Who Is Required To Register As A Foreign Agent

When registering your business, you'll also have to submit the name and address of your business's registered agent. This person can exist a professional service, a colleague, an employee, or even yourself!

More than importantly, most states have unlike registered agent requirements. Based on where yous operate, you have to ensure the appointed person meets all requirements to ensure compliance.

To make it easier for you, I'll list the different registered agent requirements by state–yes, all 50 states!

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Quicksprout.com's complete beginner's guide to registered agent requirements by state.

What Is a Registered Amanuensis?

A registered agent is an private or business entity who accepts responsibility for your business concern'southward tax and legal requirements. They as well receive service of process in instance your business is ever involved in a lawsuit or summons.

In full general, a registered agent can be any developed who's at least 18 years old and has a physical address in the state where your company is formed (not only a P.O. Box).

The more critical function of this part is being present at the designated location at all standard business hours. This is because the registered agent must be available to receive document deliveries from the country of regime. Otherwise, you may end upward missing of import paperwork or documents, leading to problem.

The Basics of Registered Agent Requirements by Land

In this section, nosotros've compiled the requirements to become a registered agent in all 50 states. Let's take a look.

At that place are several requirements that are largely universal in the US. For example, the registered agent requirements of being eighteen years of age or older, and of having a physical address (non a P.O. box or virtual office) in the state that can receive mail, deliveries, and procedure of service during business organisation hours, tend to concur in all fifty states.

It'due south too a general rule that businesses in most states must appoint a registered agent in order to legally operate in those states. Finally, most states allow businesses to serve equally registered agents for other businesses.

So for this listing, nosotros will omit repeating these requirements except for states where they are expanded or noticeably different than described higher up.

Alabama

In Alabama, you can be your ain business concern'southward registered agent, designate some other person to practice it, or utilise a registered agent visitor. If y'all use a person, that person must be an Alabama resident. If you apply an agent visitor, that company needs to have a registered office in Alabama.

Alaska

If you are an Alaska resident, you tin be a registered amanuensis (including being the agent for your own concern). Corporations authorized to operate in Alaska can also exist registered agents (but Non their own agents), equally can attorneys and incorporated police force firms. Non-corporate entities like LLCs, LLPs, and LPs can't be registered agents.

Arizona

In Arizona, registered agents are oftentimes called statutory agents. Arizona statutory agents can exist individual persons, Arizona-based corporations or LLCs, or out-of-land corps and LLCs that are authorized to operate in Arizona and that have a location or residence in-country. Yous can be your own statutory agent, but a corp or LLC cannot exist its own.

Arkansas

Registered agents in Arkansas tin be an possessor, officer, or shareholder of their business. Besides, as a bespeak of order for business organisation filing, in Arkansas the registered agent must be appointed earlier paperwork is filed–otherwise the Secretary of State will reject the paperwork.

California

California doesn't have a minimum age requirement for registered agents, so a person under 18 could serve every bit one in this land. Corporations and LLCs can be registered agents for other businesses in California, but not for themselves. If a California corporation becomes a registered amanuensis for some other company, the agent corporation must file a special certificate called Section 1505 with the Secretary of Land.

Colorado

Concern entities may be their own registered agents in Colorado provided they have a place of concern in the country and, if based out-of-land, also have authorisation to operate in Colorado as well as their home country.

Connecticut

Businesses based in other states may appoint the Connecticut Secretary of Country as their registered amanuensis to operate in Connecticut. Any concern with a physical Connecticut address tin also serve equally a registered agent there.

Delaware

Registered agents in Delaware must obtain and maintain a Delaware business organization license. Yous can be a registered amanuensis as an private as long as you are a state resident.

Florida

In Florida, you tin be your own registered agent for a corporation or LLC. Like in Arkansas, the Florida Secretarial assistant of State will reject business paperwork for any business concern that has non appointed a registered amanuensis before filing.

Georgia

Registered agents in Georgia tin can be individuals or entities (LLC, LP, LLP, general partnership, etc.). LLCs in Georgia can appoint an private who is a resident of the state or utilize a domestic or strange corporation registered in GA as the registered agent. Georgia corporations and nonprofits can use an individual or any business entity in the state of Georgia as a registered amanuensis.

Hawaii

You must be a Hawaii resident or a business organisation entity registered in the state to be a registered agent. But you can be your own registered agent if yous are a Hawaii resident.

