What Is a Registered Agent?

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

About states require you lot to accept an LLC registered agent when y'all grade an LLC. The agent can be a professional service, yourself, or a colleague given they come across the country'southward criteria.

Registered amanuensis servicesoffer a number of benefits. To explore your options, check out our Best Registered Amanuensis Services review.

To larn the guidelines in your state, choose your state from the dropdown beneath.

  • What is an LLC Registered Amanuensis?
  • Can I Exist My Own Registered Agent?
  • Should I Use a Registered Agent Service?
  • What is the All-time Registered Agent Service?
  • How Do I Change My LLC Registered Agent?
  • Ofttimes Asked Questions

Registered Agent Definition

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

A registered agent is an private 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 business.

Most states crave you to designate a registered agent for your LLC, partnership, or corporation when forming your business organisation. Later on choosing your business organisation structure, you volition be expected to add together a registered agent role when you file your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of Land or other official regime agency.

Service of Process Definition

Service of process is the action of informing an individual or entity that there's a pending lawsuit against him or her, or in this example, against one's company. Registered agents accept service of process.

What is the Purpose of a Registered Agent?

Likewise receiving official mail on behalf of your business, the main purpose of a registered agent is to aid your business maintain effective corporate compliance by informing y'all of legal notices or sending annual report filing reminders. Substantially, a registered amanuensis is a gatekeeper for business concern entities, and then you tin can take advisable action and resolve potential bug in a timely way.

Whether you run a small business or large corporation, you can await your designated registered agent to receive the following on your LLC's behalf after business formation:

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

Tin I be my ain Registered Agent?

Aye, you lot tin be your own registered agent for your concern (e.g., Single-Fellow member LLC). You could likewise choose to designate an officer or member of your business, or even a friend you trust, as long as the person being elected meets the following registered agent requirements:

  • is 18 years or older
  • has a physical address in the state where the business is formed
  • is available (in person) during normal business hours

Another option would be to hire a professional registered amanuensis 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 department, we comprehend the major advantages of using an affordable, national, third-party registered agent service officer—like ZenBusiness or Incfile—such equally:

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

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

What is a Registered Agent Service?

Registered amanuensis services are concern entities that have revenue enhancement and legal documents on behalf of LLCs and corporations for a fee.

Compliance with the Law

Registered agents help businesses stay up-to-date on country requirements by sending regular reminders, and sometimes filings things like annual report filings and other official government notifications.

Registered agent services will also keep copies of your corporate documents. In case of theft, natural disaster, or other unexpected losses, yous volition have a fill-in of all your of import business and legal documents.

Peace of Mind

Registered agents give you peace of mind and then you can focus your time, free energy, and attention on running your small business organisation. Here's what a professional, third-party registered agent service can do to ease your stress:

  • Make growing your business the number one priority. Important tax 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 dwelling house life.
  • Offering personal guidance. Y'all accept boosted support if your business runs into a problem or if any questions arise.

Flexibility

If you choose to deed as your own registered agent, y'all will need to be available to receive official government correspondence and service of process notices during standard business concern hours at the physical accost yous provide.

Designated registered agents give you the flexibility to focus on your business concern instead of keeping track of deadlines and beingness available during business hours.

With a registered amanuensis service, y'all can:

  • Maintain flexible business concern hours. A registered amanuensis must be available from eight-5 every weekday. By designating a third-party registered agent service, you can choose your own work hours.
  • Class an LLC in some other state. Registered agents must accept legal residence in the state where the business is formed. Hiring a national registered agent service will let y'all grade an LLC in any of the 50 states.
  • Form an LLC in multiple states. If you lot set upwardly your business to take a concrete location in multiple states, you lot will demand to accept an appointed registered agent for each state.

Privacy

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

  • Preventing you from being served with a lawsuit in person. You don't want to receive a summons in front of your family, employees, or worse, your customers.
  • Having their concrete accost public instead of yours. As a result, yous're less probable to receive unsolicited mail.

What is the Best Registered Amanuensis Service?

Hiring a professional person, third-party registered agent service has several advantages, but yous may be request yourself,"How practise I choose a registered agent?" In addition to having a legitimate office in the state of your LLC, we encourage yous to find and choose a national registered agent service with the post-obit features:

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

Best Registered Agent Service - ZenBusiness ($99/yr)

ZenBusiness provides one of the best registered amanuensis services you lot can get for the price. They are likewise up-forepart well-nigh offer premium features for your business concern formation like their worry-costless guarantee, a service in which they file your company's annual report, and other compliance documentation.

