HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN REGISTERED AGENT FOR YOUR LLC
As a small business owner, you know how important it is to have the right team of professionals on your side. However, there are certain services that you can do all on your own—like becoming your own registered agent for your LLC. In this article, we’ll cover what a registered agent is, why you need one and how you can become your own registered agent in just a few simple steps.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is the individual or business entity officially designated to receive and distribute legal documents such as tax forms, notices from the state’s secretary of state and court summons on behalf of an LLC. By law, all LLCs must designate a registered agent when they register with the secretary of state in their home state. The person or entity chosen must have a physical address in the same state as the LLC.
Why Do You Need a Registered Agent?
The main reason for having a registered agent is that someone needs to be available during regular business hours to receive important legal documents and notices from the government. Without an appointed representative who can accept these documents on behalf of the LLC, important deadlines may be missed and serious penalties may result—not something any business owner wants to deal with!
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?
Yes, it is possible for an individual or company within the same state as the LLC to act as its own registered agent—including yourself! If you decide that being your own registered agent is right for your business, here are some things you should consider before taking on this role:
- Make sure that you have sufficient time available during regular business hours (9-5) to handle any legal documents or other correspondence sent by mail;
- Ensure that you have reliable access to a phone line so that if someone has questions about your status as a registered agent they can reach out;
- Make sure that you understand all of the responsibilities associated with being an LLC’s registered agent;
- Have an alternate plan in place if someone else needs to take over these duties at any point in time;
- Familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations related to serving as an LLC’s registered agent; Understand whether or not there are additional fees associated with serving in this role.
- Once you’ve done all of this research and decided that self-appointed registration is right for your business, follow these simple steps below!
Being able to serve as your own registered agent for your LLC comes with plenty of benefits—from cost savings to convenience—but it’s important that you understand exactly what it entails before jumping into it headfirst. Make sure that you do thorough research beforehand so that nothing gets missed along the way. With these tips in mind, becoming your own registered agent should be relatively straightforward!