SPECIAL OFFER: 50% OFF REGISTERED AGENT
Get 50% off registered agent services when you form an LLC.
*$99 + state fees for the first year. Renews at $199/yr.
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Don’t settle for cheap alternatives. Get our registered agent service online, today.
Stay compliant
Comply with state requirements to have a registered agent available during normal business hours. This helps keep you in good standing and avoid fines in your state.
Protect your privacy
Companies with storefronts use a registered agent service to ensure they don’t receive embarrassing legal notices in front of customers or clients.
No Hidden Fees
You pay one yearly amount, no matter how much we do on your behalf. Other providers may charge for every document delivery or for hard copies of your documents.
Our registered agent service is available to limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations in all 50 states for any business filed independently or with us. We currently don’t offer registered agent service to professional limited liability companies (PLLCs) or non-profit organizations (NPOs).
Don't do it alone.
Our goal is to make business easy. We’ve got experts available by phone to answer questions, 7 days a week. Let us handle the details so you can focus on what you do best.
Amike Dynasty
A big shout out to Pierina D
A big shout out to Pierna D. Thank you for taking your time and explaining the steps to me as I was overwhelmed. Thank you for being so calming and nurturing I will 1000% recommend people just because of the service that you gave me thank you so much and like I told you, you need a raise. God bless.
Christian Friedrich
Evan helped me getting my website…
Evan helped me getting my website published with ease! Turns out I had screwed up a few things on my end but he was kind enough to fix the discrepancies and getting everything taken care of; all within a few minutes!
Maegan
Continually friendly service from ZB
Continually friendly service from ZB. I called their support line and received amazing help from Josh. After a long stressful day, he managed to put a smile on my face and was able to help me resolve my issue.
Rick B
I had no idea what to do to form my LLC…
I had no idea what to do to form my LLC. Zen made it painless and easy with multiple plans to choose from. Everything was A-plus handled and explained
Timothy Baxter
Great package deals with Zen Business
Zen Business gave me easy access to packages that are affordable and very helpful. The website page was easy to use and explained everything perfectly. Great job by Zen Business in creating such a great business format.
Rodney Williams
Tanisha G was outstanding
Tanisha G was superb. Thoughtful, insightful, proactive and most of all patient! I’m an instant and grateful fan
Have questions about something else? Check out our Help Center or email us at sales@zenbusiness.com
Basics
A registered agent is a person or business entity designated to receive important legal documents, government correspondence, and service of process on behalf of your LLC or corporation. They serve as your business’s official point of contact with state agencies and legal entities, ensuring that you never miss critical notices such as lawsuits or official filings from the Secretary of State. By forwarding these documents promptly to the right people in your business, a registered agent helps maintain compliance, protects your reputation, and keeps your operations running smoothly. [Learn more on our registered agent definition page.]
Nearly every state requires businesses to have a registered agent. They are necessary for receiving official documents, such as service of process, state public notices, and compliance requests. Having a registered agent helps ensure that your business can be legally served and maintain good standing with the state.
A registered agent acts as your business’s official point of contact with the government and legal entities. They receive and forward important documents such as lawsuit notifications, service of process, state compliance notices, and annual report reminders to the business owner(s). By ensuring these communications are delivered in a timely manner, the registered agent helps keep your company in good standing. To fulfill this role, a registered agent must be available during normal business hours at a physical address in your state of formation.
If you’re running an LLC or corporation, every state in the U.S. mandates that you maintain a registered agent. This stipulation provides an official channel of communication between the state and your business. It’s not just a formality — it’s a way to ensure transparency and responsibility in the corporate world.
Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent if you meet your state’s requirements. This typically means having a physical address in the state where your business is formed and being available during normal business hours to receive legal and government documents.
But the bigger question is whether you should be your own registered agent. Acting as your own agent means taking full responsibility for receiving and handling important communications, such as lawsuit notices, compliance reminders, and state correspondence. While this is possible if you’re highly organized and consistently available, many business owners find it burdensome. Using a professional registered agent service can protect your privacy, ensure reliability, and free you to focus on running and growing your business.
