Last updated: November 12, 2026
If you’re comparing ZenBusiness vs Northwest Registered Agent vs Globalfy to form a U.S. LLC without living in the country, the formation price is only the first line of the bill. Both companies register your LLC with the state well. For a non-resident, the decision depends on what comes next: the EIN without an SSN, the registered agent, the annual report and IRS Form 5472.
In this comparison, we put ZenBusiness, Northwest Registered Agent and Globalfy side by side, with prices checked on their official sites, so you can decide with the numbers in hand.
Key takeaways
- Best for non-residents: Globalfy. The Remote plan brings together formation, the EIN without an SSN, the registered agent, the business address and the federal return (Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120), with human specialists in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
- ZenBusiness: one of the strongest options for founders who live in the U.S. and want to form cheaply, with the annual report filing included on the Pro plan. The registered agent is always charged separately, at $199 per year.
- Northwest Registered Agent: the leanest formation, at $39 plus the state fee, with 1 year of registered agent and a focus on privacy. It doesn’t prepare IRS returns.
- How to choose: check who prepares Form 5472, how much the second year costs with everything added up and what support you get on U.S. taxes.
- Year 1 price range (Wyoming): from about $343 (Northwest, with the EIN without an SSN and no federal compliance) to $1,101.75 (Globalfy Remote, with federal compliance included).
ZenBusiness vs Northwest Registered Agent vs Globalfy at a glance
| Company | Best for | What’s in the package | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | U.S. residents who want to form quickly and outsource the annual report | Formation; EIN and annual report from Pro up; registered agent always separate | $0 (Starter), $199 per year (Pro) or $299 per year (Premium), plus the state fee |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Founders who prioritize privacy and a single package with no upsell | Formation, 1 year of registered agent, business address and mail scanning | $39 plus the state fee; the registered agent renews at $125 per year |
| Globalfy | Non-residents who want to form the LLC and keep it in good standing with the state and the IRS | On Remote: formation, EIN, address, registered agent, state renewal, Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 and an account executive | Remote at $998 per year, plus the state fee (Starter, at $588, covers formation, the U.S. business address and the registered agent) |
ZenBusiness, Northwest and Globalfy side by side
The table below shows what each company includes in the package a non-resident founder usually buys. For Globalfy, the reference is the Remote plan, built for single-member LLCs run 100% remotely.
| Criterion | ZenBusiness | Northwest Registered Agent | Globalfy (Remote) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service fee | $0 to $299 per year, depending on the package | $39, one-time payment | $998 per year |
| EIN (federal tax ID) | Included on Pro and Premium ($99 on Starter); without an SSN or ITIN, you send Form SS-4 yourself by fax or mail, with help filling it in | $200 without an SSN ($50 with an SSN) | Included, without an SSN |
| Registered agent | $199 per year, on any package | 1st year included; then $125 per year | Included |
| Business address with mail scanning | Not part of the formation packages | Included with the registered agent | Included |
| State annual report | Included on Pro and Premium; on Starter, free in year 1, then $199 per year | Optional service at $100 plus the state fee | Included (state fee separate) |
| Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 | Not part of the formation packages | Not offered | Included |
| Help opening a bank account | Not part of the formation packages | Not part of the $39 package | Assistance with Mercury, Lili and Revolut |
| Site language | English | English | English, Spanish and Portuguese |
| Support | Phone, chat and email | Phone and email, with local Corporate Guides | Human specialists in English, Spanish and Portuguese, with an account executive |
| Public rating | Rated Excellent by more than 30,000 reviews, according to its site | 4.7/5, according to its site | 4.9/5 on Trustpilot (700+ reviews) |
What changes when you form an LLC without living in the U.S.
Registering the LLC with the state is the shortest step in the process. The obligations that weigh on a non-resident start right after, and that’s where the three companies differ.
- EIN without an SSN. The IRS only accepts the online application from applicants with an SSN or ITIN. Without one, Form SS-4 has to be sent by fax or mail, which adds time and the risk of errors. See the walkthrough on whether you can open an LLC without an SSN.
- Registered agent every year. Every state requires an agent with a physical address to receive legal notices. If you’re not sure exactly what the role involves, read what a registered agent is and how it works.
- Annual report or Franchise Tax. In Wyoming, for example, the renewal costs $62.25 per year and is filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State.
- Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120. A foreign-owned single-member LLC has to file this return with the IRS whenever there are transactions with the owner, such as the initial capital contribution or paying company expenses. In practice, almost every new LLC has transactions like these. The penalty for late filing or omission starts at $25,000 per form, per year, according to the official IRS page on Form 5472.
