Best Registered Agent Services for Your New LLC
Searching for the best registered agent services to use for your newly formed LLC? With so many quality registered agent services out there, it is difficult to select the one that fits the needs and requirements of your business perfectly. In this comprehensive article, we will introduce you to the best registered agent services that are available online.
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Best Registered Agent Services
If you’re in a rush and just need to know which registered agent service you should use, let’s quickly surface the highlights.
You can skip the extensive research and select from the two best-registered agent services, highly popular amongst their users – Northwest Registered Agent and ZenBusiness.
These are two of the top registered agent services in the country that not only give you affordable, competitive rates but keep your personal information safe and secure as well.
- Signup for ZenBusiness if you are searching for great overall value and affordable registered agent services. For great pricing and incredible customer service, choose ZenBusiness.
- Signup for Northwest Registered Agent if you value years of experience, private registration, and user feedback and are not on a budget. For the most private, secure registered agent service, choose Northwest Registered Agent.
Comprehensive Registered Agent Services Reviews
Now that we’ve covered the top picks for you, let’s go through each of the six registered agent services that we believe are the best available online and break them down by features, pricing, and the pros and cons of each.
ZenBusiness: Best overall
ZenBusiness is cheaper than Northwest and has incredible customer feedback, and their support is second to none!
Free Registered Agent Deal: If you haven’t formed your LLC yet, ZenBusiness will form your LLC for you and give you one year of free registered agent service for just $49.
They are an affordable, streamlined registered agent service provider with automated services. Since most of their process is automated, you will not receive a lot of guidance at every step as compared to the Northwest.
Nevertheless, because of automation, they are one of the fastest and most efficient service providers in the country. If you want to get a registered agent quickly and without spending loads of money, you should choose ZenBusiness.
Apart from their affordable prices, the best feature of ZenBusiness is their glowing customer feedback. Even though they are relatively new in the industry, they have made their mark comfortably. You get access to a user-friendly online user dashboard where you can store all your business documents easily and safely.
They have great user reviews on various third-party websites, and the reviews praise their reliability, efficiency, and simplicity.
Features
If you select ZenBusiness as your registered agent, you will get the following services from them.
- Ensures Compliance
- Online User Dashboard
- Worry-Free Guarantee
- Annual Report Alerts
- Two free filing changes annually
Pricing
If you form your LLC using ZenBusiness, they will offer you a free year of registered agent service as a part of their packages. The basic tier package costs $49, so you will get a whole year of free registered agent service after paying only $49.
After that, they charge $99 annually for their registered agent services.
Northwest
Providing the best registered agent service is what they do, and they do it better than anybody else.
In the registered agent industry, Northwest is a popular name. They have been providing quality services since 1998. With over two decades of experience, they have assisted customers from every walk of life.
They have a consistent track record and excellent reputation. With plenty of glowing, positive user reviews, you can rest assured that they ensure customer satisfaction. The user reviews appreciate efficient and professional customer service.
With easy-to-use services, the order process is fairly simple. If you have any queries or face any difficulties during the registration process, you can get in touch with robust customer services and get your issue resolved.
Unlike traditional customer services, Northwest offers personalized assistance. Each client is assigned an individual support representative who will act as your personal assistant. You can reach out to them whenever you want, and they will be there to help you!
Another appreciable feature offered by Northwest Registered Agent is the fact that they locally scan all the client documents instead of only scanning the documents they are legally obligated to do so. They have no upsells and offer volume discounts if you use their services in 5 or more states, with the rates dropping to $100/per state in this case.
Features
If you choose Northwest Registered Agent, you will get the following features.
- Annual Compliance
- Free Online Tools
- Personalized Customer Support
- Forms to make filing simple
- Real-Time Support
- Stock Certificates
- Local scanning of each document
Pricing
If you choose to form your LLC through Northwest, they will give you a year of registered agent service as a part of the $225 LLC formation package. As a standalone service, you will have to pay $125 per year to use Northwest as your registered agent.
Bizee
Chances are you’ve heard of Bizee – mostly because of their highly affordable and competitive packages. Bizee provides one of the quickest and cheapest registered agent services in the market. They have been around since 2004 and have helped thousands of individuals form their LLCs.
