Top 7 Best Maine Registered Agents 2024: Reviews & Guides
Reviewed by Randolph Vialva, MBA
The article is checked by our editorial team, Which includes entrepreneurs who are painfully aware of how overwhelming and challenging it is to start a business for the first time.
All products recommended by Bizreport are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Hiring a registered agent service is the easiest way to ensure that you satisfy all of your communication obligations with the Maine Secretary of State. This article will highlight 7 of the top registered agent service options in the state to help you figure out which newly registered agent company is going to be the best fit for your goals.
So without any further delay, let’s get started.
What Do You Know About A Registered Agent?
A registered agent is like an official point of contact for your Maine company and Maine office. It’s their responsibility to do things like accept legal documents and inform you about each legal notice you receive in a timely manner. Registered agents also help with annual reports, and filing fees, and receive service of process, among other forms of support.
Your Maine business must have a resident agent to process all official paperwork and certified mail in the physical office of your Maine division. But you do have the option of being your own registered agent.
That being said, if you act as your own registered agent, then you will have many additional responsibilities that may pull your attention away from other important matters during normal business hours and beyond them.
That’s why it’s typically better to hire a Maine registered agent LLC who can help with your Maine annual report and take care of all of the commercial registered agent responsibilities through your online account on your behalf
Read more: Best LLC Services In 2024
The Advantages Of Using Maine Registered Agent Services
Hiring a professional registered agent is typically a much easier solution than fulfilling this role yourself. That’s true for a few different reasons.
First, when you hire a registered agent, they take care of everything for you. There will be no need to worry about service of process, annual reports, state fees, or other major compliance issues that could impact your LLC.
Additionally, this gives you more time to focus on running your LLC or corporation. This could help your business thrive since you’ll be able to devote more of your attention to help it grow when you hire a professional registered agent.
Top 7 Best Registered Agents In Maine in 2024
- Zenbusiness: Best Overall
- Northwest Registered Agent: Most Affordable
- IncFile: Most Well-Rounded
- Harbor Compliance: Best Online Resources
- LegalZoom: Best Reputation
- Rocket Lawyer: Best Ongoing Services
- Inc Authority: Best for Formation Documents
Read more: Best LLC Formation Services In Maine (ME) 2024
Top 7 Best Maine Registered Agents April 2024
Zenbusiness
ZenBusiness is a well-rounded Maine registered agent service that is affordable, offers lots of supplementary services, and provides stand-out customer support.
- Starts at $0 plus state fees
- Premium registered agent and compliances services
- Affordable EIN and expedited filing options
- Less brand recognition than other registered agent services
ZenBusiness can quickly get you set up with a Maine registered agent with a physical street address to satisfy all of your obligations for official notices, official correspondence, state forms, and the public record. You’ll get expedited filing for your business, which prioritizes your business formation documents over others with only standard filing speed.
The company also offers after-hours customer support, which many of its peers do not. This gives Maine LLCs immediate access to the support that they need from an easy-to-access online dashboard no matter what time it is – and it’s available for both domestic LLCs and foreign LLCs.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest offers affordable, and helpful commercial registered agents for your Maine LLC or Maine corporations. Their blend of budget-friendly services and powerful online tools makes them stand out.
- Affordable
- Has a free registered agent service option
- Provides useful online tools
- LLC formation can be expensive
Northwest is a good option if you just want an affordable Maine registered agent that you can count on. They’ll act as your commercial clerk, and physical address, and will take care of all important legal notices and business filing during regular business hours and beyond.
The company also offers many add-on services, including filing services for business filings, company formation tools, and helpful online resources. This makes partnering with Northwest a good option for your business entity.
Incfile
Incfile provides an easy way to get a Maine commercial clerk who can accept service of process for your local Portland office and brings additional value with a variety of supplementary services.
- Provides good online security
- Has great reviews
- Offers a free registered agent service option
- No discounts for volume
With IncFile, you can get more than just commercial clerks and a registered agent who will help your business stay compliant. You can also get help with foreign qualifications, finances and accounting, and much more.
Customers enjoy using these registered agent services because they’re more than just a mailing address or street address. They bring real value to your company that should help you thrive as a business owner.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance has no hidden fees and is a Maine registered agent service that’s extremely easy to get started with.
- Simple and straightforward interface
- Affordably-priced
- National reputation
- Doesn’t offer premium services
If you’re looking to get set up with a Maine-registered agent as soon as possible, then Harbor Compliance may be one of your best bets. The company also offers many different kinds of compliance support, such as assistance with tax notices, public records, online filing, and more.
Whether you need help figuring out state fees or you just want instant service for your LLC each time you submit an agent form, Harbor Compliance has the know-how to get it done.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom has an industry-leading reputation and offers tons of ongoing services in addition to acting as your Maine registered agent service.
