Registered Agent Guide: What It Is, What It Costs and How to Choose
Every LLC and corporation must name a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in the state that accepts legal papers and state notices for the business. Here’s what the job involves, whether you can do it yourself, and what professional services charge.
What Does a Registered Agent Do?
The agent is your business’s official contact for legal and government mail.
Accepts service of process
If your business is sued, the court papers are delivered to your registered agent, who must forward them to you right away. Response deadlines start running on delivery.
Receives state notices
Annual report reminders, tax notices and good-standing warnings often go to the registered agent address on file with the Secretary of State.
Puts an address on public record
The agent’s address appears in public business records. Using a service keeps your home address out of those records.
Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent?
Yes, if you can meet the rules
- You have a physical street address in the state of formation (no P.O. boxes)
- Someone is there during normal business hours to accept documents
- You’re comfortable with that address being public
Why many owners use a service
- Privacy: a process server doesn’t show up at your home or office
- Out-of-state companies (for example a Delaware or Wyoming LLC) must have an agent in that state
- Missed papers can lead to a default judgment or loss of good standing
What Registered Agent Services Cost
Yearly prices from major providers, checked October 2026.
| Provider | Year 1 | Year 2+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | Included with $39 formation | $125/yr | Privacy by default; free state and legal mail scanning |
| Bizee | Free with any formation package | $149/yr | Text and email alerts; compliance notifications |
| ZenBusiness | $199/yr | $199/yr | Not included in any formation plan |
| LegalZoom | $249/yr | $249/yr | Sold separately from formation packages |
| Stripe Atlas | Included in $500 setup | $100/yr | Delaware companies formed through Atlas |
We may earn a commission from some providers listed; see our affiliate disclosure.
How to Choose a Registered Agent
Look at the renewal price
Free or included first years are common. The yearly renewal (roughly $100–$300) is what you’ll actually pay over time.
Check how documents reach you
Good services scan legal and state mail the day it arrives and alert you by email, so you don’t lose days on a lawsuit deadline.
Decide how much privacy you want
Some providers also let you use their address as your business address on public filings, not just as the agent address.
Make sure they cover every state you need
If you register in more than one state, you need an agent in each one. Multi-state discounts are common.
Registered Agent FAQ
Is a registered agent legally required?
Yes. Every state requires LLCs and corporations to keep a registered agent with a physical address in that state for as long as the business exists.
What happens if I don’t have one?
The state can fine you, revoke your good standing and eventually dissolve the company. You could also miss a lawsuit and face a default judgment.
Can I use a P.O. box?
No. The agent needs a street address where documents can be handed over in person during business hours.
How do I change my registered agent?
File a change-of-registered-agent form with the Secretary of State (often a small fee), then cancel your old service once the change is processed.
Does my formation service have to be my registered agent?
No. You can form your company with one provider and use another as your registered agent.
Find a Formation Service With the Agent Included
Compare year-one and renewal costs, including registered agent fees, for the main providers.
Prices checked October 2026