What Is a Registered Agent and Why Does Your LLC Need One?
A registered agent receives legal and state mail for your LLC at a street address in the state. Learn who can be one and what it costs.
What is a registered agent?
A registered agent is a person or company with a physical street address in the state where your LLC is formed, named in the public record to receive legal papers and official state notices for the company. Every U.S. state requires one, and a non-resident cannot act as their own agent without a street address in that state.
1What a registered agent does
- Receives service of process, which means court papers if the company is sued.
- Receives official mail from the state, such as annual report notices.
- Is available at the address during normal business hours.
- Forwards everything to you quickly, usually as a scan.
2Who can be a registered agent
An adult who lives in the state, or a company authorised to do business there. The address must be a real street address. A P.O. box or a virtual mailbox alone is not accepted.
This is why founders outside the United States use a registered agent service.
3What happens without one
If the agent resigns or the address stops working, the state can mark the company as not in good standing and later dissolve it. You could also miss a lawsuit and lose by default.
4Registered agent address vs business address
The registered agent address is for legal and state notices only. A business mailing address is where customers, banks and the IRS write to you. Many founders use both.
Every Be Filing formation plan includes a registered agent for the first year. A U.S. business address with mail scanning is available separately.
Official sources
- Wyoming Secretary of State: Business Division
- Delaware Division of Corporations
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Choose a business structure
Be Filing Inc is an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and rules can change. Last reviewed in November 2026.
Quick questions, answered
Short, direct answers. If yours is not here, NIA or our team will help.
Ask on WhatsAppCan I be my own registered agent?
Only if you live in the state and have a street address there. Non-residents normally use a service.
Is the registered agent the owner of the company?
No. The agent only receives documents and has no ownership or control.
How much does a registered agent cost?
Services usually charge a yearly fee. With Be Filing, the first year is included in every formation plan.
Can I change my registered agent?
Yes. You file a change form with the state, and some states charge a small fee.
Related guides
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