When choosing an incorporation services provider, it's important to review the pros and cons of companies like Northwest Registered Agent to make an informed business decision.
Northwest Registered Agent incorporation services
To officially become either a C corp or S corp, you must first file Articles of Incorporation with your state. (In some states, this document is referred to as a Certificate of Incorporation.) But corporations have other requirement that must be met in order to be legally compliant. Some of these requirements include -
- Appointing a registered agent at the time of formation
- Obtaining an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS
- Registering with the state’s department of revenue.
- Meeting state-specific requirements, such as initial filing requirements.
- Preparing corporate bylaws
- Holding the first board meeting
- Filing Form 2553 with the IRS (S corporations only)
While many incorporation service providers offer multiple packages at different price points, Northwest takes a simpler approach by providing a single business formation package for $39 (plus state fees). This package includes:
- One year of free registered agent services (then $125/year).
- One year of business domain registration.
- 90-day free trial of business website, email, and phone number.
- Legal forms library
- On-call business experts
Northwest can also handle your S corp election filing with the IRS for an additional $100 fee.
Northwest Registered Agent incorporation process
Before we dive into the details of business formation through Northwest Registered Agent, it's helpful to understand the basic requirements for forming a corporation, so you can provide the necessary information during the questionnaire.
Understanding these requirements will also help you evaluate the additional services offered during the process and decide which ones you need. Check out this resource to learn more: Guide to starting a corporation.
Northwest offers a straightforward process for business formation. A single starter package ($39), with additional services and fees added as necessary. Some of the steps in this process are -
- Select your state (state filing fees vary).
- Provide basic details about your business, including the name of the corporation and its purpose. Northwest also requests information about corporate directors, officers, and share structure, as many states require these details when filing the Articles of Incorporation.
- Select optional add-ons before checkout, such as EIN service, S corp election with the IRS, filing a DBA, and corporate books and seals.
- Provide payment information.
- Review and confirm your information. This must be completed before Northwest can proceed with filing. Delays can occur if this step isn’t completed promptly.