What Does A Registered Agent For An Llc Do

Well-nigh LLC filing companies play a trick on you into hiring them as your LLC'due south Registered Agent.

Nosotros'll requite you the truth about what a Registered Agent is, tell you what your options are, and how to save coin.

LLC Registered Amanuensis: Grade an LLC (6/eleven)

Special offering: If yous hire Northwest to class your LLC ($39 + state fee), they'll include their Registered Agent service free for the 1st twelvemonth.

What is a Registered Amanuensis & Registered Office?

At that place needs to be a reliable street address (and a reliable point of contact) where legal documents can be delivered in example your LLC is sued.

This is known every bit your Registered Office and Registered Amanuensis.

Your Registered Office must be a street accost located in the land where your LLC is formed.

Your Registered Office cannot be a PO Box accost.

Recollect of your Registered Office as the "habitation base" for your Registered Amanuensis.

Your Registered Agent should be available at this address during normal business hours to receive any documents on behalf of your LLC.

Your Registered Office can be an actual office address, or it tin be your dwelling house address, or even the accost of a friend or family member.

Service of Process

Again, your Registered Agent must agree to accept delivery of legal documents related to whatever lawsuits confronting your LLC.

Delivery of legal documents related to a lawsuit is known equally Service of Process.

Service of Process for an LLC includes items such as complaints, summons, and/or subpoenas.

Many states volition also apply your Registered Agent as a full general signal of contact for mailing y'all concern & state tax notices, payment reminders, and other documents.

Who Tin can Be Your LLC's Registered Amanuensis?

You lot take 3 options for designating your LLC'south Registered Amanuensis:

Pick 1: You can be your LLC's Registered Agent.

Option ii: A friend or family unit member can be your LLC's Registered Agent.

Option 3: You can hire a Commercial Registered Agent for a fee.

Note: At that place are a couple states that let your LLC to serve as its own Registered Agent, only this is the exception to the dominion. In ninety% of u.s. your LLC cannot be its own Registered Agent.

How Do I Know Which Registered Agent to Choose?

Information technology depends on whether or not you have a street address located in the state where yous are forming your LLC.

If you have a street address in the land, then choose Option one.

Option 1 is the most convenient and least expensive (it'southward costless!). This is what the majority of our customers do.

If you don't accept a street accost in the state, then choose Pick two or Option 3.

Cull Choice 2 if you have a trusted friend or family unit member (who has a street address in the state).

Since yous won't need to hire a Commercial Registered Amanuensis, you'll salvage yourself some money.

If y'all (or friends or family members) don't have an address in the state, then you lot will need to choose Selection iii and hire a Commercial Registered Agent.

Commercial Registered Agent

A Commercial Registered Amanuensis is a company that specializes in receiving Service of Procedure on behalf of businesses nationwide. They typically charge between $100-300 per year.

Once hired, they will receive Service of Procedure on behalf of your LLC and so frontward information technology to you lot by mail at whatsoever address y'all'd similar. Most will besides fax or email your documents if preferred.

If you need a Commercial Registered Agent, we recommend Northwest Registered Agent (for $125 per yr).

Northwest will scan any mail that is sent to your LLC and upload it to your online account. They'll also let you use their address throughout your entire LLC filing for added privacy (keeping your address off of public records).

Registered Agent rules in all 50 states

Click the links beneath to learn about Registered Amanuensis rules in all 50 states:

Registered Amanuensis Myths Exposed

Unfortunately, many LLC formation companies pull a fast one on you into hiring them as your Registered Amanuensis.

These companies hibernate this information in the fine impress during the checkout process.

Most people don't realize they are paying extra fees that are being automatically charged to their credit cards each year.

These companies use language like, "Your LLC is required to have a Registered Agent." (and then give no additional data).

While your LLC is required to take a Registered Amanuensis, they don't tell you that you have other options outside of their visitor…

Similar y'all being the Registered Agent for your LLC, or using a friend or family unit member as your LLC's Registered Agent.

Fifty-fifty if you demand to hire a Commercial Registered Agent, you should use a reputable visitor… not companies that have to play a trick on you into hiring them.

Registered Agent Recap

In one case you decide who your LLC's Registered Amanuensis will be, you lot will then list their proper noun and accost when you file your LLC Germination Documents with the country.

Don't worry about beingness "locked in" to ane Registered Agent…

If you ever need to change your Registered Agent (or Registered Role), you just need to file a unproblematic class with your land and pay a small-scale fee.

Founder & Educator, LLC Academy®

Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC Academy in 2010 later on realizing people needed elementary and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He'southward cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Bedroom of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.

Matt holds a Bachelor'due south Degree in business organization from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to catechumen state laws into simple instructions anyone tin follow to form their LLC - all for gratuitous! Read more than nigh Matt Horwitz and LLC Academy.