Short answer: Physical Washington address is mandatory.
We've pulled these figures from the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division'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 Washington registered agent
Physical Washington address is mandatory.
You can be your own agent in Washington. 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 Washington compares
We haven't confirmed Washington's fee to change registered agents with the state yet. The national median among the 45 jurisdictions we track is $20.
| State | Fee | National rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | Varies | Not confirmed |
| Idaho | $0 | 40 of 45 |
| Oregon | $0 | 40 of 45 |
| Nevada | $60 | 2 of 45 |
| California | $20 | 21 of 45 |
| Montana | $0 | 40 of 45 |
Washington fees that apply here
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation | $200 | Filing by mail costs $180, while filing online costs $200 (includes an online processing fee). |
Registered agent rules: Washington questions
What are the registered agent requirements in Washington?
Physical Washington address is mandatory.
Can I be my own registered agent in Washington?
Yes, if you meet Washington'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 Washington?
We couldn't confirm a state fee for this yet. UNCONFIRMED
Can a registered agent use a PO box in Washington?
No. Registered agents need a physical street address in Washington where legal papers can be delivered in person during business hours.
How much does a registered agent service cost in Washington?
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 Washington 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. Not specified
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: name reservation.duration, ra.change fee, foreign.fee, dba.fee, amendment fee, report.dissolution note.