ZenBusiness and Northwest handle the first three steps well, with different levels of inclusion. Neither includes Form 5472 in its formation package. That’s where a service built for non-residents makes a difference.
ZenBusiness: overview
ZenBusiness is one of the largest LLC formation companies in the U.S., with more than 950,000 businesses formed, according to its site. It works with three annual packages and a long list of extra services, from an AI website builder to bookkeeping. The company’s help center confirms that non-residents can form an LLC with it, and warns that foreign owners’ tax obligations are complex.
Best for
- Founders who live in the U.S. and have an SSN
- Founders who want a third party to file the annual report, without thinking about deadlines
- Founders who value extra tools, such as a website, a domain and professional email
Strengths
- Formation with a service fee from $0 on Starter
- Processing in 1 business day on Pro and Premium, not counting the state’s timeline
- Annual report filing and up to 2 amendments a year included on Pro
- A 60-day money-back guarantee, minus state fees
Limitations for non-residents
- The registered agent isn’t in any package: it’s another $199 per year
- The formation packages don’t include Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120
- Without an SSN or ITIN, the help center tells you to send the EIN’s SS-4 by fax or mail; ZenBusiness helps prepare the form
- Site in English only
- The website builder trial comes pre-selected at checkout and, if you don’t remove it, renews at $15 per month
Price
Image: ZenBusiness LLC formation packages.
Starter at $0, Pro at $199 per year and Premium at $299 per year, always plus the state fee. On Starter, the EIN costs $99 and processing takes 7 to 10 business days, or $79 more for expedited processing.
Verdict
ZenBusiness is one of the most complete options for founders who live in the U.S. For a non-resident, Pro plus the registered agent covers formation and the state, but leaves the federal return to an accountant you hire separately.
Northwest Registered Agent: overview
Founded in 1998 in Spokane, Washington, Northwest Registered Agent started as a registered agent and became known for privacy: it uses its own address on your LLC’s public documents, instead of yours. It has a single formation package, with no tiered plans, and offers its own addresses in Delaware, Wyoming and Florida for foreign clients.
Best for
- Founders who prioritize keeping their personal name and address off the public record
- Founders who want to pay little at formation and handle the rest on their own
- Founders who already have an accountant for the tax side
Strengths
- A single $39 package plus the state fee, with 1 year of registered agent
- Business address and mail scanning included with the registered agent
- Compliance reminders and local guides (Corporate Guides) for state questions
- Registered agent renewal at $125 per year, below ZenBusiness
Limitations for non-residents
- The EIN without an SSN costs $200 extra
- It doesn’t prepare Form 5472 or other federal returns: the package covers formation, the registered agent and the address
- Annual report filing is a separate service, at $100 plus the state fee
- Site in English only
Price
Image: Northwest Registered Agent LLC formation page.
$39 plus the state fee at formation, with the first year of registered agent included. From year two, $125 per year for the registered agent, plus the annual report if you buy the service.
Verdict
Northwest is one of the strongest options for privacy and a low price. For a non-resident, it covers formation and the address, but the EIN without an SSN and the whole federal side are up to you.
Globalfy: overview
Globalfy was founded in 2015 in Orlando, Florida, by entrepreneurs who faced the same problem when forming their own U.S. company. In more than 11 years, it has supported more than 10,000 founders in over 100 countries. The platform brings together formation, annual compliance and federal filings in a single dashboard, with human support in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Best for
- Non-resident founders in SaaS, consulting, digital products or services who invoice in dollars
- Founders without an SSN who need an EIN, an address and a bank account without traveling to the U.S.
- Founders who want someone to track state and IRS deadlines all year
- Founders who already have an LLC formed with another service and want to centralize compliance
- Founders who need a U.S. company to get paid through Stripe or marketplaces that require a U.S. entity
Strengths
- Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 included on the Remote plan, which reduces the risk of the $25,000 penalty
- Registered agent and business address with mail scanning on every plan; compliance calendar and state renewal from Remote up
- A dedicated account executive and an annual call with a U.S. tax specialist
- Assistance opening an account with the banking partners Mercury, Lili and Revolut (approval always belongs to the bank)
- A Fynance AI bookkeeping license included (valued at $360) and more than $200,000 in partner credits from companies such as OpenAI, Google and Stripe, which, if you use those services, already cover a good part of the annual plan
Before you sign up
- The Remote plan is for a single-member LLC run remotely, with no physical presence in the U.S.; founders who sell physical products in the U.S. or have inventory, employees or more than one member go to Essential ($1,308 per year)
- Globalfy works with Wyoming, Delaware, Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Nevada, the most popular states for non-residents, each with its own benefits
Price
Image: Globalfy plans page (use the screenshot of the EN version of the site).