The primary duty of a registered agent is to be consistently available during normal business hours at a physical location (often called the registered office) to accept important paperwork. These documents typically include notices about service of process (being served with a lawsuit), and they can also include official mail notifications about renewals or annual reports. Some registered agent services also offer extra services like virtual document portals to make it easy to access your documents. Compare registered agent services.
Yes, if your business operates in multiple states, you’ll need a registered agent with a physical address in each state where your business is registered or qualified to do business.
Nearly every state requires LLCs and corporations to maintain a registered agent to ensure there’s a reliable way for the state and legal entities to communicate with your business. This requirement helps maintain transparency and ensures important documents reach your business in a timely manner.
Getting Started
Our registered agent service costs $99 plus state fees for the first year and renews at $199/year. This price includes document receipt, secure digital delivery, email notifications, and priority handling of legal notices, with no hidden fees.
For a typical registered agent service you can expect to pay anywhere between $100 and $300 on average for a service. The cost of hiring a registered agent can vary widely based on several factors. While some offer their services for a flat yearly rate, others might have monthly or tiered pricing structures. It’s crucial to balance cost with quality. Some agents might provide additional services that can be worth a slightly higher fee. As always, it’s wise to compare offerings and read reviews before settling on one.
We can help you file the necessary paperwork with your Secretary of State to change or add a registered agent. This typically involves filing an amendment or change form with your state agency.
You should appoint a registered agent at the time you form your business. Most states require you to designate a registered agent during the initial formation or registration process, and your LLC or corporation generally won’t be approved without one.
If you’re signing up for registered agent service, activation is typically fast. For existing businesses, service is usually active within 1–2 business days after sign-up. For new formations, the service begins as soon as your entity is officially approved by the state.
You’ll need your business name, state of incorporation, your contact information, and any existing registered agent details if you’re making a change. We’ll handle the rest.
Using a Service
Professional service ensures reliability, privacy protection, compliance expertise, and peace of mind. You won’t miss important documents due to travel or business closures, and you’ll have expert support for compliance questions.
We scan and upload all documents to your secure online dashboard and send email notifications immediately. For urgent legal notices, we also provide mail and overnight delivery to ensure you receive time-sensitive documents promptly.
By using our address instead of your personal or business address, you keep your information private. Legal documents and state correspondence come to us, preventing unwanted visitors at your location and protecting you from public record exposure.
Some benefits of using ZenBusiness as your registered agent include:
We immediately scan and upload the document to your dashboard, send email notification, and for legal notices requiring immediate attention, we also mail and overnight the original document to ensure you can respond within required timeframes.
ZenBusiness will receive all service of process, state public notices, and other important documents on your behalf. We will upload them to your dashboard and notify you via email. We’ll also notify you via mail and overnight you legal notices that need immediate attention.
If your registered agent is not available when documents are delivered, it can result in legal consequences, such as being unable to defend your business in court or being removed from good standing with the state. Using a registered agent service like ours can eliminate this worry.
No, our registered agent address is specifically for receiving legal and government documents. You’ll need a separate business address for operations, marketing, and general correspondence.
Compliance
The requirements for a registered agent vary by state, but generally:
Operating without a registered agent can put your business at serious risk. Without one, you may miss critical legal documents or government correspondence, which can result in state penalties, fines, loss of good standing, missed legal deadlines, and even the administrative dissolution of your LLC or corporation. Having a registered agent in place provides an essential layer of protection that helps keep your business compliant and safeguarded.
Yes, you can change your registered agent after forming your LLC. To do so, most states require you to file a form or amendment with the Secretary of State (or a similar agency), and some states may charge a filing fee.
When you change your registered agent, the new agent becomes responsible for receiving your business’s legal and government documents. It’s important to coordinate the timing of the change so there is no lapse in coverage, which could put your company at risk of missing critical notices. If you’d prefer assistance, ZenBusiness can help handle the paperwork and ensure the transition is smooth and compliant.
If you’re moving your business registration to a new state, you’ll need registered agent service in the new state. We provide coverage in all 50 states and can help coordinate the transition.
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