Idaho

Concern owners in Idaho can exist their ain registered agents. Similar Arkansas and Florida, Idaho rejects business organisation filings where an agent has not been appointed. Also, in Idaho all registered agent information is open to the public.

Illinois

If a business'south registered amanuensis tin't be reached for service of process, the Illinois Secretary of Land office volition automatically be served on the business concern's behalf.

Indiana

State residents of Indiana can be registered agents in that state.

Iowa

A registered amanuensis may be an Iowa resident, an Iowa profit or nonprofit corporation, or a strange profit or nonprofit corporation immune to do business organisation in the state. The Iowa Secretary of State can act as an agent for service of procedure in certain cases. If a company'south registered amanuensis is unreachable after a reasonable service of process endeavour, the company's secretary volition get serviced at the principal address of the business.

Kansas

All Kansas corporations and LLCs must accept a registered agent. Agents must exist a company that provides registered amanuensis services or an individual who is a state resident–other businesses cannot serve equally registered agents.

Kentucky

Similar in Kansas, Kentucky registered agents must be land residents or exist a company that provides registered agent services, not any other types of business.

Louisiana

Businesses can be their ain registered agents in Louisiana. Like in several other states, business organization filings will be rejected in Louisiana if an agent hasn't been appointed.

Maine

A Maine registered agent is known as a "commercial clerk." Business owners in Maine tin exist their own commercial clerks.

Maryland

Maryland registered agents are responsible for official mail service correspondence from the Maryland SDAT (State Department of Assessment and Revenue enhancement).

Massachusetts

A "resident amanuensis" in MA is an interchangeable term with "registered agent." Y'all tin exist your own registered or resident agent in this land.

Michigan

Like in Massachusetts, a "resident amanuensis" in Michigan is an interchangeable term with "registered agent." You lot must exist a Michigan resident, a Michigan corporation/LLC, or a strange corporation/LLC with a certificate of authorization to transact business in Michigan in order to be a resident amanuensis there.

Minnesota

Minnesota lists the names and addresses of all registered agents in the country on the Minnesota Secretary of State website. Too, Minnesota businesses that also operate in other states must maintain a registered agent in each state they operate in.

Mississippi

Mississippi business organisation owners can be their ain registered agents. As in several other states, business concern filings in Mississippi will be rejected if an agent has not been appointed.

Missouri

Missouri registered agents must be individuals who are residents of the land or be a company providing registered agent services–no other business types.

Montana

Yous tin can exist your own registered agent in Montana. If a registered agent in Montana is unreachable afterwards a reasonable service of process try, the company's secretary will become served at the primary accost of the business. If this person cannot be reached, the concern won't know that it has been served.

Nebraska

Registered agents tin exist individuals residing in Nebraska or corporations authorized to transact concern in Nebraska. If you don't maintain a registered amanuensis, you may be required to dissolve your company.

Nevada

Y'all can be your own registered agent in Nevada past choosing the "noncommercial registered amanuensis" pick on your business organisation formation documents.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire LLCs and corporations accept to appoint a registered agent, though other business types may not have to. To be a registered agent, you must be a country resident or a concern providing registered agent services in the country, no other business concern type.

New Jersey

Registered agents must exist country residents or be a visitor providing registered agent services, no other business organisation types. Y'all can be your own registered agent in New Bailiwick of jersey.

New Mexico

Any person or concern entity with a physical address in New Mexico can be a registered agent, and you can exist your ain registered agent in this state. Equally in several other states, business filings will be rejected in NM if an agent hasn't been appointed. Also, the personal data of registered agents in NM is bachelor to the public.

New York

New York registered agents can be a state resident, LLC, or a corporation with a physical accost in the state. You tin can be your ain business'south registered agent in New York.

N Carolina

Northward Carolina registered agents must be a land resident or company that provides registered agent services, not whatever other business blazon.

North Dakota

North Dakota registered agents must exist country residents or registered agent service, no other business types. Similar in several other states, the North Dakota Secretary of Country will refuse concern filings if an agent hasn't been appointed.

Ohio

In Ohio, registered agents are also known as "statutory agents." You tin exist your ain statutory amanuensis in Ohio as long as yous are a state resident.

Oklahoma

Registered agents tin be an individual who is a state resident or a visitor providing registered agent services, no other business types.