Starter at $588 per year (company formation, the U.S. business address and the registered agent), Remote at $998 per year, Essential at $1,308 per year and Scale from $5,028 per year. State fees are charged separately and disclosed before you sign up. See the details on Globalfy plans and pricing.
Verdict
For a non-resident founder, Globalfy is the most complete of the three: it’s the only one that includes the federal return, the EIN without an SSN and support in English, Spanish and Portuguese on the same plan. The full process takes about a month, and after that the LLC is followed all year.
Difference between ZenBusiness and Northwest
Looking at those two alone, the difference is the model. ZenBusiness sells annual packages that renew and add services; Northwest sells a one-time formation and only charges for the registered agent from year two.
On the registered agent, Northwest comes out ahead: the first year is included and renewal costs $125, against $199 per year at ZenBusiness from year one. On the EIN, ZenBusiness includes the service on Pro, but without an SSN or ITIN, sending the SS-4 is up to you; Northwest charges $200 and files the application without an SSN.
On the annual report, ZenBusiness includes the filing on Pro; at Northwest, it costs $100 per year plus the state fee. On privacy, Northwest is the benchmark, with its own address on the public records. Neither includes Form 5472 in the package, and both have their sites in English.
In short: for a U.S. resident, Northwest is leaner and ZenBusiness has more tools. For a non-resident, both leave the same tax gap.
How much each option costs in the first and second year
To compare similar scopes, the calculation below assumes a single-member Wyoming LLC with a non-resident owner and no SSN, including formation, the EIN, the registered agent and the annual report. The Wyoming state formation fee is $103.75 and the renewal is $62.25.
| Option | Year 1 | Year 2 | Left out |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness Pro + registered agent | $501.75 (199 + 199 + 103.75) | $460.25 (199 + 199 + 62.25) | Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120, sending the SS-4 without an SSN, business address, banking help |
| Northwest + EIN without an SSN + annual report | $342.75 (39 + 200 + 103.75) | $287.25 (125 + 100 + 62.25) | Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120, banking help |
| Globalfy Remote | $1,101.75 (998 + 103.75) | $1,060.25 (998 + 62.25) | ITIN, if you need one ($275) |
The difference between the columns pays for what ZenBusiness and Northwest leave out: preparing Form 5472 and the pro-forma 1120, an account executive who tracks your deadlines, banking assistance and support in English, Spanish and Portuguese. With either of the other two, you need to hire an accountant separately for the federal return and coordinate two or three providers.
If you sell physical products in the U.S. or hold inventory there (Amazon FBA, for example), the right plan is Essential: $1,411.75 in year 1 in Wyoming (1,308 + 103.75), with broader federal filings.
Globalfy’s Starter plan ($691.75 in year 1 in Wyoming) isn’t in this table because it includes formation, the address and the registered agent, but not the state renewal or the federal return. Even so, for $588 per year it already includes the registered agent, which costs $199 separately at ZenBusiness.
ZenBusiness, Northwest or Globalfy: how to choose the right service
If you’re a non-resident, these are the criteria that weigh most on the cost of the whole year.
1. Who prepares Form 5472 and the pro-forma 1120
It’s the obligation with the highest penalty for a foreign-owned LLC. Ask whether it’s in the package or whether you’ll need another provider. Of the three options, only Globalfy includes the return, from the Remote plan up.
2. How much the second year costs, with everything added up
Add the service fee, the registered agent, the annual report, the state fee and the accountant for the federal return. The formation price is usually the smallest part of the total cost.
3. Who sends the SS-4 and follows the EIN until it’s issued
Without an SSN, the EIN requires an application by fax or mail, and the IRS timeline varies. Ask whether the service sends the SS-4 for you and follows it until the number is issued, or only helps fill it in. At Globalfy, the SS-4 is prepared, sent and followed until the EIN is issued.
4. What support you get on U.S. taxes
Understanding what a disregarded entity is, or how the LLC’s U.S. returns feed into your filing at home, is hard enough already. Prefer a provider with a person on the other side who explains the U.S. side in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and keep your local accountant for the side in your country.
5. Whether someone tracks your obligations calendar
Email reminders help, but an account executive who knows your company keeps a deadline from slipping through.
6. Whether there’s help opening the bank account
Without a U.S. account, the LLC can’t get paid in dollars. Globalfy provides assistance with the banking partners Mercury, Lili and Revolut. Final approval always belongs to the bank.
