10 Best Texas Registered Agents In 2025 – Top LLC Filing TX
Reviewed by Randolph Vialva, MBA
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2025 Texas LLC Guides
Texas LLCs must have a registered agent, according to the Texas Business Organizations Code, Section 5.201. Registered agents, also known as statutory agents, are individuals appointed by the LLC to receive and forward legal documents on behalf of the agency.
The registered agent’s office is the registered office listed on the Certificate of Formation. You need a Certificate of Formation to create a new business entity or LLC. Without this document, the LLC cannot operate.
I recommend securing a reliable registered agent service that provides an address for mail and package delivery, allows for delivery of legal mail, and simplifies compliance. When you can ensure compliance, your business operations are smoother with fewer complications.
Best Registered Agents In Texas In 2025
Every one of the top ten registered agent service providers I picked was comprehensively assessed before choosing my preferred choices. I looked at each service individually for its reliability, customer service, and pricing. This type of tiered assessment allowed me to visualize its selling points. Listed below are the three that ranked the highest:
- ZenBusiness: Best Overall
- Northwest Registered Agent: Most Affordable
- LegalZoom: Best Reputation
Read more: Best LLC Formation Services In Texas (TX) 2025
Texas Registered Agent Overview
A Texas registered agent accepts legal mail, such as lawsuits, subpoenas, and government notices, as well as other official notices for the LLC.
You, your family, a friend, or your business office can serve as a registered agent, but they must meet the criteria, which means that if they are unable to receive mail or are out of town, there may be an issue.
This is why I recommend using a professional service that can guarantee compliance with regulations.
1. What Is A Registered Agent?
A registered agent is a person or an entity a business designates to receive all legal documents, such as lawsuits, official government notices, and other official communications.
They provide a deliverable physical address for Service of Process and legal mail. The agent needs to be located in the same state as your business.
An agent’s service will often include forwarding mail, filing annual reports, and processing state fees. This needs to be done on a timely basis to allow the LLC to promptly reply. Without an agent, important mail can lie on a heap of documents unattended on a timely basis.
A registered agent must continuously maintain a physical Texas address (Texas Business Organizations Code, Section 5.201). They are also legally required to be physically present during normal business hours.
2. Why Do I Need A Registered Agent In Texas?
A Texas registered agent will accept a Service of Process if the LLC is sued. A timely response needs to occur to avoid penalties because you did not respond in time.
Every business must list a registered agent under state law, as each state sets its own state fees and laws for registration. The agent must maintain the same address on file to ensure compliance with regulations such as Business Code Section 5.201.
Local registered agents guarantee that all your custom business documents are tracked and accounted for.
a. Registered Agent Information Is Public Record In Texas
Remember that if you choose your home as a registered agent, your home address will become a matter of public record and will be published.
To complete company formation, your Certificate of Formation must also be filed with the Texas Secretary of State.
You may find that other sites republish your home address online.
b. How To Keep Your Address Off Public Records For Privacy Protection
Since all registered agents will have addresses that are public information, the best way to keep your address off public records is to have a professional registered agent in your state.
You can keep your business or home address private by using a local registered agent service.
3. Consent To Serve As Registered Agent (Form 401-A)
As per Texas Business Organizations Code Section 5.2011, a Texas registered agent must give written consent via Form 401-A.
The signed consent form 401-A is not required to be included with the Certificate of Formation documentation, but must be kept in LLC records.
I recommend that filers submit this form (401-A) along with their Certificate of Formation to the Texas Secretary of State for extra proof.
Individual agents must sign the top half; professional services provide the signed bottom half.
As per Sections 4.007 and 4.008, appointing an agent without consent is a Class A misdemeanor ($4,000 fine, up to 1 year in jail, or both).
Registered Agent In Texas Options
A registered agent can be:
- Yourself.
- A friend.
- One of your family members.
- Your LLC.
- A professional third-party Texas registered agent service.
Individual agents must:
- Claim Texas residency.
- Have a physical street address in Texas.
- Be available to accept service of process.
Corporate agents must:
- Be a corporation authorized to conduct business in Texas.
- Complete Form 401-A to register as a corporate agent before offering services.
- Maintain an active status with the Texas SOS.
Risks If You Do It Yourself
Acting as your own registered agent in Texas saves money but carries significant long-term risks:
- Missing important state notices.
- Administrative dissolution.
- Default legal judgments.
- Contempt of Court.
Engaging a professional Texas registered agent service helps avoid costly issues.
1. Missing Important State Notices
LLCs must receive state notices on time to avoid potential legal consequences. Notices for annual reports or paying state fees may be missed, for example.
Without a dedicated Texas registered agent service, late responses from LLCs to notices often warrant financial and administrative penalties.
2. Administrative Dissolution
Failure to update a registered agent’s address may mean the dissolution of the business.
The State may shut down the LLC for failing to meet required administrative duties on a timely basis.
