All businesses are required to have a registered agent located in the state where they’re operating. This person or company is responsible for receiving service of process and official mail from the Department of State.
While it’s technically legal for a business to serve as its own registered agent, choosing an established and reliable registered agent service can be helpful in the long run.
Streamlined Processes
A registered agent is required by most states for a business to transact business within the state and must be available during regular business hours to accept service of process notices, official government notices including correspondence from the Secretary of State, tax forms, compliance communications and other important paperwork on behalf of a company or entity. While a lawyer, friend, or business partner can act as your registered agent, hiring a company that offers multi-state registered agents makes more sense for businesses at scale.
Smart business owners like to maximize efficiency in their processes and appointing one registered agent in each state your company does business accomplishes this goal. All important paperwork, notifications and billing is kept in a single account, making it easier to keep track of your registration status across states. In addition, any questions or concerns you may have can be answered by a person who is familiar with the business world and who has your best interests at heart.
Discounts
Many registered agent services are able to offer discounts to larger businesses. This is because they can bundle their services into a package that is more cost-effective for the business. This is also because they are able to streamline the process of receiving and forwarding documents, including service of process, to business owners.
A business owner can also use a registered agent service to help them avoid any potential liability since the service of process is one of the most important things that they must comply with as a business. They can also protect their privacy by using the services of a registered agent instead of their own home address.
Some services also provide premium features such as identity theft protection and annual report reminders. The best choice is probably Northwest Registered Agent, which offers all of these features and more for $125 a year per state. They also have a team of Corporate Guides who are happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Convenience
Hiring a multi state registered agent service provider can help you cut down on administrative hassles. They will have the experience and professionalism to ensure important legal documents get into your hands quickly, which helps you avoid non-compliance penalties. They will also keep your privacy intact by reducing exposure and access to your personal information, and all non-junk mail will be scanned and forwarded to you.
Whether you operate a home-based business, have a busy travel schedule or work outside of normal business hours, hiring a professional service can relieve some stress by being available to receive notifications and documents on your behalf. This can be especially beneficial if you are operating a business in multiple states or online.
Many top-rated registered agent services offer an array of business formation features, top security, and user-friendly websites. They also have competitive pricing and some even offer a one-year free registered agent solution with their incorporation packages.
Reliability
Most reputable registered agent services offer more than just mail forwarding. They will also hold onto official government notices, like compliance deadlines for annual reports, and have a convenient online tracking system. This simplifies business maintenance and provides reassurance to customers.
Many companies that are not multi-state registered agents outsource their service of process duties to third-party specialist companies. This allows the company to keep its prices low while still offering a reliable service.
Successful business owners work smart and make processes as efficient as possible. Using one multistate registered agent service accomplishes this goal by having all important state paperwork and service of the process come from the same place, billing is centralized, and you have only one company or contact to deal with for all your registered agent needs. It also makes it easier to add new states as your business grows. Choosing a service that is familiar with compliance regulations and stays on top of changing laws and requirements can save you money in the long run.