If you’re still deciding on the state, see our guide to the best state to form an LLC. And if you’re weighing other low-cost providers, also read our list of Bizee alternatives and our ranking of the best registered agent services.
Form your LLC with a provider that handles the whole year
ZenBusiness and Northwest are good for registering an LLC. For founders who live outside the U.S., forming is the easy part: the challenge is in the twelve months that follow, with Form 5472, the registered agent, the state renewal and the bank account. Globalfy brings all of that together in one dashboard, with specialists who know the reality of founders invoicing in dollars from abroad.
Talk to Sales or compare Globalfy plans.
Frequently asked questions
ZenBusiness, Northwest Registered Agent or Globalfy: which is worth it?
Between ZenBusiness, Northwest Registered Agent and Globalfy, the answer depends on where you live. For U.S. residents, Northwest is worth it for the cheapest formation and privacy, at $39 plus the state fee with 1 year of registered agent. ZenBusiness is worth it for founders who want it to file the annual report, on the $199 per year Pro plan. For a non-resident, neither includes Form 5472. In that case, Globalfy is usually the most complete choice, because the Remote plan includes the federal return and support in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
What is the difference between ZenBusiness, Northwest and Globalfy?
The difference between ZenBusiness and Northwest is the pricing model and what’s included. ZenBusiness sells annual packages from $0 to $299 and charges for the registered agent separately, at $199 per year. Northwest charges $39 once, includes the first year of registered agent and renews at $125 per year. Northwest also stands out for privacy, using its own address on the public records. Globalfy follows another model: the Remote plan, at $998 per year, already includes the EIN without an SSN, the registered agent, the state renewal and Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120, with support in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Do ZenBusiness, Northwest or Globalfy prepare Form 5472?
Only Globalfy. Form 5472 isn’t part of the ZenBusiness or Northwest formation packages. Northwest’s package covers formation, the registered agent and the address, and ZenBusiness sells tax services separately, outside its formation packages. A foreign owner of a single-member LLC has to file Form 5472 with the pro-forma 1120, and the penalty for omission starts at $25,000. At Globalfy, this return is included on every plan except Starter.
Can I form an LLC with ZenBusiness, Northwest or Globalfy without an SSN?
Yes, you can form an LLC with ZenBusiness, Northwest or Globalfy without an SSN, because formation doesn’t require U.S. citizenship or residency. Without an SSN, the EIN is requested from the IRS by fax or mail, with Form SS-4. At ZenBusiness, the EIN is on Pro, but without an SSN or ITIN, the help center tells you to send the SS-4 yourself, with help preparing it. Northwest charges $200 to file the application without an SSN, and at Globalfy the SS-4 is prepared, sent and followed until the EIN is issued.
How long does it take to form an LLC with ZenBusiness, Northwest and Globalfy?
The timelines published by ZenBusiness and Northwest only measure when the documents are sent to the state: 1 business day on ZenBusiness Pro (7 to 10 on Starter) and the same day at Northwest. On top of that come the state’s approval and, without an SSN, the EIN by fax or mail. Adding it all up, the full process takes about a month with any service. At Globalfy, that month already includes following the EIN until it’s issued.
I already formed my LLC with ZenBusiness or Northwest. Can I switch to Globalfy?
Yes, you can move an LLC formed with ZenBusiness or Northwest to Globalfy without forming a new company. From the Remote plan up, changing the registered agent and the address with the state and the IRS is included, and you only pay the state amendment fee. See how it works on the page to switch your company to Globalfy.
Is Globalfy more expensive than ZenBusiness and Northwest?
In the first year, Globalfy’s service fee is higher: Remote costs $998 per year, against $199 for ZenBusiness Pro and $39 for Northwest. The comparison changes when you add the registered agent, the EIN without an SSN, the annual report and the accountant for Form 5472, which are already in Globalfy’s plan. Partner credits, such as Stripe, OpenAI and Google, already cover a good part of the annual plan if you use those services. State fees are disclosed before you sign up, with no hidden charges. For a view of other complete platforms, read our ranking of the best LLC formation services.
Will I pay tax in my country and in the U.S. with my LLC?
It depends on the structure, but there are obligations in both countries. In the U.S., a single-member LLC with a non-resident owner and no U.S. activity or U.S.-source income generally has no federal income tax to pay, but must still file Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120. In your country, most tax systems tax residents on worldwide income, and some have specific rules for companies abroad controlled by residents. Whether a tax treaty with the U.S. applies also matters, so work with an accountant who knows both countries; Globalfy handles the LLC’s U.S. returns.