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Do I need a registered agent?

Yes, every LLC and corporation needs one. It can be you. A paid agent is optional; people mostly use one for privacy.

By FormCost editorial team · Last reviewed October 28, 2026 · How we check sources

Be your own
$0

If you have a street address in the state and are there in business hours.

Paid agent
$100–$150/yr

Typical market range. Keeps your home address off the record.

Each extra state
+1 agent

Registering as a foreign LLC elsewhere means an agent there too.

What a registered agent does

It's the person or company that receives official papers for your business: lawsuits, subpoenas and notices from the state. It must be located in the state where you register (SBA).

Can I be my own?

Usually yes. You need a physical street address in the state, not a P.O. box, where papers can be handed to you during normal business hours. Texas, for example, says the registered office can't be just a mailbox or answering service, and the LLC can't name itself (Texas Secretary of State). California asks for an individual agent's California street address and no P.O. box (Form LLC-1).

Can I use my home address?

You can, but it becomes public. California's Secretary of State notes that the agent's name and physical street address are "a public record, open to all" (California SOS FAQ). If that matters to you, a paid agent or an office address keeps your home off the record.

When a paid agent makes sense

Otherwise, being your own agent is free and common. You can switch later by filing a change of agent with the state.

Registered agent questions

Do I need a registered agent for my LLC?

Yes. Every LLC and corporation must name a registered agent in its state before it files, and keep one for as long as it exists. The agent accepts lawsuits and official notices for the company.

Can I be my own registered agent?

Usually yes, if you have a street address in the state (not a P.O. box) where papers can be handed to you during business hours. The LLC itself can’t be its own agent, but you, as an owner, can.

Can I use my home address for my LLC?

You can, but the agent’s name and street address go on the public record. California, for example, says the agent’s physical address is open to all. Many people use a paid agent or an office address for privacy.

How much does a registered agent cost?

Nothing if you serve yourself. Paid registered agent services typically cost about $100–$150 a year.

Do I need a registered agent in every state?

You need one in each state where your LLC is formed or registered. If you register in another state as a foreign LLC, you name an agent there too.

See what forming costs in your state, with or without a paid agent: LLC cost by state. Not sure about an LLC? Take the 2-minute quiz.

General information, not legal advice. Agent rules are set by each state; check your filing office. FormCost isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Links go to official public pages.