Registered Agent Service

A registered agent (sometimes called a statutory agent or resident agent) is a person or company designated to receive legal documents, tax notices, and official state correspondence on behalf of your business. They must have a physical street address in the state where your business is registered and be available during normal business hours. Think of them as your business's official point of contact with the state — if your company gets sued or the state needs to reach you, the registered agent is who they contact first.

Every LLC and corporation in all 50 states is legally required to have a registered agent on file. Without one, you risk missing lawsuit notifications and court deadlines, which could result in default judgments against your business. Your registered agent also receives annual report reminders, tax notices, and compliance alerts from the state. Using a professional registered agent service keeps your personal address off public records, gives you flexibility to operate across state lines, and ensures you never miss a critical legal or compliance deadline.

Yes, in most states you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address (not a P.O. Box) in the state and are available at that address during all standard business hours. However, there are real downsides: your home or office address becomes part of the public record and searchable online, you must be physically present every business day to accept documents, and if you're traveling or unavailable when a process server arrives, you could miss a lawsuit deadline. Most business owners find that a professional service eliminates these risks for a small annual cost.

If your registered agent resigns or your position goes unfilled, the consequences escalate quickly. First, the state will send a notice of noncompliance. If you don't fix it, most states will administratively dissolve or revoke your LLC or corporation — meaning you lose your liability protection, can't enforce contracts, and may not be able to file lawsuits. On top of that, if someone sues your business and there's no agent to receive service of process, the court can grant a default judgment against you without you ever knowing about the case. Reinstating a dissolved business also comes with late fees and penalties.

When you use our service, we prepare and submit your LLC formation documents to the state within 24 business hours. From there, the actual processing time depends on the state — some states like Florida and Texas approve filings within 1 to 3 business days, while others like New York or California can take 2 to 4 weeks during busy periods. If you need it faster, our 24-hour express processing option moves your filing to the front of our queue. You'll receive your approved articles of organization and a confirmation as soon as the state processes your filing.

Our free LLC package includes three things: First, free LLC formation — we prepare and file your articles of organization with the state at no charge (you only pay the state filing fee). Second, one full year of registered agent service, which normally costs $249 per year. Third, you choose one free premium add-on: either an EIN (Employer Identification Number), which you'll need to open a business bank account and file taxes, or 24-hour express processing to get your filing submitted as a top priority. After your first year, registered agent service renews at a competitive annual rate with no surprise fees.