Best registered agent services of 2024
Sierra Campbell
Verified by an expert“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 2:13 a.m. UTC Sep. 3, 2024
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Registered agent services help small businesses operate legally across state lines. Top-rated solutions deliver documents promptly, but each option has a different price point and value-added features. You do have the option of being your own registered agent, but in some cases, it might be better to use a company for this. We looked at 10 registered agent providers, assessing the companies’ reputation, customer reviews, value and support.
Use this guide to see how the best registered agent services compare and to find the best solution for your business.
Best registered agent services
- Northwest Registered Agent: Ideal for maintaining privacy.
- Harbor Compliance: Best for managing multi-state entities.
- InCorp: Better option for long-term registered agent services.
- BetterLegal: Preferred choice for monthly plans.
- Sundoc Filings: Top pick for attorneys and CPAs.
- Bizee: Best free business formation with a registered agent.
- Rocket Lawyer: Recommended subscription for legal documents.
- Swyft Filings: Good add-on to a business formation plan.
- ZenBusiness: Suitable for socially conscious entrepreneurs.
- LegalZoom: Viable option for extended customer support hours.
Featured registered agent service offers
ZenBusiness
Via ZenBusiness’ website
Cost
$199 annually
Same-day document delivery
No
Phone support
Yes
Northwest Registered Agent
Via Northwest Registered Agent’s website
Cost
$125
Same-day document delivery
Yes
Phone support
Yes
Tailor Brands
Via Tailor Brands’ website
Pricing
$0 + state fee + up to $50 Amazon gift card
Service time
Varies by State & Package
Why trust our small business experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 15 companies reviewed.
- 540 data points analyzed.
- 100+ hours of research.
Ideal for maintaining privacy
Northwest Registered Agent
Starting fee
Live chat
Same-day document scans
Pros and cons
- Performs most services in-house.
- Limits publicly-shared business information.
- Provides alerts for unread essential mail.
- Isn’t the cheapest option.
- Limited to 15 forwarded legal documents yearly.
Who Northwest Registered Agent is best for
In our research, we didn’t come across another registered agent service with such a straightforward and robust privacy policy. If you work from home or run an e-commerce business and are concerned about putting your name on state forms or being hit with spam calls after signing up, don’t be. Northwest Registered Agent limits data shared with state agencies and on public documents.
Even better, you never have to “opt out” of third-party marketing lists. It also accepts Amazon Verification Cards in 12 states, a bonus for Amazon sellers. High-profile individuals or those in sensitive industries like healthcare or finance will appreciate that Northwest Registered Agent has its own servers, backup servers and robust data management policies. These additional protections give you (and your clients) peace of mind.
By handling its services in-house, Northwest Registered Agent maintains higher control over its offices in all 50 states. This allows it to cater to specific industries, such as trucking companies or bus services that transport people or products across state lines.
Why is Northwest Registered Agent the best?
When you assign Northwest Registered Agent to be your registered agent, you know it, not a third party, handles your legal mail onsite. Likewise, you can call or email with a business question without unknowingly signing up for services you don’t want or need. Its secure, straightforward approach ensures privacy without the premium price tag.
Value
Northwest Registered Agent falls in the middle of the pack price-wise. But it is one of a handful of companies offering same-day document scans, ensuring you receive documents without delay. The provider also notifies you if your essential mail isn’t read, which we appreciate since things can fall through the cracks when our inboxes are flooded.
While we believe that while the most value comes from Northwest Registered Agent’s approach to privacy, other perks, like a free domain and discounts on multi-state purchases, sweeten the deal. Still, it can be expensive if you exceed the limit for standard mail delivery. You can also add mail forwarding or get a free year of registered agent service when you form a business through Northwest Registered Agent.
Functionality
Northwest Registered Agent offers the standard services you’d expect from a registered agent, making the process easier and potentially more private than competitors. First, you can sign up online, and after entering your business information, additional forms are pre-populated. That convenience saves you time when accessing scanned documents or complying with annual reporting requirements.
It also scans everything onsite, whereas some providers forward mail to a head office for scanning. While the five normal mail document scans aren’t a lot, many registered agent services don’t handle regular mail at all. However, law firms or real estate companies may find restrictions on legal document forwarding (15 per year) too limiting.
Support
Northwest Registered Agent provides common-sense business advice on its website but doesn’t offer legal services or templates. Unlike Rocket Lawyer, it’s not a one-stop shop for DIY-ing every business form. But, you can reach business experts (including Spanish-speaking Corporate Guides) by phone or email when you need information on starting a business or deciding if you need to pay a franchise tax.
Getting answers without navigating complex phone menus or listening to product pitches is refreshing. Northwest Registered Agent handles support in the same way it does its website — with plain language so you can solve problems without confusion.
Learn more: Read our full Northwest Registered Agent review.
Our expert opinion
Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.
Our expert opinion | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Value for money | 9/10 | The company’s transparent pricing (no steep increase when you renew) and emphasis on privacy make its registered agent services worth it | ||
Feature set | 9/10 | It offers everything you need from a registered agent, and none of the services are farmed out. But complex sectors like real estate may easily hit the 15-document limit | ||
Responsiveness | 8/10 | Business owners often recommend Northwest Registered Agent because it responds promptly by phone, though emails take a bit longer | ||
Reputation | 9/10 | User feedback shows entrepreneurs trust this company’s registered agent services, even if they purchase other products elsewhere | ||
Overall score | 8.75/10 | Northwest Registered Agent helps small businesses maintain privacy and peace of mind without pushy upselling tactics or frills |
Best for managing multi-state entities
Harbor Compliance
Starting fee
Live chat
Same-day document scans
Pros and cons
- Receive a phone call if you get served.
- Customizable alerts for different team members.
- Can save money with volume discounts.
- Customer service isn’t available via live chat.
- No mobile apps.
- Less-modern website interface.
Who Harbor Compliance is best for
If your company is looking for the lowest-priced registered agent services or wants to save time when registering for multiple states, we recommend Harbor Compliance. Its online software and ordering process lets you expand your business into new regions by simply clicking “Add States” in the portal and using the pre-filled forms.
With customizable notifications and access for attorneys, accountants and other team members, Harbor Compliance is also a good fit for businesses with more complex needs. Your lawyer can decide what reminders they want to receive and when. Plus, you can ensure state compliance by having individuals who oversee those territories manage their compliance calendars and annual alerts.
Aside from registered agent services, we appreciate that Harbor Compliance maintains a robust information center, including a license library with two full-time librarians. Its self-managed and managed licensing services support your business as it grows across state lines and is ideal for industries like engineering, nonprofits and law firms.
Why is Harbor Compliance the best?
Harbor Compliance tops our list as the best registered agent service for multi-state businesses because it is affordable and centralizes your documents. The right people, from lawyers to regional managers, can access legal papers and annual reporting deadlines plus get timely alerts. Overall, our customer service experiences and those reported by its clients were prompt and helpful.
Value
Harbor Compliance charges a flat rate fee of $99 annually which is lower than most competitors. Yet, it doesn’t skimp on services. If you don’t download your documents, Harbor Compliance follows up until they have been read. It’s also scalable for growing your company nationally. We loved the quick process of adding states using pre-populated online forms, and volume discounts reduce the price further.
While Harbor Compliance doesn’t have mobile apps or live chat, most users are satisfied with the support and online portal. It has more detailed licensing information and compliance software solutions compared to other registered agent services.
Functionality
We found the “individual” module most useful for multi-state businesses. Territory managers, attorneys and accountants can set annual report reminders for their locations. This mode lets them assign themselves to essential email alerts for specific document types. The right person gets notified, and everyone else doesn’t get unwanted emails.
You can also manage documents for multiple jurisdictions from one place, which is a real time-saver. Before opening the mail, you can see which entity it’s for, what type of document it is and if anyone has accessed it. We like that its software expands to include licensing, records, tax and entity management, which helps keep up with the complex requirements of running an LLC.
Support
Interacting with customer service was a positive experience for us and for customers, based on the feedback we reviewed. It’s available through both phone and email. However, you can’t get help through live chat which is a drawback for some. Still, the experts know what they’re talking about and don’t try to upsell you more services throughout the entire phone call, which is refreshing when you want information about opening an office in a new state.
We like that Harbor Compliance offers additional support through its compliance solutions. These options can be invaluable as you expand into more territories. For instance, Harbor Compliance has a dedicated architecture and engineering compliance specialist team to assist with complex matters.
Learn more: Read our full Harbor Compliance review.
Our expert opinion
Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.
