Are you in Florida and looking for a Florida registered agent? Then we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll go in-depth on the best registered agent in Florida for 2024.
When it comes to starting and managing a business, choosing the right registered agent is key. This is especially true in Florida, as the Sunshine State has some of the most stringent agent requirements in the country.
The right registered agent will help your business stay compliant with state regulations, keep you informed on important filing deadlines, and help protect your privacy. In addition, registered agents help serve a critical role in corporate governance and can also provide you with important legal services.
The Best Florida Registered Agents For 2024
If you’re looking for a registered agent in Florida, look no further. Here are our top 10 for 2024:
- Northwest Registered Agent — Best Florida Registered Agent for 2024
- Harbor Compliance — Best Budget Agent in FL
- LegalZoom — Best Premium Registered Agent Service
- ZenBusiness — Best Registered Agent With Strong Reviews
- IncFile — Best Registered Agent With Free Business Formation Service
- Rocket Lawyer — Best Registered Agent With Large Volume of Customers
- SunDoc Filings — Best For Volume Entries
- InCorp — Best For Educational Resources
- Swyft Filings — Best Agent With Money-Back Guarantee
- Inc Authority — Best Agent that Offers Free LLC Formation
Best Registered Agents Florida : Compared
Below, we compare in more detail the best Florida Registered agents for 2024.
1. Northwest Registered Agent — Best Overall Registered Agent Florida
There are many registered agents to choose from in Florida, but Northwest Registered Agent is almost always cited as the best option. This company has a long history of providing quality service and support to businesses throughout the state. One of the main reasons that Northwest Registered Agent is so popular is because they’re a one-stop-shop: they offer a full range of services for businesses, so you can get everything you need at one place.
Pros:
1. Solid Pricing Model — One of the main benefits of using Northwest Registered Agent is that they have a very affordable pricing model. You can expect to pay just $85 per year for their registered agent services, which is a fraction of what you would pay at other firms.
2. Large Network — Another plus for Northwest Registered Agent is their large network of contacts and resources. This allows them to provide support to businesses in all industries and of all sizes, and refer you to different service providers if necessary — often at a discounted rate.
3. 20+ Years of Experience — Northwest Registered Agent has been in business for more than 20 years, and during that time they have developed a reputation for providing quality service. They’re not going to up and run off on you anytime soon.
Cons:
1. Higher Price Point — While Northwest Registered Agent is very affordable, there are some registered agents that charge even less.
Price: $125 Total
2. Harbor Compliance — Best Budget Agent in Florida
Harbor Compliance covers all of the essentials to ensure that you comply with the Florida Department of State and Division of Corporations’ legal standards. They’ll provide you with a Florida business address and mail forwarding (while scanning and uploading the essential documents to their internet portal), as well as any service of process notices and compliance deadlines.
Pros:
1. Budget-Friendly — Harbor Compliance’s rates are very budget-friendly, especially when you compare them to the cost of an in-house registered agent (or many of their competitors on this list).
2. Excellent Customer Service — Harbor Compliance has excellent customer service. Most people have never had an issue that they couldn’t help them with or resolve quickly — clients often cite how in-depth their customer support team is willing to go to help.
3. Timely Notices and Updates — Harbor Compliance sends out timely notices and updates well ahead of deadlines, so you never have to worry about missing a due date.
Cons :
1. Covers Only The Basics — At present, Harbor Compliance covers only the essentials of registered agent services: a business address, mail forwarding, scanning, and notices of delivery. They don’t offer any additional services, so make sure all of your needs fall under their scope before signing up.
Price: $99.00 per state per year
3. LegalZoom — Best Premium Registered Agent Service
When you choose LegalZoom as your registered agent, you’re dealing with a well-known, reputable company. They have a solid track record of keeping their commitments and have been in business for over twenty years, providing high-quality service the entire time.
Pros :
1. $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance — On top of the essentials you get from any registered agent (such as forwarding service and legal notices), LegalZoom also offers $1 million in identity theft insurance. This is great peace of mind, especially if you’re a small business owner in a fraud-heavy industry (like finance).
2. Customer Support — LegalZoom has an excellent customer support system, which is important for a company that deals with legal documents. They offer phone support, email support, and even chat support with blazing-fast response time.
