What Is a Registered Agent?

A registered agent is an individual or concern entity that accepts tax and legal documents on behalf of your business. A registered agent is also known as a resident amanuensis or statutory amanuensis .

Most states require you lot to have an LLC registered agent when yous form an LLC. The agent tin can be a professional service, yourself, or a colleague given they encounter the state's criteria.

Registered agent servicesoffer a number of benefits. To explore your options, check out our All-time Registered Amanuensis Services review.

To larn the guidelines in your state, cull your state from the dropdown below.

  • What is an LLC Registered Agent?
  • Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?
  • Should I Use a Registered Agent Service?
  • What is the Best Registered Amanuensis Service?
  • How Do I Change My LLC Registered Amanuensis?
  • Often Asked Questions

Registered Agent Definition

A diagram illustrating the answer to what is a registered agent?

A registered agent is an individual or entity that has been appointed by an LLC or Corporation to receive service of process, regime correspondence, and compliance documents on behalf of the concern.

Almost states require you to designate a registered agent for your LLC, partnership, or corporation when forming your business concern. After choosing your business structure, you will be expected to add a registered agent office when you file your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State or other official government agency.

Service of Process Definition

Service of process is the action of informing an individual or entity that at that place's a pending lawsuit against him or her, or in this instance, confronting one's company. Registered agents have service of process.

What is the Purpose of a Registered Amanuensis?

Besides receiving official mail on behalf of your business organisation, the principal purpose of a registered amanuensis is to help your business organisation maintain effective corporate compliance by informing y'all of legal notices or sending annual written report filing reminders. Substantially, a registered agent is a gatekeeper for business entities, then you lot can take appropriate action and resolve potential issues in a timely manner.

Whether you run a small business organization or big corporation, you lot can expect your designated registered agent to receive the following on your LLC'southward behalf after concern formation:

  • Tax forms
  • Legal documents
  • Official government correspondence (ie. annual report)
  • Summons (Service of Process) - Notice of a lawsuit

Tin I be my own Registered Agent?

Yes, yous can exist your own registered amanuensis for your business (east.g., Single-Member LLC). You could besides cull to designate an officeholder or fellow member of your business, or even a friend y'all trust, as long as the person being elected meets the post-obit registered amanuensis requirements:

  • is xviii years or older
  • has a physical accost in the country where the business organization is formed
  • is available (in person) during normal business organization hours

Another option would be to hire a professional registered agent service.

Should I use a Registered Agent Service?

Designating someone else to serve as a registered agent for your LLC or corporation has its benefits. In this section, we comprehend the major advantages of using an affordable, national, third-party registered amanuensis service officeholder—similar ZenBusiness or Incfile—such every bit:

  • Compliance with the Law
  • Peace of Mind
  • Flexibility
  • Privacy

Visit our Should I Use a Registered Agent Service guide for help with making the right pick for your business.

What is a Registered Amanuensis Service?

Registered agent services are business entities that accept tax and legal documents on behalf of LLCs and corporations for a fee.

Compliance with the Constabulary

Registered agents help businesses stay upward-to-date on state requirements by sending regular reminders, and sometimes filings things similar almanac written report filings and other official regime notifications.

Registered amanuensis services will also go along copies of your corporate documents. In case of theft, natural disaster, or other unexpected losses, you lot will take a backup of all your important business organisation and legal documents.

Peace of Mind

Registered agents give you lot peace of mind so you can focus your fourth dimension, energy, and attention on running your small business. Here'southward what a professional, tertiary-party registered agent service can practise to ease your stress:

  • Make growing your business the number one priority. Important revenue enhancement and legal documents for your LLC will be automatically received and stored for safekeeping.
  • Help maintain your work-life balance. Business and personal mail service are kept split up, preventing your work from overtaking your home life.
  • Offering personal guidance. You have additional back up if your business runs into a problem or if whatsoever questions arise.

Flexibility

If you cull to deed as your own registered agent, you will demand to be available to receive official government correspondence and service of process notices during standard business hours at the physical address you provide.

Designated registered agents give y'all the flexibility to focus on your business instead of keeping track of deadlines and existence available during business hours.

With a registered amanuensis service, yous can:

  • Maintain flexible business hours. A registered agent must exist available from 8-5 every weekday. By designating a third-political party registered amanuensis service, you can choose your own work hours.
  • Form an LLC in another country. Registered agents must have legal residence in the state where the business concern is formed. Hiring a national registered agent service will let y'all form an LLC in any of the 50 states.
  • Form an LLC in multiple states. If you set upwardly your business to take a concrete location in multiple states, you will need to take an appointed registered amanuensis for each state.

Privacy

We all value our privacy. Your registered agent service's physical address will be listed on the public record— not your personal or company location. This is especially of import to consider if your business operates out of your abode. An LLC registered amanuensis service will maintain your privacy past:

  • Preventing you from beingness served with a lawsuit in person. Y'all don't want to receive a summons in front of your family, employees, or worse, your customers.
  • Having their physical address public instead of yours. Every bit a result, yous're less likely to receive unsolicited mail.

What is the Best Registered Amanuensis Service?

Hiring a professional, third-party registered agent service has several advantages, but you may be asking yourself,"How do I choose a registered agent?" In addition to having a legitimate role in the state of your LLC, we encourage you to find and choose a national registered agent service with the following features:

  • Compliance management: reminders for filing an annual report and other important deadlines for business entities.
  • Certificate management: local scanning of all official legal documents so you can access them from your online business account.
  • Availability: a reliable customer service squad who can answer whatsoever questions by phone or online that you may take regarding your business.
  • Thorough coverage: the ability to provide registered agent services in all 50 states.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest is the best registered amanuensis service based on overall quality and transparent pricing. Northwest offers a seamless user experience and best-in-industry customer service and privacy protection.

