A registered agent service for LLC receives service of process and state notices for your company. It provides a public contact address that courts and the Secretary of State can use.
During LLC formation, most states require an agent name and a physical street address inside the state. The address needs weekday business hour coverage. The agent receives lawsuit papers, tax notices, annual report reminders, and other official letters. The service then forwards scans or mailed copies to you.
A weak provider causes missed mail, late filings, and added fees. This post shows 7 ways to find providers, then what to check before you choose.
What a Registered Agent Service Does
A registered agent service accepts legal papers and state mail for an LLC. It receives service of process and forwards the documents to the LLC contact.
A process server, court, or state office delivers documents to the registered office address listed in state records. Staff sign for delivery, record the date and time, then scan pages. The service posts the scan in an online portal and sends an email notice. Missed delivery or slow forwarding can lead to late responses and late filings.
- Accept summons, complaints, and subpoenas
- Receive notices from the Secretary of State
- Take in certified mail from state agencies
- Record delivery date, time, and sender
- Scan documents and store them in a portal
- Send email notices when new mail arrives
- Forward original documents when required
- Support foreign LLC registration with a registered agent service for LLC
Best Ways to Find a Registered Agent Service for Your LLC
Missed state mail can cost money and time. These 7 checks point you to the Secretary of State registry, state registered agent rules, and pricing pages that show renewal and cancellation terms. Work through each subheading to compare scan delivery, portal access, and phone support, so your LLC keeps up with notices.
1. Search Your State LLC Database
The Secretary of State business search shows who the LLC named as its registered agent. Look up a business name you know, then read the registered agent line on the record.
- Find the registered agent name on the record
- Copy the street address shown for the agent
- Check the status shows active or good standing
- Check filing history for a change of agent form
- Look up 2–3 LLCs and compare agent names
Write down 2–3 agent names that appear on active records. Do not confuse the agent with the organizer name or the principal office address. Next, check the state rules for agent address and office hours, then check renewal price and cancellation terms on the provider site.
2. Check State Registered Agent Requirements
Read your state registered agent rules on the Secretary of State site. The rules tell you what address is allowed and who can serve as the agent.
Confirm the agent address must be a street address in the state, not a PO Box. Confirm the address must be staffed during weekday business hours. Check if the agent can be a person who lives in the state, or a company approved to serve as agent. Find the change of agent form and note the effective date, the day the update counts.
Save the rule page link. Write down the state label, such as registered agent, registered office, or agent for service of process, and the form name. Next, compare renewal price, cancellation terms, and how the provider sends scans and alerts.
3. Use Compliance Publisher Shortlists
Compliance and entity filing sites post shortlists of registered agent services with side-by-side details. Use them to spot gaps in state coverage, document delivery, and support. Keep 2–3 providers after this pass, then verify renewal price and cancellation policy on the provider site.
- State coverage: Shows which states the service supports for your LLC.
- Delivery method: States scan upload, portal access, and email alert method.
- Delivery time: States when scans are sent after mail arrives.
- Fee structure: Shows renewal price and common add-on fees.
- Mail handling: States how originals and certified mail are forwarded.
- Support access: States phone hours and escalation for service of process.
- Change support: States how they help file an agent change and track effective dates.
4. Confirm Pricing on Provider Sites
Provider sites give the most accurate price for registered agent service plans for LLCs. Open the pricing page, terms of service, and checkout screen before online payment final. Write down the first year price and renewal price side by side.
Check auto renewal rules, cancellation policy, notice period, and refund terms in writing. Watch add on fees for mail forwarding, extra scans, extra states, or compliance calendars. Confirm base plan items like portal access, email alerts, and delivery logs included. Save screenshots of the total, the fee list, and contact support hours for later proof.
5. Ask Local Business Owners for Referrals
Local owners already pay for a registered agent service. They know if state notices arrived on time. They also saw billing changes and missed portal alerts.
