The 7 Best Registered Agent Services To Consider (March 2023)

There is no question about it; for small business owners and entrepreneurs, Northwest Registered Agent is the best registered agent service available today.

Our 7 Best Registered Agent Service Picks for 2023

1. Northwest Registered Agent
2. Harbor Compliance
3. ZenBusiness
4. Swyft Filings
5. Rocket Lawyer
6. BizFilings
7. BetterLegal

Professional registered agent service is ideal for enterprises seeking a dependable agent. These agents can handle these chores in all 50 states, saving you time and aggravation.

Which one do you think you should pick? It’s challenging to pick the greatest, especially because every service promises to be the best.

We compared more than a dozen registered agent services to discover the best one. This is what we found.

A quick rundown of our top three registered agent service options for 2023:

1. Northwest Registered Agent is a proven leader.

Northwest Registered Agent offers a competent and dependable service free of upsells and hidden fees. They have an excellent track record and are highly concerned about confidentiality. They have been registered agents for more than a decade and are experts in the field. Northwest has a BBB rating of A-

2. Harbor Compliance – Lowest prices for orders from multiple states

Harbor Compliance is a reputable business compliance firm. They’re an excellent option for corporate clients that want to prepay for registered agent services.

3. ZenBusiness – Another excellent registered agent service.

ZenBusiness is a non-profit organization that provides industry-leading prices, outstanding customer service, an intuitive online interface, and a 4.8 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating on Trustpilot. Small firms who seek to avoid bureaucratic problems can benefit from this service. For registered agent services, we recommend ZenBusiness.

 

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1. Northwest Registered Agent is a proven leader.

Formation and one-year registered agent service $39/yr

We believe Northwest Registered Agent is the best registered agent service in reliability, functionality, and customer service.

Positives

Negatives

• Compared to the other registered agent, we can’t think of any

Northwest Registered Agent differs from other service providers in that it has a network of local offices where consumers can receive legal mail. Many alternative providers outsource their heavy labor to third-party service providers, leaving them to focus solely on client service.

All parts of Northwest Registered Agent’s service are handled in-house. This helps to secure their clients’ privacy while still ensuring consistent quality. These characteristics distinguish them from the competition.

The primary mail forwarding service with Northwest Registered Agent’s subscription also sets them apart. Each year, they will scan up to five non-legal documents. A modest fee will be charged for additional papers.

Since 1998, Northwest Registered Agent has been in operation. Years of experience and a well-deserved reputation for dependability back up their service.

You must select a reputable registered agent for your company. This is especially significant when considering the ramifications of missing essential documents like court summonses.

Northwest Registered Agent employs over 200 people and has a large team of “Corporate guides,” or in-house experts.

They can help you with everything from registered agent services to corporate compliance to new business organizations. They are always willing to assist and are knowledgeable.

We contacted a few of these businesses to inquire about their return procedures. Customers have the option of canceling their service during the first 90 days of signing up. If you cancel, you will receive a prorated refund. In this case, Northwest Registered Agent is an excellent option.

If you switch your RA to another service, Northwest Registered Agent can assist you in filing documentation with the state. They’ll even cover the filing costs.

We also wanted to point out that the Northwest Registered Agent’s terms of service are stated in plain English, not legalese.

Our Northwest Registered Agent review examines the company and its services in greater depth.

These were things we didn’t like:

• Northwest Registered Agent is a fantastic company. The cost of their service is $125 per year, which is slightly higher than that of some of their competitors. Northwest Registered Agent has one minor flaw, in our opinion.
• Their registered agent service comes highly recommended.

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2. Harbor Compliance: This is the most cost-effective option for large orders.

Pricing ranges from $89 to $99 per year.

Positives

• With multi-year savings, the cost is incredible.
• Annual report notification:
• Documents can be accessed online. In only a few minutes, you can scan documents.
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• Customer service is outstanding.

Negatives:

• There is no mail delivery on a physical basis.
• There are no reimbursements if the service is canceled.

Harbor Compliance was established in 2012 to provide corporate compliance solutions to businesses and non-profit organizations. Smaller companies can benefit from their services for larger companies with more complex compliance requirements.

Registered agents from Harbor Compliance cost $99 per year and vary by state. You will receive a 5–10% discount if you sign up for many years. If you pay for three years or more in advance, the price drops to $89 per year. Among all the competitors we studied, this is the most affordable service for a full year of service.

You may be eligible for further bulk discounts if you purchase registered agent services for many business organizations. To find out the specific price points, you’ll have to contact them personally.

Harbor Compliance is one of the only businesses with local offices in 50 states. Their website even includes the exact locations of all of their offices. In contrast, outsourcing the work to other partners is not a good idea.

Legal mail is scanned on the same day that it is received. Scanning is made possible by making customers available. According to the representative we spoke with, Harbor Compliance does not provide physical delivery. Instead, consumers can scan documents and upload them to their online accounts to be retrieved electronically.

This service also offers reminders for important filing deadlines in each state where your business is located.

Compared to its competitors, Harbor Compliance has fewer internet reviews. On the other hand, customers are typically pleased with Harbor Compliance’s performance. Harbor Compliance has a 4.5 percent average rating on Google.

These were things we didn’t like:

When we inquired about their cancellation policy, we were told that no prorated reimbursements are available for service cancellations.

Customers who cancel their service within 24 hours of ordering or before registering as an agent with the Secretary of State will not be eligible for a refund.

3. ZenBusiness is the newest registered agent service on our list.

The cost is $99 per year.

Advantages:

• Reasonably priced
• User-friendly website
• Online dashboard with email notifications
• Customer service seems to be highly rated by customers.

Negatives:

• No prorated refunds are available.
• Registered agent service is not included with the formation services. You must pay an extra $99
• There will be no mail forwarding.
• ZenBusiness is a relatively new company. They’ve been around for around five years.

ZenBusiness assists small businesses and entrepreneurs with all areas of formation.

Every year, ZenBusiness offers loans and awards to a variety of consumers. They’re also a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation. This means that one of its legal objectives is to impact society positively.

In contrast to the majority of the other providers on this list, ZenBusiness offers two pricing options for registered agents.

The $99/year “Standard Coverage” includes the registered agent service, online document storage, and access to ZenBusiness’ business formation experts.

The annual cost of the “Complete Coverage Package” is $149. This tool will remind you of your company’s annual reports and help you file them with the state. It will ensure that your business is always in good standing. All of the above and ZenBusiness’s business compliance services are included in this bundle.

Customers served by ZenBusiness can be notified by email. They can then view the notification contents in ZenBusiness’s dashboard’s documents tab.

ZenBusiness provides excellent customer service for all its products and services, particularly vital for registered agent services.

We put their claims to the test by asking a few questions regarding their products. A polite customer support agent responded to our message in less than an hour and addressed all of our questions. Of all the providers we tested, ZenBusiness was the most responsive.

Customers at ZenBusiness are typically supportive of our stance on this issue. With over 7K reviews, this company has a 4.8 rating. That’s one of the highest rating averages we’ve ever seen. ZenBusiness has a BBB rating of A.

All reviewers praised ZenBusiness, but the company’s user-friendly website and knowledgeable staff drew particular attention.

Our Zenbusiness review delves into the company’s services and products in further depth.

ZenBusiness is a fantastic option. Their registered agent service is both dependable and cost-effective. Only one change comes to mind: adding simple mail forwarding to their more premium subscriptions.

4. Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings Cost: $149 Per Year

Positives

• The dashboard is available via the internet.
• Scans are available immediately.
• Assistance in achieving compliance
• There are numerous positive reviews.
• If you cancel within 60 days, you might be eligible for a refund.

Negatives:

• Prices that are too high.
• Not all states have it.

Swyft Files began operations in 2015. It is a Houston-based private corporation that provides a variety of commercial services. One of their services is a registered agent service, which costs $149 per year.

Swyft Filing’s Customer Reviews

In terms of dependability, customer happiness, and cost-effectiveness, Swyft Filings is a good choice for customers. Customers have left more than 35,000 evaluations on major review sites.

They have a 4.6 Trustpilot rating and a 4.5 Sitejabber rating. Swyft Filings, like many of the other services in this list, works with a third party to provide their registered agent service, in this case, LegalCorp Solutions.

Swyft Filings is praised for making their terms of service explicit about who they are cooperating with. Rather than pushing customers to conduct research, Swyft Filings will give you secure online access to your dashboard.

Swyft Filings will scan every new legal mail or service procedure and make it available through your online dashboard as soon as it arrives. Because your legal mail is safely kept in the cloud, you will have access to it at all times.

