Top 7 Best Louisiana Registered Agents 2024: Reviews & Guides
Reviewed by Randolph Vialva, MBA
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Business owners can act as their own registered agents, but a good registered agent service provides experience and knowledge that a first-time business owner may not have. A Louisiana registered agent represents the company in the case of legal action and becomes part of the public records of the organization. A corporation can have its own registered agent in Louisiana, meaning the CEO or CFO, or the registered agent can be a commercial registered agent. This is a third party who is a contracted registered agent for the company. Louisiana requires a company to have a listed resident agent or registered agent service. In this article, we will break down Louisiana Registered Agent services.
An Overview Of Registered Agent
What is a professional registered agent service? These are entities designated to perform certain actions and receive certain official documentation from a process server. A registered agent may be called a Statutory Agent, Resident Agent, or Service of Process agent. The registered agent or service must have regular business hours and be located within the same state as the company it represents. This means if your company expands to another state, the service of the process agent must also be registered within the new state. Using a professional service means you don’t have to create a new registered agent for each state, as most operate across state lines.
The Louisiana Secretary of State will become the default service of process or registered agent in Louisiana for all lawsuits and/or public records, including those with foreign corporations if the company does not designate a registered agent.
Louisiana registered agent’s name will be identified in the original business documentation, such as the LLC or other incorporation paperwork that is filed with the state, regardless of whether the entity has a commercial division. A registered agent in Louisiana will perform many types of duties for the company including receiving legal documents and providing completed business documents, tax notices, and regulatory information. It is also the registered agent’s responsibility to give paperwork to the right person at your company.
There are several reasons to consider using a professional service. Registered agents use a physical and mailing address separate from the company. For legalities, a Louisiana registered agent can accept service for process notifications, can operate from a commercial division, and will deliver official mail to your company at an appropriate time for review and action. A commercial registered agent in Louisiana is adept at prioritizing business needs, and ensuring compliance paperwork is current with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Read more: Best LLC Services In 2024
How Much Is Louisiana Registered Agent?
Louisiana state filing fees for a Louisiana registered agent begin at $100; the company’s registered agent fees can range from $39 to $100 and are filed with the Louisiana secretary of state. This means the initial incorporation, non-profit, or LLC papers will cost at least $139. Most agent services take credit card payments and offer online filing and online access, offer services in a timely manner, and provide tax notices and privacy for public records.
Top 7 Best Registered Agents In Louisiana in 2024
- Zenbusiness: Best Overall
- Northwest Registered Agent: Most Affordable
- IncFile: Most Versatile
- Harbor Compliance: Most Expensive
- Inc Authority: Best Support Services
- LegalZoom: Most Compliant
- Rocket Lawyer: Best Add-Ons
Read more: Best LLC Formation Services In Louisiana (LA) 2024
Top 7 Best Louisiana Registered Agents April 2024
Zenbusiness
ZenBusiness offers two services that set them apart from other Louisiana registered agent services: Money Essential and Worry Free Compliance, both available with an online account. Money Essential tracks expenses and offers a tax deduction finder. Worry-Free Compliance is a service guarantee for filing deadlines.
- Starts at $0 plus state fees
- Premium registered agent and compliances services
- Affordable EIN and expedited filing options
- Worry-Free Compliance is offered for only 1 year free in the Starter Package; for additional years, you will have to upgrade your package
ZenBusiness offers a variety of services and economical pricing.
From formation to the all-important registered agent services, they’ve got your back. And with thier worry-free compliance services, you can gain peace of mind while focusing on what you do best: running your business. You’ll get expedited filing for your business, which prioritizes your business formation documents over others with only standard filing speed.
The ZenBusiness Starter Package, which includes no state fees, will handle all of the paperwork required to obtain your company’s EIN. It saves you the trouble of going through the IRS to file your taxes. With ZenBusiness, if you go for the Starter Plan, you will get your operating agreement draft, registered agent service, and other benefits at $0. Besides, all the plans have free accounting consultations as well.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest offers perhaps the most comprehensive registered agent in Louisiana services, including access to a library of documents to be used for reference, and lawyer-created documents including company by-laws.
- Filing for LLC Services starts at $39
- Free digital and open-and-scan official mail services
- Access to local “corporate guides” for questions and concerns
- company documents library access
- High level of customer service
- Additional fees can be high
The access to additional documents and lawyer-created bylaws, etc., makes up for the higher cost of working with Northwest as your registered agent in Louisiana. The agency also offers clients access to corporate guides, making for more accurate information exchange as the guides are familiar with state regulations and laws. Fees begin at $39 + applicable state service fee for an LLC filing.
Incfile
Starting at $0 filing and fees, Incfile is the most affordable option for basic services, however, their pricing makes them very popular for professional registered agent service. However, once on board, you’ll have access to a range of options and a document library.
- Free services with every package
- Limited liability companies filing fees begin at $0
- Unlimited phone/online support services
- Tax consultation is offered free of charge
- Because of their pricing and popularity, you may experience a wait
- Only Platinum Package includes expedited filing
Like other services, Incfile offers access to a library of prepared legal documentation, a free tax consultation, and ongoing customer support, which makes them a great choice for new startups.
Harbor Compliance
Comprehensive support services set Harbor Compliance apart from many professional registered agent service competitors; this includes LLC formation service. They have expedited processing; for companies in a hurry to begin operation, this may be a key selling point, but their overall pricing structure for a registered agent may be out of reach of most business owners.
- Offer for-profit and non-profit filing options
- Pricing begins at $99 + state fees
- Comprehensive support services
- Filing service
- High fee structure
- Difficult website navigation
Harbor Compliance has a good reputation and strong customer service, however, their fee structure is higher than competitors.
Inc Authority
Inc Authority has a lot to offer new companies, including free LLC filing, customer support options, and free registered agent services. This makes the company one of our top picks for your service package.
- One year of free services
- Free limited liability company filing, pay an only state service fee
- Variety of customer support options, available 7 days per week
- Upselling
- EIN filing is not free
- Overall pricing structure
While LLC filing is free, the overall pricing structure and add-ons at Inc Authority may put them out of the price range. Also, the lack of options within their packages means many things are at “add-on” pricing, which means a lot of upselling.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom has a lot to offer new companies, from a documents library to a high level of customer service for a registered agent. Pricing begins at $79 + state filing fees, making them a very affordable option for most start-ups. They also offer a variety of law documents including wills, powers of attorney, and patent documentation that can be beneficial.
- One-stop shop for legal documents
- Affordable pricing plans for limited liability companies
- Simple website navigation
- Excellent customer service
- Expensive service
- Length of time to file
- Add-on pricing
While LegalZoom offerings begin in the affordable range, they quickly grow with the top tier coming in at $349 + state fees; they also take up to 20 days to file documentation.
Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer sets itself apart from other agent services by offering a membership tier for service; with membership LLC and corporation filings are free and you gain access to a legal document library. You can sign up for an online account to start membership.
- Competitive membership pricing
- Access to company attorneys
- Variety of customer support options
- Free LLC filing for members
- A’la carte services are expensive
- Must be a member for free filings
While the membership options and additional filings are a great option for companies, they do get pricey, and for those small companies that do not need additional lawyer services, Rocket Lawer’s registered agent service may not be financially smart.
Methodology of Starting Business with Registered Agent In Louisiana
Louisiana requires you to assign a Louisiana registered agent for the business through the Louisiana secretary of state. This can be an employee or contracted registered agent service. This registered agent in Louisiana will be the contact for all official documentation and communications. This designee will receive all service of process documentation and communication for the business and will consult with the Louisiana Secretary of State to ensure the business’ compliance with state regulations.
Benefits of Using Louisiana Registered Agent Services
A Louisiana registered agent service offers privacy to the business. The registered agent’s address becomes the official business address/mailing address for the company, regardless of their physical address. A CEO can act as their own registered agent, but this means that personal information can become available to the public. Other benefits to working with a Louisiana registered agent include LLC formation service, annual report reminders, business filing, and other basic services including professional filing services, and a calendar with important dates for filing compliance reports and documentation. Hiring a service offers flexibility as they operate during normal business hours, when you may be busy helping customers. For domestic corporations, services may also include formation documents, annual report reminders, a local office, official mail forwarding, online access and online filing service, and a legal mail address.
Who Can Be A Louisiana Registered Agent Service?
Requirements for registered agent services include: to receive service of a process agent must be at least 18 years of age, must have a street address within the state, and must be physically present in person during regular business hours. A Louisiana registered agent or statutory agent provides the best-registered agent service and is also required for foreign corporations.
Final Thoughts
It is the Louisiana registered agent’s responsibility to ensure your company is in compliance with state regulations. The best-registered agent service will also protect the personal information of the business’ ownership and will serve as the official address so that any service of process or other legal filings are served in person at the agent location rather than the business. This will allow the owners to focus on growing the company rather than filing paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, it is mandatory to have a Louisiana registered agent service, but the registered agent does not have to be a Louisiana registered agent service. An owner or employee can act as the agent.
Yes, but the type of address can vary. All Louisiana business entities need a company address, as well as a Louisiana, registered agent address; these are filed with the Louisiana secretary of state. The company address can be virtual such as a post office box. The agent’s address must be a street address that can accept mail delivery during company hours. This can be the post office box of the company owner and the street address of the company.
Yes, the Louisiana registered agent service operates during normal business hours; for most, this means between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday. The services will be available during business hours to accept service of process notifications and will answer and forward them accordingly.
Louisiana registered agents are part of the public record about your organization. When you file the LLC’s articles with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office, you will designate either a company owner or employee to act as your own registered agent, or you will designate a Louisiana registered agent service to act on your behalf for legal mail, mail forwarding, local office, and domestic corporations work.
Yes, at any time you can change registered agents for your limited liability company through the secretary of state. Most business owners find changing Louisiana registered agents simple once a new registered agent is found.
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- Frequently Asked Questions – Louisiana Department of Revenue. revenue.louisiana.gov. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://revenue.louisiana.gov/Faq/Details/959
- Louisiana Laws – Louisiana State Legislature. legis.la.gov. Accessed November 10, 2022. http://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=920229
- geauxBIZ. geauxbiz.sos.la.gov. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://geauxbiz.sos.la.gov/
- Louisiana Secretary of State. La.gov. Published 2019. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://www.sos.la.gov/
- Louisiana Registered Agent | For LLCs & Corporations. Northwest Registered Agent. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent/louisiana
- Get a Louisiana Registered Agent Today. ZenBusiness Inc. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://www.zenbusiness.com/louisiana-registered-agent/