Do I Need a Registered Agent?

LLCs, corporations, and other business entities must appoint a registered agent. There are two options to accomplish this.

Option #1: Appoint an Individual

Many states allow you to appoint any consenting resident as your agent. Typically businesses appoint a representative within the business.

Your registered agent must provide their physical street address where they can be served on behalf of the business. A post office box is not allowed.

Your registered agent should be available during business hours to accept and sign for legal documents. Remember that a sheriff or other government official would visit this address with the expectation that someone will be available to sign for receipt of a notice of lawsuit or other document.

Option #2: Appoint a Commercial Registered Agent

You may hire a company that is approved by the department of state to serve as your registered agent (such as us).

• Comply with the Registered Agent requirement
  Businesses that do not have a registered agent that meets the requirements can fulfill the registered agent requirement by obtaining a registered agent service such as ours.
• Protect your privacy.
  Avoid receiving process servers, sheriffs, and other officials in front of your clients and employees. Maintain anonymity by having a registered agent’s address listed on the state’s public website.
• Maintain a flexible schedule and locale.
  Enjoy the freedom of having flexible hours and days off while your registered agent reliably stays open during business hours. If you move your office, using a registered agent service avoids the state fee to change your registered agent.
• Reduce the risks of default judgment and administrative dissolution
  While the responsibilities of a registered agent are straight-forwards, failing in these duties can have serious consequences. A registered agent that fails in his duties can put your business at risk for a default judgment in a lawsuit, fines for noncompliance, and administrative dissolution of the business by the state.
• Avoid change fees
  If your registered agent moves, there is often a state fee to change the address. With commercial registered agent service, you need only tell your agent your new contact information.