9 Cheapest Registered Agent Services (2024 Buying Guide)
According to the Office of Advocacy, 99.9 percent of US businesses are classified as small businesses, with LLCs constituting the largest portion of these entities, indicating their vast presence and significance in the national economy.
Finding the cheapest registered agent service requires balancing cost with reliability and essential features.
It can be challenging to locate a cheap provider that still offers all of the necessary features for your business.
To help you out, I worked with my legal advisors and tested different registered agent services across the country based on service features and pricing.
Northwest Registered Agent9 Cheapest Registered Agent Services (September 2024)
1 - Northwest Registered Agent (Best Value for Money)
Pros and Cons
- Protection of privacy
- Excellent customer support service
- 20 years of expertise
- On the upper spectrum of price
- No free plans
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Businesses seeking robust privacy and compliance assistance.
Who is it not for?
- Those looking for the cheapest option.
The Verdict
Offers a comprehensive privacy-focused service with excellent customer support, making it ideal for businesses that prioritize data security and personal privacy. May be more expensive but worth the cost for the features provided.
Northwest Registered Agent offers excellent value if you only need the basics. For starters, this agent charges $39 to form an LLC, and you are liable for paying any state fees that apply.
When I was setting up my first business, the legal jargon was overwhelming. But with Northwest Registered Agent, I could easily access and understand the documents, making the legal side of things much clearer.
And because the customer team provides guidelines to assist you in understanding the paperwork and what you need to accomplish, you can form the LLC on your own for free.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent Services ($125/year): Includes your LLC's street address, quick mail forwarding of your legal papers, and a calendar of compliance filing deadlines for annual reports, franchise taxes, and other tax-related paperwork.
- LLC Formation (Starts at $39 plus state fees): Provides tier-based business creation solutions, including free registered agent service, lifelong customer support, address confidentiality, and LLC creation.
2 - MyCompanyWorks (Cheapest Registered Agent)
Pros and Cons
- Timely legal alerts
- Preparation and filing of legal papers
- Easy to place an LLC order
- Same-day delivery
- Customized business minutes
- Some services are limited
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Small businesses needing fast and straightforward services.
Who is it not for?
- Larger businesses or those needing more specialized compliance services.
The Verdict
Perfect for startups and smaller businesses due to its ease of use and quick service. Not suited for larger enterprises that may need more robust compliance tools.
MyCompanyWorks offers same-day paper submission, striking a balance between a rich feature set and affordable cost.
When I first started my business, I was on a tight budget and MyCompanyWorks offered me a basic formation package that was both affordable and feature-rich. It was a relief to find such value at a reasonable price.
At just $59 per year, I got expedited filing for all our LLC documents, plus unlimited name searches. Also, this feature comes with free e-delivery of all your filed paperwork.
They typically offer basic compliance services, such as helping businesses stay in good standing with the state by receiving and forwarding legal documents, including service of process.
MyCompanyWorks offers a unique Startup Wizard tool, which is a step-by-step guide to help new businesses get up and running.
This service also provides customer support, which is helpful for addressing queries and concerns about registered agent services and business compliance.
Service Features:
- Professional Registered Agent Service ($99): Free, timely alerts for 60 days, same-day delivery, and a business address for all your legal business operations, among other services.
- Basic Package ($59): This covers the development and filing of state articles of incorporation for your LLC, customized company minutes, and an infinite number of name validity checks.
3 - Bizee (Best Essentials)
Pros and Cons
- Access to a trustworthy and valuable online dashboard
- With LLC creation packages, you receive a full year of free registered agent services
- Processing orders without hassle
- Customer assistance choices are restricted
- Complicated website
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Entrepreneurs and startups looking for affordable, basic registered agent services.
Who is it not for?
- Large businesses or those needing extensive legal support.
The Verdict
Offers a great starting point for new businesses with its free basic service, but may not suffice for larger businesses or those requiring more comprehensive support.
The price offered by Bizee is around the bottom end of online registered agent pricing.
Bizee (formerly Incfile) offers a cost-effective solution for business formation, particularly LLCs, with services starting at $0 plus state fees. Their services extend beyond LLC filing to include annual reports, compliance reminders, and a suite of tools for business growth.
Bizee's platform is designed to simplify the start-up process, offering fast filing speeds and a user-friendly dashboard to manage business essentials.
Bizee also offers free tools and services for entrepreneurs, including a DIY mail curriculum, a limited company assessment, a how-to-start business guide, and a firm running checklist.
Service Features:
- Top Registered Agent Services ($119): Free mail forwarding, 24/7 customer support, easy-to-use online Registered Agent Dashboard, and compliance alerts.
- LLC Formation (starts at $45): Provides three different levels of LLC creation plans, with the first year of the basic plan being free. The state filing fees still apply.
4 - ZenBusiness (Best Premium)
Pros and Cons
- 60-day policy refund
- Very competitive pricing plans
- Top-rated customer feedback
- Not a popular brand
- No registered agent service in any of the LLC packages
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- New businesses that value compliance and straightforward procedures.
Who is it not for?
- Businesses that may need more hands-on or specialized services.
The Verdict
Provides a reliable and user-friendly service, especially appealing to new business owners who need a simple and efficient compliance solution.
When it comes to registered agent services, ZenBusiness offers a free option for the first year and they charge $199 each year after that.
I wanted to ensure that my business was always compliant, so I opted for ZenBusiness's Worry-Free Compliance Guarantee. This guarantee sent me reminders about significant paperwork, such as my company's annual report and filings.
Additionally, this service will cover expenditures if documentation is mismanaged and will assist you in regaining your business's credibility if that happens.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent Service Worry-Free Compliance Package ($199 per year): Here, you get your own registered agent for this price every year. The service then renews annually for the same amount.
- LLC Starter Formation ($0 + State Fees): Includes great customer support and specific company filing tools and services. The LLC formation service package ensures a standard filing speed, a 100% accuracy guarantee, and the flexibility to opt for worry-free compliance for the first year, which can be renewed at $199/year. Furthermore, the package includes a 1-month free Website Builder, Banking, Bank Account, and Money Pro Bookkeeping trial for comprehensive financial management.
- Pro Plan ($199 + State Fees): Has everything from the starter bundle plus an operating agreement, banking resolution, and EIN acquisition. The package also has a rush filing speed, ensuring your business filings are processed swiftly within 1-2 business days on average.
- Premium Plan ($349 + State Fees): Offers all Pro plan services, business document templates, and extra business website services like domain name and hosting.
5 - Harbor Compliance
Pros and Cons
- Efficient filing software
- Bulk discounts available
- Same day delivery
- Digital mail forwarding
- No refund policy
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Businesses operating across multiple states who value integration with advanced compliance software.
Who is it not for?
- Small businesses with limited budgets.
The Verdict
Best for larger businesses or those expanding to multiple states, offering excellent software tools for managing compliance efficiently. However, may be costly for smaller businesses.
Harbor Compliance, as my registered agent, seamlessly assisted me in establishing an LLC, forwarding my mail, and ensuring I had a representative accessible during regular business hours.
The company specializes in streamlining multi-state compliance, offering both expert services and advanced software to manage entity formation, business licensing, and tax registration. Their solutions are designed to save time, reduce risk, and enable growth, with a focus on making compliance accessible.
This registered agent also maintains a comprehensive database of nationwide requirements, positioning itself as a valuable resource for businesses expanding or maintaining their presence across states
Because they provide excellent services at reasonable costs, Harbor Compliance is a perfect choice if you require a registered agent firm that offers full service and is reasonably priced.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent Service ($99): As your registered agent, they receive essential documents on your behalf and offer free digital mail forwarding, same-day electronic filing, and exceptional data security.
- Annual Reports ($100): In this plan, they file your annual reports on time and offer software for alerts and tracking progress.
6 - Swyft Filings
Pros and Cons
- 24/7 online access
- Excellent privacy protection
- Fast turnaround
- Valuable website resources
- Few upsells
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Busy entrepreneurs needing quick, efficient handling of legal documents.
Who is it not for?
- Businesses looking for the lowest cost option.
The Verdict
Swyft Filings is a solid choice for entrepreneurs who need efficient and reliable service to manage their compliance without hassle. Offers prompt service but not the cheapest.
The Swyft Filings offers an affordable registered agent service for all businesses.
Their registered agents are available full-time during business hours to receive legal notices and documents for your business.
During my trial, I signed up for their $99 registered agent service and Swyft Filings offered me a free 60-minute tax consultation to help me navigate business and LLC taxation policies.
Their sign-up process is also relatively easy; I only filled out a simple questionnaire, and I was done.
Swyft Filings also notifies you of all incoming mail and upcoming government deadlines for tax filing and annual reports. They can even submit these reports on your behalf with their annual report filing service
Service Features:
- Registered Agents Service ($99): They provide a great customer support team and an online dashboard to access your documents and file all compliance work on time, among other services.
7 - Incorp
Pros and Cons
- Strict data policy
- Unbeatable multi-year discounts
- Hundreds of positive reviews
- Delayed compliance filing
- No complimentary registered agent service
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Businesses looking for long-term registered agent services with value-for-money.
Who is it not for?
- Those needing immediate or very hands-on support.
The Verdict
Provides a cost-effective solution with multi-year discounts, suitable for businesses planning for the long term. Might not suit those looking for more immediate, personalized customer service.
Incorp is a good fit for small business owners on a limited budget.
When I was a novice in the business world, InCorp's customer service team was my guiding light. Their thoroughness and friendliness made the challenging process of LLC creation seem manageable.
If you want to save more, I recommend prepaying for 5 years to get a registered agent for only $66 each year afterward.
This LLC creation service takes the necessary precautions to safeguard its clients and restrict unauthorized third-party access.
Service Features
- Registered Agent Service ($129): InCorp will receive any court orders and legal notices and ensure they securely and discreetly reach you.
8 - Rocket Lawyer
Pros and Cons
- Professional legal services
- Free LLC Formation services
- Free 7-day trial
- Requires bank details
- Automatic charges to your card
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Businesses that require additional legal services beyond registered agent duties.
Who is it not for?
- Smaller entities that might find the services too extensive and expensive.
The Verdict
Ideal for businesses that also need legal services, offering a comprehensive package. However, it's more expensive, making it less suitable for small startups on a tight budget.
Rocket Lawyer offers various legal services for business and personal needs.
I recall being hesitant about some legal aspects of my business, but Rocket Lawyer's business bundle package provided outstanding legal assistance. Their knowledgeable customer support was always there to answer my queries.
If you're unsure about the firm, they provide a 7-day free trial during which you may benefit from premium member features, including free legal services and various template documents.
Service Features:
- Best Registered Agent Services ($149.99): Includes legal services like free annual report and compliance reminders, submission of the Certificate of Formation, and online storage for legal documents.
- LLC Filing Service ($39.99): This applies to new members who can incorporate their LLC for free.
9 - LegalZoom
Pros and Cons
- Well-known service brand
- Tax consultants offer
- Provides annual business evaluations
- Some services are available for subscribers only
- Limited customer service
Who is it for?
Who is it for?
- Established businesses that need a variety of legal and compliance services.
Who is it not for?
- Very small businesses or sole proprietors who may find cheaper alternatives elsewhere.
The Verdict
Offers a wide range of services and is a good fit for businesses that may also need other legal services. It's on the pricier side, which might deter smaller businesses.
LegalZoom offers an unbiased team of attorneys to support you since they firmly think that every business deserves complete legal protection.
During my trial, the registered agent received my legal papers and promptly sent them to the SOS on my behalf.
They provide you the peace of mind that during regular business hours, there will always be someone on hand to accept delivery of any critical notices and papers.
Another encouraging development I liked is that you may split most LLC orders into three equal monthly payments based on the total value.
Service Features:
- Registered Agent ($299): This is the flat rate for LegalZoom to be your registered agent and act as the primary contact point with the state.
Why Should You Trust Us
You should trust Venture Smarter for your registered agent service needs because our team, comprised of seasoned legal advisors, has conducted extensive evaluations of various registered agent services based on service features, pricing, and reliability. Venture Smarter's methodology is thorough and unbiased, ensuring that our recommendations are based solely on the services' performance and value to our readers.
The Venture Smarter team is dedicated to transparency and integrity. We interact anonymously with registered agent services and leverage the insights of an independent review team to provide you with unbiased, evidence-based recommendations. This approach ensures that our suggestions are made with your best interests in mind.
We understand the importance of finding a registered agent service that balances cost with reliability and essential features. That's why we've meticulously reviewed each service's features, pricing, customer support, and efficiency. Our goal is to empower Venture Smarter readers with the information needed to make an informed decision that aligns with their business needs and budget constraints.
By choosing Venture Smarter, you're not just selecting any registered agent service; you're choosing a partner committed to your business's success and legal compliance. Trust us to guide you to the best registered agent service that meets your specific needs, ensuring your business remains in good standing with state laws and regulations.
How We Tested The Cheapest Registered Agent Services
We evaluated over a dozen registered agent services through anonymous interactions and expert consultations. Our analysis covered pricing, customer support, turnaround time, service features, confidentiality, ease of use, transition processes, and third-party reviews.
We rated each service on responsiveness, technological capabilities, and user experience, integrating customer scores and reputational factors to recommend the cheapest providers for your business.
1. Turnaround
The speed at which a registered agent service processes and relays documents is critical for maintaining legal compliance and timely operations.
In terms of filing and delivery, MyCompanyWorks, which offers same-day paper submission, stands out for its efficiency.
Services with slower processing times like ZenBusiness and LegalZoom lag behind.
"Determine the features that are most important for your business. This might include the speed of document delivery, privacy measures, compliance management tools, customer support quality, and the availability of additional services like business formation or legal advice."
- Delina Yasmeh, J.D./Tax LL.M, Distinguished Expert in Mergers & Acquisitions
2. Service Features
The range of features offered by a registered agent service can greatly enhance the value of a business, providing tools for compliance, document management, and additional legal services.
From our thorough key features analysis, Bizee and ZenBusiness offer features such as online dashboards, compliance alerts, and additional services like mail forwarding and annual report filings.
In contrast, LegalZoom does not fare as well because despite its higher pricing it is lacking in comprehensive features and has limited services in its basic packages.
3. Price
For new businesses or those with limited funds, the cost of a registered agent service can be a significant factor. Affordable services enable businesses to comply with legal requirements without overstretching their budgets.
Based on our evaluation, MyCompanyWorks offers a competitive price of $59 annually for basic package services, while Bizee provides a free first year with its LLC formation package.
In contrast, LegalZoom's $299 fee is comparatively higher, which may not be as attractive for cost-sensitive businesses.
See also: How much does a registered agent cost
4. Customer Support
Reliable customer support is essential for addressing urgent queries and ensuring that businesses can navigate legal complexities with ease.
After analyzing the communication channels offered by different companies we found MyCompanyWorks and ZenBusiness to have multiple channels for communication, including phone, email, and chat. The responsiveness and availability of ZenBusiness were topnotch with immediate and professional assistance.
However, Harbor Compliance lacks in this area as they took over 3 hours to respond to our live chat queries.
5. Third-Party Reviews
Third-party reviews provide insight into customer satisfaction and service reliability, which are crucial for trust and credibility.
We based our third-party review analysis on platforms like TrustPilot that offer a wealth of user feedback.
Based on this, ZenBusiness and InFile received high ratings on these platforms mostly because of their free LLC formation plan and prompt customer service.
LegalZoom and InCorp on the other hand, received average ratings due to high pricing and delayed filing respectively.
6. Confidentiality
Protecting sensitive business information is paramount to prevent misuse or unauthorized access.
Based on our evaluation, Northwest Registered Agent shines in this area because of its Privacy by Default feature that safeguards client data.
We also like InCorp because it has a strict data privacy policy that restricts third-party access.
7. Ease of Use
A straightforward and easy-to-navigate online platform is vital for a seamless user experience.
From our review of platform usability, services with user-friendly online platforms, such as ZenBusiness, are likely to provide a better customer experience.
In contrast, companies with complicated or outdated interfaces like Bizee and LegalZoom did not meet this criterion as effectively.
8. Transition Process
A seamless switch to a new registered agent service is crucial to avoid any gaps in legal coverage.
Based on transition excellence, we found ZenBusiness and Northwest to be the most helpful as they facilitate an easy transition process, providing clear instructions and support.
We would rate InCorp's transition process a 4.2/5 as it was relatively complex and the instructions were unclear.
How Much Do Registered Agent Service Providers Cost?
Registered agent service providers cost between $99 to $299 for an LLC in the US. This fee varies depending on the pricing of the company you hire and the state in which your LLC is located.
However, it is completely free if you act as your own registered agent service for your LLC or designate a trusted friend of family member.
Requirements For A Registered Agent
The requirements for a registered agent can vary by state, but generally, they include the following:
- Availability: The registered agent must be available at a physical office location (not a P.O. Box) during normal business hours to receive legal documents.
- Physical Address: They must have a physical address (known as the registered office) in the state where the business is incorporated. This is where documents can be legally served.
- Compliance Management: They are responsible for receiving and forwarding legal and tax documents to the business entity in a timely manner.
- State Resident or Authorized Business: The agent must either be a resident of the state where the business is registered or a company authorized to do business in that state.
- Listed on Formation Documents: The name and address of the registered agent must be included in the business entity’s formation documents filed with the state, such as Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization.
- Notification Services: Many registered agents also provide additional services such as notifying the business entity of upcoming filing deadlines, such as annual reports or renewals.
- Confidentiality and Discretion: While not a legal requirement, confidentiality is an important aspect of the services provided by a registered agent. They should handle sensitive documents with discretion.
- Legal Standing: The agent must be in good standing with the state, without any record of non-compliance.
FAQs
What Does A Registered Agent Do?
A registered agent receives and handles court documents on behalf of your LLC. This includes delivery of legal documents to your company address, such as service of process or notifications from regulatory bodies [3].
Do All Businesses Need A Registered Agent?
Yes, all businesses need a registered agent to handle compliance filing with the state and ensure your business is in good standing and credible.
Our Verdict
After spending countless hours researching registered agent services, I've got to say, that MyCompanyWorks truly stood out to me.
I personally tried their registered agent and it didn't disappoint. For just $99 for the first year, I received faster filing, easy online updating, and statutory compliance for my LLC.
During my trial, the company also offered prompt customer service and immediate notification and delivery of Service of Process and other legal forms.
If you're anything like me and love a good deal without skimping on service, I'd wholeheartedly recommend giving this registered agent a shot.