Ask if any summons or complaint papers arrived late. Listen for scan timing, portal trouble, and mail forwarding delays. Ask about renewal invoices, auto renewal, cancellation notice, refunds, and support hours.
Write down 2–3 provider names from owners you trust. Verify renewal terms and support hours on each provider site.
6. Compare Formation Service Add Ons
Formation services offer registered agent add-ons during LLC formation checkout and filing package. Do not assume the bundle price matches the term renewal cost each year. Compare the add-on against a stand-alone registered agent service for LLC in your state.
Read what the base fee covers, like scans after delivery, portal access, and email alerts. Check fees for extra states, certified mail forwarding, and storing originals of court papers. Look for renewal invoices, auto renewal rules, and the cancellation notice steps in writing. Ask who answers the phone when a summons or complaint arrives at once. MyCorporation includes agent add-ons; compare support hours and escalation for service before you pick.
7. Check Founder Reviews for Missed Notices
A notice can disappear in a portal. Reviews can show late scans, missed alerts, wrong charges, and no answers. These details show how the service performs when pressure hits.
- Missed state mail: Annual report or franchise tax letter never reached the LLC.
- Scan delay: Delivery happened, but the scan arrived days later.
- No delivery alert: Court papers arrived, but no email alert was sent.
- Portal missing items: Uploads did not show, or portal login blocked access.
- Renewal jump: Renewal invoice increased, or add on fees appeared without warning.
- Cancellation drag: Written notice required, then no confirmation email came back.
Prefer reviews that name the notice type, delivery timing, and invoice change. Skip posts that only praise or only vent without facts. Trust repeated issues across many LLC owners, then write a short risk note for each provider.
What to Check Before You Choose a Registered Agent Service
Choosing a registered agent service helps keep your business in good standing. The registered agent receives service of process, tax notices, and compliance reminders for your company.
Use this checklist before you choose a registered agent service.
1. Core Requirements and Reliability
- Physical address in state: The agent uses a street address in your state, not a PO Box.
- Availability during business hours: Staff accept deliveries during weekday business hours.
- Experience and reputation: Read repeat complaints about missed notices and slow forwarding.
2. Efficiency and Technology
- Same day document scanning: Documents are scanned and posted the day they arrive.
- Digital access and notifications: Portal login works, and alerts sent by email or SMS.
- Secure data handling: The provider states how it protects logins and stored scans.
3. Cost and Contract Terms
- Transparent pricing: Annual fee and add on fees are listed in writing.
- Annual renewal fees: Confirm the renewal invoice amount before the first year ends.
- Hidden fees: Check fees for certified mail, forwarding originals, and compliance alerts.
- Auto renewal and cancellation: Check auto renewal rules and the cancellation notice method.
4. Privacy Protection
- Use of their address: Their address appears on public filings instead of yours.
- Data privacy policy: The policy states if data is shared or sold.
5. Extra Services and Scalability
- Compliance alerts and reminders: Alerts cover annual reports and tax deadlines.
- Multi state coverage: Coverage supports adding states without switching agents.
- Additional services: Annual report filing and document filing help can be included.
Common Mistakes When Hiring a Registered Agent Service
Hiring a registered agent service can fail when delivery, billing, or support breaks. Most mistakes come from skipping basic checks on renewal price, add-on fees, scan timing, and cancellation rules. Use the list below to avoid missed notices, late filings, and loss of good standing.
Common mistakes when hiring a registered agent service
- Ignoring renewal price and add-on fees
- Picking the lowest price without checking service terms
- Skipping reviews that mention missed notices or late scans
- Not checking portal access, email alerts, and delivery logs
- Not planning for multi-state registration later
- Misreading what the agent service does and does not do
- Choosing weak phone support with tickets only
Conclusion
A registered agent service keeps your LLC reachable for legal and state mail. Use the 7 steps to find names, verify state rules, and check real terms before you pay. Choose the provider that delivers scans on time, answers support calls, and keeps renewal and cancellation rules in writing.