Short answer: Physical Alabama street address required. Changing agents costs $100.
We've pulled these figures from the Alabama Secretary of State's own pages. If something's changed since our last check, the state's portal wins, so it's worth a quick look before you pay.
Who can serve as a Alabama registered agent
Physical Alabama street address required.
You can be your own agent in Alabama. The catch: your street address lands on the public record, and you need to be there during business hours to accept legal papers.
Paid registered agent services
| Service | Yearly price | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | Uses its address on your public filings by default; scans state and legal mail |
| Bizee | Free year 1 with formation, then $149 | Says it runs its own offices in all 50 states; sends service of process by tracked FedEx |
| ZenBusiness | $199 | Sold as an add-on, not included with formation |
| LegalZoom | $249 | Sold separately from its LLC packages |
Compare all four in our registered agent rankings, or read the Bizee vs Northwest comparison.
How Alabama compares
Alabama's fee to change registered agents is $100. That's the highest of the 45 jurisdictions we track. The national median is $20, so Alabama runs $80 above it.
| State | Fee | National rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $100 | 1 of 45 |
| Georgia | $0 | 40 of 45 |
| Mississippi | $10 | 29 of 45 |
| North Carolina | $5 | 37 of 45 |
| South Carolina | $15 | 27 of 45 |
| Tennessee | $20 | 21 of 45 |
Alabama fees that apply here
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation | $208 | $200 by mail or $208 online ($100 county, $100 state, $8 portal fee) |
| Change of registered agent | $100 | |
| Domestic LLC Articles of Dissolution | $150 |
Registered agent rules: Alabama questions
What are the registered agent requirements in Alabama?
Physical Alabama street address required.
Can I be my own registered agent in Alabama?
Yes, if you meet Alabama's requirements. Your address will appear on public filings, and you'll need to be available during business hours.
How much does it cost to change registered agents in Alabama?
The state charges $100.
Can a registered agent use a PO box in Alabama?
No. Registered agents need a physical street address in Alabama where legal papers can be delivered in person during business hours.
How much does a registered agent service cost in Alabama?
Commercial services typically charge a yearly fee. Northwest charges $125 a year and Bizee charges $149 a year after a free first year with formation, based on prices we checked. The state doesn't regulate these prices.
What happens if my Alabama LLC doesn't have a registered agent?
You can miss lawsuits and state notices, and the state can eventually move to revoke or dissolve the LLC. N/A
Sources and verification
Last checked against official state sources on . States change fees with little notice, so confirm on the filing portal before you pay. How we verify.
Still being confirmed with the state: dba fee.