If you`re a small business owner who recently decided that an LLC or limited liability company is the right business structure for your business, and you`ve started preparing your incorporation documents or organizational statuses, you probably know you need a registered agent. LegalZoom is probably the most well-known name in the online business services market, as they have served millions of customers and have a huge advertising budget. Do you prefer services that can save you money while offering additional features? Do you want to see positive customer feedback before making a purchase? These are some good reasons to look elsewhere. A registered representative is a natural or legal person who receives service of processes, legal documents and official communications on behalf of your company. When you register a business entity, you must designate a registered representative who has a physical address in the state of registration. It might be tempting not to maintain a registered representative after you initially appoint one when registering your LLC. However, if you do not have a registered representative, you will face serious consequences. According to LegalZoom`s online reviews, some clients complain about a slower process and a lack of communication. If customer reviews are important to you when you opt for a registered agent service, it can reduce your trust in LegalZoom. Here`s what you need to know before choosing an agent. Most companies hire a legal service provider or lawyer to act as a registered representative.
Your registered representative will receive for you the legal, tax and other official mail, forward the documents to your business address and inform you of any delay or action you need to take. For urgent documents, such as notification of a trial. B, you will probably be informed the same day. As your registered representative, we not only receive your important legal documents and store them online securely for easy access, but we also offer additional tools to help your business. “I originally chose it because it was the easiest way to form my LLC. But I recently chose my lawyer as my registered agent. The main reason is that my lawyer also has her own real estate business, so she understands the details of me. She can do all the necessary formalities and be the “legal face” of my company. This is a fairly reasonable price for the service. I pay about $100 a year for my lawyer to be the registered agent for my business. Ultimately, the state doesn`t care so much about who you`re voting for, as long as it does what`s required of it, so make sure your choice is right for you.
We recommend ZenBusiness, they offer excellent customer service and an affordable price. Read the review **This service is only available to customers residing in the United States. Depending on the state you are in, the registered agent may also be called a “legal representative”. The agent`s business address can be called a “head office” and the legal documents that the agent accepts can be called a “process”. We fully understand the appeal of a company like LegalZoom, which is so well known and has such a large customer base. However, their price for registered agents is one of the highest we`ve ever seen, and they simply don`t have the features to make the premium price worth it. “In Arizona (where we are registered), a registered agent can be any person, and there is no requirement for them to be available during normal business hours. A family member who lives in Arizona is the registered agent for Advancing Science Worldwide. I would suggest to those who want to start a business to look at the requirements for registered agents for their specific states. “We have analyzed in more detail what you should consider before choosing LegalZoom as your registered agent service provider. We have divided these points into four topics, which are described below. LegalZoom charges much more for the same service as ZenBusiness.
LegalZoom`s registered agent cost is $299 per year, while ZenBusiness costs $99, or $159, which adds worry-free coverage for compliance deposits. What for? The power of the brand – nothing more. If you put their offers side by side, you will find that both companies offer a very similar service, ZenBusiness only does it for much cheaper. However, LegalZoom offers an added benefit in the form of million-dollar identity protection coverage and credit monitoring. A registered agent is also called a resident agent or process service agent in some states. They take care of a lot of professional mail and documentation, receive court records when you are served, and protect you, among other things, you and your company`s privacy. Specifically, here are the top three reasons why registered agents are important: Running a business without registered agents is not recommended. You may be prohibited from doing business, disagree with your level of education, lose your limited liability status, or even face hefty fines. In short, it`s not worth the risk. But what is a registered agent? And how do you make the decision to designate as a registered representative of your LLC? Your registered agent`s responsibilities don`t stop at accepting lawsuits and other documents on your behalf. The registered representative of an LLC has one main function: to be an agent for the delivery of the process and to receive other important correspondence on behalf of the LLC. In addition, a registered agent must transmit these documents to the LLC in a timely manner.
“We used LegalZoom to train our LLC, so we thought it would be easier to stay with them even as a registered representative. Whenever they receive documents from the state, they immediately send us copies. In the LegalZoom account portal, you can also easily download PDF copies of documents. In addition, there is also a calendar in the LegalZoom account portal that tells you as important deadlines approach. So, yes, LegalZoom is a bit more expensive than many competitors, but you get more of a premium registered agent service compared to other providers. Get legal proceedings: People with legitimate legal complaints against a company have an address to send the process service. A registered agent is a responsible third party located in the same state where a business entity was formed and who is designated to receive notices of processing, correspondence from the Secretary of State, and other official government notices, typically tax forms and notices of prosecution, on behalf of the corporation or LLC. No matter who you choose, you need to keep the information up to date.
Having a registered agent is a constant requirement, which means you`ll need one as long as your business is up and running. Because it`s such an established business, LegalZoom`s online reviews are mixed. Some customers are quite satisfied with their services, while others complain about factors such as hidden fees. Here are some examples of LegalZoom (from ConsumerAffairs) reviews of entrepreneurs and business owners who have used the services: Does your business need a registered agent service, but you don`t know who offers the best value for money? They offer a wide range of products and features that can make your life easier as an entrepreneur, including service for registered agents. .