Top 8 Best Registered Agents for 2023
Overview of the Best Registered Agent Services in 2023
#1 Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent provides a reliable, professional service that is free of upselling or hidden fees. Their slogan is “We are not annoying”, and they have been in the service industry for over a decade. They are known for their solid track record and commitment to privacy.
#2 Harbor Compliance: The best price for bulk purchases
Harbor Compliance is a trusted company that specializes in corporate compliance. If you are looking to purchase multiple years of registered agent service, enterprise clients will be the best fit. Customers who require registered agent services in multiple states can get discounted rates.
#3 Incfile – Best Experience, More Than 500,000 Formations
Pricing: $119/yr
Incfile is best known for its free service to create business entities. They offer a free one-year registration agent service for all LLC formation packages. However, they also provide it to existing businesses at $119 per annum.
Incfile’s services can be very affordable and the company is well-known within the industry, having over 500,000+ formations over the past 20 years. One year registration agent services are free.
#1 Northwest Registered Agent – Best Registered Agent Service
Established and proven
Pricing: $125/yr
Northwest Pros
- The leader for registered agent services
- Self-provided service
- Mail forwarding
- Trustworthy and reliable
- Great customer service
- Years of experience
- Refunds are available within 90 days
- They handle all forms and fees
Northwest Cons
- Their prices are slightly higher than some other services.
Northwest Registered Agent offers a great package of features, reliability, customer service, simplicity, and customer service.
Northwest Registered Agent is different from other service providers due to their network of local offices. They scan and receive legal mail from their customers. They don’t handle customer support. Third-party services are often used by alternative providers to do the heavy lifting.
Northwest Registered Agent makes sure that every aspect of their service is handled in-house. This ensures that their customers are protected and maintains consistency. These attributes are what set them apart from their competitors.
The Northwest Registered Agent is different from all the rest because it offers essential mail forwarding services. Register agents can scan up to five documents. Additional documents may be charged an additional fee.
We did not evaluate any other services that included non-legal mail processing as part of their registered agent service.
Northwest Registered Agents was established in 1998. Their reputation for reliability and years of experience are a testament to their service.
For any business, a reliable registered agent is crucial.
Northwest Registered Agents employs more than 200 people. Their business experts are highly trained. These guidelines are known as “Corporate Guidelines”.
They can help with corporate compliance and registered agent service, as well as the creation of new business entities. They have a team of customer service representatives who are knowledgeable, helpful, and responsive.
To find out about refund policies, we reached out to many companies listed in this article. Northwest Registered Agent is also a top-rated company in this area. They allow customers to cancel their service within 90 day of signing up. You’ll get a prorated refund if you cancel.
If your RA has been transferred from another provider, Northwest Registered Agent will assist you with all paperwork as well as pay the filing fee.
A small note to add: We like that the Terms of Service for Northwest Registered Agents are written in plain language and not legalese.
For a detailed review of the Northwest Registered Agent, see our review.
What we didn’t like:
We don’t know what to do. The $125 annual cost is our only complaint. It is slightly more costly than the other options.
We do recommend their registered agent service and consider it a great value.
#2 Harbor Compliance – Best price for bulk orders
Pricing: $89/yr – $99/yr
Harbor Compliance Pros –
- Register agent services eligible for multi-year discounts
- Notifications regarding the annual report
- Instant document scanning
- Online access to documents
- Customer service is extremely responsive
Harbor Compliance Cons
- Postal mail delivery is not possible
- Service cancellations are not eligible for refunds
Harbor Compliance was founded in 2012 and provides corporate compliance solutions for both businesses and non-profits. Their services are best for large organizations with more complex compliance requirements but they can also help small businesses.
Harbor Compliance charges $99 per year for its registered agent service. Sign up for multiple years to get a discount of 5-10%. The cost of the service will drop to $89 per year if you sign up for three years. This is the best price for an entire year of service out of all the ones we evaluated.
Registered agent may offer bulk discounts to multiple business entities. To confirm price points, you will need to contact them directly.
Harbor Compliance is the only company with a local office in every state. Their website even lists the exact addresses for all of their offices. They do not outsource all of their work.