3. Default Legal Judgment
If an LLC is sued, the process server will attempt to deliver the court documents to the LLC at the address on the record.
If the delivery of the court documents is unsuccessful, the Service of Process may occur via other methods, often unsuccessfully or untimely.
The Court may consider the documents delivered when, in actuality, the LLC does not know they exist.
The failure to receive legal documents can lead to a default judgment against the LLC.
4. Contempt Of Court
Subpoenas may require testimony or records needed from the LLC. Subpoenas are delivered to the legal address of the registered agent of the state.
Ignoring a subpoena can lead to:
- Fines.
- A bench warrant.
- Record seizures.
- Court appearances.
5. Summary
You can appoint yourself, friends, or family as a registered agent, but the risks are high:
- Privacy risk: Personal information becomes part of the public record.
- Availability requirements: Must be available during business hours; missing deliveries causes legal issues.
- Risk of missing document deadlines: If you move, your LLC may miss legal deadlines and government correspondence.
- Compliance and proper record maintenance: A professional Texas registered agent service maintains timely and accurate record-keeping and delivery.
- Avoiding potential penalties: Avoid fines, reputational damage, or administrative dissolution.
Top 10 Registered Agents In Texas Nov 2025
1. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is a professional Texas registered agent service that does everything well. It’s affordable, provides excellent customer service, and is easy enough for anyone to use confidently.
- Starts at $0 plus state fees
- Premium registered agent and compliance services
- Affordable EIN and expedited filing options
- Less brand recognition than other registered agent services
ZenBusiness is our top pick for a registered agent service in Texas because of its unique blend of affordability and excellent customer support via its business phone number. The company also offers tons of online resources to help grow your Texas business, maintain compliance, and even perform accounting.
From formation paperwork to essential registered agent services, they’ve got your back. And with their worry-free compliance services, you can gain peace of mind while focusing on what you do best: Running your business.
Whether you want business advice, a business address, or you just want to be compliant with the Better Business Bureau, ZenBusiness is a Texas registered agent service that will help you do it.
2. Northwest Registered Agent
Hiring a Northwest registered agent is a good option if you want affordability alongside helpful online tools.
- Affordable
- Has a free registered agent service option
- Provides useful online tools
- LLC business formation can be expensive
A Northwest registered agent service will help your company with free phone service, free mail forwarding, and even handle your formation documents or provide an entity’s registered office address if you need one.
A big difference between this provider and most registered agent services is that your agent from Northwest can be free if you use their LLC business formation service. Add to that the company’s helpful online resources and strong customer support, and it’s no wonder that Northwest regularly performs well in online reviews from other business owners.
3. LegalZoom
LegalZoom has an industry-leading reputation and offers a wide variety of ongoing business and legal services to help business entities from all industries thrive.
- Excellent reputation
- Provides ongoing services
- Strong customer support
- It can be more expensive than other service options
With LegalZoom, you get one of the best names in the industry to help your business thrive during regular business hours and beyond. What makes it special is the wide variety of ongoing services, including help with handling formation documents, running your business, and protecting your brand.
As far as registered agent services go, this one can do more for your business entity than just accept legal mail. It’s a good option if you want a registered agent service in Texas that can help your business entity thrive in many different ways.
4. Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer is a registered agent service that stands out with ongoing legal services that can help a Texas LLC or corporation do more with the resources they have.
- Excellent ongoing services
- Strong customer support
- Subscription-based pricing available
- Need a credit card for your free trial
With Rocket Lawyer, you get more than just a business address, an LLC certificate, and some compliance software. You get a Texas registered agent service that can also help with document creation, business formation, and ongoing advice from lawyers.
Customers enjoy using Rocket Lawyer because it provides access to all of these legal services for an affordable monthly subscription fee.
5. Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is an easy-to-use Texas registered agent service with a national reputation.
- Simple and straightforward interface
- Affordably-priced
- National reputation
- Doesn’t offer premium options
With Harbor Compliance, you get a registered agent service that will do everything you need to stay compliant with the Texas Business Organizations Code. It can act as a Texas business address, be a process server, and receive service and official mail for each local office that you have.
Another cool feature that customers love is the company’s online account system. Your secure account will provide you with an online business identity and access to all the documents you need to achieve your goals.
6. MyCompanyWorks
MyCompanyWorks has an easy-to-use website and strong reviews from customers. It’s a good-value option for a registered agent that nearly every Texas LLC could benefit from using.
- The website is easy to use
- Good customer support and reviews
- Good value
- Only has a paid registered agent service
MyCompanyWorks is another solid option if you value affordability and convenience. They’ll provide you with a registered agent service in Texas at a price point that won’t break your budget.
Plus, your Texas registered agent from MyCompanyWorks can help to ensure statutory compliance and provide immediate notification of important document receipts. Customers enjoy this valuable blend of features.
