The 4 requirements (in almost every state)
- A physical street address in the state. P.O. boxes, virtual offices and mail-forwarding addresses don’t qualify.
- Available during business hours to personally receive lawsuits and official notices.
- An individual or a separate entity. In most states the LLC itself can’t be its own agent (Delaware is an exception).
- Your consent on record. Some states require the agent to formally accept the appointment.
State-by-state rules
| State | Can you be your own agent? | Fee to change agent |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | Yes, if you are at least 18, reside in Wyoming, and have a physical Wyoming address and a valid email address. | $5 |
| Texas | The LLC itself cannot act as its own registered agent. A member who is a Texas resident can serve as the agent as an individual. | $15 |
| Florida | A Florida resident member or manager can serve as the agent. The LLC itself must name an individual or another authorized entity. | $25 |
| Delaware | Yes — Delaware law even lets the LLC act as its own agent — but only with a real Delaware office that is staffed to accept service of process. Owners outside Delaware use a commercial agent. | $50 |
| California | The LLC itself cannot act as its own agent. A California-resident member or manager can serve as an individual. | $20 (filed on a new Statement of Information) |
| Georgia | The LLC itself cannot be its own registered agent. An owner who is a Georgia resident can serve as an individual. | $60 (annual registration) or $30 (amended annual registration) |
| North Carolina | Yes, if you live in North Carolina. | $5 |
| New YorkAgent optional | You don't need one. Many owners use a commercial agent's address so legal papers reach someone reliably and their home address stays off the record. | $30 |
| Michigan | A member who is a Michigan resident can serve as the resident agent. | See LARA's filing fee schedule |
Doing it yourself
- Costs $0
- You receive legal papers directly
- Your name and address are public record
- You must be at that address during business hours
Using a service
- $99–$199 a year among the services we compared
- Keeps your home address off the public record
- Required if you don’t live in the state
- Most scan documents and send alerts
Quick decision
Live in the state, work from a fixed address and don’t mind your address being public? Be your own agent. Otherwise — out of state, home-based, often traveling, or outside the US — a service is usually worth it. Do I need a registered agent at all?
Frequently asked questions
Can I be my own registered agent?
Usually yes. Most states let an owner act as the LLC’s registered agent if they live in the state (or have a physical in-state address) and can be there during business hours to accept legal papers. The LLC itself usually cannot be its own agent — Delaware is an exception.
Is it a good idea to be your own registered agent?
It saves $99–$199 a year, but your name and address go on the public record, and you must be reliably available during business hours. If a lawsuit is served while you’re away, you could miss a deadline.
Can I be the registered agent if I live in another state?
Generally no. The agent needs a physical address in the state where the LLC is registered. Out-of-state owners use a friend or relative who lives there, or a commercial registered agent.
How do I switch from myself to a registered agent service?
File a change of registered agent with your state. In the states we cover, the state fee runs from $5 (Wyoming, North Carolina) to $50 (Delaware).
Your LLC setup checklist
- Get a free EINFrom the IRS, in minutes online.
- Open a business bank accountKeep LLC money apart from yours to protect the liability shield.
- Sign an operating agreementSettle who owns and decides what before it matters.
- Get business insuranceCover what the LLC itself doesn’t protect.
- Plan your taxesKnow your tax status and federal due dates.
- Track state deadlinesFree reminders before each filing.
Everything in one list: printable LLC compliance checklist · live deadline calendar.