Registered Agent service, explained honestly
This is a statutory requirement, not an upsell. Every US state requires your LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state of formation — and if you live abroad, that cannot be you.
The essentials
Verified July 28, 2026
- Legally required?
- YesEvery US state requires an LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address.
- RazorFile price
- $99/yrIncluded for the first year in the Growth plan and above.
- PO box acceptable?
- NoStates require a physical street address where documents can be served during business hours.
- Can I be my own agent?
- Only if you have a physical address in the stateNot available to a founder living outside the US.
What's included
- A physical street address in your state of formation that satisfies the statutory requirement
- Receipt of service of process and official state correspondence
- Forwarding of received documents to you
What's not included
- General mail forwarding — a registered agent address is for legal and state documents, not your business post
- Acting as your business address for banking or Stripe, which is a separate question with its own requirements
- Legal representation of any kind
Letting agent service lapse is how companies quietly fall out of good standing
The failure is rarely dramatic. Agent service expires, the state sends a notice nobody receives, an annual report goes unfiled, and the company drifts into bad standing — often discovered months later when a bank or processor runs a check. Reinstatement costs more than the agent service did, and in the meantime the company may be unable to open accounts or sign contracts.
What a registered agent actually does
It is a legally required point of contact. If someone sues your company, or the state needs to reach it, the registered agent's address is where those documents are delivered. The state needs a real address where a real person can be served during business hours, which is why a PO box does not qualify.
Why you cannot be your own agent from abroad
You can act as your own registered agent if you have a physical street address in the state of formation and are available during business hours. A founder in Lagos, Karachi or Buenos Aires has neither, which is why the service exists rather than being an optional convenience.
What it costs across the market
Ours is $99 a year. ZenBusiness publishes $199 a year and Firstbase's Agent Autopilot is $299 annually per state. We are not claiming a better service — it is the same statutory function — but on a multi-year hold the difference compounds, and it is the line item founders most often forget to compare.
Worth knowing
A registered agent address is not a general business address. If you need somewhere to receive business mail, or an address to give Stripe or a bank, that is a different service with different requirements. Do not assume the agent address covers both.
Common questions
Is a registered agent actually required?
Yes, in every US state. It is a condition of maintaining the company, not an add-on service you can decline. A company without one risks falling out of good standing.
Can I use my registered agent address as my business address?
Generally not for banking or payment processing. Providers typically want a business address distinct from a registered agent address, and some specifically screen for known agent addresses. Treat them as two different needs.
What happens if my agent service lapses?
The state loses its official contact for your company. Notices go unreceived, filings get missed, and the company can fall into bad standing — usually discovered when a bank or processor runs a check. Reinstating costs more than maintaining it would have.
Form your US LLC with RazorFile
Wyoming filing, Registered Agent and EIN guidance from $249 plus the state fee. Filed in one to three business days.
RazorFile files companies. We are not a law firm or tax advisor, and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice.