Can I Be My Own Registered Agent In Virginia Background Check

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

More importantly, most states accept different registered amanuensis requirements. Based on where yous operate, you have to ensure the appointed person meets all requirements to ensure compliance.

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

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

What Is a Registered Agent?

A registered agent is an individual or business entity who accepts responsibleness for your business's tax and legal requirements. They besides receive service of process in case your business concern is ever involved in a lawsuit or summons.

In full general, a registered agent can be any adult who'due south at to the lowest degree 18 years old and has a physical accost in the country where your company is formed (non simply a P.O. Box).

The more disquisitional part of this office is existence present at the designated location at all standard concern hours. This is because the registered agent must be available to receive certificate deliveries from the state of government. Otherwise, y'all may end up missing important paperwork or documents, leading to trouble.

The Basics of Registered Agent Requirements by Land

In this section, we've compiled the requirements to go a registered agent in all 50 states. Let'southward take a look.

There are several requirements that are largely universal in the U.s.a.. For example, the registered agent requirements of being xviii years of historic period or older, and of having a physical address (non a P.O. box or virtual role) in the country that can receive postal service, deliveries, and process of service during business organisation hours, tend to hold in all fifty states.

It'southward also a general rule that businesses in about states must engage a registered agent in lodge to legally operate in those states. Finally, most states allow businesses to serve every bit registered agents for other businesses.

So for this list, we volition omit repeating these requirements except for states where they are expanded or noticeably unlike than described above.

Alabama

In Alabama, yous tin be your own business'south registered agent, designate some other person to practise it, or use a registered agent company. If you use a person, that person must be an Alabama resident. If you use an agent company, that company needs to accept a registered office in Alabama.

Alaska

If you are an Alaska resident, you tin exist a registered agent (including being the agent for your ain business). Corporations authorized to operate in Alaska can likewise be registered agents (but Not their own agents), every bit can attorneys and incorporated police firms. Non-corporate entities similar LLCs, LLPs, and LPs can't be registered agents.

Arizona

In Arizona, registered agents are frequently called statutory agents. Arizona statutory agents can be private persons, Arizona-based corporations or LLCs, or out-of-state corps and LLCs that are authorized to operate in Arizona and that have a location or residence in-state. Y'all tin be your own statutory agent, but a corp or LLC cannot be its own.

Arkansas

Registered agents in Arkansas tin be an owner, officer, or shareholder of their business. Also, equally a point of order for concern 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 historic period requirement for registered agents, so a person under 18 could serve as 1 in this state. Corporations and LLCs tin can exist registered agents for other businesses in California, but not for themselves. If a California corporation becomes a registered agent for another company, the agent corporation must file a special document called Section 1505 with the Secretary of State.

Colorado

Business organization entities may be their own registered agents in Colorado provided they have a place of business in the state and, if based out-of-state, also have authority to operate in Colorado too as their home country.

Connecticut

Businesses based in other states may appoint the Connecticut Secretary of State as their registered agent to operate in Connecticut. Whatsoever business organization with a physical Connecticut address tin can as well serve every bit a registered amanuensis there.

Delaware

Registered agents in Delaware must obtain and maintain a Delaware business license. You can be a registered amanuensis every bit an individual as long every bit you are a state resident.

Florida

In Florida, you can be your own registered agent for a corporation or LLC. Similar in Arkansas, the Florida Secretary of State volition pass up business organisation paperwork for whatsoever business concern that has not appointed a registered agent before filing.

Georgia

Registered agents in Georgia can be individuals or entities (LLC, LP, LLP, full general partnership, etc.). LLCs in Georgia can engage an individual who is a resident of the land or use a domestic or foreign corporation registered in GA as the registered agent. Georgia corporations and nonprofits tin utilize 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 organization entity registered in the country to exist a registered agent. Simply you can be your own registered agent if you lot are a Hawaii resident.

Idaho

Business owners in Idaho can be their own registered agents. Like Arkansas and Florida, Idaho rejects business filings where an agent has non been appointed. Also, in Idaho all registered agent information is open to the public.

Illinois

If a business's registered amanuensis can't exist reached for service of procedure, the Illinois Secretary of State office volition automatically exist served on the business's behalf.

Indiana

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

Iowa

A registered agent may be an Iowa resident, an Iowa profit or nonprofit corporation, or a foreign profit or nonprofit corporation allowed to practice business organisation in the state. The Iowa Secretary of State can act as an agent for service of process in sure cases. If a visitor'south registered agent is unreachable after a reasonable service of process effort, the company'due south secretary will get serviced at the principal address of the business.

Kansas

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

Kentucky

Like in Kansas, Kentucky registered agents must be country residents or be a visitor that provides registered agent services, non any other types of concern.

Louisiana

Businesses tin be their own registered agents in Louisiana. Like in several other states, business 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 be their ain commercial clerks.

Maryland

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

Massachusetts

A "resident agent" in MA is an interchangeable term with "registered agent." You can be your own registered or resident agent in this state.

Michigan

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

Minnesota

Minnesota lists the names and addresses of all registered agents in the state on the Minnesota Secretarial assistant of Country website. As well, Minnesota businesses that also operate in other states must maintain a registered amanuensis in each land they operate in.

Mississippi

Mississippi concern owners can be their own registered agents. Equally in several other states, business filings in Mississippi will exist rejected if an amanuensis has not been appointed.

Missouri

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

Montana

Y'all can be your own registered agent in Montana. If a registered agent in Montana is unreachable after a reasonable service of process effort, the company'due south secretary will get served at the master address of the business concern. If this person cannot be reached, the business concern won't know that it has been served.

Nebraska

Registered agents can exist individuals residing in Nebraska or corporations authorized to transact business concern in Nebraska. If you don't maintain a registered agent, yous may be required to dissolve your visitor.

Nevada

You can be your own registered agent in Nevada by choosing the "noncommercial registered agent" option on your business germination documents.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire LLCs and corporations accept to appoint a registered agent, though other business types may not take to. To be a registered agent, you must be a state resident or a business providing registered agent services in the state, no other business organisation blazon.

New Jersey

Registered agents must be state residents or be a company providing registered amanuensis services, no other business organization types. You can exist your own registered agent in New Jersey.

New United mexican states

Any person or business organisation entity with a physical accost in New United mexican states can exist a registered amanuensis, and you can be your own registered agent in this state. As in several other states, business organization filings will be rejected in NM if an agent hasn't been appointed. Also, the personal information of registered agents in NM is available to the public.

New York

New York registered agents tin can exist a state resident, LLC, or a corporation with a physical address in the country. You tin be your own business's registered agent in New York.

North Carolina

North Carolina registered agents must be a country resident or company that provides registered agent services, not whatever other business organisation type.

North Dakota

North Dakota registered agents must be state residents or registered agent service, no other business types. Like in several other states, the North Dakota Secretary of State volition reject business filings if an amanuensis hasn't been appointed.

Ohio

In Ohio, registered agents are also known equally "statutory agents." You tin can be your own statutory agent in Ohio equally long equally y'all are a land resident.

Oklahoma

Registered agents can be an private who is a state resident or a company providing registered amanuensis services, no other business types.

Oregon

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

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania businesses must appoint a registered amanuensis during the business germination process, not afterwards the fact. Yous tin can be your own business's registered agent. If a Pennsylvania registered amanuensis can't be served subsequently a reasonable attempt, the visitor'southward secretary will exist served at the principal address of the business organisation. If this person is unreachable, the concern may never know that it has been served.

Rhode Island

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

Southward Carolina

Due south Carolina LLCs and corporations are legally required to maintain a registered amanuensis, though other business types are not. Business organisation owners tin can exist their own registered agents in South Carolina.

Due south Dakota

You can exist a registered amanuensis in South Dakota every bit an individual as long as you are a resident of the state.

Tennessee

Concern owners can be their own registered agents in the country of Tennessee. Tennessee registered agents have their names and addresses listed as public records.

Texas

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

Utah

Utah business owners can be their own registered agents.

Vermont

In Vermont, registered agents are sometimes referred to as "process agents." Process agents are usually used with the Vermont Secretary of State when referring to LLCs, but the term is synonymous with registered agents. Any individual or business or nonprofit entity with a street and mailing accost located in Vermont can be a registered agent.

Virginia

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

Washington

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

Washington DC

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

West Virginia

Westward Virginia LLCs and corporations need to have a registered agent, but other business types do not. Business owners can be their own registered agents in West Virginia. 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. Concern owners can be their ain registered agents in Wisconsin.

Wyoming

Wyoming corporations and LLCs accept to appoint a registered agent, but other business types do not. All Wyoming registered agents must sign the Consent to Appointment past Registered Agent form to acknowledge duties. Business owners can be their own registered agents in Wyoming.

Considering the importance of a registered agent, you might exist preparing yourself to spend a bomb on them. But what if I told you at that place are tons of services offer excellent registered agent services at a really affordable price?

ZenBusiness registered agent services page.

Out of all the options, I highly recommend ZenBusiness. It's one of the most renowned legal services that offer reliable registered amanuensis services for just $39, plus state fees for the first year. After that, you lot'll accept to pay $119 for the annual packet. You can too avail of the à la carte registered agent service at $99 per twelvemonth.

Moreover, ZenBusiness gives actress focus on making the whole process less stressful with a convenient website. You can also runway and find your company's annual reports, regardless of your location. Outstanding customer back up is another benefit.

two Tricks for Registered Agent Services

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

Don't Be Your Own Registered Agent

Many business owners list themselves as their own registered agents to relieve coin. However, this is a fault.

Being your own registered agent ways a lot of responsibleness, which will somewhen become a headache for yous. Being physically nowadays at this address during normal business hours every twenty-four hour period isn't realistic. If you lot're ever unavailable and an officer comes to manus-evangelize a courtroom order or service of process, you may land into big trouble in terms of compliance.

Moreover, in most states, registered amanuensis information is public knowledge. This tin can be greatly inconvenient for owners with a habitation office, putting them at risk.

Apply a Registered Agent Service That'south Available in All 50 States

Hiring a registered agent service is undoubtedly the all-time option that is both reliable and affordable. But when considering options, you should wait for a company that offers services in all fifty states, especially if you programme on scaling your business in the future.

If you lot start concern operations in multiple states, you'll probable be required to maintain a registered amanuensis in each ane of those states. At present, dealing with multiple registered agents can be a hurting, merely if you sign upwards for a registered agent service that is bachelor in all 50 states, your business can scale with ease, stress-free.

Next Steps

I promise you're considering hiring a 3rd-political party registered amanuensis service for your business organisation.

If that's the case, brand sure you have a expect at our all-time registered agent services guide, where I've compiled the top services that offer characteristic-rich plans at bang-up prices.