Oregon

As is the case in several states, business filings in Oregon will exist rejected if an amanuensis hasn't been appointed. Oregon business owners can be their own registered agents.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania businesses must engage a registered amanuensis during the business formation process, not subsequently the fact. You can be your own business organisation'southward registered amanuensis. If a Pennsylvania registered agent can't be served subsequently a reasonable attempt, the visitor'southward secretary will be served at the principal accost of the business. If this person is unreachable, the business may never know that information technology has been served.

Rhode Isle

Business filings in Rhode Island will be rejected if an agent has not been appointed. Rhode Island business owners tin be their own registered agents.

South Carolina

S Carolina LLCs and corporations are legally required to maintain a registered agent, though other concern types are not. Business owners can be their ain registered agents in Due south Carolina.

South Dakota

You can be a registered agent in South Dakota as an private every bit long as you are a resident of the land.

Tennessee

Business organization owners can be their ain registered agents in the state of Tennessee. Tennessee registered agents accept their names and addresses listed as public records.

Texas

The Texas Secretary of State office will turn down business filings if a registered amanuensis isn't appointed. Business owners tin can be their own registered agents in Texas.

Utah

Utah concern owners can be their own registered agents.

Vermont

In Vermont, registered agents are sometimes referred to as "procedure agents." Process agents are unremarkably used with the Vermont Secretarial assistant of State when referring to LLCs, just the term is synonymous with registered agents. Whatever individual or business organization or nonprofit entity with a street and mailing address located in Vermont can be a registered agent.

Virginia

Virginia business organisation entities cannot exist registered agents for their own businesses, though they can be registered agents for other businesses. Individuals can be registered agents in Virginia if they are state residents.

Washington

Concern filings will be rejected if an agent hasn't been appointed. Business organisation owners can be their own registered agents in Washington.

Washington DC

Washington DC registered agents can be individuals with an address in Washington DC or a business providing registered agent services in the District of Columbia. Washington DC registered agents must be listed on a statement of appointment on the initial business organization filing paperwork. Business organization owners tin be their own registered agents in Washington DC.

Due west Virginia

Westward Virginia LLCs and corporations need to have a registered agent, but other business types practise not. Concern owners can be their own registered agents in West Virginia. Due west Virginia registered agents have their names and addresses listed as public records.

Wisconsin

Business filings will be rejected if an agent hasn't been appointed. Business organisation owners can be their ain registered agents in Wisconsin.

Wyoming

Wyoming corporations and LLCs take to appoint a registered agent, but other business types do non. All Wyoming registered agents must sign the Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent course to admit duties. Business owners tin exist their own registered agents in Wyoming.

Because the importance of a registered agent, you might be preparing yourself to spend a flop on them. Simply what if I told you lot in that location are tons of services offering excellent registered agent services at a really affordable price?

ZenBusiness registered agent services page.

Out of all the options, I highly recommend ZenBusiness. Information technology's one of the well-nigh renowned legal services that offering reliable registered agent services for simply $39, plus state fees for the first year. Subsequently that, you'll take to pay $119 for the annual package. You can also avail of the à la carte registered agent service at $99 per year.

Moreover, ZenBusiness gives actress focus on making the whole process less stressful with a user-friendly website. Y'all can also rail and notice your company's annual reports, regardless of your location. Outstanding customer support is another benefit.

2 Tricks for Registered Amanuensis Services

Here are a few strategies to consider for maintaining registered agent compliance in the long run:

Don't Exist Your Own Registered Amanuensis

Many business owners list themselves as their own registered agents to save money. However, this is a mistake.

Being your own registered agent means a lot of responsibility, which will somewhen become a headache for you. Existence physically present at this address during normal concern hours every twenty-four hours isn't realistic. If you're ever unavailable and an officer comes to hand-deliver a courtroom order or service of process, yous may land into big trouble in terms of compliance.

Moreover, in most states, registered agent information is public knowledge. This can be greatly inconvenient for owners with a home role, putting them at risk.

Use a Registered Agent Service That's Available in All 50 States

Hiring a registered agent service is undoubtedly the all-time option that is both reliable and affordable. Only when because options, you should look for a company that offers services in all 50 states, especially if y'all plan on scaling your business concern in the future.

If you beginning business operations in multiple states, yous'll likely exist required to maintain a registered amanuensis in each i of those states. Now, dealing with multiple registered agents can be a pain, but if you sign upwardly for a registered agent service that is available in all fifty states, your business organisation can calibration with ease, stress-free.

Side by side Steps

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