Other companies offer this under different names, typically cached in their online dashboards, and for significantly higher fees. With ZenBusiness, there are no hidden costs or gimmicks. Plus, they'll include a total year of professional registered agent services with LLC formation.

ZenBusiness's online document management organization and regular compliance alerts brand working with them every bit your third-political party registered agent service completely seamless. They'll scan and upload all your essential legal documents and mail you concrete copies as needed.

ZenBusiness really stands apart for its excellent customer service. The representatives are known for being highly knowledgeable about visitor germination and business maintenance.

Best Registered Agent Service

Starting at $99 Annually
(for those who already have started an LLC)

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LLC Formation + Registered Amanuensis Service for 1yr

$39 + State Fees
(Registered Agent: $119 afterward 1st year)

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Learn About Registered Agents in Your State

How Practise I Change the Registered Agent for My LLC?

To change your registered agent, just file the right paperwork with the Secretary of Land; there may be a nominal filing fee depending on the state in which you conduct business.

When changing the registered agent, brand certain to submit your new registered amanuensis'south signed consent form if applicative. This step may vary by state.

For more information on how to change the registered agent for your LLC, you can visit our country-specific registered agent guides.

How much does it price to change my registered agent?

Irresolute the registered agent for your company can cost from $0 to $50 per state depending on the number of states y'all're registered to practice business organisation with your LLC.

Registered Agent LLC FAQ

Do I need a registered amanuensis?

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

What does a registered agent practice?

Registered agents keep your business organization compliant past maintaining up-to-date paperwork. They also are in charge of accepting official correspondence on behalf of your concern, such as paperwork from the state and federal regime, tax forms, and legal notices.

Acquire more than about what registered agents do.

Can the possessor of an LLC be the registered agent?

Yes, the registered agent of an LLC can exist its owner, as long as the conditions of age and residency are met co-ordinate to state guidelines. Some small business concern owners choose to do this instead of hiring a 3rd party or appointing someone else to the role.

This position does come up with extra responsibilities and potential inconveniences, notwithstanding, so many concern owners make up one's mind information technology's better for them to cull another person or a professional service to act as their registered agent. You should weigh the pros and cons of each selection and determine which is best for yous and your concern.

Who can be a registered amanuensis?

Registered agent requirements can vary a scrap from state to state, but they generally allow for both individuals and business entities to serve equally a company'south registered agent.

Individuals must exist at least 18 years erstwhile and business entities must be registered to operate in the state. Both must have a concrete office location and be present during regular business hours.

Although you can be your own registered agent, we recommend you consider hiring an experienced and reliable registered agent service to handle this portion of your business needs.

How much does a registered agent cost?

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

Hiring a registered amanuensis service could salvage you time and money 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 go on certain paperwork up to date and accepts official correspondence on behalf of the company. However, the individual owner of a business organization may also act as the company's registered agent.

Why exercise I need a registered agent?

Most states require y'all to designate a registered agent if you own a business. However, fifty-fifty if it isn't required, we strongly recommend appointing a registered agent to accept service of procedure, gain peace of mind, and maintain your privacy.

Are registered agents liable?

A registered agent could potentially be liable for amercement in the outcome they fail to meet their legal responsibilities as a registered agent, such equally not informing a company information technology was being sued.

Can I change my registered agent?

Yes. Yous tin can change your registered amanuensis past filing the necessary paperwork with the appropriate land bureau. Different states have unlike processes and forms and then read our free guides for details near your state.

What is a statutory amanuensis?

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

What is a resident agent?

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

What is a service of process agent?

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

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 argument with the Secretary of State in accordance with the Model Registered Agent Act (MoRAA) or like state law.

What does "service of process" hateful?

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

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

Most states require LLC owners to provide their LLC's registered amanuensis's name and address when forming your LLC. In some states, y'all will exist asked whether you are electing a commercial or noncommercial registered amanuensis. Some states refer to professional person registered agents as commercial agents, which requires these agents to be specially listed with their state, and individual agents as noncommercial.

Are registered agents and virtual offices the same?

No, registered agents and virtual offices are non the same types of service. Registered agent services receive important legal services on behalf of your business where virtual offices, concern addresses, and mailboxes offer everything from temporary concrete office space to an address you lot tin utilize for normal mail service of your business.

Are there any costless registered agent services?

No, there are no gratuitous registered agent services, however, there are services that offering up to a free year of registered agent service when you lot grade your business organisation with them.

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

Can my husband or married woman be my registered agent?

Yeah, your husband or wife can be your registered amanuensis, as long as they qualify to be a registered agent in your state, and are available to receive service of process at all normal concern hours.

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