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Written by: Coralee Bechteler
Published on August 16, 2022
Updated on January 30, 2023
If you’re thinking of forming a limited liability company (LLC), you should know that in most states, you will need a registered agent to handle all of your government-related paperwork. The registered agent, which is also required for corporations, LLPs, and nonprofits, is a specific and crucial role you might want to learn more about to make sure you do it right.
In most states, you can be your own registered agent. Doing so, however, comes with a number of significant responsibilities, such as the need to always be present and available during business hours. As a result, many business owners choose instead to hire a registered agent service, which frees them up to run and grow their business.
The question then is, which are the best services? This article examines the top options, stepping into an entrepreneur’s shoes to help you choose the service that puts you on the road to success.
A registered agent, also known as an agent for service of process, is a person or business authorized to accept and respond to legal, tax, and financial documents on behalf of your business. Some states do not require a registered agent, but in most states your LLC will need to have a registered agent.
Essentially, the purpose of a registered agent is to ensure compliance with state laws and to make sure all official matters are handled in a timely manner. Having one person or entity handle state documents helps ensure nothing is missed, helping avoid potential potholes.
Documents that the agent may receive include:
A registered agent service is a professional service that will ensure all of your company’s official correspondence from government entities is handled on time and stored in secure files. They’ll also keep track of deadlines and send reminders when you need to file, such as for tax forms and annual reports.
A registered agent service will help keep you in compliance with the law and save you time by keeping track of key documents and filing deadlines. The agency will also offer support if any issues arise.
Using an agency enables you to have flexible hours. If you are your own registered agent, you must be personally available from 8 AM to 5 PM at your registered agent address. If you use an agency, they are available during those hours and you’re free to focus on profits and growth.
With so many registered agent services to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. There are four essential elements that can help you make your decision.
You need a service that has an office in your state, but you may want to choose a national service so you have the flexibility to form LLCs in other states.
Your registered agent service should offer at least:
Be sure to take your time and choose a service that has everything you need to make starting and running your business as easy as possible.
To learn about the quality of a service, it often helps to know what actual customers say about it. When we review business services we often look at reviews and ratings from the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. It’s wise to look at both positive and negative reviews to find out what people love about the service and the issues they’ve encountered.
Keep in mind that fake reviews are common, so you should take some of them with a grain of salt.
Of course, you’ll want to get the best value for your money!
Compare the cost of each service. You also want to get good value and great customer service, so if you’re considering the cheapest service, check the reviews to see how people felt about it.
Here we summarize our top five picks of registered agent services.
Offers national registered agent services for an annual fee of $125.
Registered agent services can be added to all three offered plans for an additional $99.
Customers that purchase registered agent services in tandem with a plan will be charged $249, while a la carte registered agent services cost $299.
Incfile includes one year of free registered agent services in all packages. A la carte registered agent services cost $119/year.
Provides registered agent services for an annual, state-dependent fee between $89 and $99. For a 5-10% discount, purchase 2+ years of Harbor Compliance’s service.
Northwest Registered Agent offers several a la carte services and one business formation package, their Corporate Guide Service plan, which includes one year of registered agent services.
Customers receive one year of registered agent service upon hiring Northwest Registered Agent for their business formation. Two different payment methods are offered; you can select to pay via the Corporate Guide Service plan, or a la carte. We explain each option below.
The Corporate Guide Service is a business formation package that spreads filing and service fees over your first year of business. Expenses reflect state fees, but you can expect your monthly bill to fall between $39 and $89 a month, and total fees for the year to be between $450 and $1,100.
Northwest Registered Agent’s Corporate Guide Service package includes one year of registered agent services. Unless you request to cancel, registered agent services will be automatically renewed and your monthly bills will continue. It’s important to note that monthly financing is only an option when hiring Northwest Registered Agent to form your business.
Alternatively, customers can pay upfront in full for Northwest Registered Agent’s business formation services. The expense is $225 plus state fees, so you can expect the total fee to be anywhere from $226 to $745. LLCs already formed can also purchase registered agent services a la carte, and Northwest Registered Agent will take care of the related paperwork involved for free.
Northwest Registered Agent’s Corporate Guide Service plan is a great value for entrepreneurs with a limited budget. Additionally, their a la carte streamlined pricing is uncommon among competitors and benefits businesses that intend to take over responsibilities gradually.