3. Variety of Services — LegalZoom offers a variety of services beyond registered agent services, including (but not limited to) estate planning, business formation, trademark registration, and more. This makes them an excellent one-stop shop for all your legal needs — not just your registered agent ones.
Cons:
1. Commonly referred to as pricy — To be clear, LegalZoom is not the cheapest registered agent around. That said, you do get what you pay for in terms of quality and customer service.
Price : $299 per year
4. ZenBusiness — Best Registered Agent With Strong Reviews
ZenBusiness is a top-rated registered agent with exceptional customer reviews. They’re the perfect solution for entrepreneurs who want to focus on their business and leave legal mumbo-jumbo to the professionals.
The company has 2 pricing tiers, both of which include registered agent services, access to the company’s online legal document library, and more.
Pros:
1. Exceptional customer reviews — ZenBusiness has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google, and 4.8 out of 5 stars on Yelp — making them one of the highest-rated registered agents on this list.
2. Affordable pricing — ZenBusiness offers 2 pricing tiers, both of which include registered agent services and access to the company’s online legal document library. The premium tier offers even more, like estate planning.
3. Nationwide service — ZenBusiness is a nationwide registered agent, meaning they can serve entrepreneurs in all 50 states.
Cons:
1. Limited online legal document library — ZenBusiness’ online legal document library is limited to just a few documents.
Price : $99.00 per state per year
5. Incfile — Best Registered Agent With Free Business Formation Service
Incfile’s business formation offerings include a long list of features, one of which is a high-quality registered agent service. They provide 12 months of registered agent service with any of their incorporation packages at no additional cost, and they also have one of the lowest yearly renewal prices in the industry.
Pros:
1. Reasonable Pricing — Incfile offers some of the most competitive pricing in the industry for their registered agent service. You get one full year of registered agent service included for free with any of their incorporation packages.
2. Excellent Customer Service — Incfile has an excellent reputation for providing top-notch customer service. If you have any questions or problems with your mailing address or are waiting on documentation, the team at Incfile has an average response time of just a few hours — helping you resolve your concerns quickly and efficiently.
Cons:
1. Add-ons and Upsells — Incfile is a bit notorious for its many upsells and add-ons. While their registered agent service is a great value, you may find yourself being prompted to purchase additional features or services that you don’t really need. As long as you keep a cool head and remember why you’re using their service, you should be fine — but it’s worth knowing.
Price: $119.00
6. Rocket Lawyer — Best Registered Agent With Large Volume of Customers
Rocket Lawyer is one of the most experienced business service organizations in the sector, having handled a total of 20 million customers since its inception in 2008. That’s a lot of people, and it means that they’ve had to develop an extremely robust and reliable service in order to meet the needs of their wide customer base.
Pros:
1. Excellent Customer Feedback — One of the best ways to determine if a company is up to snuff or not is by averaging its customer feedback scores across multiple platforms. Unsurprisingly, Rocket Lawyer has a ton of great reviews on popular review sites like TrustPilot and Yelp, averaging over a 4.5.
2. Robust Service — Rocket Lawyer offers extremely high-quality service, with clear-cut documentation and legal offerings that have been reviewed by some of the best lawyers in the country.
3. Large Customer Volume — As mentioned earlier, Rocket Lawyer has handled over 20 million customers over the years, indicating that they’re a reliable and well-respected company. Grifters and poor-quality registered agents are unlikely to hit even a hundredth of their size.
Cons:
1. Pricey — Rocket Lawyer is not the cheapest option out there, with an average price of around 20% more than its competitors. Naturally, this could be a turnoff for some businesses — but keep in mind this reflects their increased quality and commitment to results.
Price: $149.00
7. SunDoc Filings — Best For Volume Entries
Aside from registered agent service, SunDoc Filings also offers a range of other services to businesses, including incorporations, LLC formations, and non-profit filings. It also offers discounts for volume orders, so businesses that are looking to form multiple entities can do so at a lower cost. To top it off, they’re a registered agent in all 50 states, making it a great resource for businesses expanding their operations nationwide.
Pros:
1. Volume discounts — Unlike most of the other registered agents on this list, businesses that are looking to form multiple corporations or entities can take advantage of SunDoc Filings’ generous volume discounts. Umbrella companies and complex corporate structures love their service because of its affordability at scale.
