How to Find the Best Registered Agent in Virginia

You must appoint a point of contact so that the Virginia State Corporations Commission knows that someone is available during regular business hours to accept legal notices and other important documents such as:

• Articles of Organization – the formation documents for Virginia LLCs
• Articles of Incorporation – formation documents for corporations
• Annual report fee – due by the last day of the anniversary month of the formation
• Fact of Existence – proof of good standing Virginia
• Virginia state taxes – due to the Department of Taxation

The Virginia State Corporation Commission allows a business owner to appoint anyone that meets the registered agent requirements for no charge.

• Employee
• Family member
• LLC member

A commercial registered agent service in Virginia can cost anywhere from $50 to $500 annually.

Sections 3 through 5 of form LLC1011 will ask you to provide specific information.

• Registered agent name
• Registered agent contact number
• Registered agent email address
• Registered agent qualifications
• Registered agent address

The statement of resignation of the registered agent form will ask for the following:

• Registered agent name
• Company name
• State corporation ID number
• Statement of resignation

The state of Virginia does not charge to resign as a registered agent.

• You remain in good standing in Virginia

A business must pay the annual report and other state-related fees on time to remain in good standing and maintain asset protection in Virginia.

When you hire a professional registered agent service, you gain access to a compliance calendar that helps you file documents on time to protect your liability protection.

• You shield personal address from the public record

Small business owners sometimes work from a home address or a private office. When entrepreneurs appoint themselves as registered agents, their personal address becomes public record.

People can use the Virginia Business Entity Search and search by:

A professional registered agent is physically available at a street address in Virginia, allowing you to list the service’s information with the Virginia Corporations Division.

• You get much-needed discretion

In Virginia, a process server does not have to notify a business owner before arriving at an office to serve legal documents.

When you appoint an outside registered agent, you’re ensuring that sensitive documents are received away from the business so you have some peace of mind.

• It allows you to come and go from the office

According to Virginia Code §13.1-1015, a registered agent must be available Monday through Friday during normal business hours to physically accept notices from the Corporations Division, law firms, and the Virginia Department of Taxation.

You must be available during the required times when you appoint yourself as your own registered agent.

A commercial registered agent service has resident agents on staff available during the mandated hours, so you have flexibility in your schedule.

• It provides you access to your fact of existence

A bank will ask you to provide proof of good standing in Virginia before allowing you to open a new business account.

By appointing an outside registered agent service, you’re gaining constant access to the Virginia fact of existence and other formation documents to make doing business better.

• Foreign LLC formation is straightforward

You will be required to appoint a registered agent if you plan to expand your LLC into other states.

An already-appointed registered agent is prepared to start the process immediately and keeps the LLC formation in different states easy.