Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the top LLC services providers
Filing documents, paying fees and other tedious tasks can certainly take the excitement out of starting and managing your own business. That’s where registered agents come in — they can receive and manage legal documents on your behalf, allowing you to focus on maximizing your company’s potential. In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides team will highlight the five best registered agent services based on key factors such as cost, reputation and customer experience.
The listings that appear are from companies from which this website may receive compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Not all companies, products or offers were reviewed in connection with this listing.
Best Registered Agent Services
Below are our top picks for registered agent services, all of which are available nationwide. These companies also earned an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review, which took into account service features, customer experience, value and reputation. Learn more about our rating system in our full LLC formation methodology.
- LegalZoom
- ZenBusiness
- MyCompanyWorks
- Bizee
- Rocket Lawyer
Compare Top Registered Agent Services
We researched 12 limited liability company services to select the best registered agent options. Our top picks all have at least five years of experience, feature multiple customer service options, offer custom operating agreements and provide a wide range of services at affordable rates.
Some registered agent service providers stand out in the industry. For example, LegalZoom, our top overall pick, earned an Inc. Power Partner Award for its business-to-business services in 2024. LegalZoom was also the most popular LLC service in our 2025 survey of 1,000 LLC owners — about 48% of them chose the company for registered agent services.
| LLC Service | Number of Services Offered in Top-Tier Plan | Bookkeeping and Accounting Services? | Standard Processing Time for Filing | Money-Back Guarantee | Free Basic Plan | Our Rating | TrustPilot Rating* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LegalZoom | 12 | Yes | 5 to 14 days | Yes, within 60 days | Yes | 4.8 stars | 4.6 out of 5 stars |
| ZenBusiness | 13 | Yes | 7 to 10 days | Yes, within 60 days | Yes | 4.7 stars | 4.8 out of 5 stars |
| MyCompanyWorks | 21 | No | Varies by state, but typically 1 to 21 days | Yes, within 90 days | No | 4.5 stars | 2.6 out of 5 stars |
| Bizee | 15 | Yes | 3 to 12 weeks | Yes, within 24 hours** | Yes | 4.4 stars | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Rocket Lawyer | 4 | No | Varies by state, but generally 3 to 20 days | Yes, within 30 days | No | 4.1 stars | 4.6 out of 5 stars |
**As long as payment hasn’t been forwarded to a government entity (minus $30 processing fee)
Roughly one in four LLC owners in our 1,000-person survey hired a registered agent service.
How Much Does an LLC Registered Agent Service Cost?
Most registered agent services charge fees that total $100 to $250 per year. On top of the provider’s annual fee, you may find other expenses such as a state fee for appointing the registered agent or for changing your current agent.
The table below shows the costs for registered agent services from our top LLC formation companies. Remember that registered agent services are generally optional add-ons that come with their own costs.
| LLC Service | Cost of Registered Agent Service |
|---|---|
| LegalZoom | $249 per year |
| ZenBusiness | $99 for the first year, then $199 per year |
| MyCompanyWorks | $119 per year with a Basic plan (included with an Entrepreneur or Complete plan, which have additional fees) |
| Bizee | Included for the first year, then $119 per year |
| Rocket Lawyer | $249.99 per year (or $124.99 with a Rocket Legal+ membership, which is $239.88 per year) |
Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service
In our survey, about 70% of LLC owners who hired a registered agent service were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the service they received. The following sections outline some of the potential benefits of using a registered agent service.
Peace of Mind
The peace of mind that comes with outsourcing legal paperwork and related responsibilities is probably the main benefit of using a registered agent service. When these stressful tasks are off your plate, you can focus more on innovative ways to grow your business.
Protecting Personal Privacy
When you use a registered agent service, that company’s address becomes your business address. In other words, you don’t have to worry about your personal address becoming public record. This extra level of privacy is a nice bonus for LLC founders.
Confidentiality
Among the legal documents a registered agent receives are lawsuit notices. If your business is involved in legal action and you or someone else at the physical business address is the registered agent, you might be served with legal documents in front of customers or employees. Having an outside registered agent at a different address keeps that situation from happening.
Location Flexibility
Registered agents must be present at the registered address during normal business hours. If you work remotely, work non-traditional hours, travel often or can’t be at the site of the registered address during daily business hours, you may miss official mail deliveries. You don’t have to worry about this when you use a registered agent service.
Easier Expansion
A registered agent can only operate in their state of residence. That means if you do business in multiple states or plan to expand into other states, you’ll need a registered agent for every state in which your business operates. A registered agent service will provide you with an agent for all places you do business.
Top Features To Look for in Registered Agent Services
Service area, cost, industry reputation and offerings are among the key considerations when choosing a registered agent service. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to look for:
- Service area: Choose a provider that’s qualified to be your registered agent everywhere you do business. It’s important to note that all our top-rated services are available in every state.
- Cost comparison: Compare fees (and sneaky subscription charges) when looking to hire a registered agent service. Some may offer the same services but at a higher cost.
- Reputation: Compare online ratings and reviews for the providers you’re considering. For example, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Bizee and Rocket Lawyer all have average ratings of at least 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
- Service options: While all registered agent services will receive mail on your behalf and forward it to you, some may offer additional services like business coaching, bookkeeping, tax filing and more.
How To Switch Registered Agent Services
The process of switching registered agents varies from state to state, including the fee each state charges for the change. Before filing for your registered agent change, check with your state’s secretary of state office or business registration website to find out what forms you’ll need to fill out and what fees you may need to pay.
Once you’ve completed all of the necessary forms, you’ll need to file them (online, by mail or by bringing them to your state’s business office, depending on the options in your state). If you’re switching to a registered agent service, ask if the service will assist you with this process. Some providers take care of the paperwork and cover any fees for you.
The listings that appear are from companies from which this website may receive compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Not all companies, products or offers were reviewed in connection with this listing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Registered Agent Services
Registered agent services, which are offered by LLC formation companies, take responsibility for receiving and storing important documents on behalf of an LLC. You can think of it as hiring an assistant to handle legal paperwork for you.
The requirements for registered agents vary by state. Typically, a registered agent must be at least 18 years old and have a physical address (not a P.O. Box) in the state in which the business operates. In most states, they must also be available during normal business hours.
A registered agent’s primary duty is to receive all official mail on behalf of the business. This includes tax documents, state documents, reminders of compliance filings such as annual reports and legal notices such as service of process. A registered agent can be an individual or a hired service.
Yes, you can be your own registered agent. It’s not uncommon to name yourself as the registered agent since it’s free and gives you more control over the LLC formation process. You can also generally name a trusted individual or a hired person as your LLC’s registered agent.
You can usually change registered agents by filing state-specific forms (and paying a fee if your state charges one). The exact process varies by state. If you’re switching to a registered agent service, some providers may handle the paperwork and fees for you.
Methodology: How We Rate and Rank Registered Agent Services
To provide consumers with objective and accurate information, our experts created a comprehensive system for rating limited liability company services. We researched a dozen online LLC, registered agent and trademark registration services.
We conducted a survey in 2025 of 1,000 professionals who had used LLC services within the past year. We analyzed the results of this survey to determine the following rating criteria:
- Features (30% of total score)
- Customer Experience (25% of total score)
- Value (25% of total score)
- Reputation (20% of total score)
Visit the full LLC methodology page for more details on our rating system.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
Legal Disclaimer: This article contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation and should not be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
