Best Registered Agent Services
Every new limited liability company is legally required to designate a registered agent. Whatever state you’re operating in, you should employ someone to accept service of process on behalf of your business.
A registered agent can receive everything from lawsuits to tax notices on your behalf, and there is a broad selection of companies that offer exceptional services.
Top Registered Agents for December 2024
ZenBusiness is an ideal solution for those who need a registered agent for an LLC or C corp. The company offers various pricing packages, but you can also purchase the service à la carte. The registered agent cost is $199 per year if you purchase the service separately from the pricing plans. The company operates in all 50 states and Washington DC. Read more
- •Flexible packages
- •Operates in all 50 states plus DC
- •Lots of additional services for running a business
LegalZoom offers a plethora of services concerning business management and accounting. With a legacy lasting over 20 years they are one of the leaders in business formation services and they offer registered agent services with plenty of benefits for $249/year Read more
- •Covers all 50 states plus DC
- •Additional services available
- •Long and reputable history
Bizee has been operational since 2004, offering business owners and entrepreneurs all across the US affordable business incorporation services. In addition to accepting mail correspondence and legal documents on your company’s behalf, the registered agent sends you notifications each time a document is uploaded to your account. The service is free for one year with any of the Bizee pricing plans. After the first year, you’ll need to pay $119 per year. Read more
- •Free registered agent for one year
- •Email and SMS notifications
- •Updates documents on your account regularly
Northwest is the best option for those who are looking for a registered agent service in multiple states. It costs just $125 per year. Aside from receiving and signing documents on your company’s behalf, the registered agent scans documents so you can get instant access to them through your online account. Additional services, including a second telephone number and faster email forwarding, are also available. Read more
- •Fast and secure
- •Scans documents and sends them to your account
- •Free online dashboard
Harbor Compliance offers registered agent services in all 50 states and helps your business stay compliant. The company focuses on providing great online service, allowing you to access pre-filled forms with Harbor’s information and filing instructions. Read more
- •Affordable service
- •Great customer support
- •Fast-forwarding of the documents
Established in 2001, MyCompanyWorks offers a cost-effective service. You’ll get a professional registered agent for $99 per year and this price will not increase upon renewal. Thanks to its fast and simple online solution, the company is the first choice for thousands of businesses across the states. Hundreds of satisfied clients praise its easy-to-use dashboard where they can find important documents uploaded regularly. Read more
- •Simple and fast service
- •Scans and uploads important documents
- •Phone and email support
Swyft Filings offers business formation and registered agent services for all types of businesses and company sizes. An affordable price, excellent support agents, and 24/7 online access to all important documents make this provider a good option. Compared to other competitors, Swyft Filings is a rare company that offers a 100% money-back guarantee on its services. Read more
- •Quick online filing
- •Team of experienced registered agents
- •24/7 online access to your documents
Established in 2008, Rocket Lawyer is known for providing affordable legal service to its clients. Indeed, this company is a dream destination for those looking for proven business incorporation support and registered agents they can trust. The downside is that you need to pay a little more. The registered agent service costs $150 if you purchase it a la carte, while you can get it at a discount if you subscribe to the company’s services. Read more
- •Monthly membership
- •Free legal documents and form
- •Registered agent service in all 50 states
Established in 1998, InCorp is a well-known national provider. It offers its services in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The company’s main selling point is its affordable five-year pricing plan. You can get professional registered agent support, a free entity monitoring tool, and unlimited customer support for only $66.56 per year. Read more
- •Affordable five-year plan
- •Available in 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands
- •Excellent customer support
5 Best Registered Agents of 2024 - Our Picks:
- ZenBusiness - Lots of additional services for running a business
- Bizee - Updates documents on your account regularly
- Northwest Registered Agent - Scans documents and sends them to your account
- Harbor Compliance - Sends lawsuit immediately
- MyCompanyWorks - Incorporates a wide range of entities
How We Evaluate Registered Agent Services
Although you can act as your own registered agent, it’s better to hire professionals for this complex service. Numerous companies that offer business formation services also provide agents that you can authorize to accept service of process on your behalf. We used our own criteria to identify the best ones.
Availability
The first thing we looked at while searching for is the availability of the agents. You can form your LLC or some other business entity in any state you want, but it’s crucial to have an agent with a physical address in that state. All companies from our list provide agents nationwide.
Software Functionality
Quick and easy online access to your documentation is another important aspect of the criteria that we use to evaluate vendors. Once you hire a registered agent, you’ll get access to the dashboard where all the documents your company receives are stored. Most dashboards are beginner-friendly and easy to navigate.
Price
When it comes to pricing, the companies that offer this service usually provide customers with two options; you can either buy the service à la carte, or you can purchase a package with registered agents legal services for an LLC.
The first option is good if you’ve already set up your business and you don’t need formation services. The second option is better for those who need help organizing and managing their business.
Many providers offer free packages where you only pay for state filing services and you get a registered agent free of charge for an entire year.
Additional Features
In addition to accepting legal documents on your behalf, a good registered agent service should keep you well informed about everything that’s coming in. The vendors on our list notify you via SMS or email about new documents that require your attention.
Each provider offers additional features that can enhance your business, including legal advice and contract templates.
Detailed Reviews of Registered Agent Services
ZenBusiness
- • Flexible packages
- • Operates in all 50 states plus DC
- • Lots of additional services for running a business
ZenBusiness has been operational since 2015, helping entrepreneurs organize and manage their businesses. Regardless of what type of business you run, ZenBusiness covers all the services you may need. The company is hailed for its flexibility, allowing you to easily combine services that you want to purchase.
With ZenBusiness, you can get a registered agent as a separate service. If you’ve already set up your business and all you need is a registered agent, ZenBusiness enables you to purchase the service for $199 per year.
In terms of business formation options, you have three plans to choose from: Starter, Pro, and Premium.
The Starter plan includes the essentials: an operating agreement template and standard filing services, but there is no free registered agent, meaning that you’ll need to purchase the service a la carte. The price for this plan is $0 plus state filing fees. However, you’ll be charged $199 per year for the annual report service after the first year.
Still, we recommend using the vendor’s agents and not appointing your own or trying to do the job yourself. To avoid any complications, the best thing to do is to use ZenBusiness if you’re already doing business with the company.
The two other plans add a lot of convenience on top of the basic services offered by the Starer plan. The Pro package costs $199 + state fees and adds a faster filing service, operating agreement templates, worry-free compliance, employee ID numbers (EIN), and more.
Finally, the Premium package will set you back $349 per year and offer the fastest filing service, support for a business website, domain name, and email address, and a 100% accuracy guarantee, in addition to the services offered by the first two tiers.
If you already have a company and you’re looking for a registered agent, ZenBusiness is a good option. This is an affordable service that helps you stay compliant with state regulations while offering additional services to help grow your business.
LegalZoom
- • Covers all 50 states plus DC
- • Additional services available
- • Long and reputable history
Spearheading the LLC services industry since 2001, LegalZoom offers one of the most versatile and complete business solutions on the market. Their registered agent services are packed with useful features designed to bring you ease of mind.
If you’d like for LegalZoom to be your RA, their services cost $249/year and include the following:
Automated alerts whenever they receive important information and mail on your behalf, helping you focus on running your business while they handle administrative questions.
Emails about critical tax and annual report deadlines which they handle through their inbuilt Compliance Calendar, a feature that costs $69 separately. These notifications are crucial for annual compliance as laws get changed.
Documentation management via unlimited cloud storage provided by LegalZoom.
And if you’re switching your RA, they can handle all of the required paperwork with your state while also covering any fees that may incur.
On top of that, LegalZoom offers plenty of LLC services if you’re just starting your business or wish to get professional guidance.
With three tiers, starting at $0, they can help you navigate the many complexities of starting an LLC, and as part of their PREMIUM tier, they even offer unlimited 30-minute consultations with an accounting professional for the first 30 days.
LegalZoom is a great choice overall if you’re in need of a service provider that covers all important areas in all states, which you can do business with for a long time.
Bizee
- • Free registered agent for one year
- • Email and SMS notifications
- • Updates documents on your account regularly
Bizee is a Texas-based company that provides business registered agent services as well as services for managing any kind of business entity, including an LLC, nonprofit organizations, C Corporation, or S Corporation.
Bizee uses the latest technology that enables you to streamline the entire business formation process. When it comes to registered agents, the company prides itself on having experts on its team.
If you want to find a reliable person to receive sensitive legal documents on your behalf so you can focus on running your business, Bizee is a great option. Time-consuming paperwork won’t be a problem anymore. Once you start using Bizee, you’ll get your own account and you’ll be able to access the documentation anytime you want.
You can get a free service for one year if you subscribe to some of its pricing packages. Bizee is a good option for those who are new to the business world.
Many small business owners applaud the company for its affordability. For instance, if you sign up for the Basic package, you only need to cover state filing fees when you establish your LLC.
There are three pricing plans at Bizee, and each one includes an LLC registered agent free of charge for the first year. After that, the price is $119 per year. Each of the packages is tailored to those who are setting up a business entity, and the services on offer include name search, preparing and filing articles of organization, and EIN registration.
Of course, if your business is already incorporated, you won’t need some of these services.
The company’s offices accept mail from federal and state authorities.
The office also accepts legal documents like court summonses and tax notices from local authorities. Every time your business receives a document, you’ll be notified via email and SMS. The company’s registered agent will forward your documentation and mail, and you can also access your documents via an online dashboard.
If you already have a registered agent but you’re not satisfied with the service, Bizee can help you select a new one. To change agents, you are required to fill out and submit the Change of Registered Agent form in your state.
The forms and processing fees are different in each state, so you need to adhere to specific requirements. If you wish to spare yourself the hassle and save time, you can get Bizee to handle the paperwork for just $49 plus state filing fees.
Northwest Registered Agent
- • Fast and secure
- • Scans documents and sends them to your account
- • Free online dashboard
Northwest can also help you set up a corporation or any other type of business and provide free legal documentation.
Moreover, Northwest Registered Agent is a great option if you’re looking for a reliable and secure host because it doesn’t share your personal details with third parties.
Many companies in the same line of work offer a free registered agent for the first year as part of their packages. But after that time, customers are slapped with everything from forwarding fees to middle-of-the-year fees. At Northwest, you pay an all-inclusive $125 annually for a national registered agent.
The purchasing process is really simple - you need to fill out a form on the Northwest website and you get an online account instantly. While signing up, you need to select the states where your agent is going to operate.
The service includes a registered agent who will receive the documents on your company’s behalf. This is the only service that locally scans every document you receive. The registered agent will also receive and forward your emails. As for your business mail, Northwest also scans up to five documents per year for free and forwards them to you.
Most states require only an electronic signature from your registered agent, but there are some exceptions. When it comes to Wyoming, the state requires an ink signature. In this case, Northwest sends the form signed by the registered agent to you via mail. All you have to do is sign it and send it to the authorities. If you’re using the service in Delaware or most other states, an electronic signature is sufficient.
Northwest receives notices of lawsuits and subpoenas on your behalf. This service is incorporated into the overall price unless you’re the recipient of regular lawsuits, in which case Northwest charges $15 per item.
Overall, Northwest is an excellent choice for businesses that need multiple agents and fast service. You can pay an additional $40 to speed up forwarding services, and there is also the option of adding a second telephone number in any of the 50 states. This service costs $9 per year.
Harbor Compliance
- • Sends lawsuit immediately
- • Online portal
- • Pre-filled forms
- • Easy-to-use dashboard
Thanks to its modern software technology, experienced team of agents, and excellent customer support, Harbor Compliance has a significant number of regular clients today.
