How To Change Registered Agent on LLC—A Complete Guide

A registered agent (also known as a statutory agent) is your main point of contact with the secretary of state, and in most states, you're required to appoint one before registering your business as an LLC. However, there can come a time when you decide to change your agent, whether it be due to price-related changes in their services or your dissatisfaction with the service. In such cases, you'll have to follow state-specific steps to change your registered agent.

We've done the legwork on your behalf to help you understand how to change registered agents on an LLC. We'll also show you how Harbor Compliance can help you make a hassle-free switch.

When Is Changing a Registered Agent Required?

Changing a registered agent is required when you need to designate a new agent to receive legal documents on your behalf, whether it’s because your current agent is no longer able to fulfill the role, they provide inadequate service, or you simply prefer a different provider. Some registered agent service providers, such as LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, and ZenBusiness, also tend to increase the prices of their services after a certain time frame, which is another reason business owners opt to make the change.

If you've formed your LLC using their service, you can change to the statutory agent of your choice instead of paying the increased price. Here are some other reasons why you may consider a change:

• Expanding into other states—Some registered agent services offer multistate coverage, making it possible to use a single provider as you expand your business. However, if your current registered agent is an individual or company that does not provide service across multiple states, unless you find a new provider, you’ll be forced to manage multiple vendors for your registered agent needs. In such cases, changing your registered agent to an entity that offers multistate support can be beneficial. This will remove the hassle of working with different service providers in each operating state.
• Removing yourself as the registered agent—If you set yourself as the registered agent but cannot fulfill your duties, you need to choose a new agent. Missing out on any key notices can lead to further legal consequences.
• Current registered agent resigning—If your current registered agent resigns or relocates, you must appoint a new agent to ensure that legal correspondence continues to be received on your behalf.
• Needing to complete certain statutory requirements—Changing your registered agent may be necessary to meet regulatory requirements in an easier, cost-effective way. For instance, some states mandate that businesses publish legal notices of changes in the county where their registered agent is located. If your agent is located in New York City, you’ll have to pay the New York City publishing rates which is much higher than rates in areas with smaller populations and lower cost of living.

How To Choose a New Registered Agent

Choosing a good registered agent is a crucial step for your LLC. Since they're at the forefront of all legal communications, you should ideally pick one that can fulfill all your expectations.

If you're changing due to your formation provider increasing their prices, consider these factors before giving the green light to a new agent:

1. Pricing
2. Flexibility
3. Availability
4. Expertise

Pricing

Choose a registered agent whose prices will not drastically increase after your initial contract. A dedicated and trusted commercial service can be helpful here since you can verify their pricing using customer reviews. We'll also discuss the advantages of using a commercial service later.

Flexibility

You won't always have the time to contact or visit your registered agent. Appointing one that provides online services, such as sending important documents online via email, will help you stay on track.

Availability

Make sure you choose a responsible statutory agent available during business hours at their office. A proactive registered agent will be helpful for specific situations like:

1. Personally receiving hand-delivered documents.
2. Accepting notices that require the signature of the consignee.

Expertise

All states across the U.S. have dynamic regulations that can change over time. Having a compliance expert as a registered agent will help you remain in good standing with your state. They can further assist you with any queries you may have regarding a change in regulations.

How To Change Registered Agent for an LLC

The entire process of changing a registered agent varies slightly from state to state, but there are a few common steps that you'll have to complete. Here's what you'll need to do:

1. Pick a new agent—Before canceling services with your current statutory agent, choose a new one with a residential address in the same state as your company. You will need to get their written consent on a form.
2. File a change of agent form—Every LLC is compelled to inform their jurisdiction's secretary of state regarding this transition. To file your state's Change of Registered Agent form, you need to fill out the necessary details and submit it online or via mail.
3. Pay the fee—Typically, LLCs have to pay a filing fee, which differs among states, so make sure you check your state's current rate.
4. Update internally—Once your request for change is processed, the prior registered agent will be removed from the public/state records and the new one will be added. However, you must notify key members of your company, such as beneficial owners or senior managers, to keep everyone in the loop.

