What a registered agent does, and why every US company needs one
When you form a company, the state asks who will receive official papers on its behalf. That person or company is the registered agent.
What the agent does
- receives lawsuits and other legal papers ("service of process") for the company;
- receives official letters from the state, such as annual report reminders;
- forwards everything to you quickly, usually as a scan the same day.
The rules
- The agent must have a physical street address in the state where the company is formed or registered. A PO box doesn't qualify.
- Someone must be available there during business hours.
- The agent's name and address are public.
You can be your own agent only if you live in that state. A non-US founder needs a professional registered agent.
What happens without one
If your agent resigns or you stop paying, the state can mark the company as not in good standing and eventually dissolve it. Worse, a lawsuit can proceed without you knowing, ending in a default judgment.
A registered agent address and a business address aren't the same thing. Banks and payment processors often want a business address where the company actually operates or receives mail.
If you form in one state and operate in another
You register as a "foreign" company in the second state and need a registered agent there too.