Registered agents
What is a registered agent for an LLC?
Every LLC has to name one, and the address goes on the public record. Here's what the job involves, who can do it, and what it costs to hire one.
By the Start LLC Registration editorial team · Published · 6 min read
A registered agent for an LLC is the person or company your state lists as the official place to deliver lawsuits and government notices for your business. Every state requires one. The agent must have a physical street address in the state where your LLC is registered and must be available there during normal business hours. You can usually be your own registered agent, or you can pay a service, which costs $125 to $249 a year among the four national providers we priced.
That’s the whole job in two sentences. The details, though, change from state to state, and the choice you make ends up on the public record. This guide covers who can serve, what it costs, and how to switch.
What a registered agent actually does
The agent has two jobs:
- Accept service of process. When someone sues your LLC, the court papers get delivered to your registered agent. That’s what “service of process” means. The agent signs for them and passes them to you right away, because lawsuits come with deadlines to respond.
- Receive official state mail. Annual report reminders, tax notices, and good-standing warnings from the Secretary of State often go to the agent’s address.
The Cornell Legal Information Institute explains service of process if you want the legal background. The short version: if papers are delivered to your agent, your LLC has been officially notified, whether or not anyone actually reads them.
States don’t all use the same name for the role. Arizona calls it a statutory agent. California’s form asks for an agent for service of process. New York designates its Secretary of State to receive service for every LLC and forwards papers to the address you give it, so a separate registered agent is optional there. The job is the same everywhere. Our registered agent rules by state page lists each state’s exact terms.
Do you need a registered agent for your LLC?
Yes. Every state and DC requires an LLC to name an agent when it forms and to keep one for as long as it exists. You list the agent on your formation document, such as the Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation, and the state keeps that name and address on file.
If your LLC registers to do business in a second state (a foreign LLC registration), you need an agent in that state too. One LLC operating in three states needs three agents.
Who can be a registered agent?
Rules vary, but most states allow three kinds of agent:
| Who serves | Usual requirements | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| You (an owner) | Adult, street address in the state, there during business hours | Free, but your address is public |
| A friend, relative or your accountant | Same as above, and they agree to it | Free or cheap, but you depend on someone else’s schedule |
| A commercial registered agent service | Company authorized to do business in the state with an office there | Costs money each year, but keeps your address private |
A few state-specific rules are worth knowing. Texas, for example, says an LLC can’t serve as its own registered agent. Our research confirmed you can serve as your own agent in 40 of the 51 jurisdictions we track, and the rest either restrict it or have details we’re still confirming with the state. Check your state’s page before you name yourself:
- Texas registered agent rules
- Florida registered agent rules
- California registered agent rules
- All 50 states and DC
Can you be your own registered agent?
Usually, yes. People do it all the time, especially when they’re starting small. Before you put your own name down, think about three things.
Your address goes public. Anyone can look up your LLC in the state’s business search and see the agent’s address. If you work from home, that means your home address. That’s the biggest reason owners hire a service.
You have to be there. “Business hours” means you, or someone you trust, needs to be at that address during the day to accept papers. If you travel, work a day job elsewhere, or move often, you can miss a delivery.
Process servers show up in person. If you’re sued, someone may knock on your door, or walk into your shop in front of customers, to hand you the papers.
If none of that bothers you, serving as your own agent is a perfectly legal way to save money. If it does, that’s what the paid services are for.
What a registered agent service costs
The state doesn’t regulate what services charge, so prices vary. We checked the four big national providers on their own sites on November 1, 2026:
| Service | Yearly price | First year with formation | 3-year agent cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | Included in $39 formation | $250 after year one |
| Bizee | $149 | Free with any package | $298 |
| ZenBusiness | $199 | Not included | $597 |
| LegalZoom | $249 | Not included | $747 |
Over three years, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive option is about $500. That’s why we rank services on what you’ll pay over several years, not the year-one sticker price. See the full breakdown in best registered agent services or compare the two cheapest head to head in Bizee vs Northwest.
Most paid services also scan your mail and upload it to an online dashboard, send compliance reminders, and list their own address on your public filings. If privacy is the main reason you’re hiring one, ask before you buy whose address appears where. Northwest, for example, says it puts its own address on filings by default wherever the state allows.
How to change your registered agent
You can switch agents at any time. The usual process:
- Line up the new agent first. If you’re hiring a service, sign up and get their in-state address.
- File a change form with the state. It’s usually called a Statement of Change or Change of Registered Agent. Many states let you do it online.
- Pay the state fee, if there is one. Among the 45 jurisdictions where we confirmed a fee, it runs from $0 in states like Arkansas, Georgia and Idaho up to $100 in Alabama.
- Cancel the old service once the state confirms the change, so you’re not billed again.
Your state’s registered agent page lists the form name and fee. Some states also let you update the agent on your annual report, which can save a separate filing.
What happens if you don’t keep a registered agent
Letting your agent lapse causes problems that build on each other:
- You can miss a lawsuit. If papers can’t be delivered, or are delivered to an old agent who doesn’t forward them, a court can enter a default judgment against your LLC.
- You can miss state notices. That includes annual report reminders. Miss enough of those and the state may charge late fees and pull your good standing.
- The state can shut you down. Most states can administratively dissolve or revoke an LLC that goes without an agent for too long.
None of this is expensive to prevent. It just takes a working address on file.
How to choose
A simple way to decide:
- Be your own agent if you have a commercial address or don’t mind your home address being public, and you’re reliably there during business hours.
- Hire a service if you work from home, travel, want privacy, or have registered in a state where you don’t live.
- Compare on the renewal price, not the first-year deal. The agent fee repeats every year your LLC exists.
Ready to see the numbers for your state? Start with your state’s LLC guide, or check the cheapest ways to form an LLC if you’d like a service to handle both the filing and the agent.
Frequently asked questions
What is a registered agent for an LLC?
A registered agent is the person or business your LLC names in its state filing to receive service of process (lawsuit papers) and official state mail. The agent needs a physical street address in that state and has to be available there during normal business hours.
Do I need a registered agent for my LLC?
Yes. Every state requires an LLC to keep a registered agent, or an equivalent such as a statutory agent, for as long as the LLC exists. If you register in more than one state, you need one in each state.
Can I be my own registered agent?
In most states, yes, as long as you have a street address in that state and are there during business hours. Our research confirmed self-service in 40 of the 51 jurisdictions we track. The trade-off is that your address goes on the public record.
Can a registered agent use a PO box?
No. States require a physical street address where someone can hand-deliver legal papers. A PO box or a mail drop that can't accept in-person service won't qualify.
How much does a registered agent cost?
Serving yourself is free. Among the national services we priced on November 1, 2026, Northwest charges $125 a year, Bizee $149 a year after a free first year, ZenBusiness $199 a year and LegalZoom $249 a year.
What happens if my LLC doesn't have a registered agent?
You can miss lawsuits and state notices, which can lead to a default judgment against the LLC. The state can also mark the LLC as not in good standing and eventually revoke or dissolve it.