What is a Registered Agent?
As a business owner, you're likely to have many responsibilities. You need to make sure that your company is compliant with state and federal regulations. You may be required to file paperwork for tax purposes or open a business bank account. And of course, the day-to-day operations of your company are often up to you as well.
In this article, you will learn about why it is so important to have a registered agent for your LLC , who can be your registered agent and have a clearer understanding of this essential requirement. you can read What is an LLC
So, what is a registered agent?
A registered agent is a person or firm that has been designated to receive legal deliveries (also known as service of process) on behalf of a company. Registered agents are responsible for receiving registered agent notifications from the Secretary of State, as well as other legal papers such as subpoenas, tax forms, regulatory notifications, or any other correspondence. The papers are delivered to the registered agent's address or mailed.
Why does the registered agent must be available during business hours?
In many situations, state legislation requires that legal notifications be delivered in person, so having a physical address with someone on hand to receive them is critical.
Registered agent requirements
With no exceptions, each state requires that a registered agent be designated in the formation of a new LLC. Although the regulations vary depending on which state your business is based in, you must have a registered agent to operate lawfully.
if you do not follow the legal requirement of have a registered agent you are taking the risk of being fined or shut down, and your business may even be dissolved. Furthermore, if you have not yet formed your company, you will not be able to do so until you have a registered agent as this is part of the requirements when you trying to form an LLC.
No matter who serves as your registered agent, they will need to:
The state's registered agent must be accessible at the address given to the state during normal business hours Monday to Friday.
A physical address in the same state as the business's location is required, as is a physical presence there. a P.O. Box is unacceptable.
If the registered agent is a person rather than a business entity, that individual must be at least 18 years old.
Can I be my own Registered Agent?
You can choose to be your own registered agent if desired. However, most businesses, especially those with storefronts, want to ensure they could never potentially be served with legal documents in front of their customers, and choose to hire a registered agent. The state requirement of having a registered agent originated because of "due process," which allows for a business that is being sued to have proper notice of the court’s proceedings.
Imagine providing service to your clients and being surprised when served with a legal court notice. Your clients may not know what it is all about and make negative assumptions about your conduct. You may also be stunned by such notice and not give high-quality service to your customer if you are in the middle of service.
Disadvantages of using your home address
You may not have clients or workers around to witness a service of process delivery if you operate a home-based business. However, if you work from home and act as your own registered agent, you must register your personal address with the county recorder.
Home-based businesses are sometimes concerned about privacy when they are registered agents because county recorders are notified of the address. Records show that in some cases, people have used this address to harass or send harassment letters. Also, in most states, the Secretary of State will disclose the business' information to third parties, including data brokers who can sell personal information for marketing purposes.
If you want to be your own registered agent, be prepared to have your home address published as a public record.
For these reasons, it’s almost always advisable to outsource the role of the registered agent for your business.
Hiring a professional registered agent service.
Many business owners choose to hire a professional registered agent service that has the business structure to process essential legal documents in a timely manner. They have a business address with a physical location in multiple states.
Business registration is a commercial registered agent service we offer our clients a national registered agent service that has offices in all 50 states, This option is ideal for those who want to open a new location in another state and/or expand into new states.
Registering your business with us will allow you to transact business across the country. Our registered agent services include:
1. Process agent with a registered office in multiple states: the office will accepting the official mail on behalf of many limited liability companies
2. Users can access all their important documents using the online portal, which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
3. Business registration provides excellent customer service: You can reach us by calling us chatting with us or emailing us.
Registered agent and All these requirements you must follow take time and energy away from doing what's most important: running your business! At business registration, we offer many solutions to keep your business in compliance from the very formation of your LLC, obtaining EIN number, file your annual reports. obtaining your good standing certificate and to being your national registered service provider.
Hire a business registration! With just one phone call, they'll handle all those pesky administrative tasks so that you can focus on what matters most - growing your business!
Registered agent in multiple states
Another important point to remember is that the registered agent is only ever responsible for your business in one state at a time. Unless it's a nationwide registered agent service with physical offices and a statutory agent in each state where your business operates during standard business hours, you can't have one registered agent handle this position for many states.
Corporate veil
Small business owners may inadvertently jeopardize their corporate veil by failing to follow basic formalities. Failure to have a designated registered agent may result in not being in good standing.
Conclusion
For these reasons, it’s almost always advisable to outsource the role of the registered agent for your business. Hiring a professional registered agent service is often ideal because they have a business address with a physical location in multiple states and are available 24/7 with live chat or phone services. =>As mentioned earlier, experts are ready and waiting to partner with you!
