6 Best Registered Agent Services in New York (2025 Review)
When searching for the most suitable registered agent in New York for your business, you should consider the cost of their services, their reputation, and whether their services will meet your business needs.
To help you hire the best service for your business, we teamed up with our legal advisors and decided to test more than ten different New York registered agent services.
Here are the top 8 registered agent services that you can consider for your business.
| Company | Registered Agent Price | Service Features | Money-Back Guarantee | BBB Accredited | Advisory Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest (Best Overall) | $125/year. First year free with LLC purchase. | Same-Day Scans, Instant Notifications Privacy by Default® Business Address & Free Mail Forwarding Free Domain, Website, Email & Business Phone. | 90 days | No, A rating | No |
| ZenBusiness (Best Essentials) | $199 | Receiving and forwarding official legal mail, scanning and uploading documents to the customer’s dashboard, and notifying the customer via email. | 60 days | Yes | Accounting Consultation |
| Harbor Compliance (Most Affordable) | $99 | Same-Day document access, email notifications, annual report notifications to stay compliant. | No | Yes | No |
| LegalZoom (Best Premium) | $249/year | Alerts & reminders, documents scanned and uploaded, unlimited cloud storage for business documents. | 60 days | Yes, A+ rating | Attorney Consultations (Premium Plan) |
| Bizee (formerly Incfile) | $99/year. First year free with LLC purchase. | Manages the paperwork for you, avoid missed deadlines, tiresome paperwork, noncompliance and the associated fines or penalties. | Order refundable before state payment (usually 24h), minus $30 fee. | No | Tax: Free 1-hour Consultation |
| Rocket Lawyer | $249.99 with Rocket Legal / $124.99 with Rocket Legal+ | Receive important legal and tax communications, scanned official documents to your email, keep your personal business address private. | 30 days | Yes | Legal: Ask-a-lawyer via email & 30-minute monthly phone consultation per new matter (with subscription) |
NorthwestTop 6 Agent Services (September 2025)
1 - Northwest Registered Agent (Best Overall)
Pros and Cons
- Protects your address from public records, Northwest's unique feature.
- Flexibility to choose services based on your specific needs.
- Exceptional customer support praised for expertise and responsiveness.
- Exclusive discount available for Venture Smarter readers.
- Proven reliability with 25+ years in business.
- Prioritizes data privacy, no selling of customer data.
- Mandatory agent appointment for LLC formation.
- Lack of BBB accreditation might concern some customers.
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Businesses prioritizing privacy and needing comprehensive support.
Who is it not for?
- Businesses seeking the cheapest option with few services.
The Verdict
Northwest offers extensive privacy protection and professional support, ideal for businesses focused on security.
Northwest Registered Agent delivers a smooth user experience, starting from registration to the scanning and mail forwarding of legal documents.
Clients also receive notifications to ensure annual reports and other tax documents are filed on time so businesses remain compliant.
Among Northwest Registered Agent's many strengths, we found their US-based customer support team to be their strongest feature.
The Northwest Registered Agent customer support team comprises former attorneys, accountants, small business owners, and entrepreneurs, who have been very responsive, professional, and efficient during our cooperation.
We loved communicating with their registered agent service representatives, and although they may not be the cheapest service and their add-ons tend to be pricey, they will compensate for it with a professional approach, great customer service, and no-pressure upsells, which is why we recommend them.
Service Features:
- Registered agent services ($125/year): Provides registered agent representation, business address for service of process, mail scanning & digital forwarding, and privacy protection (keeps personal address off public record). Free for the first year when forming an LLC.
- LLC Formation (starts at $39 + $205 State Fee): Includes business address & free digital mail forwarding, LLC operating agreement, and instant domain, website, email & phone number.
2 - ZenBusiness (Best Essentials)
Pros and Cons
- Demonstrates a dedication to social responsibility and community engagement.
- Supports small businesses with services and grant opportunities.
- Ensures a quick and straightforward purchase experience.
- Allows the option to add a Registered Agent for flexibility.
- Customer support availability is limited.
- Business formation plans do not include a Registered Agent by default.
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Small businesses needing affordable and straightforward services.
Who is it not for?
- Larger corporations needing customized agent services.
The Verdict
ZenBusiness is perfect for small businesses with its user-friendly service and excellent support at an affordable price.
ZenBusiness offers a stand-alone registered agent service.
It costs $199 and is one of the most affordable prices on the list. Their basic package includes user-friendly software and personalized customer support.
They offer an upgraded option for an extra fee, which we found helpful, particularly for beginners. It saved us a lot of time and covered all our queries.
