ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Compare the best Massachusetts Registered Agent services below as reviewed by ZenBusiness.
Starts at $119
Since opening in 2017, ZenBusiness has already found a number of ways to stand out from the pack. So far, we’ve already formed 700,000+ businesses. Take a look at what we have to offer for registered agent service!
Next up is Northwest Registered Agent, a company that offers personalized customer support. Northwest no longer provides free mail forwarding service with its resident agent offering, which used to be a cornerstone of its service. However, it still has plenty of intriguing attributes.
How does Northwest Registered Agent stack up to the competition?
Northwest Registered Agent’s calling card is its personalized customer support. Instead of outsourcing its support network to a generic call center with questionably trained representatives, Northwest keeps its support team in-house.
Northwest offers a year of resident agent service in Massachusetts with any business formation service purchase. However, at $225, the price point for this package is higher than most competitors, especially when compared to the free LLC formation package we offer at ZenBusiness.
We appreciate Northwest’s volume discounts for resident agent service, although these are only applicable for larger companies that operate in several states. They’ll slash your rate from $125 to $100 annually if you require service in at least five states. In addition, they receive strong customer reviews and offer free ongoing compliance reminders.
Overall, if you prioritize personalized customer support, Northwest’s advantages may outweigh its disadvantages. That said, if affordability is your priority, you might want to look elsewhere.
Like ZenBusiness, IncFile Registered Agent Service offers a free business formation service. IncFile provides resident agent service at an annual rate of $119, which is a solidly competitive price point.
With more than 30,000 reviews available online, IncFile maintains high average rating scores, making them a popular pick for resident agent service in Massachusetts.
However, one drawback of using IncFile is how they can be rather relentless with upsell attempts. IncFile has plenty of add-on features available, and it will certainly remind you of that fact several times as you work your way through their order form. It can also take IncFile a while to respond to customer support messages, especially via email.
Overall, IncFile is a good option for resident agent service, albeit without some of the bells and whistles you’ll find with some competitors.
Rocket Lawyer is one of the industry’s biggest names, with millions of customers served and a robust advertising budget that gets its name out. Rocket Lawyer’s pricing is a bit high, but if you’re looking for ongoing legal assistance, it has an interesting offer.
Rocket Lawyer has a few thousand reviews available, with mostly positive scores. While its resident agent pricing doesn’t jump off the page, subscribers to Rocket Lawyer’s $39.99/month legal services program receive 25% off resident agent service, making its pricing for this service a bit more competitive.
We don’t have any major complaints about Rocket Lawyer’s support network, as its representatives are responsive and helpful. Rocket Lawyer offers extended support availability from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every weekday. If you’re willing to spend a bit more in exchange for a company with tons of experience, or if you’re interested in Rocket Lawyer’s legal services subscription, they could be worth a look.
LegalZoom Registered Agent Service is similar to Rocket Lawyer in that it’s a company with millions of customers served and offers advanced legal services. LegalZoom will charge $199 per year for a Massachusetts registered agent service. You can add on this service with any business formation package, as it is not included.
We are impressed by LegalZoom’s 100% satisfaction guarantee, which is nearly identical to the ZenBusiness refund policy. Also, they have extended support hours, with 14 hours per day of weekday availability and nine hours on weekends, too.
That said, LegalZoom does have a high price tag for a registered agent service. Seeing as this company also excludes valuable features from its business formation packages, the other options in this guide all have better value propositions than LegalZoom.
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Every business entity in the state of Massachusetts is required to have a resident agent. In fact, you won’t be allowed to finish the formation process for your company until you designate your resident agent.
The most important aspect of this role is receiving document deliveries from the state government and process servers, then alerting your business of the delivery before forwarding the documents to you. The role of the resident agent is so important because it establishes a point of contact for your business with the state and others so that they have a reliable place to get in touch with an official representative of your company at any time.
Unlike some states, Massachusetts does not provide a comprehensive (or even a partial) list of resident agents serving in the state. You’ll have to do some of your own research to find the right agent for your business; thankfully, that’s where this guide comes in handy.
Each state has its own rules and regulations surrounding resident agents. For the most part, these laws are fairly similar, but it’s always worth taking a look to see what Massachusetts requires.
In Massachusetts, we’ll need to take a look at the Business Corporations Chapter of the Massachusetts General Laws, which says:
All of the companies we discussed above meet these regulations and are options for Massachusetts resident agent service. When you’ve made your choice, you can indicate your agent’s name and address on your Certificate of Formation.
As you’ve probably noticed, the resident agent services we’ve listed here serve businesses across the country. But if you Google “Massachusetts Resident Agent,” you’ll probably see results for local services, too. These can be local entrepreneurs with a knack for clerical tasks, offices dedicated to serving businesses in their counties, or statewide companies.
On one hand, using a local service can have its advantages. Some will be cheaper than nationwide firms (but not always!). And each state has its own nuances for business compliance requirements, Massachusetts included. A resident agent service that services Massachusetts alone may have detailed knowledge about those requirements. Granted, most national services do an excellent job of understanding local requirements. But they might not give you the same “homegrown Massachusetts” feeling as a local agent service.
That said, national businesses like ZenBusiness give you streamlined solutions. Let’s say you’re using a local Massachusetts-only resident agent service, but it’s time to add locations in Rhode Island. You could search for an additional agent that services Rhode Island businesses. But that’s going to require a lot of additional paperwork, including new receipts, new automatic payments, more emails…you get the idea. But if you’re using a national service, you can cut down the “new” paperwork and focus on what really matters: growing your business.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you, and there’s no “wrong” answer. The most important thing is that you appoint one so you can run a compliant Massachusetts business.
The role of a Massachusetts resident agent is critical to your company’s compliance and legal standing. This position requires dealing with seemingly simple tasks, yet if they’re handled incorrectly, they could cost you a considerable amount of money in fines and could even potentially see the state dissolve your business.
While you can always change your resident agent down the line, we think it’s essential to pick the right resident agent for your business starting at the formation phase. You should also keep an eye on your compliance standing to ensure nothing goes awry along the way.
With ZenBusiness, you can purchase reliable resident agent service at an affordable rate, leaving this role in the hands of experts while you focus on growing your business.
FAQs About Massachusetts’ Best Resident Agent Services
Who can serve as a resident agent in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, there aren’t many complicated requirements for resident agent eligibility. Any individual or corporation authorized to conduct business in the state can serve as your company’s resident agent. The only requirements are that they have a permanent address in Massachusetts and that your company itself can’t serve as its own resident agent (although you or one of your co-owners may assume this role individually).
Like most states, Massachusetts does not have an explicit age requirement (some states require the appointed agent to be at least 18 years of age). That said, we do recommend picking an individual that you trust or one of the services listed above. If the resident agent does not fulfill their duties completely and accurately, it can cause unnecessary hassle for a business. Most responsible adults can fill this role easily, but we do recommend careful consideration while you make this appointment.
Must my resident agent be located in Massachusetts?
Yes. If your resident agent is an individual, that person must live in Massachusetts. If your agent is a business entity, that company must either be a domestic Massachusetts business or one with the authority to conduct business in the state.
How can I change my resident agent in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts keeps the process of changing your resident agent pretty simple. All you have to do is download the Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office form, fill it out, and submit it to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. There is a $25 fee if you file with a paper form, but if you file online, it’s free. For more information, see our Massachusetts change of resident agent page.
How does the Massachusetts resident agent resignation process work?
If your resident agent chooses to resign and no longer serve as your agent, they will notify you and the Secretary of the Commonwealth by filing the Certificate of Resignation of Resident Agent form. The effective date for this form cannot be less than 30 days after the initial filing; that 30-day period allows you plenty of time to find a replacement.
How much does it cost to change my Massachusetts resident agent?
Potentially nothing! If you file the Statement of Change form online, the filing fee is free. Filing with a paper form costs $25. Either way, it’s important to replace a resigned agent in a timely manner to avoid any additional penalties and fees. As long as you stay compliant with the requirement to continuously maintain an agent, you won’t have to pay more than the $25 filing fee for the Change of Registered Agent on a paper form. Since the form covers both the resignation of your old agent and the appointment of your new one, that’s the only expense you must pay.
What are my options if I don’t want to hire a Massachusetts resident agent service?
One common option is to serve as your company’s own resident agent or enlist the assistance of a trusted friend or family member. The other route is to hire an attorney or accountant to handle this role. Maybe you prefer the added professionalism these people can provide, maybe you have an existing relationship with an attorney or accountant you trust, etc.
Where can I find more information on forming an LLC in Massachusetts?
The best place to learn more about forming a Massachusetts LLC is our step-by-step guide. You might also be interested in checking out our list of the best best Massachusetts LLC formation services.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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