When you cull Northwest as your registered amanuensis service, you lot'll get an online account to access essential documents, mail forwarding, and business address services.

Northwest's virtual mailbox service volition scan your mail and forward it to you electronically. This means that you lot tin keep track of your mail service no matter where you are in the world.

LLC Formation + Registered Agent Service for 1yr

(Registered Agent: $125 after 1st Yr)

Go Started

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Learn Nearly Registered Agents in Your State

How Do I Change the Registered Agent for My LLC?

To change your registered amanuensis, only file the right paperwork with the Secretary of State; there may be a nominal filing fee depending on the country in which you lot conduct business organisation.

When irresolute the registered agent, make certain to submit your new registered amanuensis's signed consent class if applicable. This step may vary by country.

For more than data on how to change the registered agent for your LLC, y'all can visit our country-specific registered agent guides.

How much does it cost to modify my registered agent?

Irresolute the registered agent for your company tin cost from $0 to $50 per state depending on the number of states you're registered to do business with your LLC.

Registered Agent LLC FAQ

Do I need a registered agent?

Yeah. Every U.S. state requires all corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and partnerships to have a registered amanuensis. A registered agent may exist called different names in different states, such as a resident amanuensis, a statutory agent, or an agent for service of process.

What does a registered agent do?

Registered agents keep your business organization compliant by maintaining upwardly-to-appointment paperwork. They also are in charge of accepting official correspondence on behalf of your business, such every bit paperwork from the state and federal government, tax forms, and legal notices.

Larn more than about what registered agents do.

Can the owner of an LLC be the registered amanuensis?

Yes, the registered agent of an LLC tin can be its owner, equally long as the weather condition of historic period and residency are met according to land guidelines. Some pocket-sized concern owners choose to do this instead of hiring a third party or appointing someone else to the role.

This position does come with extra responsibilities and potential inconveniences, even so, so many business concern owners make up one's mind it'southward better for them to cull some other person or a professional service to human action equally their registered amanuensis. You should weigh the pros and cons of each option and decide which is best for you lot and your business organisation.

Who can be a registered agent?

Registered amanuensis requirements can vary a bit from state to state, only they generally allow for both individuals and business entities to serve as a company'due south registered agent.

Individuals must exist at least xviii years old and business organization entities must be registered to operate in the state. Both must have a physical function location and be present during regular business hours.

Although y'all tin be your ain registered agent, we recommend yous consider hiring an experienced and reliable registered agent service to handle this portion of your business organisation needs.

How much does a registered agent cost?

The cost of a registered agent varies, but it can be anywhere from gratis (if you deed equally your company's registered agent) to a few hundred dollars a year for some third-party services.

Hiring a registered agent service could save you fourth dimension and coin in the long run.

Is a registered agent the same as the owner?

No, a registered amanuensis is not considered an possessor, its responsibility is to keep certain paperwork up to appointment and accepts official correspondence on behalf of the company. However, the individual owner of a business organization may also human activity as the company's registered agent.

Why do I need a registered agent?

Most states require you to designate a registered agent if you ain a business. Withal, even if it isn't required, we strongly recommend appointing a registered agent to have service of procedure, gain peace of mind, and maintain your privacy.

Are registered agents liable?

A registered agent could potentially exist liable for amercement in the outcome they fail to come across their legal responsibilities as a registered agent, such as not informing a company it was being sued.

Can I change my registered agent?

Yes. You tin can change your registered amanuensis by filing the necessary paperwork with the appropriate state agency. Different states take different processes and forms so read our free guides for details about your state.

What is a statutory agent?

A statutory agent is another name for a registered agent, a service of procedure amanuensis, or a resident agent.

What is a resident agent?

A resident agent is another name for a registered agent, a service of process agent, or a statutory amanuensis.

What is a service of process agent?

A service of process agent is another name for a registered agent, a resident agent, or a statutory agent.

What is a commercial registered agent?

A commercial registered agent is a person or entity that has registered with the state by filing a commercial registered agent listing statement with the Secretary of State in accordance with the Model Registered Agent Act (MoRAA) or similar state police force.

What does "service of process" mean?

Service of process means receiving legal documents, such as a summons. A summons is an order to appear before a judge due to a pending lawsuit.

What is the difference between a commercial registered amanuensis and a noncommercial registered agent?

Almost states crave LLC owners to provide their LLC's registered agent's proper noun and address when forming your LLC. In some states, you lot volition be asked whether you are electing a commercial or noncommercial registered amanuensis. Some states refer to professional registered agents as commercial agents, which requires these agents to be specially listed with their land, and individual agents equally noncommercial.

Are registered agents and virtual offices the same?

No, registered agents and virtual offices are not the aforementioned types of service. Registered agent services receive important legal services on behalf of your business where virtual offices, business addresses, and mailboxes offer everything from temporary physical role infinite to an accost you tin can use for normal postal service of your business.

Are at that place any gratis registered agent services?

No, there are no gratis registered amanuensis services, still, there are services that offer up to a free year of registered amanuensis service when y'all form your business with them.

You lot can serve equally your own registered agent for free. However, this comes with the expectation that you volition be available to receive service of process at all normal business hours.

Can my husband or wife exist my registered agent?

Yes, your married man or wife tin be your registered amanuensis, as long as they qualify to exist a registered agent in your land, and are available to receive service of process at all normal business hours.

Best Registerd Agent Services by State

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