2. Exceptional Customer Support — Because they deal with volume clients, SunDoc Filings has a very efficient team of customer support representatives with a response time of just a few hours. This is incredibly helpful for businesses that are new to forming entities and need some guidance.
Cons:
1. Expensive for solo companies — If you’re not taking advantage of their volume discount, SunDoc Filings can get relatively expensive for what they offer.
Price: From $79 to $249.00
8. Incorp — Best For Educational Resources
InCorp is an LLC creation provider similar to Harbor Compliance — they charge the same $99 per state per year and have many of the same services. In addition, the company provides educational resources and organizational tools to help businesses maintain their compliance with state regulations. Their books, articles, and webinars on a range of topics related to business organization and compliance help companies that are looking to learn proper procedures on their own.
Pros:
1. Operates In All 50 States — InCorp is a full-service company that can help you form an LLC in any state.
2. Low Cost — InCorp’s fees are very low, and they offer a variety of discounts for those who take multiple services or set up multiple entities.
3. Excellent Educational Resources — Unlike many of the other registered agents on this list, InCorp puts a specific emphasis on customer education. They want you to be able to help yourself; and they do this by providing a wealth of resources to help your team stay compliant with state regulations.
Cons:
1. Complicated UI — The user interface on InCorp’s website can be a little complicated, and it can be difficult to find the information you need.
Price: $99.00 per year per state
9. Swyft Filings — Best Agent With Money-Back Guarantee
Swyft Filings will save you money and time by taking care of all of your filing requirements, enabling you to concentrate on more important management activities. Its business formation bundle includes things like obtaining an EIN[5], WebHost, business web design, mail forwarding, and the creation of operating agreements. The formation package is very affordable, and you can also choose to add on services like registered agents, DBA filings, and more.
Pros:
1. Offers 100% Money-Back Guarantee — If for any reason you are not satisfied with the services provided, Swyft Filings will refund your money completely.
2. Affordable formation package — Compared to other services, Swyft Filings offers a very affordable formation package. Their registered agent services aren’t as cheap, but if you want multiple things done, they’re one of your best go-to options.
Cons:
1. No State-Specific Forms — Swyft Filings does not offer some state-specific forms for some services, so you may need to do some additional research on state requirements if your needs are outside of the regular.
Price: $149.00 per year per state
10. Inc Authority — Best Agent that Offers Free LLC Formation
What makes Inc Authority stand out is that they offer completely free LLC formation services in Florida. There are no hidden fees, and you can form your LLC online in just a few minutes. Inc Authority can also create your limited liability corporation for free (i.e no additional cost) as long as you make sure your state charges are paid for — and they do it while providing a full year of registered agent service in Florida.
Pros:
1. Completely Free LLC Formation Service — Inc Authority offers free LLC formation services in Florida. There’s no catch, no hidden fees, and you can do everything you need to form an LLC online in just a few minutes.
2. Registered Agent Service — The firm will provide a full year of registered agent service in Florida.
3. Excellent Customer Feedback — Inc Authority has an excellent rating with the Better Business Bureau, one of the largest ratings organizations on the planet. Their positive reviews praise the professionalism, affordability, and quality of their service..
Cons:
1. No Physical Address — Inc Authority is an online-only company and they do not have a physical address.
Price: $99.00
What Is A Florida Registered Agent?
A Florida registered agent is a business or individual who is designated to receive legal notices and service of process on behalf of a company or individual. Generally, they act as a point of contact for the state and ensure that all correspondence is handled in a timely manner, and they’re required in many states.
The most crucial component of a registered agent’s purpose is to receive document deliveries from the state government in a timely manner and then notifying your company. Some also forward the documents directly to you for safekeeping.
Naturally, a registered agent’s service is critical, since it creates a point of contact for your business with the state, allowing them to reach out to an official representative of your firm at any time.
Why Do I Need A Florida Registered Agent?
You will need a registered agent to form a limited liability company (LLC) or to start a corporation in Florida. The state of Florida requires all businesses operating within its borders to have a registered agent on file.
This is a requirement of the state — not your company. By law, the agent must be a resident of Florida or a corporation authorized to do business in the state. In addition to being named as a registered agent, the agent must also maintain a physical presence in the state (although this is changing as technology continues to decentralize government procedure).
