A registered agent is an individual or service that receives legal documents and government correspondence on behalf of a business. Every active company—whether it’s an LLC, C corporation, or foreign-qualified entity—must have a registered agent.
Choosing the right one means you don’t miss important paperwork and stay in compliance. You can appoint yourself or someone within your company, but a professional registered agent service is often the best option.
What Are the Requirements for Registered Agents?
Almost all states require domestic and foreign business entities to designate a registered agent. The person or service must have a physical address in the state and be available during business hours to receive important documents like lawsuits (what lawyers call “service of process”), business registration renewal notices from the Secretary of State, and tax notices. A commercial registered agent service offers a simple solution to this requirement. They’ll scan and send all received paperwork to your company’s email or physical address, and they can even serve as your registered agent in multiple states.
The only real requirements for a registered agent are that they have a physical address in the state where you’re registered to do business, and they must be available during normal business hours to accept service of process notices and government correspondence on behalf of your business. If you choose to use a service, make sure they’ve been in business for a long time and have an excellent track record.
Who Can Serve as a Registered Agent?
A registered agent can be an individual or a company. In New York, a business must designate its registered agent with the Secretary of State when it organizes or registers to conduct business in the state. The agent’s duties are to receive legal papers and other official correspondence, have a physical address in the state (not a P.O. box), and be available during regular business hours to receive documents.
While a business can appoint itself as its own registered agent, it is often time-consuming and inconvenient to do so. Most businesses opt to hire a professional, outside registered agent service instead.
Some registered agent services offer a wide range of other business support services in addition to acting as the company’s legal representative for service of process and official notices. These services can save a business money and time by allowing them to focus on their core business. They also ensure that the company is aware of filing deadlines and other important legal events.
How Does a Registered Agent Help My Business?
Your registered agent has one job – to receive legal documents, subpoenas and notices from the state and federal government on behalf of your business. This ensures you always know about important filing deadlines and legal action that could impact your business.
It’s possible to appoint yourself or another person within your company as the registered agent, but many small businesses choose to hire a service that specializes in this task. A good registered agent will receive your mail, keep it safe and promptly notify you of any actions or deadlines you need to take.
A top-rated registered agent service is Northwest Registered Agent, which has more than 3,000 positive customer reviews. They offer low-cost pricing and their team of Corporate Guides (US-based former lawyers, accountants, and entrepreneurs) can help you with any questions or problems you might have. They can even answer any questions you might have about your state’s specific requirements. Their services also include junk mail sifting and privacy protection.
Why Do I Need a Registered Agent?
Having a good registered agent is a simple way to ensure your business stays in compliance with state law. It’s also one of the least expensive forms of business compliance.
The registered agent’s job is to receive service of process, legal documents and other correspondence on behalf of the business and then pass it along to the business. This gives businesses peace of mind that critical legal paperwork won’t be lost in the mail.
It’s also important to have a reliable registered agent because lawsuits, subpoenas and other official documents have strict deadlines that must be met. Missing a deadline can have serious consequences for your business.
A registered agent can be an individual or a business, but in most states the agent must have a physical address (not a P.O. box) in the state where the business is registered and be available during normal business hours. Some states allow the business to designate itself as its own registered agent, but this is not recommended because it makes your business’s private information public.