Our expert opinion | ||
---|---|---|
Value for money | 9/10 | It’s among the cheapest registered agent services, offering same-day scans and multi-year discounts |
Feature set | 9/10 | We love the customizable alerts for territory managers and the central document view. It scales to a full compliance solution |
Responsiveness | 8/10 | Our calls were answered quickly, and agents provided good information without wasting our time |
Reputation | 8/10 | Harbor Compliance has fewer reviews than rivals, but business owners recommend it for its affordability, customer support and simplicity |
Overall score | 8.5/10 | Harbor Compliance stands out for its low cost and ease of multi-state management, but it isn’t an all-in-one legal software tool |
Better option for long-term registered agent services
InCorp
Starting fee
Live chat
Same-day document scans
Pros and cons
- Offers the cheapest services with a five-year prepayment.
- Monitors changes to your information in state databases.
- Provides online chat support.
- No weekend customer service hours.
- Doesn’t have many recent testimonials and reviews.
- Mobile app is rarely updated.
Who InCorp is best for
If you want to secure the lowest price to establish a registered agent and not worry about it for five years, InCorp is the cheapest solution.
We found InCorp’s EntityWatch software especially beneficial to small businesses. It empowers any company to be proactive by monitoring its official records for changes. This tool can catch errors like leaving off a new LLC member or alert you to unauthorized modifications, such as an unsatisfied ex-partner trying to dissolve the business.
The online portal allows you to upload company documents, which is a nice touch for small teams. Without emailing it, you could share an operating agreement or business plan with a remote stakeholder. Yet, InCorp does fall behind competitors like Northwest Registered Agent in terms of privacy.
Why is InCorp the best?
InCorp’s economical long-term subscription price and unique EntityWatch software help business owners monitor the fine details without paying premium fees. We also appreciate its prompt replies to user feedback and reachability by phone, email or live chat.
Value
For around $7.25 monthly, with a prepaid five-year term, InCorp’s registered agent service accepts legal mail in your designated state and locally scans it for your review. That’s the lowest price we saw among registered agent solutions. While InCorp doesn’t offer frills like legal assistance, you get the reliability of a company that’s been around for over 25 years with software that continuously monitors your state’s database.
Even when paying annually, InCorp still costs less than competitors like Swyft Filings and Rocket Lawyer. Sometimes, the vendor will also agree to beat a competitor’s price. However, we wish InCorp provided more information about its software or had a demo or free trial.
Functionality
InCorp doesn’t try to cater to every business need. Instead, it focuses on registered agents, corporate compliance and entity formation services. That’s part of its appeal — you’re not tabbing through add-on products to find important notifications and documents.
Like most registered agent services, InCorp has a compliance calendar with annual alerts. However, we found the additional functionality intriguing. Monitoring state databases and comparing them to what it has on file for your business could theoretically find changes that other companies wouldn’t. Having an extra set of eyes checking over the details never hurts.
Support
InCorp’s weekday customer support hours are a bit longer than those of some rivals. The company takes your calls or chats online with clients from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. In our experience, we had no problems reaching support by phone. But, in some cases, they requested that we move our conversation from chat to phone, and several times during business hours we couldn’t chat with a live rep.
However, the relatively limited customer reviews are hit or miss regarding their experiences. Some felt that emails weren’t answered promptly, whereas others didn’t think the agents were knowledgeable. Aside from customer support, the vendor provides business articles but doesn’t offer the vast resources that rivals have on their site or dashboards.
Learn more: Read our full InCorp review.
Our expert opinion
Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.
Our expert opinion | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Value for money | 9/10 | InCorp offers reasonable annual rates and the lowest five-year terms for proactive entity monitoring and registered agent services | ||
Feature set | 9/10 | Its accessible online document center and compliance calendar resemble rivals, but its entity tracking sets it apart | ||
Responsiveness | 8/10 | We appreciate that customers can reach this provider by email, phone or live chat, but some users report less-than-positive experiences and chat isn’t always available | ||
Reputation | 8/10 | InCorp, like other registered agent services, isn’t well-known. However, it replies promptly to user feedback and has been in business since 1998 | ||
Overall score | 8.5/10 | We appreciate InCorp’s streamlined service and affordable price but feel customer service could be upgraded |
Preferred choice for monthly plans
BetterLegal
Starting fee
Live chat
Same-day document scans
Pros and cons
- Flexible pricing options.
- Have your new registered agent’s address in two to three minutes.
- Live chat during and after setting up your account.
- More expensive to bundle with business formation services.
- May use third parties as your registered agent.
- In most cases, all sales are final.
Who BetterLegal is best for
When cashflow is your biggest concern, the high fees of some registered agent services can be off-putting. Many small businesses that aren’t in complex industries don’t receive a ton of legal filings, but they still need someone in the office during business hours 52 weeks a year.
Moreover, that address must be public and in government filings. In cases like this, we love getting a budget-friendly fee without paying years in advance and having the option to pay monthly when funds are tight or the future is uncertain.
However, it may not offer the best first-year deal if you’re switching from another registered agent or looking to bundle this product with business formation services. Northwest Registered Agent’s free offer with a business formation purchase is a better choice in that case. But you can still save money over time by transferring to BetterLegal, as it costs less annually, even when purchasing services for multiple states.
Why is BetterLegal the best?
BetterLegal is a great choice for fast document delivery without a premium price. Its nationwide registered agent services support your LLC or corporation as it grows. Meanwhile, flexible monthly or annual billing options give you control over your cash flow. We appreciate that it has phone and chat support, and customers rave about its LLC formation services.
Value
BetterLegal’s low cost and pricing flexibility, combined with super-fast registration, summarize its main benefits. Within a few minutes, you’ll have the registered agent’s address for your legal documents without spending hundreds of dollars.
Yet, other vendors offer some sort of refund. With BetterLegal, most purchases are final. This aspect is concerning since the company doesn’t have many reviews about its registered agent services. It also provides very little detail about the online portal, features or functionality.
Even though BetterLegal charges higher prices for its business formation services, most customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive about this product. This feedback speaks to the overall value of BetterLegal’s reputation.
Functionality
With BetterLegal as your registered agent, someone is always available to receive legal papers during office hours. The company or its third-party vendor will scan and upload documents, ensuring accessibility regardless of where you live or travel. You can use BetterLegal’s address on business forms, providing additional privacy.
But this sums up the extent of BetterLegal’s features. State compliance tools are an add-on. The vendor doesn’t mention custom alerts or annual reporting tools, which many competitors include for free with registered agent services. It’s also unclear if BetterLegal reaches out by phone if your company is served with court papers.
Support
BetterLegal’s customer service is available on weekdays, which is standard for registered agent services. You can call, chat or email them. However, some of our chat conversations felt mostly automated, and it was unclear if there was a way to reach live chat services.
Aside from live support, BetterLegal has a limited help center. It doesn’t have much information about its registered agent services. For instance, we didn’t see topics for downloading documents or adding users. With that said, user feedback for its LLC services (including customer support) is positive.
Learn more: Read our full BetterLegal review.
Our expert opinion
Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.
Our expert opinion | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Value for money | 9/10 | BetterLegal is a cost-effective, multi-state solution for basic registered agent services | ||
Feature set | 7/10 | It nails the fundamentals but lacks annual reporting tools and custom alerts | ||
Responsiveness | 8/10 | While email and phone support were fast, the chat feature was automated | ||
Reputation | 8/10 | The company is trusted for its business formation services | ||
Overall score | 8/10 | BetterLegal is a budget-friendly choice for solopreneurs and small businesses needing a no-fuss registered agent service |
Top pick for attorneys and CPAs
Sundoc Filings
Starting fee
Live chat
Same-day document scans
Pros and cons
- Offices based in state capitals for faster document filing and retrieval.
- Custom reporting tools, like filing deadline alerts.
- Private network access for secure document access.
- Any documents received after 2 p.m. PST aren’t scanned on the same day.
- Only owns offices in three states, another company owns the rest.
- Doesn’t offer mobile apps.
Who Sundoc Filings is best for
With its secure private network and corporate tools, Sundoc Filings is an excellent registered agent service for attorneys and CPAs. The company understands that your time is important and has the track record to back it up. Professionals report that Sundoc Filings is responsive and knowledgeable by phone and email when you need documents quickly.
Although Sundoc Filings costs more than Harbor Compliance and Northwest Registered Agent, handling multiple tasks through a single vendor is more efficient. This factor is perfect for legal experts who need additional services, like tax lien and judgment searches.
Even if your caseload has a substantial number of filings, you can manage them quickly through the easy-to-use platform. From a single location, you can order services and check the service of process documents, which is ideal for time-strapped professionals. Whether using Sundoc Filings for clients or yourself, the state tax and annual reporting information keeps you on top of deadlines and regulations.
Why is Sundoc Filings the best?
