Who Should I Choose To Be The Registered Agent Of My Llc

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 organization. A registered agent is besides known as a resident agent or statutory agent .

Almost states require you to have an LLC registered agent when y'all class an LLC. The agent can be a professional service, yourself, or a colleague given they meet the state'southward criteria.

Registered agent servicesoffer a number of benefits. To explore your options, bank check out our Best Registered Agent Services review.

Final Updated: 2022-06-01

Registered Amanuensis Definition

A registered amanuensis 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 business organization.

Most states require yous to designate a registered agent for your LLC, partnership, or corporation when forming your concern. After choosing your business construction, y'all volition exist expected to add a registered amanuensis part when you file your Articles of Arrangement with the Secretary of Country or other official government agency.

Service of Process Definition

Service of process is the action of informing an private or entity that at that place's a pending lawsuit against him or her, or in this example, against i'southward company. Registered agents accept service of process.

What is the Purpose of a Registered Agent?

Besides receiving official mail service on behalf of your business, the main purpose of a registered agent is to assistance your business organisation maintain effective corporate compliance past informing you of legal notices or sending annual report filing reminders. Essentially, a registered amanuensis is a gatekeeper for business entities, and so you tin take advisable action and resolve potential issues in a timely fashion.

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

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

Tin I be my ain Registered Agent?

Yes, yous can exist your own registered amanuensis for your business concern (e.thousand., Unmarried-Member LLC). You could also choose to designate an officer or member of your business, or fifty-fifty a friend y'all trust, as long every bit the person being elected meets the following registered agent requirements:

is 18 years or older
has a concrete address in the country where the business is formed
is available (in person) during normal concern hours

Another choice would be to rent 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 department, we comprehend the major advantages of using an affordable, national, third-party registered agent service officer—like ZenBusiness or Incfile—such as:

Compliance with the Constabulary
Peace of Mind
Flexibility
Privacy

Visit our Should I Employ a Registered Amanuensis Service guide for assist with making the right choice for your business organisation.

What is a Registered Agent Service?

Registered amanuensis services are business concern 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 upwards-to-date on state requirements past sending regular reminders, and sometimes filings things like annual report filings and other official government notifications.

Registered agent services volition also keep copies of your corporate documents. In example of theft, natural disaster, or other unexpected losses, you volition have a backup of all your of import business and legal documents.

Peace of Mind

Registered agents give you peace of heed so you lot can focus your time, energy, and attending on running your small business. Here's what a professional, third-political party registered amanuensis service can exercise to ease your stress:

Make growing your business the number 1 priority. Important tax and legal documents for your LLC will be automatically received and stored for safekeeping.
Assistance maintain your piece of work-life residuum. Business and personal post are kept separate, preventing your piece of work from overtaking your home life.
Offering personal guidance. You accept additional support if your business organisation runs into a problem or if any questions arise.

Flexibility

If yous choose to act equally your own registered agent, y'all will need to exist available to receive official regime correspondence and service of process notices during standard business hours at the physical accost you provide.

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

With a registered agent service, you can:

Maintain flexible business hours. A registered agent must be available from 8-5 every weekday. Past designating a third-party registered agent service, you tin can cull your ain work hours.
Grade an LLC in some other state. Registered agents must have legal residence in the country where the business is formed. Hiring a national registered agent service will let yous course an LLC in any of the 50 states.
Form an LLC in multiple states. If you lot set up up your business to have a physical location in multiple states, you volition need to accept an appointed registered agent for each state.

Privacy

We all value our privacy. Your registered agent service'southward physical accost will exist 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 home. An LLC registered agent service will maintain your privacy by:

Preventing you from being served with a lawsuit in person. You don't want to receive a summons in front end of your family, employees, or worse, your customers.
Having their physical address public instead of yours. As a result, you lot're less likely to receive unsolicited postal service.

What is the Best Registered Agent Service?

Hiring a professional, 3rd-party registered amanuensis service has several advantages, but you may be asking yourself,"How practice I choose a registered amanuensis?" In addition to having a legitimate part in the state of your LLC, we encourage you lot to find and cull a national registered agent service with the post-obit features:

Compliance management: reminders for filing an annual written report and other important deadlines for business organisation entities.
Document management: local scanning of all official legal documents so you can admission them from your online concern account.
Availability: a reliable customer service team who can reply whatever questions past telephone or online that you may have regarding your concern.
Thorough coverage: the ability to provide registered agent services in all 50 states.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest is the all-time registered agent service based on overall quality and transparent pricing. Northwest offers a seamless user feel and all-time-in-industry customer service and privacy protection.

When you choose Northwest as your registered agent service, you'll get an online account to access essential documents, postal service forwarding, and business address services.

Northwest'due south virtual mailbox service will scan your mail and forrard it to you electronically. This means that you can keep rail of your post no matter where y'all are in the world.

LLC Formation + Registered Agent Service for 1yr

(Registered Agent: $125 later on 1st Yr)

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Larn Nearly Registered Agents in Your State

How Do I Change the Registered Agent for My LLC?

To change your registered amanuensis, just file the correct paperwork with the Secretarial assistant of State; there may exist a nominal filing fee depending on the state in which you lot comport business concern.

When changing the registered agent, brand sure to submit your new registered agent's signed consent form if applicative. This step may vary past state.

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

How much does it cost to change my registered agent?

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

Registered Amanuensis LLC FAQ

Do I need a registered amanuensis?

Yes. Every U.South. state requires all corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and partnerships to take a registered agent. A registered agent may be called unlike names in dissimilar states, such every bit a resident agent, a statutory amanuensis, or an agent for service of process.

What does a registered agent exercise?

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

Learn more than well-nigh what registered agents do.

Can the owner of an LLC be the registered agent?

Yes, the registered agent of an LLC can be its owner, as long as the conditions of age and residency are met according to state guidelines. Some small business organisation owners choose to do this instead of hiring a third party or appointing someone else to the role.

This position does come up with extra responsibilities and potential inconveniences, however, so many business owners decide information technology's better for them to choose another person or a professional service to act equally their registered agent. You should weigh the pros and cons of each selection and determine which is best for you and your business.

Who tin be a registered agent?

Registered agent requirements can vary a bit from land to state, but they by and large allow for both individuals and business entities to serve as a company's registered agent.

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

Although y'all tin can exist your own registered agent, nosotros recommend you consider hiring an experienced and reliable registered amanuensis service to handle this portion of your business needs.

How much does a registered agent toll?

The cost of a registered amanuensis varies, merely information technology tin can be anywhere from gratis (if you act as your company's registered agent) to a few hundred dollars a year for some 3rd-party services.

Hiring a registered amanuensis service could salve you fourth dimension and money in the long run.

Is a registered agent the same as the possessor?

No, a registered agent is not considered an owner, its responsibility is to proceed certain paperwork up to date and accepts official correspondence on behalf of the company. However, the individual possessor of a concern may also act as the company'due south registered agent.

Why do I need a registered agent?

Most states require you to designate a registered agent if you lot own a business. However, even 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 exist liable for damages in the event they fail to meet their legal responsibilities as a registered amanuensis, such as not informing a company it was beingness sued.

Can I change my registered agent?

Aye. You can change your registered agent by filing the necessary paperwork with the appropriate state agency. Different states have unlike processes and forms so read our complimentary guides for details about your country.

What is a statutory amanuensis?

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

What is a resident agent?

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

What is a service of procedure agent?

A service of process agent is another name for a registered agent, 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 Land in accord with the Model Registered Agent Act (MoRAA) or like state police.

What does "service of procedure" mean?

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

What is the deviation between a commercial registered agent and a noncommercial registered agent?

About states require LLC owners to provide their LLC's registered agent's proper name and address when forming your LLC. In some states, you will exist 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 peculiarly listed with their state, and individual agents every bit noncommercial.

Are registered agents and virtual offices the aforementioned?

No, registered agents and virtual offices are not the same types of service. Registered amanuensis services receive important legal services on behalf of your business where virtual offices, business addresses, and mailboxes offering everything from temporary concrete office infinite to an address y'all can use for normal mail of your business concern.

Are there any free registered agent services?

No, there are no free registered agent services, however, there are services that offer up to a costless year of registered agent service when you grade your business concern with them.

Y'all can serve as your ain registered agent for costless. Nevertheless, this comes with the expectation that you will be available to receive service of process at all normal business hours.

Can my husband or wife be my registered agent?

Yes, your husband or married woman tin can be your registered agent, equally long equally they authorize to be a registered agent in your state, and are bachelor to receive service of process at all normal business hours.