All legal mail is scanned within 24hrs of receipt and made accessible to customers. According to Harbor Compliance, they do not deliver correspondence. Instead, customers can upload scanned content to their online accounts and retrieve it electronically.
Reminders will be sent to you regarding the due dates for filing essential documents in the state where your company is located.
Harbor Compliance has received less online reviews than its competitors. Most customers are satisfied with Harbor Compliance’s service. Google rates Harbor Compliance 4.5 out of 5.
For a more detailed review of Northwest Registered Agent, see our review.
What we didn’t like:
Harbor Compliance’s return policy may not be as generous as those of its competitors.
We asked about their cancellation policy. We asked about their cancellation policy. They said that refunds cannot be prorated. Only services that were canceled within a few business days and registered with their Secretary-of State office are eligible for a refund.
#3 Incfile – Proven and Established, 500,000+ Formations
Pricing: $119/yr
Incfile is best known for their free registered agent service for business entities. They offer a free one-year registration agent service for LLC formation packages. However, they also provide it to established businesses at $119 per annum.
Incfile Pros
- Incfile’s services can be very inexpensive and the company is well-known within the industry.
- In the last 20 years, there have been more than 500,000 formations.
- Incfile’s Approved Shopper customer review rating is 4.8/5
- Texas-based
Incfile Cons
- Incfile was subject to delays in formations and processing during Covid-19
#4 ZenBusiness – Worry-Free Services
Pricing: $99/yr
ZenBusiness Pros
- Pricing for registered agent services is $99 per year
- Site is user-friendly
- Online dashboard with email notifications
- Customers highly rate us
- Great, fast customer support
- Option to file an annual report
ZenBusiness Cons
- Prorated refunds are not available
- No mail forwarding
ZenBusiness currently ranks near the top of our category for entity formation. They are an excellent choice for registered agents if you are looking for one.
ZenBusiness is a medium-sized company that aims to be a big success. They help entrepreneurs and small business owners with administrative tasks.
ZenBusiness PBC is a public-benefit company. This is also their goal. ZenBusiness provides loans and grants to random customers every year.
ZenBusiness offers registered agents two pricing options. This is different from other providers.
Their $99/year standard coverage plan is very affordable. It includes access to ZenBusiness’ registered agent service, business formation specialists, and online document access.
The “Complete Coverage” package is $149 per year. All of this is included with ZenBusiness’s compliance services. This service will remind your company to file its annual reports with the state, and help you maintain good standing.
Customers who have been served or processed receive an electronic notification. The notification’s contents can be found in the documents tab of ZenBusiness’s dashboard.
ZenBusiness offers excellent customer support, particularly for registered agents.
When we reached out with questions, we were able to confirm their claims. Within one hour, they responded to our message. All of our questions were answered. ZenBusiness was the first to reply to our messages.
ZenBusiness customers seem to share our sentiments. Trustpilot gave ZenBusiness a rating of 4.8 out 5 with more than 7,000 reviews. ZenBusiness also has an ABB rating.
ZenBusiness was highly praised by all reviewers. They were especially impressed by ZenBusiness’s intuitive website and their helpful staff.
What we didn’t like:
ZenBusiness appears to offer everything you could need in a registered agents service. ZenBusiness provides a trusted, reliable registered agent service at an affordable cost. We would recommend that you add essential mail forwarding services as an option to your higher-priced plans.
#5 Swyft Filings
Pricing: $149/yr
Swyft Filings Pros
- Service provided by registered agents via an online dashboard.
- Instant access to your scanned documents
- Assistance with compliance
- Many positive reviews
- Cancellations made within 60 days of the cancellation date are eligible for a refund
Swyft Filings Cons
- High prices
- It might not be available in all states
Swyft Filings is a private Houston company that was founded in 2015. They offer a variety of business services. The cost of their registered agent service is $149 per year.
Swyft Filings is highly rated by customers for its reliability and customer satisfaction. Swyft Filings received more than 35,000 reviews from customers on major review sites. They have a rating of 4.6 out 5 on trustpilot.
Swyft Filings provides registered agent services in partnership to third parties, as well as many other services such LegalCorp Solutions.
Swyft Filings is very transparent about who they have partnered with in their terms and services. They don’t make customers do their research.
