Every entity needs a named contact in its formation state — someone with a street address there who can take delivery of court papers and state mail during regular business hours. That contact is the registered agent.
What the registered agent actually does
The registered agent receives legal papers on the business’s behalf: lawsuits, subpoenas, and tax notices from the state. When a process server or a state agency needs to reach your business officially, they deliver to the registered agent. The agent then forwards the documents to you, fast, so you can act on them.
The agent does not run your business, does not make decisions for it, and does not appear in court for you. It is a delivery address with a legal duty attached, not a manager.
Why every state requires one
States need a reliable way to reach every registered business. Without a registered agent, a court or agency would have no official address to serve papers to — and a business could dodge legal process simply by being hard to find. So every state requires each entity to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the formation state, available during normal business hours.
A P.O. box does not qualify. The address must be a real street address where a person can accept delivery.
Can you be your own registered agent?
Yes, if you have a street address in the formation state and you are available there during normal business hours. Many owners start this way. The trade-offs are real, though:
- Your address becomes part of the public record. Anyone can look it up.
- You must be available during business hours, every business day, to accept delivery. Missed papers do not wait.
- If you move, you must update the address with the state promptly, or service of process can fail.
- If you form in a state where you do not live, you cannot be your own agent there — you need someone with an address in that state.
What happens if you do not maintain one?
If your registered agent resigns and you do not replace them, or if the state cannot reach your agent, the consequences escalate: the state can mark your entity not in good standing, which blocks filings, financing, and contracts. Continued failure can lead to administrative dissolution — the state closes your entity. Reinstating it costs time and money, and the gap can leave you personally exposed.
Registered agent service on this site
Registered agent service is included free for the first year in every formation package on this site. After the first year, it continues as a separate service. No standalone price is stated on this site — the details are confirmed with you before anything is charged, and you always see the full total before you pay.
If you already have an entity and need to switch agents, the change of registered agent service covers the filing. If your entity has fallen out of good standing, the reinstatement service and the certificate of good standing service are the usual next steps, and foreign qualification covers expanding into a new state.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a registered agent in every state where I do business? You need one in your formation state, and one in every additional state where you register to do business.
Can my registered agent be a friend or family member? Only if they have a street address in the formation state, are available during business hours, and agree to accept legal papers for you.
Does the registered agent receive my regular business mail? No. The agent receives legal and state correspondence only. Regular mail and packages go to your business address or your virtual address.
Not legal or tax advice.