What does a registered agent do?
- Accepts service of process: the papers that start a lawsuit against the business, and other legal notices that must be delivered in person.
- Receives official mail from the state, such as annual report reminders and tax notices.
- Is reachable at a physical address in the state during business hours. A post office box does not qualify.
- Passes everything on to the business promptly. Missing a lawsuit because papers sat unopened can mean losing it by default.
Why does the business lookup show one?
The agent's name and address are part of the public record on purpose: anyone who needs to sue the business, or the state itself, must know where to deliver papers. That is why a business entity search shows the registered agent next to the status and formation date. It is also why the agent is the one contact you can always find, even for an LLC whose owners are not on the record; see who owns an LLC.
Who can be a registered agent?
Usually any adult who lives in the state and has a street address there, or a business authorized to act as an agent in the state. That includes the company's own owner or an employee.
Can you be your own registered agent?
Yes, in most states, if you have a street address in the state and are there during business hours. The trade-offs:
| Being your own agent | A commercial registered agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | A yearly fee |
| Address on the public record | Yours, often your home | The agent's |
| Availability | You must be reachable at that address during business hours | Staffed by the service |
| Other states | Only works where you have an address | One service can cover many states |
A business that registers in a state where it has no office, as a foreign entity, usually needs a commercial agent there.
Other names for the same role
Some states use another term: Ohio says statutory agent, Maryland and Michigan say resident agent, and Pennsylvania lets a business use a commercial registered office provider. Where we have checked a state's term, it is on that state's page here.
New York works differently. Its Secretary of State acts as the statutory agent for service of process for corporations and LLCs, and forwards papers to an address the business gives; a separate registered agent is optional, and the record shows one only "if one has been designated" (NY DOS).
Changing the registered agent
A business changes its registered agent by filing a change form with the state's business office, usually for a small fee, and some states let the agent resign with a filing of its own. A business without a valid agent can lose its good standing and, in time, be dissolved by the state; see what each status means and certificates of good standing.
The SBA's guide to registering a business covers where the registered agent fits in forming one, and our articles of organization guide shows where it goes on the formation filing. To see a business's agent, pick a state and look it up.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Facts checked 2026-10-26 against the official sources linked above; confirm with the state or the IRS before you file. How we check our facts · Report an error