Swyft Filings gives you access to a secure, private online dashboard. They scan any new legal mail or service of process and instantly make it available to you through your online dashboard.
Your legal mail will be protected in the cloud, and is available 24 hours a days.
We are grateful that Swyft Filings registered agents service can be canceled at anytime for any reason.
Customer service representatives informed us that customers who cancel within 30 days of service could get a full refund for the cost of the first year. Customers who cancel within 60 calendar days of the service start to receive a prorated refund.
Swyft Filings also can monitor important filing deadlines in your particular state. They will remind you periodically of important items, such your annual reporting obligations.
We didn’t like these things:
Swyft Filings is a reliable registered agent service. However, their cost is too high. The annual cost is $149, which is half the price of top-rated competitors.
Swyft Filings was surprised when we asked them a few questions. We were told LegalCorp was available only in 47 states. However, they did not specify where.
This is surprising considering that LegalCorps operates in all 50 states of the USA.
#6 Rocket Lawyer
Pricing: $149/yr for non-members; $111.99/yr for members
Rocket Lawyer Pros
- Customer reviews that are positive
- Reliable company
- Paid memberships include additional features
Rocket Lawyer Cons
- Poor web presentation
- Cancellations are not eligible for full or prorated refunds
- It’s not the most expensive.
RocketLawyer is a well-known online legal aid provider. RocketLawyer’s online legal services also include an open-to-all registered agent service.
RocketLawyer’s registered agents service is available at a cost of 149.99 USD per annum to non-members. If you are a paid member, this cost is $111.99/year. Membership costs $39.99 per month.
RocketLawyer is not the best choice for your registered agent.
This service is too costly if you don’t already have a membership. Consider our top-rated services instead.
RocketLawyer has a rating of 4.6 out 5 and more than 3,000 Trustpilot reviews. This shows that it is popular. RocketLawyer’s registered agents service is not mentioned in any customer feedback.
RocketLawyer doesn’t offer registered agent services. RocketLawyer does not provide registered agent services.
RocketLawyer’s website does not provide an email address for contact. Prospective clients are limited to a 250 character message form. They could do more.
We didn’t like these things:
RocketLawyer’s registered agents offer a “100% Satisfaction guarantee” and customers can get a full refund if their contract is terminated.
RocketLawyer’s terms of service provide that cancellations will not be subject to full or prorated refunds.
Which one is it?
Rocket Lawyer’s lack of information about registered agents was also disappointing.
The cost of the service is not listed on the registered agent service page. To get more information, customers will need to enter their contact information. We are looking for more transparency.
#7 BizFilings
Pricing: $199/yr
BizFilings Professionals
- Service provided by the user
- Access to the online compliance tool is free of charge
- Any questions can be answered quickly by our support team
- The service of the process can be completed within one working day
- Delivery of documents required by law is free via post
- You can cancel it at any time. Refunds prorated available
Cons
- Expensive
- No standard mail forwarding
Business Filings, a Wisconsin-based company that specializes in business formation and compliance, caters primarily to small businesses. Wolters Kluwer owns the company.
BizFilings is unique in that they offer registered agent services directly for their customers and not to third parties.
BizFilings registered agents services cost $199/year. This is certainly at the higher end.
BizComply provides their online business compliance management software. Register agents receive this service at no additional cost. The cost for this service is $75 per year.
BizComply tracks compliance tasks that are based on the home state of a company (and any other states in which the company is eligible, if applicable). BizComply provides a dashboard for companies as well as a collection state forms.
BizFilings quickly responded to our questions and gave us an answer within hours. Their customer service was quick and provided detailed answers for all our questions.
Some services of registered agents in our ranking can only be accessed electronically. BizFilings offers scanned copies through an online system. This service does not include delivery or service.
BizFilings claims that they have a customer-friendly cancellation and refund policy. You can cancel your registered agent services at any time, provided that you have updated your records and your company has been dissolved.
BizFilings can issue a prorated refund for any portion of the service that you have not used.
BizFilings allows you to change your registered agent for free. They will also cover the state’s fee for changing an address.
What we didn’t like:
We appreciate our in-house services but BizFilings are still much more expensive than their top-rated counterparts. BizComply is a great freebie. Similar services are also offered by other companies.
BizFilings does not offer standard mail forwarding services with its registered agent service.
#8 BetterLegal
Pricing: $90/yr
BetterLegal Professionals
- Good pricing
- Solid customer reviews
BetterLegal Cons
- This address is not for business.
- Websites of companies contain almost no information
- Unable to answer an inquiry
BetterLegal was one of our smaller selections. They offer business entity formations, compliance and low-cost registered agent services.
BetterLegal’s registered agents service is one of our most affordable.
BetterLegal charges $90 per year. Most registered agent services are more expensive than $100 per year. BetterLegal may be the best choice for your business if you are looking for the lowest priced professional registered agent services.
Customers also love BetterLegal. Trustpilot rates them at 4.8/5 with more than 200 customer reviews.
Most reviewers were pleased with BetterLegal’s service. The majority of reviews are focused on the business entity registration. Some customers have reported that they were able to use their registered agent services without problems.
BetterLegal’s terms & conditions stipulate that the registered agent service does not provide mail services. They may, however, reimburse you if they send you unauthorised mail from their third party provider.
What we didn’t like:
BetterLegal works with partners to deliver their services, but they do not disclose who these partners are. This is a bad sign for customer support. To clarify the matter and to get their opinion on other aspects of the service, we reached out to them. We didn’t get any response from them.
Additional Agent Services
This section will briefly address some other services that were not included in our best registered agents list.
Nolo Registered Agent Service
Pricing: $150/yr
Nolo began publishing self-help legal guides before the internet existed. They offer a variety of legal publications and online services. They provide services for LLC formation and connect customers with lawyers.
They can provide registered agent services through their partner if you have an LLC with them.
We didn’t like these things:
Nolo outsources its registered agent service to a company called Vcorp.
This service is not recommended as Nolo seems to significantly increase the cost for their partnership service. Nolo charges $150 per year for registered agent services purchased through their website. The same service is available on Vcorp’s site. It is only $115 per year.
Incorporate.com Registered Agent Service
Pricing: $235/yr
Incorporate.com, a subsidiary company of the Corporation Services Company, is an example.
Incorporate.com is a company that assists customers in creating new business entities.
Registered agent services are also offered to established businesses. They don’t offer registered agent services through third parties like many competitors. They are offered by CSC, their parent company.
What we didn’t like:
Incorporate.com costs only $235/year
Similar services are offered by other companies at a fraction the cost. For new customers who want to change their registered agent, Incorporate.com might charge an additional fee.
Depending on the state, fees may exceed $120. These fees may be covered by other services.
LegalZoom Registered Agent Service
Pricing: $249/yr
LegalZoom, an online legal assistance company, has a large following. Their online legal document library, business creation and lawyer consultation services are their most well-known products.
What we didn’t like:
LegalZoom’s registered agents services cost $299 annually.
We could not find any reason to charge such a high amount for this service. We sent several questions to the company but were not answered. Instead, they directed us to their sales department via phone.
Here are some things to look out for when searching for a registered agent services
These are the characteristics that we believe are essential for providing good services as registered agents. These qualities also impact on our rankings.
Pricing
We were not surprised to find that cost was the most important factor when comparing services. Although a registered agent is necessary, it doesn’t affect business operations. Business owners will likely choose the most cost-effective option.
If you select the cheapest service, you might end up paying more to get the best. You may not be notified by the correct registered agent about a court summons.
Some services that are more expensive for registered agents offer additional features such as mail forwarding or compliance reminders every year.
We don’t choose a low price. Instead, we look at the reliability and overall value of each service.
Assistance and support
It is crucial to have a customer service team that is knowledgeable and responsive for any online service. This is especially important for registered agent services.
Customer service should go beyond providing standard customer service. Customer service should be proactive and always look out for their best interests.
Accessibility is the ability of the service provider to make all documents available to the customer. If you receive service of process, you should contact your registered agent. You can also reach them by email, phone, or postal mail to inform them of the situation.
Customers must have access to all legal correspondence quickly in order to be able to take the appropriate actions.