Choosing Between Commercial and Noncommercial Registered Agents

One of the main reasons why any organization might prefer noncommercial registered agents is because they're usually low- or no-cost compared to their commercial counterparts. However, there are certain risks involved with individual agents:

1. Not being available in the office during all business hours
2. Failing to provide you with updated information on time (change in address, number, etc.)
3. Misinterpreting documents/notices due to lack of legal and regulatory knowledge
4. Delaying forwarding important papers due to personal workload

Conversely, commercial registered agents have pre-set protocols for tracking documents to ensure they don't miss any notices on your behalf. Additionally, commercial agents can file with the secretary of state for bulk address changes, making things easier for companies with multiple business locations.

Some commercial providers also offer additional services, such as document storage and online access, to ease your workload. Are you eager to find a regulatory partner who ticks all the boxes mentioned so far? Harbor Compliance is your answer.

Harbor Compliance—Comprehensive Registered Agent Service at Your Fingertips

With Harbor Compliance, legal entities can easily expedite the formation and agent change process with our encompassing Registered Agent Service. We ensure that you're always up-to-date with all notices and help you maintain good standing with your state. Some of the core registered agent services we offer include:

• An online portal that lets you access all past state-filed forms and notices
• Same-day delivery of key documents via email
• Immediate contact in case of lawsuits for quick response

The Advantage of Using Harbor Compliance vs. Individual Registered Agents

While the idea of appointing a personal registered agent for your LLC can be alluring, especially if they're someone you know and trust, they have to be active at every working hour and have the expertise to deal with various documentation simultaneously. For these reasons, choosing Harbor Compliance over individual statutory agents is a better option. You get:

• Nationwide coverage—We have offices that are active during business hours in all 50 states. This ensures timely document acceptance and removes the hassle of finding a new agent and paying extra charges for changing your state.
• Security—We employ industry-standard security protocols and cloud monitoring, keeping all your uploaded data secure.
• Flexibility for organizations—Our clients can work from anywhere at their own hours while our offices remain open to receive any notices.

The Process of Appointing Harbor Compliance as Your New Registered Agent

You can partner with Harbor Compliance in various capacities, depending on your needs. This includes appointing us as your new registered agent. Here's how you can do that:

1. Go to the signup wizard and choose your organization's state.
2. Add your organization's information.
3. Tick the "Change of Agent" service option.
4. Select it and continue to checkout.

Once complete, we'll handle the filing process to act as your new registered agent.

You can rely on us for two other services:

1. Forming a new legal entity
2. Expanding into a new state

Forming a New Legal Entity

Follow the steps below if you're creating a new organization:

1. Visit the signup wizard and order our registered agent service before filing with the secretary of state.
2. Choose from our range of incorporation, nonprofit, or LLC formation services.

Expanding Into a New State

If you've recently changed your state where your legal entity wasn't formed, our Foreign Qualification service will be ideal for you. We'll help you obtain a Certificate of Authority and provide one year of registered agent service at one flat price.

Additional Services by Harbor Compliance

In addition to registered agent services, we also help businesses with their BOI reporting and licensure processes. The table below showcases some of our most popular services:

Change Registered Agent for LLC FAQs

Explore some commonly asked questions regarding the change of registered agent for LLCs. Visit our Information Center to learn more.

Make Your Registered Agent Transition Seamless With Harbor Compliance

It can be difficult to strategize when changing your registered agent, especially if your company formation provider hikes its prices. However, transitioning to a credible agent can help you save both money and effort.

By ordering our Registered Agent Service, you receive all documents the same day and avoid the hassle of missing key notices and facing potential legal consequences. Partner with us to enjoy comprehensive registered agent services at the best price.

Contact us to inquire about additional services or schedule a free demo of our software. Check whether your organization meets other key state requirements with our free Harbor Compliance Score™. Learn more about our registered agent service in all 50 U.S. states by exploring the table below: