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Why get a Registered Agent with doola?

Avoiding penalties for not having a Registered Agent in most states.

Legal Compliance

Privacy Protection

Digital Access

Focus on Business

What is a Registered Agent?

A Registered Agent is a person or company designated to receive official mail on behalf of your business. Registered Agents are also known as statutory agents, resident agents, and agents for service of process.

Each state requires all registered business entities (such as an LLC, a corporation, or a nonprofit) to appoint a Registered Agent on their formation documents. The information listed in these formation documents becomes public record.



Does my business need a Registered Agent?

Yes. Every business entity is required to have an official Registered Agent in each state where it conducts business.

A Registered Agent provides a permanent physical presence in the state, serving as the official address where the state government can send legal and tax correspondence. This includes franchise tax forms, notices of litigation, and required annual report forms.

Registered Agents ensure timely receipt and handling of these documents, helping businesses stay compliant with state regulations and legal obligations. Additionally, having a Registered Agent helps maintain the privacy of business owners by using the agent’s address for public records instead of the owner’s personal address.

  • Required for LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits to meet state laws
  • Having an official point of contact for legal matters is essential
  • Reliable physical address and availability for receiving documents

Can I be my own Registered Agent?

Technically, yes, but there are several reasons why it might not be the best choice:

Legal Compliance: Many states mandate that businesses have a Registered Agent. Failing to comply could result in penalties or even the dissolution of your business.

Physical Presence: Registered Agents must have a physical address in the state of operation. If you move or change locations frequently, this could be challenging.

Timely Receipt: Registered Agents ensure prompt delivery of important documents, helping you stay on top of legal obligations. Managing this yourself could lead to missed deadlines and legal consequences.

Expertise and Reliability: Professional Registered Agents are experienced in handling legal documents and can provide reliable service. Managing this yourself may require significant time and effort, and mistakes could have serious consequences.

  • Am I organized enough? 
  • Am I tied to one location from 8 am until 5 pm, five days a week?
  • Do I have a reputation to protect? 
Incl. in Total Compliance

Registered Agent Service

Get your doola Registered Agent service today for reliable management of all your legal and official document needs.

NOTE: Registered Agent is free with doola’s Formation Service.

Registered Agent

  • Receive local document scans within the same day and enjoy secure storage for all scanned documents
  • Commitment to privacy protection
  • Timely notifications for annual reports

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Can I be my own Registered Agent?

Yes, it is permissible for individuals and businesses to serve as their own company’s registered agent in all states. In fact, anyone who fulfills a state’s prerequisites for a registered agent can assume this role. Some states even permit a corporation or LLC to act as its own registered agent.

However, the key consideration revolves around whether it’s advisable to fulfill this role yourself. Registered agents bear significant responsibilities that can profoundly affect your business. If you’re unable to consistently receive legal notifications in person at the officially designated address, it’s not recommended to undertake the role of your own registered agent. Opting to use your own name and home address might entail sacrificing a portion of your personal privacy, as registered agent details become part of the publicly accessible records.

Who can be a Registered Agent?

State regulations typically necessitate registered agents to satisfy the subsequent criteria:

Physical Location: Registered agents are required to possess a tangible address within the state, enabling them to receive and acknowledge service of legal documents, often denoted as their “registered office.”

Domicile: Generally, registered agents must either be residents of the state where they are designated as agents or must be businesses that have received authorization to offer registered agent services in that state. Businesses delivering such services are obligated to uphold a physical address within the state.

Availability: Registered agents must be accessible to receive official correspondence and legal paperwork during standard business hours.

Approval: Agents must grant their consent to undertake the role of a registered agent. In numerous states, registered agents are obliged to furnish a signature as evidence of their acceptance of this responsibility. For instance, states like Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming mandate the inclusion of registered agent signatures on formation documents.

Do I need a Registered Agent?

Certainly. Not only is the presence of registered agents almost universally dictated by state regulations, but they also establish a structured method to guarantee that a business can consistently receive official and legal notifications, encompassing service of legal documents.

What is a national Registered Agent?

A group of registered agents, with at least one representing each state, forms a national registered agent. Opting for a national registered agent entails securing a local registered agent in every state where your business operates, a requisite as stipulated by state regulations.

What is a USA Registered Agent?

A registered agent service in the USA is a professional entity that maintains registered offices across all states in the United States. Additionally, this service has the capability to submit official documents on behalf of your company. This implies that if you are residing in another country and intend to establish a business within the United States, a provider offering USA Registered Agent services can assist you in establishing your company in the specific U.S. state(s) that align with your foreign business expansion plans.

Can I use my Registered Agent as my business address?

Absolutely! When you avail registered agent services, their address is utilized in your public documents, ensuring the confidentiality of your own address.

Why hire a Registered Agent service?

A professional registered agent service is structured to be at your disposal for the acceptance of documents, allowing you to dedicate your attention to more significant matters. These services also offer additional advantages. They incorporate their address into your public documents, thus safeguarding the confidentiality of your own address. An adept service should promptly scan and forward your documents on the same day, furnish you with alerts for adhering to state compliance reports, and grant you effortless access to forms and services essential for the maintenance of your business.

Here are commonplace scenarios wherein engaging a registered agent service proves advantageous:

Operating in multiple states.

Lack of a physical address.

Anticipated address changes during expansion.

Desire to withhold personal address from public exposure.

Irregular availability during standard office hours.

Preference for instantaneous document access from any location.

Preference for electronic document scans as backups.

Need for reminders regarding state compliance obligations.

Quest for added peace of mind.

How do I choose a Registered Agent?

If the intention is to enlist a registered agent service, there are several crucial aspects to consider. Ideally, the selected registered agent service should fulfill the following criteria:

Consistent pricing: Some companies might present lower initial costs but impose significant hikes during annual renewals. Typically, perusing online customer feedback can unveil whether this is a concern.

Electronic document delivery: For materials requiring swift attention, waiting for physical mail forwarding is less than ideal.

Immediate document scans: Given the time-sensitive nature of many documents, it is imperative that your chosen registered agent service swiftly receives and scans incoming documents.

Customer support: Should you encounter queries or challenges, the availability of real-person assistance through phone support should be assured.

Access to free resources : Your selected registered agent service should grant convenient access to state forms and templates essential for crucial documents, such as operating agreements and meeting minutes. Numerous entities charge steep fees for these resources, so confirming the availability of such complimentary resources is prudent.

Supplementary business services: While your current requirement might pertain solely to registered agent service, the future could bring the need for additional services. Hence, identifying a provider offering valuable supplementary business services like mail forwarding, virtual office solutions, annual report compliance, and business formation is advisable.

How do I change my Registered Agent?

To alter the registered agent for your LLC or corporation, you must complete the necessary paperwork with your state authorities. The specific requirements vary by state, and you might be required to submit a form for changing agents, an amendment document, or an updated annual/biennial report, depending on your jurisdiction.

How do I resign from being a Registered Agent?

You have the option to step down from your role as a registered agent for an LLC or corporation whenever you choose. This involves informing the respective business entity and, in the majority of states, submitting an official statement of agent resignation to the state authorities. It’s important to note that the procedures, forms, and costs associated with resigning as a registered agent can significantly vary from one state to another.

But for the reasons mentioned above, we strongly recommend you work with a professional vs being your own registered agent.

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