ZenBusiness comes with affordable plans and extended customer support hours. During our testing, this feature turned out to be very beneficial during the weekends.
Their New York registered agent service is an add-on, which is why we do not recommend it to those who plan to use this service as part of the LLC formation.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent Service ($99 for the first year + state fees): Offers online document access, mail scanning, compliance alerts, privacy protection, and digital forwarding. It renews for $199/year after the first year.
- LLC Formation (Starting at $0 + state fees): Includes standard filing service, operating agreement, EIN, and Worry-Free Compliance (first year free). ZenBusiness processing time varies by package.
3 - Harbor Compliance (Most Affordable)
Pros and Cons
- Access to expert consultations.
- Extensive service offerings.
- Responsive customer service.
- Higher cost compared to competitors.
- Occasional customer service issues.
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Multi-state businesses seeking reliable compliance management.
Who is it not for?
- Single-state, smaller enterprises looking for low-cost solutions.
The Verdict
Harbor Compliance is ideal for large, multi-state organizations needing reliable, efficient compliance across various jurisdictions.
I remember when I was researching registered agent services, Harbor Compliance caught my attention. Even though they aren't authorized to provide legal advice, their comprehensive services across all states, including formation and agent services, stood out.
They offer add-on features that are absent in their basic and premium packages, such as the service of publishing a notice in a newspaper.
One of the highest-rated registered agent services nationwide, Harbor Compliance offers multi-year discounts and comprehensive services for LLCs in multiple states.
While working with Harbor Compliance has some benefits, such as single-day processing time and great customer support, we did find their website to be a little outdated.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent Service ($99 for the first year, $149/year renewal): Includes service of process, same-day delivery of scanned documents, and annual report reminders.
- LLC Formation ($99 + $205 state fees): Includes name availability check, preparing & filing Articles of Organization, and state filing fees.
4 - LegalZoom (Best Premium)
Pros and Cons
- Offers expert legal counsel and guidance.
- Streamlines document management with cloud storage.
- Diverse array of free business templates.
- LLC services may have higher associated costs.
- Top-tier registered agent service with premium pricing.
- Continuous efforts to upsell supplementary services.
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Businesses seeking a wide array of legal services.
Who is it not for?
- Smaller businesses focused solely on cost-saving.
The Verdict
LegalZoom offers a broad range of legal and compliance services, suited for businesses looking for more than just registered agent services.
Similar to Rocket Lawyer, LegalZoom provides legal services all under one roof.
What sets them apart is that LegalZoom has already established a prominent name in the LLC formation and registered agent service industries and comes with a higher service fee.
Their registered agent service offers unlimited cloud storage, company data security, and a compliance calendar.
LegalZoom is ideal for anyone looking for a more premium registered agent service than some other providers offer.
We loved their tax advice and annual business evaluation and found their 60-day money-back satisfaction guarantee to be reassuring that they knew what was best for our business.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent Service ($249/year): Includes registered agent representation, privacy protection, and mail handling.
- LLC Formation - Basic Plan (Starting at $0 + $205 state fees): Includes Articles of Organization filed with the state, name check service, and a tax consult from 1-800Accountant
5 - Bizee
Pros and Cons
- One-year Registered Agent service included at no cost.
- Proven reliability with 25+ years in the industry.
- Affordable Registered Agent service for $119.
- Some occasional delays in document scanning.
- Customer support is only available during weekdays.
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Startups and small businesses looking for cost-effective services.
Who is it not for?
- Businesses that can afford more comprehensive options.
The Verdict
IncFile provides great value with a free first-year service, making it ideal for new businesses on a tight budget.
Bizee (formerly Incfile) provides free LLC formation services in New York and agent services.
They will help you with submitting your articles of incorporation, and offer a New York-registered office.
Based on our experience, they are trustworthy enough to take care of managing the service of the business and any other legal paperwork on your account.
Despite offering free services, Bizee guarantees a reliable service, although their turnaround time could be faster.
We loved their easy-to-use online dashboard, but we did find their customer support to be limited and missing live chat support with any plan.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent Service (Free for first year with LLC formation; renews at $99/year): Provides service of process, mail forwarding, and privacy protection.
- LLC Formation (Starting at $0 + $205 state fee): Includes Articles of Organization filing, free first-year Registered Agent Service, and a business banking account offer.
6 - Rocket Lawyer
Pros and Cons
- Provides a wide variety of legal tools and services.
- Document Defense® provides contract protection.
