Service Comparison

Registered Agent Comparison

Compare the top registered agent services for your US LLC. Features, pricing, and what is included.

5 services compared
Pricing breakdown
Feature matrix
Recommended

StartGlobal

Northwest Registered Agent

Bizee (formerly Incfile)

ZenBusiness

LegalZoom

Annual Price
$99 /yr
$125 /yr
$119 /yr
$199 /yr
$299 /yr
First Year
FREE

with formation

$125
FREE

with formation

$199
$249
States Covered
All 50
All 50
All 50
All 50
All 50
Doc Scanning
Mail Forwarding
Compliance Alerts
Online Dashboard
Support
24-hour human response
Phone and email
Email and chat
Phone, email, chat
Phone and email
5-Year Cost
$396
$625
$476
$995
$1445

Scroll horizontally on mobile to see all services. Prices as of 2026. Does not include state filing fees.

Detailed Breakdown

BEST VALUE

StartGlobal

FREE 1st year, then $99/yr
Free first year with LLC formation ($599 package)
All 50 states covered
24-hour human support response time
Document scanning and forwarding included
Compliance deadline alerts
Online dashboard for all documents

Northwest Registered Agent

$125 /year
Strong privacy focus
Local agents in all 50 states
Same-day document scanning
Corporate guides included
Formation service costs extra ($39+)
No bank account setup assistance
No EIN filing included

Bizee (formerly Incfile)

FREE 1st year, then $119/yr
Free first year with formation
Compliance calendar
Business tax consultation
Annual report filing service available
Mail forwarding not included
Phone support limited
Upsells during checkout
EIN filing costs extra ($70)

ZenBusiness

$199 /year
Worry-free compliance package
Annual report auto-filing
Good customer reviews
Website builder included in some plans
Higher price point
Auto-renewal at full price
Some features require premium plan
No bank account assistance

LegalZoom

$299 /year
Well-known brand
Legal document templates
Attorney consultation available
Business license reports
Most expensive option
Aggressive upselling
Slow processing without upgrade
EIN filing costs extra
No bank account setup

Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent?

Not recommended for international founders

You can serve as your own registered agent only if you have a physical address in your LLC state and are available during business hours. For non-US residents, this is not possible.

Advantages

No annual fee
Direct control over documents

Limitations

Must have physical address in LLC state
Must be available during business hours
Your home address becomes public record
No privacy protection
No compliance alerts or reminders
Not available for non-US residents

What Every Registered Agent Must Have

Physical street address in the LLC state

PO boxes are not accepted. Must be a real street address in the state where your LLC is formed.

Available during normal business hours

The agent must be available to receive documents during standard business hours (typically 9 AM - 5 PM local time).

Authorized to do business in the state

If using a company as your agent, they must be registered to do business in that state.

At least 18 years old

Individual agents must be a legal adult.

Consent to serve as agent

The agent must formally agree to accept legal documents on behalf of your LLC.

Explore More Tools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a registered agent do?
A registered agent receives legal documents (lawsuits, state notices, tax forms, compliance reminders) on behalf of your LLC. Every US state requires LLCs to have a registered agent with a physical address in that state.
Can I be my own registered agent?
Only if you have a physical address in the state where your LLC is formed and are available during business hours. For international founders, this is not possible since you need a US address. Professional registered agent services solve this.
What happens if I do not have a registered agent?
Your LLC can lose its good standing, face penalties, and eventually be administratively dissolved by the state. You could also miss critical legal documents like lawsuit notices, resulting in default judgments against your LLC.
How much does a registered agent cost?
Professional registered agent services range from $49-299/year. StartGlobal includes the first year free with LLC formation ($599 package), then $99/year. Budget options start around $49/year but often lack document scanning and compliance alerts.
Can I change my registered agent later?
Yes. You can change your registered agent at any time by filing a simple form with your state (usually called a Statement of Change). Most states charge $5-25 for this filing. Your new agent takes effect immediately upon filing.
Does my registered agent address become public?
Yes. Your registered agent address is listed on public state records. This is actually a privacy benefit of using a professional service. Their address appears instead of your home address, keeping your personal address private.