The same registered agent service costs $125 a year at one company and $249 at another, and you can do the job yourself for $0. That gap adds up fast. Picking the best registered agent service starts with knowing exactly what you’ll pay in year one and in year five.
Here’s the short version, based on each company’s own website as of October 2026. Northwest has the lowest ongoing price. Bizee is cheapest in year one if you form your LLC with it. We rank on price and renewal terms only, so “best” here means lowest cost and clearest renewal terms. There are no star ratings and no awards.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. We earn commissions from Bizee and Northwest Registered Agent only. We have no affiliate relationship with ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. Our recommendations are based on independent research and are never influenced by partners.
Last updated: October 18, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Lowest ongoing price: Northwest Registered Agent at $125/year, or $100/year per state for five or more states.
- Lowest first-year cost: Bizee includes the first year free when you form your LLC with it, then lists $149/year.
- Higher-priced options: ZenBusiness at $199/year and LegalZoom at $249/year. Neither includes a registered agent in any LLC formation package.
- Cheapest of all: Being your own registered agent costs $0, if you meet your state’s requirements.
What a Registered Agent Does and Who Can Be One
A registered agent receives legal papers (service of process) and official state mail for your LLC during business hours. Your state requires your LLC to name one and keep that information current.
You don’t have to hire anyone. You can be your own agent if you have a physical address in the state (not a P.O. box) and you’re available there during business hours. Rules differ by state, so check yours. The Washington Secretary of State’s registered agent page is one example of what an official state page looks like. Look for your own state’s version before you decide.
Doing it yourself costs $0 beyond your state’s normal formation fee. The tradeoff is simple. The registered agent’s name and address are part of your LLC’s public record, so yours would be listed, and you have to be reachable whenever the office is open.
If you’re setting up from scratch, our guide on how to incorporate yourself walks through the state-site route first.
Best Registered Agent Service by Price: 1-, 3- and 5-Year Totals
These totals are for buying registered agent service on its own, using each company’s listed annual price with no discounts. Prices are as of October 2026.
| Company | Annual price | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | $125 | $375 | $625 |
| Bizee | $149 | $149 | $447 | $745 |
| ZenBusiness | $199 | $199 | $597 | $995 |
| LegalZoom | $249 | $249 | $747 | $1,245 |
| Being your own agent | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Look at the five-year column. LegalZoom’s total is $1,245 and Northwest’s is $625. That’s a $620 difference for the same basic role.
What It Costs If You Form Your LLC With the Company
Bundled offers change the first-year math.
- Bizee: According to Bizee, registered agent service is included free for the first year with LLC formation and renews annually. After that it lists the service at $149/year, so three years costs $298 for the agent.
- Northwest: According to Northwest, its $39 LLC formation includes a year of registered agent service. Years two and three at $125/year add $250.
- ZenBusiness: According to ZenBusiness, registered agent service isn’t included in the Starter, Pro or Premium packages. It’s a $199/year add-on to each.
- LegalZoom: According to LegalZoom, registered agent service isn’t included in any of its LLC packages.
Formation fees are separate, and the state filing fee goes to the state no matter which route you choose. For example, Northwest’s Texas page says its $39 service files a Certificate of Formation along with a $300 fee paid to the Texas Secretary of State (per Northwest, as of October 2026).
What Each Service Says It Includes
The features below come from each company’s own pages. We haven’t tested them.
Northwest Registered Agent ($125/year). Northwest says its price includes a business address, mail scanning and legal forms, with no hidden fees or per-document charges. It also says it hasn’t raised its price in 20 years. For five or more states, it lists $100/year per state. You can see it directly at Northwest Registered Agent.
Bizee ($149/year standalone). Bizee says the first year is free with formation and that renewal is billed by its registered agent partner, LegalInc. Its order page also lists a virtual address as optional (free for the first month, then listed at $29/month). Details are on the Bizee site.
ZenBusiness ($199/year). ZenBusiness lists registered agent service as an add-on. It also sells annual report filing at $100 per report and Worry-Free Compliance at $199/year. Those are separate products from the agent service.
LegalZoom ($249/year). LegalZoom says its service includes alerts when it receives important mail, scanned and uploaded documents, and email reminders about annual report deadlines. It notes that its address is the one listed on the public record, not yours.
For head-to-head breakdowns, see Bizee vs Northwest, Bizee vs LegalZoom and Bizee vs ZenBusiness.
Renewal Terms to Watch Before You Buy
Here’s the part people always miss: the price you pay in year one isn’t always the price you pay in year two. Renewals are where a “free” or cheap service quietly turns into a recurring charge.
- Bizee: The free year renews yearly. According to Bizee’s cancellation policy, the registered agent service may automatically renew, with your card charged by its partner (for example, LegalInc). Put the expiration date on your calendar.
- LegalZoom: LegalZoom says the service auto-renews at the purchase rate each year until you cancel.
- Northwest and ZenBusiness: Both list annual pricing. We didn’t verify their auto-renewal or cancellation terms, so read the checkout terms before you buy.
Do You Need to Pay for the Best Registered Agent Service?
Many owners can skip it. A paid agent is worth a look in these situations:
- Privacy matters. When you act as your own agent, your address goes on the record. A service lists its own address instead.
- You travel or work irregularly. Your agent has to be available during business hours, and missing a lawsuit notice could mean missing the deadline to respond.
- You have no physical address in the state. If your LLC is formed where you don’t live or have an office, you can’t use your own address, so you’ll need an in-state agent. Check your state’s rules.
- You operate in several states. Each state where your LLC is registered generally needs its own in-state agent, so per-state pricing matters. Northwest’s $100/year tier for five or more states is one example.
- You want mail handled for you. Scanning and alerts save time if you don’t want to open government mail yourself.
If none of that fits you, being your own agent is a reasonable, free option.
Whichever route you take, keep your annual report on schedule. Our annual report fees and deadlines by state guide has the dates.
How to Switch or Cancel Your Registered Agent
- Choose your new agent (a service, a person or yourself) and confirm they accept the role.
- File a change of registered agent with your state. Each state has its own filing for this. In Kentucky, for example, a Statement of Change of Registered Agent costs $10, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State. Fees vary by state, so check yours.
- Notify your current provider before the expiration date. Bizee’s policy says you cancel by assigning a new registered agent with the state and notifying Bizee before expiration.
- Confirm the state record updated by searching your LLC in the state’s business database.
- Check your card for auto-renewal charges. LegalZoom says its service renews until you cancel.
Don’t cancel with the provider until the state has your new agent on file.
FAQ
Can I be my own registered agent?
Generally yes, if you have a physical address in the state (not a P.O. box) and you’re available there during business hours. Check your state’s Secretary of State rules.
Is Bizee’s registered agent really free?
According to Bizee, it’s free for the first year when you form your LLC with Bizee. It then renews yearly, and Bizee lists the standalone price at $149/year.
Which service has the lowest renewal price?
Of the four compared, Northwest lists the lowest at $125/year. Bizee is $149, ZenBusiness is $199 and LegalZoom is $249, as of October 2026.
Does ZenBusiness or LegalZoom include a registered agent with LLC formation?
No. Neither company lists registered agent service in its formation packages; both sell it separately. ZenBusiness lists it at $199/year and LegalZoom at $249/year.
What happens if I stop paying for the service?
The service ends, but your LLC still needs a registered agent on file with the state, and going without one can put its good standing at risk. Appoint a new agent with the state before the old one expires.
Next Step: Add Up Your Real Total
A registered agent is only one line in your startup costs. Plug in your state’s filing fee, your agent choice and your annual report fee with our LLC cost calculator, then check the dates on your state’s Secretary of State site.
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.
