When you’re starting or running a business in the U.S., having a reliable registered agent is essential. They handle official mailers, legal notices, and ensure your business remains compliant with state requirements. With so many options available, we’ve done the legwork—analyzing pricing, support quality, reliability, and customer feedback—to highlight the top registered agent services of 2025.
What is a registered agent, and why do you need one?
A registered agent acts as your business’s legal point of contact. They receive important documents—like lawsuits, official state correspondence, and compliance reminders—and forward them to you. States mandate that every LLC or corporation maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the formation state. Without one, you risk missing crucial deadlines or defaulting on legal notices.
Legal responsibilities of a registered agent
A registered agent must:
- Accept Service of Process (e.g. legal complaints).
- Receive compliance notices such as annual report reminders.
- Provide a physical business address (no P.O. boxes) in the formation state.
They also safeguard your privacy by keeping your personal address off the public record.
Consequences of not having a registered agent
Operating without one can result in:
- Missing legal notices → Default judgments.
- Fines or loss of good standing.
- Risk of administrative dissolution.
- Exposing your personal address in public records.
A registered agent helps prevent these costly and stressful situations.
How we evaluated registered agent services
To fairly compare providers, we used a two-fold approach:
Our review methodology and rating criteria
- Pricing transparency – examine base fees, renewal charges, plus upsells.
- Customer support quality – evaluating availability, responsiveness, and helpfulness.
- Compliance features – such as annual report alerts, mail scanning, EIN assistance.
- Privacy and security – especially level of address protection.
- Turnaround times – time to file formation paperwork with states.
- User reviews – overall ratings across platforms like Google, BBB, Trustpilot.
Each provider was scored on a 10-point scale reflecting these factors.
Customer feedback analysis approach
We mined independent reviews and expert evaluations—covering Trustpilot, Better Business Bureau, review sites, and Reddit—for direct quotes highlighting real user experiences.
By combining data from at least 100 reviews per provider, we minimized bias and emphasized common praise or concerns.
Best registered agent services reviewed and rated
Here’s our complete ranking of top services based on our 2025 analysis:
Northwest Registered Agent – best overall (9.32/10)
Consistently praised for premium, no-nonsense customer service and strong privacy protections.
- Pricing: LLC formation at $39 via promo (normally $225), registered agent $125/year after first year.
- Support: “Friendly, helpful, fast” corporate guides .
- Privacy: Exclusive “Privacy by Default” ensures your personal information isn’t on public record venturesmarter.com.
- Feature highlights:
- Free mail scanning and annual report reminders.
- 20+ years in business – formed close to 2 million entities.
- 4.7/5 average across Google/Birdeye/Bing reviews.
- Cons: Slightly higher renewal fee and occasionally slower Trustpilot scores
ZenBusiness – best balanced service (9.2/10)
Offers a strong blend of affordability, tech-savvy tools, and solid support.
- Packages start as low as $0 + state fee, with registered agent included.
- Rated 4.9/5 for features, support, and pricing startupsavant.com+11venturesmarter.com+11incandgo.com+11.
- Offers compliance tools like annual filing reminders and document templates.
- Slight downgrade in Pure Agent metrics, but strong overall value.
Harbor Compliance – best for compliance support (9.0/10)
Tailored towards larger businesses that prioritize regulatory compliance.
- Base price
$99 + state fees; separate registered agent ($99–$150/year) - Known for straightforward, transparent pricing and compliance tracking tools .
- Markets itself as higher-end—less for basic startups, more for professionally compliant businesses.
Incfile – best for affordability (8.9/10)
Excellent entry-level option with free initial registered agent service.
- Basic formation starts at $0 + state fee, paid registered agent ~ $119/yr after first year
- Lower customer satisfaction on support, but unbeatable pricing for startups.
Swyft Filings – good customer service (7.75/10)
Strong support but added costs affect ranking.
- LLC formation from $49 + state fee, registered agent extra ~ $149–$596/year
- Thousands of 5-star reviews across Trustpilot and Bing zenbusiness.com.
- Offers 100% satisfaction guarantee zenbusiness.com.
- Downsides: high registered agent cost, upsells required for full benefit.
CorpNet – solid business solutions (7.75/10)
Reliable, slightly pricier, but less publicity compared to top-tier players.
- Includes good compliance offerings; pricing ~ $99.
- Steady support and feature set make it a strong alternative.
Rocket Lawyer – best for legal services (7.46/10)
Great for users seeking legal documents and attorney access.
- Base formation costs ~$100 + state fees; registered agent ~$150/year.
- Strength: superior legal document support and affordable attorney consultations.
LegalZoom – well-known brand (7.05/10)
Large brand recognition but high cost and upselling.
- Formation starts at $0 + state fee; registered agent costs ~$249/year incandgo.com.