Swyft Filings Cancellation Policy

• Swyft Filings’ registered agent service can be canceled at any moment and for any cause.
• You may be eligible for a partial or complete refund.
• According to a customer care representative, customers who cancel during the first 30 days will receive a full refund.
• Customers will receive a prorated refund if the service is canceled after 60 days.

Swyft Filings adds value by keeping track of significant filing deadlines in the states where you work.

You’ll also get reminders about important things like your annual reporting obligations. 

For $149 per year, you will spend 50% more than some of our top-rated competitors.

Swyft Filings received a call from a customer who had some inquiries about the service. LegalCorp’s service is only available in 47 of the 50 states, which surprised us. They didn’t say where they were going. This is unexpected given that LegalCorps claims to operate in all 50 states on its website.

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5. Rocket Lawyer

RocketLawyer Pricing: Non-members pay $149 per year; members pay $111.99 per year;

Positives:

• Excellent feedback from customers. A trustworthy business.
• Additional features are available with a paid subscription.

Negatives:

• The presentation on the site is poor.
• Full or prorated refunds are not available for cancellations.
• It isn’t the most affordable option.

RocketLawyer is a well-known and well-known name in the field of online legal aid. Members and non-members alike can use the registered agent service.

Non-members can use RocketLawyer’s registered agent service for $149.99 per year. Premium membership is $111.99 per year. The subscription, on the other hand, costs $39.99 a month.

RocketLawyer’s premium membership is used for additional services, such as online legal consultation; RocketLawyer should not be considered your registered agent. We urge that you look at RocketLawyer’s RA services as a supplement to your current legal services.

Without a membership, the service is costly for what it provides. You might want to look into other highly rated services.

RocketLawyer still has a 4.6/5 rating on Trustpilot and over 3,000 reviews. This demonstrates that RocketLawyer is well-liked by the majority of its clients. Customer reviews did not mention RocketLawyer’s registered agent service.

The registered agent service provided by RocketLawyer is not simple. The terms of service for RocketLawyer state that they work with third-party providers, but no names are disclosed.

RocketLawyer makes it difficult for customers to contact them with questions. On their website, there is no email address. A 250-character message form is available to potential consumers. They may improve.

What we didn’t like about it:

The registered agent services of RocketLawyer are widely marketed on the webpage. It promises “100% pleasure guaranteed,” and buyers can cancel at any time and get a full refund.

Rocket Lawyer also fails to give any information on their registered agent service, which we found disappointing.

The registered agent page does not provide a charge for the service. Customers can find out more by entering their contact information or traveling to a different website to find out the price. More transparency is something we’d want to see.

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6. BizFilings

Costs $199 per year.

Positives:

Online compliance tool that is entirely free. The user provides a service. Customer service responds quickly. Service process will be sent within one day. Personal delivery of documents is free. You can cancel at any time and receive a prorated refund.

Negatives:

• Expensive
• There is no conventional mail forwarding available.

About BizFilings

• BizFilings Incorporated, often known as Business Filings, is a Wisconsin-based corporation specializing in business creation and compliance.
• It primarily serves small enterprises.
• Wolters Kluwer owns the company.

BizFilings is one of the few companies on our list that offers registered agent services directly rather than through a partner. The annual registration fee of $199 for BizFilings is exceptionally high. This is unquestionably at the higher end of the scale.

AizComply, an online business compliance management tool, is included in the registered agent service. This service is $75 per year and is offered as a stand-alone. At no extra charge.

BizComply lets you keep track of compliance duties for a company’s home state and any additional states where it qualifies if any. BizComply has a company dashboard as well as a state form library.

BizFilings was able to respond to our questions in only a few hours. They offered detailed responses to all of our inquiries and were quick to respond and quite helpful.

Some of the registered agent services on our list are only available online. BizFilings scans copies using an online service. It does, however, offer free delivery of original documents (beyond the service of process documents).

BizFilings Cancellations

According to what we’ve heard, BizFilings has a customer-friendly cancellation and refund policy. You can discontinue your registered agent services at any moment if you haven’t updated your government records or dissolved your business. If you cancel the service, BizFilings will give you a prorated refund.

BizFilings says that switching your registered agent to their service will cost you nothing extra. They’ll also cover the cost of the state’s change-of-address charge.

What we didn’t like about it:

We value services that are provided in-house. On the other hand, BizFilings’ registered agent service is much more expensive than top-rated competitors. BizComply is a welcome addition. Other businesses offer comparable services.

In addition to their registered agent service, BizFilings does not provide standard mail forwarding services.

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7. BetterLegal Registered Agent Service

$90 per year

Positives:

• Good value for money.
• Favorable customer feedback
• Simple plans

Negatives:

• On the company’s website, there is almost no information.
• The inquiry was not answered.

BetterLegal was one of the smaller businesses we looked into. They provide low-cost registration and corporate entity formation services.

BetterLegal’s registered agent services are the most cost-effective of the ones we looked at.

The registration agent service from BetterLegal costs at least $100 each year. It does, however, cost $90 each year. If you seek the most affordable professional registered agent service, BetterLegal is an excellent solution.

BetterLegal has a high customer satisfaction rating. Based on over 200 reviews, BetterLegal now has a Trustpilot rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Although most of the evaluations center on their corporate entity establishment service, several customers have indicated that they have had no problems using their registered agent service. The majority of reviewers praised BetterLegal’s response and dependability.

BetterLegal clarifies in their terms of service that they are not a mailing service. The third-party provider may request repayment if you receive unauthorized mail.

What we didn’t like about it:

BetterLegal advertises that its services are available through partners but does not specify who those partners are. We emailed them to clarify those above and other areas of their service. We never heard back from them, which is a red flag for their customer service.

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Other Registered Agents Services to Consider in 2023

Nolo Registered Agent Services

The cost of a year’s subscription to Nolo is $150.

Nolo is a legitimate self-help publishing house that has been around since before the internet. They provide a wide range of legal books and services over the internet. Customers can be connected with lawyers, LLCs can be formed, and legal software purchased. If you incorporate an LLC with them, they will provide a registered agent service through a partner.

What we didn’t like about it:

This service is not recommended because Nolo appears to boost the price of its partner services drastically. For registered agent services, Nolo charges $150 per year. If you go to Vcorp’s website, you can get the same service for only $115 per year (their partner). Visit our recommended LLC services for 2023.

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Incorporate.com Registered Agent Service

Incorporate.com costs $235 per year.

The Corporation Services Company’s subsidiary, Incorporate.com, is

Incorporate.com assists clients in forming new enterprises. Established businesses can also purchase registered agent services. Unlike most of their competitors, they do not use a third-party provider for their registered agent service. CSC, their parent firm, instead provides it.

What we didn’t like about it:

The annual fee for Incorporate.com is $235, which is excessive.

Incorporate.com charges customers who file for a change of registered agent a fee. Other businesses provide the same service for half the cost. This is not the duty of the consumer.

Depending on where you live, these costs can exceed $120. Other services cover these costs.

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LegalZoom Registered Agent Service

Costs $299 per year.

LegalZoom is a significant player in the online legal assistance market. Their most well-known services include a legal document library, business creation, and attorney consulting.

What we didn’t like about it:

At $299 per year, LegalZoom’s registered agent service is the most expensive on the market.

We could not locate any information about the service that would warrant such exorbitant charges. We sent an email to the corporation with a few inquiries but no answer. They advised us to call their sales department.

What qualities should you look for in a registered agent? We’ve compiled a list of traits that we believe are vital for a fantastic registered agent service. These characteristics have an impact on our rankings as well.

Registered Agent Fees at LegalZoom

It should come as no surprise that the cost of a service is the most crucial consideration in our evaluations. Because registering an agent is required but has no direct influence on business operations, most business owners would choose the lowest option.

Choosing the lowest solution, on the other hand, may end up costing your company money in the long run. A mistaken agent may fail to notify you of a court summons in the worst-case situation. You may lose a lawsuit due to a default judgment.

On the other hand, higher-priced registered agent services may include extra features like mail forwarding or annual compliance reminders.

We don’t just go for the cheapest option. We consider each service’s dependability and total value.

Support and Assistance

A responsive and knowledgeable customer service crew should be available for online services. It is required for the provision of registered agent services.

A high-quality service should offer standard customer service and be proactive in looking out for the best interests of its consumers.

If your registered agent receives service of process, they should contact you by email, phone, or mail to make sure you are aware of the situation.

Accessibility

The capacity to make any documents received by the service provider available to the consumer is accessible.

Customers require rapid access to all delivered mail to take the appropriate actions since legal correspondence can be time-sensitive.

The majority of services we discovered use electronic document distribution. This is frequently accomplished by using an online portal that allows you to upload and store scanned mail.

As long as you are their registered agent, good services will ensure that mail is available 24 hours a day. They’ll make sure you’re informed as soon as possible. They may even give the original documents to you in person on occasion.

Additional characteristics Many of the services we looked at have different capabilities to their registered agent service that can bring more fantastic value to your company.

Compliance calendars with tailored reminders are standard tools that remind your firm of filing deadlines for things like annual reports.

Another add-on is a rudimentary mail forwarding service. This will come in handy if someone tries to contact your company using the address listed on the public register.

These characteristics can help a service climb in our rankings even if they aren’t required.

When choosing a registered agent service, keep these four points in mind: Based on our research, we’ve created a list of suggestions that may be useful in your quest for an RA specialist.

Canceling registered agent services isn’t always straightforward. You should know one thing if you decide to switch to a different registered agent provider and terminate your current subscription. It is preferable to hire a registered agent only once and then forget about them.

Most registered agent service providers have a clause in their terms and conditions stating that you cannot terminate the service while they are listed as your official registered agents on the state record.

If you cancel the service but don’t designate a new registered agent or dissolve your business, your former service provider may continue to bill you.

Because many registered agents charge a single annual price and not all providers offer prorated refunds, you could end up spending a lot more on this service if you cancel.

You can also request a $30 refund, but that’s only the start.

Before canceling, read and sign the terms of service to prevent paying extra fees.

Although all companies listed in this article give registered agent services to their consumers, not all do. Some services do not provide registered agent services in-house. Many of the companies listed below hire third-party specialists to receive process, legal notices, and government communications. They work from dedicated offices around the United States.

You’ll still have a relationship with the firm you signed up with because they’ll be the ones offering customer service and taking payments in this situation. However, understanding the structure of the registered agent service allows you to select the most dependable and cost-effective choice.

Is mail forwarding available through your registered agent? Is it hard to grasp the concept of a registered agent service? It appears that everyone but you is aware of the idea.

Is it conceivable for your registered agent to receive commercial mail in addition to state correspondence? A mail forwarding service is typically beneficial to small digital start-ups that do not have physical premises.

Most registered agent services do not forward junk mail or general mail.

To start a business, you can utilize the registered agent’s address. Before signing up, check to see if they provide a mail forwarding service.

We contacted numerous services, and they all stated that mail forwarding is not available. Many businesses charge extra for this service.

Do you require registered agents in additional states? It would help if you kept in mind that registered agents may be necessary for more than one state, depending on the nature of your business.

You must also register as an agent if you have a foreign qualification and live in a state other than your company’s home state. The same is true if you have many business entities.

If you need registered agents in many states, you should know the charges and volume discounts available.

Frequently asked questions

What is the function of a registered agent?

A registered agent is a person or business designated to receive legal communications (such as court summons) on behalf of a limited liability company, corporation, or non-profit organization.

A registered agent is required for all business entities in the United States.

Which company provides the best registered agent service?

We think Northwest is the best registered agent service on the market. Their service is dependable and professional, and it comes at a reasonable cost. Customers’ privacy is also important to them. 

Is it necessary for me to have a registered agent?

Yes. You must appoint an agent since it is required by law.

Every business entity operating in the United States is required to list a registered agent with the records of their home state. This includes conditions where they have the necessary qualifications to work as a foreign agent.

The registered agent must be available at the stated address during regular business hours. Failure to select a registered representative could result in a bad reputation for your LLC or organization with the authorities.

What is the role of a registered agent?

Any person or company over 18 can be nominated as a registered agent. They must either live in the same state as the business or be qualified to receive service of process.

Is it possible for me to act as my registered agent?

Your corporation might appoint you as the registered agent.

Everyone will see your address because it will be made public.

You must be available during business hours to use the specified address. No exceptions will be made. Rather than undertaking this process themselves, many firms opt to employ a professional registered agent provider. If you live in more than one state, you can’t serve as your registered agent.

What is the procedure for changing my registered agent?

The procedure will be different depending on where you wish to replace your registered agent. You’ll need to file a document with the Secretary of State in your state. The state will charge a modest processing fee.

You might also want to see if a professional service can handle your paperwork if you’re switching. Some services will even cover the cost of the state charge.

How much does it cost for registered agent service?

The majority of registered agent services are paid annually and cost between $90 and $200. Some services provide additional functions, such as business mail forwarding. If you have more than one state’s registered agent, you’ll have to pay for each one separately.

Some organizations offer bulk discounts if you buy services for multiple corporations or states.

You may have to pay a charge to the state to change your registered agent.