If you have decided to start your own business, LLC, or nonprofit, you have almost certainly discovered how much paperwork comes with it. You have probably also learned that you need a registered agent on file in the state where you do business.
While researching how to help people set up their own LLCs, we kept running into registered agent services, and it turns out you can solve two problems at once. The right registered agent not only satisfies the state's requirement for a point of contact, but can also handle much of your filing for you.
Below we break down five of the best registered agent services and review what each does best. Some excel at low cost, others at out-of-state filing or speed, so it is worth reading every review to find the one that fits. We have also added a short FAQ at the end.
The Best Registered Agent Services at a Glance
| Rank | Service | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZenBusiness | Best all-around |
| 2 | Northwest Registered Agent | Best customer service |
| 3 | IncFile (now Bizee) | Most affordable |
| 4 | Swyft Filings | Fastest process |
| 5 | Inc Authority | Most trusted |
Do I Need a Registered Agent?
In short, yes. That does not mean you have to hire a service, but doing so helps. A registered agent is a legal requirement so that the state where you operate has a reliable contact for legal proceedings.
In the best case, your registered agent hears from the state just once a year, when your annual filings come due. In a less-than-perfect world, the registered agent is also the party contacted if your company is ever sued or drawn into a lawsuit.
Why Should I Hire a Registered Agent Service?
Beyond receiving unwelcome legal mail on your behalf, professional registered agents have expanded their offerings to include filing your paperwork and keeping you ahead of required renewals.
One reason we selected the five services below is that all of them offer strong business support, including tasks you may not have realized you needed help with, such as applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS.
We recommend these five because they are cost-effective, offer excellent customer service, and let you tailor the services you buy to your budget and needs.
The Right Agent for You
We recommend reading through every review to find the best fit. Some of these agents specialize in low cost, others in a full menu of services. We encourage you to follow the links to their websites, and we include a rough base price for each company below. Treat these figures as a guide, since pricing and state fees change over time.
ZenBusiness: Best All-Around
If you want a full-service LLC registered agent, ZenBusiness is the service for you. It walks you through every filing you need, lays out the services it can provide, and bundles everything into one simple checkout.
The moment you land on the ZenBusiness site, you can check whether your preferred business name is available. From there, a virtual agent takes you through a step-by-step process, asking the right questions to identify the services you need.
When we ran through the flow with the virtual agent, we came away with a comprehensive package for a one-time charge of a few hundred dollars, on top of state fees, which are billed separately. The package covered:
- Filing the LLC paperwork.
- Acting as the registered agent.
- Staying current on annual filings.
- Expedited paperwork.
- An operating agreement.
- Filing for an EIN.
For complete registered agent services, we found ZenBusiness the best all-around. The other services we reviewed each have real strengths, and some cost less, but ZenBusiness tops our list.
Related: ZenBusiness vs IncFile, ZenBusiness vs Swyft Filings
Northwest Registered Agent: Best Customer Service
Sometimes you just want a service done without the bells and whistles. If you take your car in for an oil change, having the technician upsell you on your brakes can waste everyone's time. Northwest Registered Agent leans into that with its tagline: "We're Just Not Annoying."
The site gets straight to the point. Click "Hire Us" and you choose from a short list of popular services. Select registered agent and it does not try to push extras on you. Choose "Form a New Company" and every price is listed up front.
What really sets Northwest apart is its customer service. Based in a small town in Eastern Washington, the company staffs real people who answer the phone. If you ever have a question, you can simply call and speak to someone.
Sticking with the same state we used for ZenBusiness (Washington), here is what we found:
- Filing the LLC paperwork.
- Acting as registered agent.
- A free credit card consultation.
- Free phone service.
- Annual compliance filing.
Including a three-day turnaround on the paperwork, the total came to a little over two hundred dollars. We skipped some add-ons, and with Northwest you can always back out and start over. Best of all, its customer service is genuinely top-tier.
IncFile (now Bizee): Most Affordable
Many of the registered agent sites we reviewed claimed low fees, but few offered a genuine free option, except for IncFile (now operating as Bizee). Its entry-level package includes preparation of your paperwork, filing, and a free year of registered agent service at no cost beyond the state fee for wherever you do business.
One of the best things about IncFile is that every plan and option is visible up front. Step up from the free tier and you still pay only a modest fee plus the state cost, and you unlock a whole range of extras.
IncFile is itself a startup, much like the one you are probably building, so it understands the challenges small business owners face. Working with the company feels like working with like-minded people.
The mid-tier package typically includes:
- Preparing and filing the Articles of Organization.
- Registered agent service.
- An EIN business tax number.
- An operating agreement.
- A banking resolution.
- Phone and email support.
- A business banking account.
- A business tax consultation.
For everything you get at that price, IncFile was the clear winner on affordability.
Swyft Filings: Fastest Process
Saving money is nice, but saving time can matter even more. If you are in a hurry and simply want the filing process over with, Swyft Filings lives up to its name.
Swyft Filings keeps prices reasonable, with an affordable basic option plus state fees. Where it really pulls ahead is how quickly and clearly the website is laid out.
From the homepage, you pick your business type and filing state, and the very next screen shows a breakdown of pricing options and where you are in the process. You can move up to a premium plan or stay basic, and speed is built into every step, with each form flowing straight into the next.
One thing to watch: the process moves so fast you may miss the box to add Swyft Filings as your registered agent. That fee is not charged until your state issues your certificate.
The basic option typically includes:
- A free month of a physical business address.
- A free tax consultation.
- Business formation paperwork filing.
- First-class shipping of documents.
Swyft Filings is quick and painless. We reached the payment screen almost before we realized we had finished the questionnaires. Add more services and it takes a little longer, but for getting in and out in a few minutes, Swyft Filings is hard to beat on speed.
Inc Authority: Most Trusted
Some companies put their money where their mouth is, and Inc Authority does exactly that with a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the service, you can get your money back.
On top of that, Inc Authority carries an outstanding Trustpilot rating across thousands of reviews, which reflects a great deal of small business owners reporting positive experiences.
The process is simple and quick. You answer a few questions, choose from add-ons like an EIN, an operating agreement, or website registration, and you are done. Inc Authority even offers a free year of registered agent service.
In the end, Inc Authority is trustworthy, affordable, and backed by a money-back guarantee, the trifecta of trust.
The most basic package typically includes:
- Preparation and filing.
- An operating agreement.
- Registered agent service.
- EIN registration.
For everything it offers, Inc Authority is also among the best-reviewed registered agent services out there, which tells us it delivers on its promises. It gets our vote for most trusted.
Conclusion
Only you know what is best for you and your business. After all, the expertise that got you started is exactly what will guide these decisions. No one here is going to tell you how to start your company, just as no one can tell you how to run it.
But if you want a full-service registered agent, we recommend the five above for their expertise, speed, and affordability. You can always change the registered agent on your business later, but you only get one shot at choosing the right filing service the first time. Picking well from the start makes all the difference, and you will not go wrong with any of the options we have reviewed.