Free Registered Agent Deal: If you haven’t formed your LLC yet, Bizee will form your LLC for you and give you one year of free registered agent service FOR FREE.
With their Silver package, you can form your LLC and get registered agent services free for one whole year. Moreover, you get plenty of other services as well. For startups and entrepreneurs who are on a budget, Bizee is the perfect option.
There are no caveats – you get professional services at the most affordable prices imaginable. If you value customer feedback, you will be satisfied with the thousands of positive user reviews they have. Even though they don’t have personalized customer support like Northwest, they have professional customer representatives who are ready to answer any queries you might have.
Features
They have several packages, but the most affordable one is the Silver package in which you get free registered agent services for the first year. You get the following additional services as well.
- Lifetime customer support
- Business Tax Consultation
- Online Dashboard
- One-day processing
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, no other registered agent service can hold a candle to Bizee. With the silver package, you will get registered agent services absolutely free of cost along with plenty of other useful features.
If you want to continue using their services after the first year, then you will have to pay $119 annually.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is a popular registered agent service and has a lot of brand power in the LLC formation industry. Being a comprehensive legal services provider, LegalZoom has over 2 million clients, which is a huge user base.
They provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee. This means that if you are not satisfied with the services you get, you can ask for a refund within 60 days of your purchase, no questions asked. Not only will you get quality registered agent services, but you will also have a horde of legal services at your hand if you need them. The only downside of using this service is that they don’t include registered agent services as a part of any of their formation packages, not even in their highest-end plans.
With their strong user base and experience, they would have been a great option for people if LegalZoom’s prices were affordable. However, if you are not on a budget, you can still go for their services and they will not disappoint!
Pricing
No matter which package you select from LegalZoom, you will not get free registered agent services. They charge a straightforward yearly fee of $299 for their registered agent service. This is a steep price point, with better and more affordable services available out there.
If you have selected an LLC formation package from them, then you can use the registered agent service as an add-on feature by paying $159.
Features
- Compliance Calendar
- Notifications & Alerts when mail is received
- Emails regarding tax and annual report deadlines
- Identity theft protection
- Unlimited Cloud Storage
Rocket Lawyer
Clocking in at #5 is Rocket Lawyer, another comprehensive legal service provider that also offers registered agent services. It is a popular and reputable company with a vast user-base. According to their website, they have provided services to over 20 million customers, which is a huge number.
You can use their registered agent services after buying their monthly subscription package or as a standalone service as well. With excellent customer support and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, they are worth a look!
If you want to avail legal services for your company as well as hire a registered agent, then choosing Rocket Lawyer is a no-brainer. If you don’t need legal services, then there are better options out there in the market for you.
Features
If you become a member, you will have access to plenty of features and services. However, if you only choose their registered agent service, you will not get additional features. They will only do what is required of a registered agent – act as a point of contact between you and your LLC formation state.
- Email Notifications
- Online User Dashboard
- Business Compliance
Pricing
If you choose Rocket Lawyer, you have two options. You can either become a member and use their services or remain a non-member and select the services that you want. As a non-member, you will have to pay $149.99 every year to use them as your registered agent.
If you buy their monthly subscription plan, you will get a discount of 25% and will have to pay almost $112 for their services.
CorpNet
CorpNet is a comprehensive business services provider that has many services and features that corporations find useful. With plenty of experience under their belt, you can rest assured that you will get quality services from them.
When it comes to user reviews, Corpnet has hundreds of positive user reviews online. You will hardly find any negative reviews for this company, which is a huge plus.
Moreover, CorpNet’s services come with a satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason, you are not satisfied with the services that you get, they will provide you a refund if you request one, within 30 days of your purchase.
They have well-balanced LLC formation packages and have excellent customer services as well. With their same-day delivery feature, they will scan and send your documents over to you on the very day they receive them.
Moreover, they will notify you as well so that you never miss a document delivery! With no hidden costs and no upsells, CorpNet is pretty transparent service.
Features
If you choose CorpNet as your registered agent service, you will get the following additional features as well.
- Complimentary access to Compliance Portal
- Online Storage Space
- Document Tracking
Pricing
If you want to keep your personal and professional information off the public record, you can choose CorpNet as your registered agent for an annual fee of $149. If you want registered agent services in different states, they also provide discounts on bulk registered agent orders.
If you select their basic package, you will get registered agent service free for 60 days. If you choose their deluxe or complete LLC formation packages, you will get a whole year of free registered agent services.
For 50 orders, you will get a 20% discount. Up to 150 orders, they will give you a 30% discount. You will get a maximum discount of 60% if you place over 1001 orders with CorpNet.
Which is the Best Registered Agent Service for Me?
Even though you can become your own registered agent, the issue is that your personal information will be publicly available. Not only will you have no privacy, but the amount of junk mail you receive can be painful.
So, it is a good idea to choose a competitive registered agent service to take care of your business’s needs.
To make this easy for you, we think most people should go with Northwest Registered Agent or ZenBusiness, as they are the best registered agent services you can use.
Which one you choose is really down to you, but ultimately:
- Signup for Northwest Registered Agent if you are looking for the best standalone registered agent with a stellar track record.
- Signup for ZenBusiness if you want an affordable registered agent service as well as a quality LLC formation package
Northwest Registered Agent has been around for over 20 years, and their customer support is second to none. ZenBusiness has stellar customer feedback and affordable pricing. Bizee offers you the best prices out there since they have a free basic LLC formation package that includes a year of free registered agent service.
If you are looking for legal services along with registered agent services, then LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer are good options. With its well-balanced LLC formation packages and same-day document delivery features, CorpNet is a great choice as well.
FAQs
What is a registered agent?
A registered agent is an individual or company that is designated to receive important documents from the state on your behalf. A professional registered agent will assist your business and ensure you remain aware of any annual reports and filing deadlines.
What are the pros of using a registered agent service?
When you are starting a new business, there are hundreds of tasks that need your attention. When you hire a registered agent, you can hand off a few of your business responsibilities to a professional service so that you can focus on building your business.
Am I legally obligated to have a registered agent?
Yes, it is a legal requirement to have a registered agent for your company. You can choose a professional service as your registered agent or become a registered agent yourself. All 50 states in the USA require a designated registered agent when you are forming your LLC. If you don’t select a registered agent, the state will reject your filing.
Should I become my own registered agent?
You can become your own registered agent. However, we don’t recommend this. If you become your own registered agent, there are a few pros and cons. On the brighter side, you will be able to save some money. If you become your own registered agent, your address becomes part of the public record. With a professional registered agent service at your disposal, you will relax and not worry about missing important deadlines and important documents from the state.
Can I hire a business attorney as my registered agent?
Yes, you choose a business attorney as your registered agent. However, you need to know that the hourly rates of business attorneys are usually very high. Compared to online registered agent services, you will have to pay a hefty sum to a reputable business attorney. Therefore, we don’t recommend that you go for this option.
If I choose a registered agent can I change it later?
Yes, you can change your registered agent if you want. The process for changing your registered agent differs from state to state. A few registered agent services help you in changing the registered agent as well. Therefore, if you are not satisfied with the services you get from one company, you can easily cancel your subscription and hire a new and better one!
How can I pick the best registered agent service?
When it comes to choosing a high-quality registered agent, there are a few factors that you need to consider.
• Firstly, you need to check what features and services the company is offering.
• Make a list of the services that are essential for your company and then cross-match.
• You should look at their prices, customer services, and user reviews. Some registered agent services have free offers and discounts, while some have overall better facilities and features.
• Make sure that you check each and every aspect before making a final decision.
• State availability is another important feature to look at. Some companies only provide registered agent services in selective states only.
The registered agent services that we have discussed above are high-quality, reputable, and affordable companies. Choose one of them and focus on growing your business!
How important is customer service when it comes to a registered agent service?
Customer service is really important when it comes to choosing a registered agent service. What if you have a query regarding the services a company provides? What if you want a refund or have to register a complaint? Good quality customer service will come in handy here.