- Excellent reputation
- Provides ongoing services
- Strong customer support
- Can be more expensive than other options
If you make this Maine registered agent, your company’s registered agent, then you get a registered agent’s name that’s one of the best in the business. The LegalZoom name carries a lot of weight and it’s never a bad idea to have it tied to your physical location or non-commercial clerk.
The company is also a provider of additional services, such as contracts, trademark registrations, and more. Customers enjoy using this company because it allows them to support their Maine business in many ways without having to hire a separate process server or pay someone else for help with a one-off filing fee.
Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer is a registered agent service that is low risk. You can sign up for this registered agent service and try it out, and get your money back if you end up wanting to change registered agents.
- Excellent ongoing services
- Strong customer support
- Subscription-based pricing available
- Need a credit card for your free trial
Hiring a statutory agent through Rocket Lawyer is a good option if you want more than just a physical address for your company during normal business hours to accept legal documents and comply with the Maine Secretary of State.
Rocket Lawyer offers many ongoing legal services, from business advice to help with contract drafting. Customers enjoy these Maine-registered agents because of all of the extra value that they bring to the table.
Inc Authority
Inc Authority may be a good option if you’re looking for a low-cost way to form your LLC. The company will do that for you in exchange for just a filing fee.
- Free LLC formation services are available
- Provides digital storage and delivery
- Preparation and filing services offered
- Lots of upselling
If you make Inc Authority your registered agent’s address, you’ll be able to start your business for free and then bundle additional services on top of it, as you go (and only if you need to do so).
That makes this registered agent service a good option for business owners who are trying to save a little money. You’ll also get a lot of help with document preparation and filing services if you choose this registered agent in Maine instead of acting as your own registered agent or choosing another registered agent service.
Start Your Business with Registered Agent In Maine
You can use many of the commercial registered agent options on our list to start your business as well. Many options for a registered agent in Maine will help you file all of the LLC or corporation paperwork that you need to get your company registered with the Maine Secretary of State.
The process for that is very easy. Just choose the registered agent in Maine that you want to hire and follow their online instructions to complete all of your paperwork. Then, they’ll file it with the Maine Secretary of State for you automatically. You might even get a free year of resident agent support or a free Maine commercial clerk depending on which company you choose.
How Much Is Maine Registered Agent?
Your charges for a registered agent will depend on the company that you hire, the services that you select, and whether you also choose to form your business through one of these providers as well.
You can get up to a year of free registered agent service in Maine if you form an LLC or corporation through some of the options on our list. But the average cost of this service per year is between $99 and $300.
The Advantages Of Using Maine Registered Agent Services
Hiring a professional registered agent is typically a much easier solution than fulfilling this role yourself. That’s true for a few different reasons.
First, when you hire a registered agent, they take care of everything for you. There will be no need to worry about service of process, annual reports, state fees, or other major compliance issues that could impact your LLC.
Additionally, this gives you more time to focus on running your LLC or corporation. This could help your business thrive since you’ll be able to devote more of your attention to help it grow when you hire a professional registered agent.
Who Can Be A Maine Registered Agent Service?
A registered agent in Maine can be anyone who is 18 years or older. Domestic business entities with proper licensing and even foreign business entities that are authorized to do business in the state can also be registered agent services.
Final Thoughts
Each of the registered agent options on our list can be a good fit for different types of businesses. If you want an affordable, helpful option that will get the job done, then Northwest Registered Agents may be your best bet.
However, IncFile could be your ideal solution if you want an affordable registered agent with helpful online resources, and ZenBusiness could be a good option if you want a registered agent that is well-rounded.
The bottom line is that each registered agent option can help your company in different ways. Doing some additional research will help you make a final decision about which is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A registered agent is a professional who acts as an official point of contact for your business. They help to accept the service of process and ensure that your company stays in good standing in the state of Maine.
A registered agent can help with many different services, in addition to accepting legal documents on your behalf. For example, they can help with annual report reminders, business formation, and even business contracts, depending on the registered agent company that you hire.
Your charges for a registered agent should range from $99 to $300. But you may be able to get a registered agent for free for a year if you form your business through some of the companies on our list.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
+ 6 sources
Bizreport Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Bizreport, you can read more about the editorial process here.
-
Maine.gov: Business: Starting a Business. www.maine.gov. Accessed October 4, 2022. https://www.maine.gov/portal/business/starting.html
-
Maine Corporations Division. www.maine.gov. Accessed October 4, 2022. https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/corp/annual.html
-
Maine.gov – Business: Licensing. www.maine.gov. Accessed October 4, 2022. https://www.maine.gov/portal/business/licensing.html
-
Maine Registered Agent | For LLCs & Corporations. Northwest Registered Agent. Accessed October 4, 2022. https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent/maine
-
Get a Maine Registered Agent Today. ZenBusiness Inc. Accessed October 4, 2022. https://www.zenbusiness.com/maine-registered-agent/
-
Maine Registered Agents for LLCs. www.incfile.com. Accessed October 4, 2022. https://www.incfile.com/maine-llc/registered-agents-maine-llc