbers favor it from year three on.
- You want the included address, domain, email, phone line and the privacy approach Northwest describes.
- You’d pay a company for the EIN and want the $50 option rather than Bizee’s $199 Standard.
File yourself if:
- You want the lowest total cost. In Texas that’s $300, and you act as your own registered agent.
- You have a physical address in the state and can be available during business hours to accept papers.
- You’re comfortable getting your own EIN from the IRS and using a free operating agreement template.
Our LLC formation services compared guide covers more options. We also compared Bizee vs ZenBusiness and Bizee vs LegalZoom. If Texas isn’t your state, see the cheapest states to start an LLC.
Your Next Step
Plug your own state’s fee into our LLC cost calculator to see your five-year total. Then, if a service fits, you can go to Bizee or Northwest Registered Agent (both affiliate links).
FAQ
Is Bizee really free?
The Basic package has a $0 formation fee, but you still pay the state filing fee (in Texas, $300). Bizee also says registered agent service is free for the first year, then renews, with Bizee listing the standalone price at $149/year. Basic doesn’t include the EIN, operating agreement or faster processing, which Bizee puts in Standard ($199).
Does Northwest charge every year?
The $39 is Northwest’s formation price, and Northwest says it includes a year of registered agent service. After that, registered agent service is $125/year, according to Northwest. Its annual report filing service costs $100 + state fees per filing, but that’s optional, and Northwest says it offers free annual report reminders.
Which is cheaper over time?
In our Texas example, Bizee Basic is cheaper in year one ($300 vs. $339). By year three Northwest is cheaper ($589 vs. $598), and by year five the gap is $57 ($839 vs. $896). That assumes you keep each company as your registered agent at the listed prices. Filing yourself is cheapest of all if you can serve as your own registered agent.
Do I need a registered agent service?
You need a registered agent, but not necessarily a paid one. You can usually be your own if you have a physical address in the state and are available during business hours. A service makes sense if you want privacy, travel often or don’t have a suitable address. Confirm your state’s rules on its Secretary of State website.
Can I switch registered agents later?
Yes. You typically appoint a new registered agent by filing a change with your state, and the form and fee vary. Bizee’s cancellation policy says you cancel its registered agent service by assigning a new registered agent with the state and notifying Bizee before the expiration date. Make the change before the old renewal date so you don’t pay for another year.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Business formation rules, fees, and deadlines vary by state and change often. Always consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or tax professional before making decisions about your business.