ZenBusiness’s registered agent service handles all official documents and correspondence for businesses. ZenBusiness also offers customers three different business formation packages, with annual fees ranging from $49 to $299. However, registered agent services are not included in any of these plans.
Registered agent services can be purchased a la carte from ZenBusiness for an initial fee of $99, with an annual renewal fee of $199.
Alternatively, ZenBusiness also offers a joint service purchase of registered agent services and their Worry-Free Compliance service, which helps you remember annual filing requirements. The initial fee is $199 for the first year, and it costs $398 for annual renewals.
Note that all three of ZenBusiness’s plans currently do not include registered agent services, but we reached out and confirmed the service can be added to any of the formation plans for an additional $99.
ZenBusiness’ registered agent services can free you up to focus on growing your own business and offer support if any issues arise. Furthermore, a national agency like ZenBusiness can help you establish your business in states in which you’re not a resident. Overall, we highly recommend ZenBusiness.
Registered agent services are available to purchase a la carte from LegalZoom, or they can be added to a business formation package. LegalZoom’s registered agent services include a Compliance Calendar to help you stay on top of annual business requirements.
LegalZoom has three different business formation plans available for purchase, though it’s important to note that none of these plans include registered agent services. Instead, you have the option to add registered services to a plan for an initial and annual fee of $249.
Alternatively, you can purchase registered agent services a la carte from LegalZoom for an initial fee of $299, and an annual renewal expense of $249.
Not only has LegalZoom been in business for more than 20 years, they have also polished their customer service experience and maintained an excellent rating from the BBB. Though their prices are higher than competitors, LegalZoom offers many additional services and resources their competitors lack.
Incfile offers three different business formation packages, and they all include one year of Incfile’s registered agent services. Alternatively, Incfile offers registered agent services that can be purchased a la carte.
All of Incfile’s business formation packages provide a year of registered agent services, and the packages are very competitively priced.
Their basic package, the Silver, includes one free year of registered agent services. This package is a great value at no additional cost other than your state’s filing fees. Incfile’s other two business formation packages, their Gold and Platinum packages, also include a year of registered agent services. The Gold package costs $149 plus state fees, and the Platinum costs $299 plus state fees.
After the first year, Incfile charges an annual fee of $119 for registered agent services.
Customers also have the option to purchase registered agent services from Incfile a la carte for $119. Existing businesses can hire Incfile to take over as their designated registered agent for $49, and Incfile will also take care of the associated paperwork.
Incfile offers customers renewal of their registered agent services for an annual fee of $119– regardless of whether the services were purchased a la carte or came within a business formation package.
All of Incfile’s business formation packages include at least a year of free registered agent services – which none of its competitors can claim.
Harbor Compliance offers registered agent services a la carte, as well as a couple of discount options for eligible customers. Registered agent services are also included in Harbor Compliance’s business Formation Package.
You can purchase registered agent services from Harbor Compliance a la carte for an initial, state-dependent fee between $89 and $99. For an annual fee of $99, Harbor Compliance will continue to provide registered agent services.
Customers also have the option to purchase registered agent services for multiple years at a time and receive a 5-10% discount, which suggests you could get three years of registered agent services for as little as $250. Harbor Compliance encourages customers interested in bulk registered agent services to contact them at 1-888-995-5895.
Harbor Compliance offers one business package, their Formation Package, which is $399 and includes one year of registered agent services. After the first year, customers can renew registered agent services with Harbor Compliance for $99 a year.
Harbor Compliance offers registered agent services for a good value and is overall an excellent choice for your business.
As an entrepreneurial advisory site, we take our responsibilities seriously. We understand that countless entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, rely on our judgments and insights, particularly when it comes to managing their business.
As a result, our writers do their utmost to gain a comprehensive understanding of the services offered and the actual customer experience. In nearly every case, we:
Thanks to this full immersion in the actual customer experience, our reviewers are able to provide the most complete and insightful analysis of various registered agent services.
Yes, you can be your own registered agent for your LLC as long as you meet the requirements:
Some states have additional requirements to be a registered agent, so be sure to check with your state to ensure compliance.
Yes, you can do so at any time.
If your current business’s registered agent is another business entity, you might need to provide them with your new registered agent’s information before you can cancel their service.
States have varying requirements for changing a registered agent, so check relevant state websites for filing conditions and guidance.
A national agency provides valuable assistance if you choose to expand your business’s reach or form a new business in a state where you are not a resident. Even if you haven’t planned this far in advance yet, selecting a national agency now can save you the hassle of switching to one later.
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