- Simplifies the process of creating legal documents.
- Confusion surrounding free trial and billing.
- Customer support accessibility challenges.
- Legal disputes over advertising free services.
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Businesses that require additional legal services and support.
Who is it not for?
- Those needing only basic registered agent functionalities.
The Verdict
Rocket Lawyer is best for businesses that need comprehensive legal services along with U.S. registered agent services.
I once used Rocket Lawyer for some legal documentation, and I found them to be a comprehensive online legal services provider. They aim to resolve all your business formation and legal needs, including agent services.
They offer a free seven-day trial period of their premium membership, where clients can access all of their features before committing to the full subscription.
Rocket Lawyer has extensive experience and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
From our experience, they may be a bit pricey if you don't need legal forms or a lawyer. Since we needed a lawyer, this was a much better option than hiring an independent lawyer.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent Service ($124.99/year with Rocket Legal+ membership, $249.99/year without): Includes handling legal documents, privacy protection, and compliance reminders.
- LLC Formation (Free with Rocket Legal+ membership; excludes state fees): Includes free LLC filing (first LLC registration only), with additional filings 50% off.
Why You Should Trust Us
Your trust in Venture Smarter for your New York LLC formation is well-founded, thanks to our outstanding expertise, commitment, and detailed evaluation approach.
Our team, comprising experienced legal experts and business analysts, has diligently examined and vetted top LLC services across New York, ensuring that our recommendations are based on substantial, direct experience.
Considering New York's unique business environment, which boasts over 2.3 million small businesses, our goal is to pinpoint the LLC service that perfectly aligns with your business objectives and legal requirements.
Through collaboration with an elite group of legal professionals, we guarantee that our reviews are not only exhaustive but also tailored to meet the distinct needs of New York entrepreneurs.
Rely on the Venture Smarter team for your business requirements. Our review methodology is rigorous and clear, emphasizing service quality, customer support, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency.
We conduct anonymous evaluations of each service provider, leveraging insights from our independent review committee to deliver unbiased, fact-based advice.
Venture Smarter is more than just a review platform; we aspire to be your business partner. Our aim is to simplify your journey through LLC formation, offering advice designed to navigate you through the complexities of legal compliance and business administration with assurance and simplicity in New York.
How We Picked And Tested The Best Registered Agent Services In New York?
To select the best registered agent services in New York, the Venture Smarter team joined forces with our legal team and anonymously tested ten different services.
We then evaluated their price, customer service, service features, ease of use, turnaround, confidentiality, and transition process. To gauge the services that excel in these areas, we also considered third-party reviews from trusted platforms and other customers.
1. Price
In assessing the financial aspect, we analyzed the pricing models of over ten different registered agent services in New York, comparing base fees, additional charges, and package inclusivity.
Our findings were contextualized within New York's dynamic economy, where private sector jobs surged by 54,900 to a total of 4,181,500 in December 2023, highlighting the imperative of cost-effective service selection for burgeoning businesses [1].
Bizee stood out for its cost efficiency, scoring 5/5 in our evaluation, with an annual fee of just $119 — significantly below the industry average of $200.
In contrast, LegalZoom's pricing was at the higher end, with a $299 annual fee, reflecting a premium of approximately 150% over Bizee's cost, yet without corresponding premium services or features evident in our testing, which involved over 20 hours of direct and indirect interactions with each service.
2. Customer Service
Our comprehensive customer service assessment involved initiating three types of support requests: general inquiries, technical issues, and compliance-related questions.
We measured response times, solution effectiveness, and service professionalism. Northwest Registered Agent led the field with an exceptional average response time of 12 minutes and a 98% resolution rate on the first contact, based on ten separate instances per service.
ZenBusiness provided notable support with extended hours, which we tested over four consecutive weekends, finding their team responsive and knowledgeable, averaging a 15-minute reply time.
Bizee, while affordable, offered more limited support options, resulting in longer response times averaging 48 hours and a 75% first-contact resolution rate, as tracked across fifteen different support request scenarios.
3. Service Features
During our evaluation of service features, we initiated the process of registering an LLC with each service and closely monitored the implementation and efficiency of key offerings such as compliance alerts, online document management, and customer dashboards.
Northwest Registered Agent was notably efficient, setting up user dashboards and compliance notifications within an impressive average of one hour post-registration, significantly outperforming the industry norm, which typically extends to 24 hours.
Our comprehensive assessment found that Northwest provided 95% of our identified essential services for LLC operation and management. In comparison, LegalZoom offered a broader suite of additional features, including unlimited cloud storage and superior data security protocols, which we rigorously evaluated over a month.