There are a few reasons why having a registered agent is important. First and foremost, it ensures that your company is in compliance with state law. Secondly, it provides a point of contact for the state government, which can be helpful if they need to reach out to your company for any reason. Finally, it ensures that all legal notices and service of process are delivered to your company in a timely manner.
If you do not have a registered agent on file, the state will serve the documents to the person or business listed as the “principal office” on your company’s registration form. This can be a hassle and may cause delays in receiving important documents. By having a registered agent on file, you can avoid this inconvenience and ensure that all correspondence is handled promptly.
Who Can Be A Florida Registered Agent?
A registered agent should be a Florida resident or a registered agent company that is allowed to do business in Florida (typically a corporation or LLC). During regular business hours, the RA’s registered office must be staffed by either the individual RA or an owner or employee of the RA.
As long as you are available to receive legal notices and service of process on behalf of your company, you can act as its registered agent.
This means that you or one of your co-owners can act as your registered agent, or you can choose a friend or family member to do so. You can also employ a lawyer or accountant to act as your agent, or you can use an internet business services provider — like those in the list above — to do so.
Regardless of who you designate as your registered agent, they must be physically present at the state’s address during all regular business hours. This individual or entity does not need to have any prior experience as a registered agent, but it is advisable to select a registered agent who is aware of the important duties that come with the position (so as to take it seriously).
Here are some of the more concrete guidelines:
1. The individual or company you appoint as your registered agent must have a physical presence in the state of Florida.
2. The registered agent must be available to accept legal notices and service of process during all regular business hours.
3. The registered agent cannot be a party to a lawsuit or involved in the case in any way.
4. The registered agent must forward all legal notices and service of process to the company or individual listed as the registered agent for service of process.
How To Find A Registered Agent In Florida?
When starting a business in Florida, you are required by law to appoint a registered agent. These individuals or organizations will accept legal notices on behalf of your business and ensure you remain compliant.
Here are some tips on how to find a registered agent in Florida:
1. Don’t just pick on a whim — do your research. There are hundreds of registered agents in Florida, so take the time to research them all and find one that you’re sure offers the services your company will need.
2. Ask for referrals. If you know someone who has already started a business in Florida, ask them for a referral. They will likely be able to recommend a registered agent that meets your needs.
3. Read reviews — in particular, the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Online reviews can be a great way to learn more about registered agents in Florida. BBB in particular is a great, unbiased source of information on registered agent quality. Be sure to read reviews from both current and past clients to get a better idea of what to expect.
4. Compare rates. Though it’s a legal obligation, you should know that not all registered agents charge the same rates for their services. Make sure to compare them before making your decision, and understand that the cheapest option isn’t always necessarily the best.
5. Ask questions & do your due diligence. Interview your registered agent before signing up to their services. This could take the place of a 5-minute phone call, or even an email thread. While doing so, ask them how long they’ve been in business, how many clients they have, and if they’re confident they can take care of your service requirements. Match this information with what you find online. It’s important to take extra security measures with registered agents because of the degree of sensitive information you’re letting them receive — do your due diligence.
What Are The Requirements to be a Florida Registered Agent?
Below, we review the requirements needed to become a Florida Registered agent.
Have a Physical Address
A registered office in Florida is required for registered agents. This registered office might be any actual location where mail and process services can be delivered and accepted in person. As a registered office address, a house, business, or office suite number will serve. P.O. Virtual offices and boxes are not acceptable.
Be Available
A registered agent is supposed to be someone trustworthy who can receive service of process. This individual should be available throughout standard business hours, usually between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Accept Service of Process
By law, the registered agent is the person authorized to accept any legal documents on behalf of the company. This includes service of process, which is a formal notice from a court or government agency that begins a legal action.
Receive Official Notices
In addition to service of process, the registered agent will also receive other important notices on behalf of the company, such as annual reports, changes of officers/directors, and dissolution notices. By law, the registered agent must forward all such notices to the company’s principal office.
Conclusion: what is the best Florida registered agent?
When dealing with something as important as your business, it is crucial that you take the time to find the best registered agent for Florida. The right registered agent can help you keep your business organized and running smoothly, while also providing you with the legal protection you need. By taking the time to research and compare different registered agents, you can be sure that you are making the best decision for your business.
There are many great Florida registered agents to choose from, but my top choice would have to be The Northwest Registered Agent. They are a reliable and experienced company that can help you with all of your registered agent needs.