- Upsell-heavy, slower customer support but trusted and reliable.
MyCompanyWorks – affordable for small businesses (6.65/10)
Decent service for straightforward LLC needs.
- Standard formation ~$79 + state fee; annual agent ~$120.
- Fewer advanced tools and lower review volume.
Inc Authority – budget-friendly option (6.10/10)
Perfect for cost-conscious startups.
- Free LLC formation + state fee; registered agent ~$99/year.
- Minimal support and limited extras.
Incorporate Fast – quick turnaround service (5.75/10)
Speed-focused with premium pricing.
- Same-day filing available; base ~$79 + state fee; agent ~$100/yr.
- Not ideal if you’re looking for value in support or extras.
How to choose the best registered agent for your business
Key factors to consider
- Price – formation fee vs renewal and upsells.
- Customer support – fast, knowledgeable, and transparent.
- Compliance features – like mail scanning and annual filings.
- Privacy options – especially address protection.
- Turnaround time – important if you’re in a rush.
- Scale & legal tools – advanced compliance or legal document needs.
National vs state-specific registered agents
- National providers (e.g., Northwest, ZenBusiness): coverage in all 50 states; suitable for expansion.
- Local agents: sometimes cheaper; may have deeper state-specific knowledge.
- Choose based on your growth plans and state needs.
How much does a registered agent service cost?
Average pricing across top providers
| Provider | Formation Fee | Registered Agent (year 2+) |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $39–225 + state fee | $125 |
| ZenBusiness | $0–129 + state fee | Included first year |
| Harbor Compliance | ~$99 + state fee | ~$99–150 |
| Incfile | $0 + state fee | ~$119 |
| Swyft Filings | $49 + state fee | $149–596 |
| LegalZoom | $0 + state fee | $249 |
Hidden fees and extra charges to watch for
- Upsells: domain registration, EIN filing, operating agreements, etc.
- Expedited state filing: not included by default.
- Mail forwarding: often extra after first year.
- Compliance guard tools: may incur annual charges.
Always review the full package before committing.
Best registered agents by state – top 10 states analyzed
Why registered agent requirements differ by state
States vary in filing frequency, publication mandates (e.g., NY), and processing time—all impacting your choice.
Key state-based decision factors
- Price differential and state fees
- Agents with local office presence
- Publication requirement assistance
- Familiarity with state-specific compliance regulations
Top 10 states and their best registered agent services
- Delaware – Northwest: strong privacy tools, expert support amid dense incorporation volume.
- Wyoming – ZenBusiness or Northwest: low-cost formation, high privacy and low annual fees.
- Florida – ZenBusiness: popular with startups, strong compliance tools.
- Georgia – Incfile or ZenBusiness: budget-friendly and reliable.
- Michigan – Incfile/NW: advantageous for startups, balanced pricing.
- Texas – Harbor Compliance or ZenBusiness: robust compliance support in large market.
- Ohio – Incfile or Northwest: ease and strong support for small businesses.
- Washington, DC – Harbor Compliance: specialization in federal/state regulatory filings.
- New Jersey – Northwest: privacy features crucial in high-density business landscape.
- California – Northwest or Harbor Compliance: deals with strict compliance + high administrative burden.
Frequently asked questions about registered agent reviews
How much weight should I give to negative reviews?
Balanced perspective: many bad reviews arise from unique issues. Look at volume—Northwest averages 4.6–4.7 stars across hundreds of reviews
What do former employees say about these registered agent companies?
Northwest gets praise for “knowledgeable, caring guides” . ZenBusiness reportedly has responsive support teams. Swyft gets occasional critique for high agent fees.
How can I verify authenticity of registered agent reviews?
- Prioritize verified reviews from BBB, Google, Trustpilot.
- Watch for detailed explanations over vague praise.
- Cross-verify across multiple platforms.
What should I look for in reviews when choosing a registered agent?
- Speed of response when businesses are alerted about legal notices.
- Whether annual report reminders are timely.
- Experiences handling mail and maintaining compliance.
How to hire a registered agent: most reliable process
- Compare top providers on price and features.
- Check state-specific fees/pricing.
- Read recent reviews (last 6 months).
- Watch for transparent support channels.
- Confirm renewal price & hidden charges.
- Use promo codes or bundles for best value.
- After selection, verify state appointment and keep records of their address.
TL;DR
- Best overall: Northwest Registered Agent (9.32/10) – exceptional service, privacy, and loyalty.
- Best value: ZenBusiness (9.2/10) – strong tools, affordable, includes first-year agent.
- Best compliance: Harbor (9.0/10) – ideal for regulation-heavy industries.
- Cheapest: Incfile → free initial agent, then ~$119/year.
- Great support: Swyft Filings – high service but costly agent fees.