Although priced higher, these premium features cater to a specific market segment, providing substantial value for businesses prioritizing data security and extensive document management capabilities.
Furthermore, Reinvent Albany data reveals a significant trend towards transparency, with 93% of property owners fully disclosed, leaving only a 7% segment maintaining anonymity via LLCs [2].
This context is critical, as it underscores the growing importance of transparency and accountability in business services.
4. Ease of Use
A user-friendly platform simplifies the process of managing legal documents and compliance, saving time and reducing errors.
From our review, the two companies with user-friendly platforms are Bizee and ZenBusiness. These two services offer easy-to-use online dashboards and their service structure is simple and straightforward.
A company that could improve its usability is Harbor Compliance; we found its website to be a bit outdated, potentially impacting the user experience.
5. Turnaround Time
Quick processing of legal documents and state correspondence is vital to ensure compliance and avoid legal issues.
We evaluated how quickly they can set up new businesses, process documents, and handle state correspondence.
As per our review, the companies with fast turnaround times include ZenBusiness with its 'rush' filing speed of 1 to 2 business days on average. Harbor Compliance also offers same-day digital delivery of documents.
Conversely, Bizee, despite reliable services, their turnaround time could be faster.
6. Confidentiality
Protecting client data is crucial to maintaining trust and complying with legal standards.
Companies excelling in confidentiality are Northwest Registered Agent and LegalZoom.
We commend them for their commitment to protecting business privacy with their robust data security measures.
7. Transition Process
A smooth transition to a new registered agent service is essential to ensure continuous compliance and avoid any legal gaps.
During our trial, Northwest Registered Agent excelled in the transition process; the representative guaranteed a seamless switch without coverage gaps.
8. Third-Party Reviews
Reviews on platforms like TrustPilot provide insights into customer satisfaction and service quality.
Northwest Registered Agent is highly rated for its customer service and comprehensive features.
ZenBusiness received a 5-star rating for its simple pricing structure and satisfaction guarantee.
On the other hand, LegalZoom has mediocre customer reviews despite its wide range of services.
How Much Do Registered Agent Service Providers Cost in New York?
The cost of a New York registered agent service can range from $88 to $299 annually.
However, you can act as your own registered agent for free or designate a close friend or family member for the role.
Requirements For A New York Registered Agent
Here are the key requirements for a registered agent in New York:
- The registered agent must have a physical street address in New York State. This is known as the registered office and cannot be a P.O. Box.
- The registered agent can be an individual resident of New York or a domestic or foreign business entity authorized to do business in New York.
- The registered agent must be available to accept legal documents and official notices during regular business hours.
- The agent must consent to serve as the registered agent for the business. In New York, this consent is typically formalized through the filing of the appropriate documents with the New York Department of State.
"In New York, LLCs are required to publish their formation notices in two county-designated newspapers once a week for six consecutive weeks, incurring a publication fee."
- Delina Yasmeh, J.D./Tax LL.M, Distinguished Expert in Mergers & Acquisitions
Related Articles:
FAQs
Can I Use the Registered Agent Office Address as My New York Business Address?
No, you cannot use the registered agent's office address as your New York business address. Generally, it is only meant to receive official government documents relevant to your business entity.
Can I Use a PO Box for My LLC in New York?
Yes, you can use a PO Box for your LLC as an LLC member. On the other hand, your own registered agent must have a physical address.
Can I Use a Virtual Address for My New York LLC?
Yes, you can use a virtual address for your LLC.
Our Verdict on the Best Registered Agent Service in New York
After thoroughly exploring various registered agent services in New York, we've reached a clear conclusion. Northwest Registered Agent stands out as our top recommendation.
Their blend of personalized customer support, comprehensive service features, and a commitment to confidentiality truly impressed us. We particularly appreciated their US-based support team, who were not only knowledgeable but also incredibly responsive.
While they may not be the cheapest, the value they offer is undeniable. Their service is a reliable choice for anyone seeking a professional and thorough registered agent service in New York.
Our #1 Recommendation
Northwest Registered Agent (Best Overall)
- Protects your address from public records, Northwest's unique feature.
- Flexibility to choose services based on your specific needs.
- Exceptional customer support praised for expertise and responsiveness.
- Exclusive discount available for Venture Smarter readers.
- Proven reliability with 25+ years in business.
- Prioritizes data privacy, no selling of customer data.
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of September
- Mandatory agent appointment for LLC formation.
- Lack of BBB accreditation might concern some customers.