7. Inc Authority
With Inc Authority, you get Texas registered agents alongside helpful document preparation and filing services. They’ll even help you start your LLC for free.
- Free LLC business formation services are available
- Provides digital storage and delivery
- Preparation and filing services offered
- Lots of upselling
Where Inc Authority stands out is its free LLC formation package. There are other companies that offer a free Texas registered agent when you pay them to launch your LLC. But Inc Authority is the only provider on our list that will start your LLC for free, too.
That makes it a great option for those who need to start a business and hire a Texas registered agent service. Just be prepared for lots of upselling, since the company will try to recuperate that value somehow.
8. Incorp
Incorp is a simple registered agent service that handles your Texas LLC’s legal correspondence efficiently at a low cost. It’s a good fit if you just need a reliable option to stay compliant.
- Easy to get started
- Has a mobile app
- Offers a foreign qualification
- Offers the best prices
- Limited in other services and resources
Incorp makes it extremely easy to get started with a registered agent in Texas during regular business hours and outside of them. The company has a registered agent standing by to help your company thrive for as many business hours as it stays open.
When it comes to registered agent costs, this provider stands out as well. They’ll get you set up with a physical street address to satisfy the Texas Secretary of State and ensure that your company is all set with franchise tax and the public record through its Texas address, so you’re always in good standing.
9. Better Legal
Better Legal may be the best Texas registered agent for you if you value ongoing services and online resources.
- Provides ongoing services
- Has helpful online resources
- Affordable prices
- Limited customer support
With BetterLegal, you get an agent form that is at the top of the industry. They’ll provide a registered agent who can also help with various ongoing services. When it comes to registered agents, it’s hard to find one that’s easier to set up than Better Legal.
Customers enjoy using this provider because it makes it easy to get started with a registered agent. The online forms are easy to fill out and will help you satisfy the Texas Secretary of State’s requirements in no time.
10. Bizee
Bizee has strong online security, good reviews, and a number of helpful online tools to help you get more value for the same price.
- Provides good online security
- Has great reviews
- Offers a free registered agent service option
- No discounts for volume
Bizee could be the best registered agent service for you if you value registered agent services that also provide access to helpful online tools. The company’s website has a free business name generator, industry guides, and more. This can be really helpful if you’re still trying to get your company up and running.
Many users say that Bizee has the best customer service as well. It’s why if you’re looking to change registered agents, this one should definitely be on your list.
What Does A Registered Agent Service In Texas Do?
Your registered agent can handle several important tasks for your business. They can serve as your real Texas business address, manage mail forwarding, help you stay compliant with the Texas Secretary of State, and keep your registered agent information and state fees up to date.
You can act as your own registered agent as an individual Texas resident, but then you’ll need to do all of this on your own. It can be hard to focus on growing your business when you’re also dedicating brain power to accepting service of process, filing documents, completing mail forwarding tasks, and making sure you don’t fall out of proper standing with the Secretary of State.
Advantages Of A Registered Agent Service For Starting A Business In Texas
Starting a business with a registered agent service is much easier than acting as your own registered agent. Why is this? The companies on this list take care of everything for you, so that you don’t have to worry about getting it right.
Filling out formation paperwork and completing all the required filings can take hours, not to mention managing state fees along the way. Instead of juggling these tasks while running your business and serving as your own registered agent, it’s far easier to hire a provider who can handle everything on your behalf.
Final Thoughts
A registered agent service will help you avoid fines and free up your time to focus on growing your business. ZenBusiness is our top pick because it provides a unique blend of affordability, exceptional customer service, and helpful online resources.
That being said, you also can’t go wrong with Northwest and IncFile. Northwest has affordable services and consistently does well with customer reviews. IncFile provides a secure online account with great tools and can be a true resource that helps you grow your business over time.
Ultimately, each registered agent service on our list can be a good fit for different types of businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. The Secretary of State requires every Texas corporation and LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical street address. This agent serves as the official point of contact for government correspondence and maintains your registered agent information on record with the state.
The amount you pay for a registered agent will vary based on the company that you choose. However, you should expect to pay between $100 and $300 per year on average.
A registered agent accepts legal mail and documents on behalf of your business. They’re a point of contact and a physical address for people to reach out to when they have important documents for you.
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- Registered Agents. www.sos.state.tx.us. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/registeredagents.shtml
- Texas Registered Agent | For LLCs & Corporations. Northwest Registered Agent. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent/texas
- Texas Registered Agent – Who Can Be & How to Appoint. ZenBusiness Inc. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://www.zenbusiness.com/texas-registered-agent/
- Find Registered Agents for Texas LLCs – TX LLC Registered Agent. www.incfile.com. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://www.incfile.com/texas-llc/registered-agents-texas-llc
- Registered Agents FAQs. www.sos.state.tx.us. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/registeredagentfaqs.shtml
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