Sundoc Filings has an impeccable reputation for speed and support. It ensures your firm’s good name stays intact by delivering timely notifications and documents. The online portal lets you oversee your client’s legal mail and annual reporting requirements while collecting case information. Best of all, the customer advisors will try accommodating your requests for faster service.
Value
Whether you manage your practice solo, with a partner or run a small firm, Sundoc Filings supplies the tools and services to increase efficiency and overall productivity. It costs $159 per year for registered agent services. But, discounts apply for two or more states, multiple entities or when forming a business. Sundoc Filings charges more than rivals, but not all registered agent services offer document retrieval solutions.
By managing your company and client accounts in one place, you can get more done without hiring additional staff. Since Sundoc Filings has experts on call during business hours, you can ask compliance questions and get assistance ordering documents.
Functionality
Sundoc Filings provides nationwide registered agent services, allowing you to handle client startups in any state. It lets you decide how to receive service of process notifications (by email or phone) and immediately informs you before forwarding them using FedEx Second Day Service. The automatic email alerts keep you informed of filing deadlines, and when performing document searches, you can see previous efforts to avoid duplicates.
To speed up document times (and get them in your hands quicker), Sundoc Filings locates its offices in state capitals. However, National Registered Agents, Inc. (NRAI) oversees sites in all states except California, Delaware and Nevada.
Support
We were impressed with customer feedback on Sundoc Filings’ customer service. Current and former clients often mentioned helpful email and phone interactions. The advisors also offer assistance on state compliance questions and expediting document filings. You can reach account managers 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, which is about standard for registered agent services.
We also appreciate that Sundoc Filings looks at pre-submission papers, like registering a business. They might catch costly errors before you submit the final copy. Most website guidance is geared toward business startups, but advisors can also speak to document retrieval needs.
Learn more: Read our full Sundoc Filings review.
Our expert opinion
Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.
Our expert opinion | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Value for money | 9/10 | Sundoc Filings is worth it for the support and online tools. We appreciate the discounts for multiple years, entities or when forming a business | ||
Feature set | 9/10 | The registered agent services are fairly standard, except for the FedEx Second Day mailing for process of service papers | ||
Responsiveness | 9/10 | Our experience and that of most customers who left reviews, is that Sundoc Filings replies quickly by email and phone | ||
Reputation | 9/10 | Sundoc Filings receives excellent reviews on Trustpilot, mostly for its document filing and business formation services | ||
Overall score | 9/10 | Sundoc Filings is a dependable company that’s been around since 1999. Its support, accuracy and speed make it ideal for lawyers and CPAs |
Best free business formation with a registered agent
Bizee
Starting fee
Live chat
Same-day document scans
Pros and cons
- Email and SMS alerts.
- Comprehensive and user-friendly business dashboard.
- The whole support team speaks Spanish and English.
- Uses a third party for registered agent services.
- Must pay a fee to switch to Bizee as your registered agent.
- Limited refund policy with a potential cancellation fee.
Who Bizee is best for
If you’re opening a business on a budget, Bizee, powered by Incfile, is the right place to start. It’s free to form an LLC or corporation and get a year of registered agent services. Bizee especially appeals to entrepreneurs who take a DIY approach to business ownership. You can download and customize templates when hiring your first employee or if you need a privacy policy for your website.
In addition to online resources, Bizee caters to small businesses by providing responsive customer service. If you have questions about state-specific rules or aren’t sure which products you need, Bizee representatives can walk you through each step. Plus, bilingual English and Spanish-speaking agents can support diverse corporate partnerships.
After the first year ends, Bizee’s registered agent service renewal rates are affordable for home-based and online businesses. It also has basic add-on services for growing companies, making it easy to amend your original formation documents to change an address or add a partner.
Why is Bizee the best?
Bizee’s free one-year registered agent offer, affordable renewal rates and supportive resources make its registered agent services the best solution for startups. It’s the only option we came across with an entire bilingual support team, and we love having all business essentials in one place. The encrypted dashboard offers more than convenience; it’s also easier to use than some rivals.
Value
Some rivals offer free registered agent services when you purchase a business formation product, but getting both services for free is less common. Likewise, we love that Bizee provides a reasonable price ($119) when you renew your statutory agent. The dashboard delivers the most value by putting company information and business resources at your fingertips.
You’re already checking your portal to review legal mail, so it’s convenient to look at action items or save documents like your corporate bylaws and meeting minutes. A third party manages the registered agent services, which isn’t a problem in most cases, but those with privacy concerns may prefer Northwest Registered Agent.