We found that all of the services we looked at used electronic document delivery. It was most commonly an online portal that allowed scanned mail to be uploaded and stored.
Good services will ensure that your mail is available at all times. They will ensure that you are notified promptly and accurately. Some services may include physical delivery of original documents if necessary.
Additional features
We reviewed many services that provide additional features as part their registered agent service in order to increase your business’s value.
These tools, including compliance calendars that include personalized reminders about when your company must file items such as annual reports, are commonplace.
Basic mail forwarding is an additional service you can offer. This allows anyone to contact your company via mail by sending mail to the address listed in the public record.
Although these features aren’t essential, they can help a service stand apart in our rankings.
There are some things you should take into consideration when selecting a registered agent.
Based on our research, we have put together a list that may be of assistance to you when looking for a registered agent service provider.
Canceling registered agent services is difficult.
You should only employ a registered representative one time in an ideal world. It is important to be aware of one limitation if you decide to change to another registered agent provider and cancel your current subscription.
Many registered agent service providers include a clause that states you can’t cancel your service while they are still listed on the official state records.
Your old service provider may continue to charge you if you cancel the service, but have not appointed another registered agent or dissolved the company.
This could be costly, as registered agent services usually require one annual payment. If you cancel your service, not all providers offer prorated refunds.
It is important to not forget the hassle of asking $30 back.
To avoid unnecessary fees, you should carefully read through the terms and conditions. You should make sure that you have appointed a new registered representative before cancelling.
Some services offer registered agent services in house, but not all.
All of the listed companies offer registered agent services to customers. Not all companies offer this service. These services often use third-party service providers to provide your service and other legal notices.
Your relationship with the company will continue in these cases. They will be the ones to provide customer support and collect payments. You can still opt for the more reliable and affordable option by learning about how the registered agent service works behind-the scenes.
Do they offer mailing forwarding services?
Do you still have questions about what registered agent services are? It is a concept that everyone knows, even you.
Is it possible for your registered agent to receive legal correspondence from the state as well? Small digital start-ups often find a mail forwarding service useful.
Not all registered agents forward general mail.
If you want to use your registered agent’s address as your business address, make sure they offer a mail forwarding service.
Many companies that we spoke with said they don’t offer mail forwarding. They often charge extra fees.
Do you need registered agents in multiple states?
When choosing a provider for registered agents, keep in mind that your business might need registered agents in multiple states.
If you have the right to work in another country, you will need a registered agent. Even if you have multiple businesses, this applies.
Register agents in multiple states may be required. Make sure you check their cost and offer bulk discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Agent Services
What is a registered agent?
A registered agent is a person or business that is designated to receive legal correspondence (such court summons) for an LLC or corporation. A registered representative is required for every business entity operating in the United States.
What is the Best Registered Agent Service
ZenBusiness is our number one registered agent service. Their service is professional, reliable and affordable with an emphasis on customer privacy. Our article contains more information about the top registered agents.
What do I need to be a registered agent in order to run my business?
Yes. Yes.
Every business that operates in the United States must have a registered representative. The registered agent must be accessible during business hours at their address. If you fail to appoint one, your LLC or corporation could lose its excellent standing with the authorities.
Who can become a registered agent?
A registered agent can be any person, company or organization who is over 18 years of age. They must reside in the state where the business is located or be qualified from abroad.
What is the process to become a Registered Agent?
Yes, you are eligible to become the registered agent of the company. Your address will become public and part of the public record. There are no exceptions. Also, you must be available during normal business hours at the address. You cannot act as registered agents for multiple states. This is why many businesses prefer to hire professional registered agents instead of handling it themselves.
How do I change my registered agent?
The state in which you reside will determine the procedure to change your registered agent. You will need to file a document with your state’s secretary. A small processing fee will be charged by the state. Some services will even pay the processing fee. To ensure that the paperwork is handled by professionals, it is worth speaking with them.
What is the cost of a registered agent?
The cost of most registered agent services ranges from $90 to $200 and can be paid annually. Additional features such as business mail forwarding can be purchased for an additional charge.
You will need registered agents in multiple states. Each state will be charged separately. You may be eligible to receive bulk discounts if multiple states or entities require your services. You might need to pay tax if you want to change your registered agent.