It has helped more than 10,000 individuals across the US form and manage their business.
Harbor Compliance is known for its compliance software, which helps businesses access documents, stay up-to-date with their licenses, and track renewals.
It also provides business formation services and industry-specific licensing services.
Harbor Compliance offers registered agent services both as part of its LLC pricing packages or a la carte.
If you need a complete business formation service (the full package that includes filing forms, articles of organization, EIN form, etc.), some of the company’s formation packages are a better option. You’ll get the service for free for your first year.
Renewal is not mandatory, but if you do decide to renew, this service costs $99 per year.
This is the same price you’ll see from many other providers, but the good thing is that Harbor Compliance offers discounts.
You can get a discount of 5-10% depending on how long a subscription you want to buy. Feel free to try the company’s discount calculator and check your rates for a multi-year package.
Harbor Compliance’s tech-based approach focuses on providing a transparent and secure service. You can order the service online and choose the agent you want through the client portal.
Through this portal, you can access the pre-filled state forms with the registered agent information and instructions.
Harbor Compliance provides its services in all 50 states. You’ll get a reliable agent to receive legal documents and a notice of lawsuits, plus Harbor will receive government emails on your company’s behalf.
Those emails will be uploaded to your portal so you can access them at any time you want. In case you get hit with a lawsuit, the agent will contact you immediately.
Clients are especially satisfied with Harbor Compliance’s customer support. Agents are available via live chat, email, and over the phone.
There’s also a rich FAQ section and a video guide where you can inform yourself about the company’s services. Harbor Compliance has an A+ rating on the BBB and there are lots of positive reviews on social media channels.
MyCompanyWorks
- • Fast ordering
- • Incorporates a wide range of entities
- • Online access to documents
MyCompanyWorks provides fast and affordable services for clients who want to establish their business and stay compliant with government regulations.
It has been on the market for two decades, during which time it has helped form thousands of companies across the country, and is widely praised for its simple online ordering and excellent registered agent support.
Much like other providers, MyCompanyWorks doesn’t focus solely on providing registered agent services. Instead, you can get the support needed to incorporate a range of business entities, including C-corps, LLCs, and nonprofits. It offers a cost-effective solution for managing your business online.
MyCompanyWorks offers a cost-effective solution. Whether you need an LLC or S-corp registered agent, MyCompanyWorks is the right place to go.
You can order the service online and choose the state where your company operates.
The company offers its services in all 50 states and Washington DC, meaning you don’t need to live in the state where your business is incorporated. The registered agent address is the official address of your business, and that’s where you’ll receive your official mail.
Applying is fast and simple. You need to fill in the form on the company’s website by choosing the entity type and the state where your company is formed.
When filling in the form, you can also choose the option to change your registered agent if you already have one. There are additional forms you need to fill in if you want to switch agents.
We want to highlight that this service costs $99 per year, without the option of getting a discount for multiple years.
However, the good news is that the company will not increase its prices. Unlike some providers that offer low fees for the first year before significantly raising the price, MyCompanyWorks stays consistent.
Your registered agent from MyCompanyWorks will receive important documents on your behalf, including annual reports, lawsuits, tax notices, and more. You’ll also get statutory compliance, fast delivery of important mail, the option to move your business without fees and forms, and fast filing services.
MyCompanyWorks ensures that you can access your documents online. There’s a user-friendly online dashboard, through which you’ll get all your important documents scanned and uploaded.
MyCompanyWorks offers an affordable and fast online service. You’ll get an experienced registered agent, online access to your forms, and excellent phone and email support.
The company has lots of positive client reviews and an A+ rating on the BBB.
Swyft Filings
- • Quick online filing
- • Team of experienced registered agents
- • 24/7 online access to your documents
- • Phone support
Swyft Filings has been in operation for nine years, providing company formation support and an LLC registered agent service.
Regardless of what type of business you want to run - LLC, C-Corp, or S-corp, Swyft Filings won’t let you down.
However, the company is best known for its incorporation services for small and medium-sized businesses.
Swyft Filings has over 3,000 reviews on Trustpilot and an excellent score of 4.7. Although not BBB-accredited, this provider is praised for its uncomplicated filing services and excellent registered agents. Let’s take a closer look at the company’s offer.
The first worth mentioning is that Swyft Filings services are available in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Whether you need to file the incorporation forms or a statutory agent, Swyft Filings provides services across the country.
You can apply for a registered agent by filling out a questionnaire embedded on the company’s website.
The rest of the service is also fully automated. For example, you will receive notifications and documents about compliance through your online dashboard.
You don’t need to constantly check your upcoming due dates because the Swyft Filings team of experts will automatically send you the necessary information. Any document you receive from government agencies will be securely stored online with 24/7 access.
Swyft Filings charges after the state approves your company with a Certificate of Formation. You will pay this cost annually, and the payment is set to be automated.
Of course, if you don’t feel like Swyft Filings provides the quality of service you need, you can stop the payments. Swyft Filings charges a starting fee of $149 for preparing and filing paperwork on your behalf.
As you already know, a statutory or a registered agent is necessary for your company from the moment of its formation and all through its later existence.
A registered agent’s duty is to receive business correspondence between your company and state agencies. Swyft Filings is an excellent provider to choose for this service as it has a team of professional registered agents with expertise in working with companies of all sizes and types.
Swyft Filings offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you are not entirely satisfied with its service.
However, know that the government, state, and other third-party fees included in your filing services are not refundable.
If you have any questions regarding the company’s service, you can call its support team on (877) 777-0450 or get in touch via live chat on the website.
From quick filing to experienced agents and a very helpful customer support team, there is a lot to like about Swyft Filings.
The prices are not as affordable as with some other competitors on the market, but you are paying for top-notch agents, and the company does provide a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with its services.
Rocket Lawyer
- • Affordable legal support
- • A la carte service
- • Registered agent services in all 50 states
- • 30 days money-back guarantee
Rocket Lawyer is a San Francisco-based company that specializes in providing people affordable legal services.
The company has been in operation since 2008, helping homeowners protect real estate, manage healthcare decisions, or get divorced. The company also provides LLC, C-corp, S-Corp, and non-profit incorporation services.
Rocket Lawyer is known for providing excellent online legal support for ordinary people. Take a quick look at the company’s website and you’ll see that it’s loaded with a number of legal forms for various situations.
In addition to its legal services, Rocket Lawyer helps you incorporate your business and keep it legally compliant.
Rocket Lawyer offers one subscription model that enables access to free services and the option to buy additional services separately.
The subscription model is priced at $39.99 per month and is designed for those who need affordable ongoing attorney services (legal documents, free attorney calls, and consultations).
However, for those who are looking for affordable paid solutions, Rocket Lawyer is also worth considering. With a monthly membership, the registered agent will cost you $111.99 per year.
Overall, it’s an expensive service ($39.99 per month plus $111.99 per year), especially if you don’t need any legal support.
Rocket Lawyer offers its services a la carte for non-members. In that case, the registered agent service will cost you $150 per year, plus you’ll need to pay the full price of $99 for business incorporation.
Long story short, a monthly membership is a better option if you need a complete incorporation service and a statutory agent.
The company’s main selling point is that it provides professional agents for all types of businesses. Whether you need a corporation registered agent or an LLC agent, Rocket Lawyer will provide you with the most experienced professionals in the area you need.
Another great thing about this company is that it provides its services in all 50 states, which is important for those who don’t live and work in the state where their company is incorporated. You simply need to identify where your company operates.
Rocket Lawyer’s registered agent service is quick and accurate. The company accepts documents from federal and state agencies, allowing you to access them at any moment you choose.
The agent also scans official documents and sends them to your email right after they arrive, so you can rest assured that you won’t miss anything.
There’s a seven-day free trial. This isn’t long to check whether the offer suits you or not, but you can at least get a general impression of the company. For instance, you can set up an LLC or get free legal support.
When the free trial expires, the company will charge you a monthly subscription automatically, so don’t forget to unsubscribe if you’re not satisfied with the service. If you continue to use Rocket Lawyer’s service, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Rocket Lawyer is a great option for those looking for cost-effective ongoing legal support, but if you’re looking for an affordable solution, there are cheaper services. However, the fact that this company offers proven registered agent support in all 50 states is worth noting.
InCorp
- • Entity monitoring tools
- • Website available in both English and Spanish
- • Live chat support
- • McAfee security
InCorp offers its service in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
InCorp employs innovative technology to provide you with up-to-date information about the establishment of your business and protects valuable business documents from third-party apps and scammers.
The company focuses on inventing new technologies that prevent business identity theft. With the company’s service, you’ll get free EntityWatch protection.
This is a tool that monitors the databases of Secretary of State offices in the states that allow access to these documents.
Information related to your entity is compared to the data in your system, including filing status, registered agent, and due dates for compliance.
If EntityWatch detects changes that you should know about, you’ll get an email notification. For instance, if your registered agent is changed without your consent, you’ll find out about that immediately.
InCorp is the most cost-effective way to get great statutory agent service. Much like the other providers we’ve evaluated, InCorp allows you to get the service a la carte, without purchasing the company’s services.
The one-year agent is priced at $99, but InCorp’s registered agent pricing is best suited for those who want long-term contracts with the company.
If you decide to purchase a five-year registered agent option, the company will charge you $66.56 per year. That means you’ll pay just $5.55 each month for professional agent support.
InCorp provides registered agents for LLC and other entities in all 50 states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The agent will receive state and federal mail on your behalf during business hours and inform you immediately if you receive any government letters.
You can track and manage your documents online, check your received mail, or stay informed about due dates with the company’s online dashboard.
InCorp’s excellent customer support is another reason why you should use its services. Agents are available via live chat and over the phone. Phone support is available on business days from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PST).
With the company’s five-year contract, you’ll save $162 and benefit from the company’s free monitoring service and great customer support.
Why Do You Need a Registered Agent?
Whether you’re running an LLC or a corporation, you’re required to have a registered agent. A registered agent – also known as an agent for service of process or statutory agent – is tasked with accepting service of process and regular emails on behalf of your business.
Although most states allow you to act as your own registered agent, doing so could undermine your company’s chances of success. A registered agent offers the following services:
Receives and Signs Documents
The main function of a registered agent is to receive documents on your behalf. These include lawsuits, court summonses, tax notices, and official correspondence with both state and federal authorities.
A registered agent can also receive any type of correspondence between your LLC and other business entities. A registered agent will instantly review, sign, and forward documents to you.
The agent must be physically present during business hours at the place where your LLC is incorporated to receive service of process on your behalf. If you don’t receive your mail on time, you can face fines and serious legal consequences.
Protects Your Privacy
Many people try to cut costs by registering their business at their home address. This makes you vulnerable to privacy breaches, and you’ll quickly be flooded with a lot of mail that you don’t need. A registered agent company will protect your privacy and receive your mail.
Protects Your Company’s Reputation
A registered agent receives all sorts of legal documents on your behalf, including lawsuits. If you’re acting as your own registered agent, you run the risk of receiving lawsuits when your customers are around.
FAQ
What is a registered agent service?
A registered agent (statutory agent or agent for service of process) is a person or a service authorized by an LLC to receive and sign legal documents on its behalf. A registered agent also sends those documents to you.
Do I need a registered agent for my LLC?
Whether you’re running an LLC or a corporation, you definitely need a registered agent. You are legally allowed to act as your own registered agent, but we’d advise you against doing so.