Functionality
Every time your registered agent’s office receives legal correspondence, you’ll receive an alert by text or email. We love this feature for entrepreneurs on the go, because most providers only send reminders via email. Those who prefer instant notifications can use the mobile-compatible dashboard to review documents from anywhere.
While a registered agent manages your office location, you can handle several ongoing business tasks from your portal. It holds your key documents and shows state legal, compliance and tax requirements. We especially like that built-in guidance, with an “Actions” tab to view pending issues or next steps.
Support
Bizee goes all-in on its support services, and it shows. Whether you are exploring your options pre-purchase or need assistance post-purchase, the service representatives take time to listen and answer your questions. It employs bilingual Business Formation Specialists who are available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST.
We appreciate that Bizee offers live chat, not just an automated bot. Still, it wasn’t always available during business hours. The website and dashboard are also full of helpful resources. For instance, the help guides have buttons to search for more resources, and the dashboard has templates and state-related information.
Learn more: Read our full Bizee review.
Our expert opinion
Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.
Our expert opinion | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Value for money | 9/10 | Startups and small businesses benefit from Bizee’s free year of registered agent services offer and economical renewal pricing | ||
Feature set | 9/10 | Its text and email alerts, mobile-compatible dashboard and business tools distinguish Bizee from rivals for entrepreneurs on the go | ||
Responsiveness | 10/10 | By recently doubling its staff, Bizee has dramatically improved its phone, email and chat times, and their entire support staff is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish | ||
Reputation | 9/10 | Business owners love Bizee and rate it highly for ease of use, support and services | ||
Overall score | 9.25/10 | We found Bizee’s features and support ideal for new business owners who want guidance as well as entrepreneurs on the go. An entirely bilingual support staff is also a huge plus |
Recommended subscription for legal documents
Rocket Lawyer
Starting fee
Live chat
Same-day document scans
Pros and cons
- Potentially free legal documents and advice.
- Highly rated mobile apps.
- Seven-day free trial of the Premium membership.
- May use third parties for statutory agent services.
- Must pay subscription annually for the best deals.
- Monthly members pay high prices for registered agents.
Who Rocket Lawyer is best for
Rocket Lawyer’s subscription and add-on registered agent service is ideal for solopreneurs and small business owners who want bundled solutions. It’s geared toward personal and professional use, so you can start a business while planning your family’s future. And you’re not tied to a desk. With Rocket Lawyer’s intuitive mobile apps, you can see legal mail received at your registered agent’s office or request an electronic signature on a business contract.
Unlimited legal documents and e-signature features can save time and money for any company, but you may see an even higher return if you’re involved in tech or nonprofits. These entities generate a lot of paperwork for intellectual property protection and charitable regulation compliance.
Still, without an annual membership, Rocket Lawyer is double the cost of competitors’ solutions. And the registered agent service has no impressive features to justify the extra cost.
Why is Rocket Lawyer the best?
If you take full advantage of Rocket Lawyer’s membership and registered agent services, you can build a solid legal foundation for your professional and personal life. The statutory agent manages your legal correspondence, and the annual subscription includes perks like one free business formation. We also liked the interest-free, pay-later option.
Value
For annual members, the $124.99 cost for registered agent services is similar to what you’d pay for competitor’s solutions. It keeps your personal business address private, and you can manage legal correspondence from your mobile app. You must pay the full subscription fee up front for the discounted statutory agent price. But, we like that it offers buy now, pay later options to split the cost into four payments.
Rocket Lawyer membership could be a solid investment, especially if you need a lot of legal documents or want accessible legal advice. Yet, monthly members may not benefit as much from buying the service through Rocket Lawyer. It’s $249.99 annually, which is among the highest-priced services we reviewed.
Functionality
Hiring Rocket Lawyer as your registered agent lets you meet a state’s legal requirements and track documents through your mobile app. A drawback is that the vendor doesn’t provide many details about this service, as it’s secondary to its membership and legal offerings. The main features come through its legal documents and services.
With a subscription, you can reach out to licensed attorneys with a new question and get an answer within one business day or save hours preparing business contracts. An annual membership also includes one free business registration and half off additional ones.
Support
Rocket Lawyer’s support hours are similar to other providers, except we like that you can reach them by chat, phone and email, whereas some competitors don’t have a live chat option. Members have additional choices as well. They can ask a lawyer to review a legal contract or get an answer about employment law for free. To top it off, you can usually consult with a lawyer for 30 minutes if it’s a new issue.
The website offers plenty of FAQ answers and information for starting and running a company. But, it doesn’t get too deep into state-specific licensing or compliance issues, which you can find on Harbor Compliance’s site.
Learn more: Read our full Rocket Lawyer review.
Our expert opinion
Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.
Our expert opinion | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Value for money | 9/10 | Rocket Lawyer’s registered agent service could be worth it for annual members, but the monthly membership cost for an agent is overpriced | ||
Feature set | 8/10 | The statutory agent provides fundamental services through desktop or mobile devices. But it doesn’t offer any bespoke features | ||
Responsiveness | 8/10 | While customers had issues canceling their trial, most said support replied quickly by phone and chat | ||
Reputation | 9/10 | Rocket Lawyer receives well-deserved feedback for its legal services across multiple review sites | ||
Overall score | 8.5/10 | Rocket Lawyer’s registered agent service is an affordable perk for annual members but loses its appeal if you no longer need the legal support |
Good add-on to a business formation plan
Swyft Filings
Starting fee
Live chat
Same-day document scans
Pros and cons
- Legal mail and deadline notifications.
- Lifetime customer support for business formation plans.
- Online portal for 24/7 document access.
- Can increase renewal fees without notice.
- Doesn’t bundle free services with formation plans.
- A third party handles the registered agent services.
Who Swyft Filings is best for
Swyft Filings checks off all the boxes for small businesses that need a registered agent within the 91Ӱ But, it isn’t our top pick for privacy (that’s Northwest Registered Agent) or preferred solution for financial and legal firms (that’s Sundoc Filings). Instead, we believe Swyft Filings is a better fit for companies planning to form a business through Swyft Filings and wanting to add the registered agent service to their package.
Its lifetime support is especially appealing to small teams. Hypothetically, you could reach out years after forming your LLC for advice on switching to a C-corporation or dissolving the business. You can access support and billing from a single vendor by adding registered agent services.
However, we suggest reading the terms of service carefully. Swyft Filings outsources its registered agent services to LegalCorp Solutions and reserves the right to increase renewal prices without warning. While this aspect doesn’t affect your actual resident agent services, it could impact your bottom line.
Why is Swyft Filings the best?
With basic business filing packages starting at $0 and a fast application process (only nine minutes), Swyft Filings is a top contender for the best LLC services. Adding registered agent services centralizes your billing and customer support, so there’s one less contact number to store and vendor to manage.
Value
Swyft Filings is more expensive than BetterLegal and Harbor Compliance. More concerning is that LegalCorp Solutions, the vendor that provides registered agent services for Swyft Filings (and decides the prices), can raise rates without informing you. Customers have reported fees increasing to $149 quarterly, which is also the price listed on LegalCorp Solutions’ website.
Notably, Swyft Filings attempts to negotiate lower rates and assist customers when price increases occur. Still, you’re on the hook for payment until you file paperwork and the state removes them as your statutory agent. This could be a risky investment for small businesses with slim profit margins.
Functionality
Although you won’t find any fancy perks with Swyft Filings registered agent services, you will have peace of mind knowing the fundamentals are covered. It protects your privacy by not listing your address on public records, meaning you won’t have a law enforcement officer or process server showing up at your home or office if you’re sued.
The agent uploads documents to the online portal, allowing you to view and print them at your convenience — no worries about someone else at your address handling legal correspondence. You can also use the online tool to view tax filing and annual report deadlines, which can help track state-specific information.
Support
Swyft Filings support options are pretty standard for registered agent services, with phone support available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. It claims to have personalized customer service and employs business specialists to assist small and mid-sized companies. Most clients give Swyft Filings good reviews after interacting with customer service, which is an excellent sign that the agents listen to callers and understand their needs.
Yet, we experienced a longer wait time during a test call before going to voicemail. So, in some cases, support may be less responsive. Otherwise, Swyft Filings offers a general resource hub that is less valuable than what you’ll find with Bizee.
Learn more: Read our full Swyft Filings review.
Our expert opinion
Our editorial team created our expert opinion scores. The expert score contributes to 10% of the data-focused methodology, which underpins our Blueprint rating for each company. The expert score combines first-person experience, subject matter expertise and extensive research to develop these metrics as another source of truth for readers during their decision-making process.