How to Find the Best Registered Agent in Alabama

An agent must be available during normal business hours Monday through Friday to receive important documents that include:

• Certificate of Formation – the formation document for limited liability companies (LLCs)
• Alabama privilege tax – due by March 15th for an LLC
• Certificate of Compliance – required to open a business bank account
• Legal documents

Other business structures include:

• Sole proprietorships
• Partnerships
• Nonprofit

Section 3 of the certificate of Alabama Certificate of Formation form will ask for information regarding the registered agent.

• Registered agent name
• Registered agent’s address (street and mailing)
• County of the registered agent

The fastest way to change your registered agent in Alabama is by email.

• You will download the change of registered agent or registered office by entity form.
• The new registered agent must sign the completed form before you submit it.
• Email the change of registered agent form to [email protected].
• The filing fee is $25. You will type your credit card information into the form.
• Alabama does offer expedited services for an additional $100.

• You avoid noncompliance

A professional registered agent service will send a business notification when the Alabama privilege tax is due and help you submit the correct document and pay the proper fees.

In Alabama, a business must remain in compliance, or good standing, to maintain liability protection. An agent helps protect a company from fines and penalties due to non-compliance by helping with important business filings.

• You keep your private addresses private

Entrepreneurs and new small business owners often work from home or in private offices. In Alabama, the address of a business is listed in the Alabama Entity Search.

Anyone can search the database by business name, number, registered agent, and month/year.

The registered agent’s information is listed in the public records rather than your private office or home address.

• It provides the benefit of peace of mind

A process server can turn up unannounced before you even know a lawsuit has happened or that a law firm is attempting to contact you.

In Alabama, a registered agent is the point of contact and receives subpoenas and other legal notices out of the view of customers or clients.

• You can keep a flexible work schedule

The Alabama state code Section 10A-1-5.31 requires a registered agent to always be available during regular business hours during every official work day of the year.

Appointing yourself as your own registered agent makes you responsible for that availability.

• You can access your Certificate of Formation from anywhere

Your Alabama Certificate of Formation and Certificate of Compliance are available online for you to access when and from where you want.

Having fast access to essential documents makes opening a business bank account and applying for business loans more accessible and quicker.

• You can expand easily into other states

Regardless of where you expand to or from, you must appoint a registered agent to form a foreign LLC in a different state.