Why You Need a Registered Agent

Starting a Texas corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or limited partnership (LP) requires you to appoint a registered agent. This person or company is the official point of contact for the state and your business.

A registered agent must have a physical address in the state of Texas, where they can be served with legal documents and official mail like tax notices. This address is called a registered office.

Requirements

If you’re a Texas small business, it’s important to have a registered agent. This person or professional company accepts government and tax documents on behalf of your business, and is also responsible for accepting service of process (if necessary).

Choosing the right registered agent can help ensure your small business stays compliant with state law. Some registered agents provide basic services like document scanning, mail forwarding, and immediate notification while others offer more advanced features like filing annual reports or handling franchise tax.

You can appoint yourself as your registered agent, but it’s usually more convenient and cost-effective to hire a professional service. They’ll handle the heavy lifting of receiving high-priority documents from the state and keep you in compliance with ongoing requirements.

Availability

If you are a business owner in Texas, you must have a registered agent in the state. This is required by law and helps to ensure you receive all documents related to your business, such as notices from the Secretary of State and state tax forms.

You may choose to have a single person or a third party act as your registered agent. This is helpful if you don’t have a physical address in the state or are on vacation or sick.

A registered agent is also important to help you stay in compliance with Texas laws and avoid fines. They also keep track of all filing requirements and notify you if you need to file a document.

Northwest is a great choice for registered agents in Texas because they offer a variety of services at an affordable price. They also offer strong customer support and a range of online resources to help grow your business.

Reputation

A registered agent serves as a company’s point of contact in the state. They receive important notices that may impact a business and make sure they’re filed correctly.

Choosing a reputable Texas registered agent can help you maintain compliance. If you miss vital filings or fail to respond to court summons, your business could be subject to fines and dissolution.

It’s crucial to choose a registered agent that has a physical street address (no P.O. boxes) and is available to receive documents during regular business hours.

This will help ensure that all the important legal and tax documents go to the right person and don’t fall through the cracks.

A reputable registered agent service will also hold onto official government notices until they’re received by your company or LLC. They can then keep track of deadlines for annual reports, franchise tax payments, and other requirements so that your business can avoid falling out of good standing with the state.

Fees

Registered agents play an important role in the legal and court systems. They receive process notices and government correspondence, forward those to the business owner, and keep track of all filings for the company.

Texas LLCs and foreign entities that register to do business in the state are required to have a registered agent in place. The registered agent is listed on the entity’s Certificate of Formation or Application for Registration (as applicable).

When forming your LLC, you have the option to choose a Texas-based individual or business to serve as your registered agent. They must have a physical address in Texas and be available during normal business hours to receive legal papers.

There are several online services that offer registered agent services for a fee. These include LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, and IncFile.