What Is a Registered Agent?
As you go through the formation process, "Registered Agent" is a term/role you'll see mentioned frequently. A Registered Agent is the recipient of important legal documents on behalf of your business. The duties of a Registered Agent include:
Serving as the business's official point of contact
Receiving important legal documents on behalf of the business
Being available during all regular business hours
Ensuring the business owner receives critical paperwork
A Registered Agent is required for all legal business entities, and you or your LLC organizer will be required to name an agent during the formation process. From that point forward, the Registered Agent will receive all government documents, including legal action, court summonses, subpoenas, tax information, and more. It is the responsibility of the Registered Agent to ensure you receive all of these critical documents promptly and securely.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent?
While you are able to serve as your own Registered Agent, we highly recommend hiring one. Your Registered Agent can either be someone you know or an outside service provider — as long as they meet the following requirements:
A Registered Agent must...
… be over the age of 18.
… have an address in the same state as the business.
… be available to receive documents during business hours.
A Registered Agent can be…
… the business owner or LLC member.
… a personal connection residing in the same state.
… a provider from a third-party Registered Agent service.
Still wondering what it takes to be a Registered Agent or what to look for when finding one for your business? Review the Registered Agent requirements in all 50 states.
Hiring a Registered Agent service comes at a cost to business owners, so why not just do it yourself? There are plenty of reasons to avoid being your own RA, including:
Privacy. If you're listed as your own Registered Agent, it's much easier for others to find your personal information, and you're at risk of being served sensitive documents at your residence.
Time. Registered Agents must be available during all business hours, which limits when and how frequently you can travel from your registered address.
Location. Registered Agents must reside in the same state as the business, so even if your business is remote, you wouldn't be able to move out of state if you're acting as your own Registered Agent.
Hiring a Registered Agent service is a hassle-free way to secure a dedicated Registered Agent in your state without sacrificing your privacy or your time.
What Is an LLC Organizer?
"LLC organizer" sounds like a fancy job title, but in reality, your LLC organizer is the person who signs and files your Articles of Organization — the paperwork that makes your business an official legal entity.
LLC organizer responsibilities include:
Filling out business formation paperwork
Signing the Articles of Organization
Filing the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State
Every LLC must be filed with the business owner's designated state business formation agency — most of the time, this is the Secretary of State, though the recipient may vary. The LLC organizer is responsible for compiling and completing all the paperwork that makes up the Articles of Organization, then signing that document and taking the appropriate steps to file it.
An LLC organizer is, in some ways, like a wedding planner. They take care of all the hassle so the bride and groom (or, in this case, the business owners) can focus on more important tasks without added stress.
Who Can Be an LLC Organizer?
To answer one of the biggest questions out there: Yes, you can act as your own LLC organizer. However, acting as an LLC organizer can be a huge distraction for a business owner, so always choose an LLC organizer carefully.
Who else can be an LLC organizer?
A company or an individual
The business owner or LLC member
A third-party provider like an accountant or attorney
A friend or family (at least 18 years of age)
A business formation service provider like Bizee
Your attorney or accountant may seem like a good LLC organizer, but they will likely charge extra for their services and be unable to focus on the other work they do for you. And if either one ever stops working for you, you'll be stuck needing to fill multiple roles.
Many business owners instead opt for a business formation service to act as their LLC organizer to ensure coverage no matter what.
Bizee's free LLC package gives you an LLC organizer who can file your Articles of Organization accurately and efficiently, not to mention a free Registered Agent for your first year. All you pay is your state's fee — the same you'd pay if you did the work yourself.
Registered Agent vs. LLC Organizer
LLC organizers and Registered Agents are not the same. In theory, the same person can perform both roles — a Registered Agent can file your Articles of Organization, and an LLC organizer can serve as a Registered Agent. Here's a breakdown:
