“We used LegalZoom to form our LLC, so we thought it would be easier to stay with them, even as a registered agent. Whenever they receive documents from the state, they immediately send us copies. In the LegalZoom account portal, you can also upload only PDF copies of the documents. In addition, there is also a calendar in the LegalZoom account portal that tells you when important deadlines are approaching. There is absolutely no reason why you need Legal Zoom to be your registered agent for the service. They reduce the organization`s costs in hopes of making money with the costs of utilities such as the agent for the service. While most lawyers charge more for the organization, they act as an agent for the service for free. It`s actually a shame that people even consider using Legal Zoom as an agent for the service instead of establishing a relationship with a local lawyer. In many cases, it makes sense to use a registered agent service as a registered representative of your LLC to obtain documents on your behalf and forward them in a timely manner. Your business needs a registered agent service, but not sure who offers the best value for money? First, a registered agent must always be available to receive process notices, government correspondence and other important documents. This means that during normal business hours, the registered agent must always be present at the physical address you have registered.
Residence: If you use a person, he or she must be a resident of the State of registration. If the registered agent is a company, it may be a domestic or foreign company, provided that it is authorized to do business in the State. When you add up these fees and factor in the time it takes to process address changes with the state, it`s easier and potentially cheaper to hire a registered agent service. For many small businesses, hiring a registered agent service simply doesn`t make sense. They have a regular storefront, keep normal hours, only work in their home state, and don`t care about their privacy. If that`s you, you should be fine without a registered representative. The business owner would be the best personal name to register as a registered agent for the business so that an important document would not be delivered to an employee. But if any of the reasons listed above hit your nerve, hiring a registered agent could be a good decision. The majority of small businesses (10 employees or fewer) do not hire registered representatives. That said, there are a few specific reasons why some business owners choose the services of registered agents. You can find these reasons listed below: Appointing yourself as a registered agent for your business seems like the simplest solution, but in fact, it`s not advisable. A registered agent not only needs a physical location, but must also be available during normal business hours to accept delivery of official state processes and communications.
Some business owners who are not available during business hours opt for the services of registered agents to allow them to maintain irregular working hours. I have had a competing company as a registered agent in my LLC for over six years. No problem so far. When you use a service, you can go on vacation or take time off without worrying about missing important mail. You`ll also save time by browsing spam. Since the address of a registered agent is a public matter, you receive a lot of spam when you name yourself. A registered agent means that their address is public, not yours. This protects your business from spammers to some extent. Also, if you have a designated agent, you can avoid potentially embarrassing moments in front of clients. Imagine getting a lawsuit while helping a client.
A service sends you important documents by e-mail and post. If you own or operate a small business, most states require you to have a registered agent. But even if your condition doesn`t, you should urgently consider getting one. A registered agent accepts tax and legal documents on behalf of your business and ensures that you don`t miss any important information about tax payments, lawsuits or judgments that affect your business. But what is a registered agent? And how do you decide who to appoint as your LLC`s registered representative? While these requirements are simple, it`s important to take a closer look at who you should designate as your registered agent. The requirements that must be met to be a registered agent are quite simple. A registered agent must be located in the state where you registered your LLC. The registered agent for an LLC has one primary function: to be an agent for the delivery of lawsuits and to receive other important correspondence on behalf of the LLC. In addition, a registered agent must forward these documents to the LLC in a timely manner. While the term “agent” generally refers to a person authorized to represent a person or entity or to enter into transactions for a person or corporation, registered agents do not have a similar mandate. I`m starting an LLC for myself, so I`m doing a small home-based start-up business. I`m in the process of setting it up on Legal Zoom and got to the section asking if I wanted them to be the registered agent for $159 per year.
Is it worth it? He says it can save me from spam and preserve privacy. Is that really worrying? If I choose my wife as my registered representative, can I always change her later if we wish? Recommendations?? Many companies hire a registered agent service, a company created to accept communications and process deliveries for other companies. These companies have thorough procedures in place so they can track everything they receive on your behalf and make sure you get noticed quickly. While they may seem like a solid option for this service, LegalZoom has one of the highest prices we`ve seen for the registered agent service, as there are competitors who charge 1/3 as much money to offer this exact service. Save your money and look elsewhere for your registered agent. The “Our Commitment” section of their website states: “You`re never alone – our customer service representatives, independent network of lawyers and accountant are on board. Call, email, or chat if you need help (or an encouraging conversation). However, not everyone can fulfill this role. There are certain rules that you need to follow when choosing. Find out why you need a registered representative, who you can appoint, and how to change agents. And if you move your business, you`ll need to file a change of address for your registered agent.
With a third-party registered agent, you can move your business as many times as you want without affecting your registered agent`s address. While it`s usually legally possible to act as your own registered agent, some companies advise appointing a third party to play this important role. Registered representatives must have regular business hours to accept delivery of the process. This can be difficult for small business owners, who often can`t stay in an office all day and can`t afford to hire full-time employees to work from a specific location. As a registered agent, they will receive all legal and official correspondence on behalf of your company, forward the documents to you and inform you in good time of upcoming deadlines or actions you will need to take. LegalZoom`s registered agent service has a simple annual fee of $299 with no optional features or additional fees. While many competitors can beat their prices, LegalZoom offers additional features beyond just transferring documents. The agent for the delivery of the process can be anyone – the business owner, an employee or external person or a department hired to fulfill the role.
Often, the quickest and most cost-effective way is to appoint yourself or someone else in the company as a registered representative. However, business owners often find this too time-consuming or inconvenient, and end up appointing a lawyer or department. LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, and IncFile charge about $150 per year for the services of registered agents. You can find even cheaper services, but the beauty of sites like LegalZoom is that they also offer other types of legal help when starting and maintaining businesses. A registered agent is a responsible third party located in the same state in which a business entity was incorporated and designated to receive, on behalf of the corporation or LLC, legal advice, Secretary of State`s correspondence, and other official communications from the government, usually tax forms and notices of prosecution. “In Arizona (where we are registered), a registered agent can be anyone, and they don`t have to be available during normal business hours. A family member of mine who lives in Arizona is the registered agent for Advancing Science Worldwide. I would suggest those who want to start a business look at the requirements for registered agents for their specific states. Registered agents are especially important for businesses that are not based in a state where they operate (for example, if you are a resident of New York but also sell things or provide services in New Jersey).
There must be a way to contact the company for legal purposes, and a designated registered agent is the way to do so. Different states have slightly different regulations. For example, in Virginia, only attorneys, officers, or certified members of the company can act as registered agents. And Arizona does not require registered agents to be available during normal business hours.