Top 10 Best Maryland Registered Agent In 2024: Reviews & Guides
Reviewed by Randolph Vialva, MBA
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Hiring a Maryland registered agent service can help your business achieve its full potential. Most business owners choose to hire professional registered agent services instead of acting as their own registered agents, and the same choice may be correct for you.
In this article, we’ll evaluate the top 10 options for a Maryland registered agent and help you learn more about what a registered agent service can do for you. So without further delay, let’s get started.
What Is A Registered Agent?
A registered agent is someone who acts as a point of legal contact for a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. They become part of the public record so that anyone in the business world who wants to contact your Maryland business is able to do so easily.
A registered agent must be available during normal business hours to accept business mail and business documents. It can be part to take on these responsibilities and run a business during regular business hours.
That’s why it typically makes more sense to hire a registered agent service. Maryland registered agent services will take over these responsibilities for you so that you don’t have to spend time worrying about them.
Does Maryland Require A Registered Agent?
Yes, the state of Maryland requires all business entities to have a registered agent. A registered agent is an individual or entity that is designated to accept service of process if the entity is summoned to court for any reason. The registered agent must be either an adult citizen of Maryland, a Maryland corporation, or a Maryland LLC. An LLC cannot act as its own resident agent, it must appoint another entity or individual. The registered agent’s address must be a physical address in Maryland, not a P.O. Box.
The agent must be available during normal business hours to receive any legal documents. Failure to maintain a registered agent can result in the dissolution of the business entity by the state. The registered agent also receives official government documents, such as tax forms and annual report notices. It is crucial for businesses to keep their registered agent information up-to-date to ensure they do not miss any important legal or government communications.
Top 10 Best Maryland Registered Agents 2024
- ZenBusiness: Best Overall
- Northwest Registered Agent: Best Value
- IncFile: Best Online Tools
- Harbor Compliance: Fastest Turnaround Times
- Rocket Lawyer: Best for Ongoing Legal Services
- LegalZoom: Best Reputation
- Better Legal: Best Service
- MyCompanyWorks: Best for Same-day Services
- Inc Authority: Best for Free LLC Formation
- Swyft Filings: Most Flexible Maryland registered agent
Read more: Best LLC Formation Services In Maryland (MD) 2024
What Does A Maryland Registered Agent Do With Your Business?
Your Maryland registered agent will help your business process and accept different kinds of legal documents during normal business hours. You have a legal obligation to assign someone assigned to this role so you can either be your own registered agent or hire a Maryland registered agent service.
A resident agent can help with the service of process, and mail forwarding, act as a street address, and support your Maryland business in other helpful ways based on the best-registered agent service that you sign up for and what your obligations to the Maryland State Department are.
Top 10 Best Maryland Registered Agents April 2024
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is our pick for the best-registered agent service in Maryland. It’s affordable, easy to use, and has stand-out customer support. You can’t go wrong by picking this registered agent service no matter what you need.
- Starts at $0 plus state fees
- Premium registered agent and compliances services
- Affordable EIN and expedited filing options
- Less brand recognition than a national registered agent service
ZenBusiness stands out with its after-hours customer support and a wide variety of supplementary services, including help with taxes, accounting, and compliance. Customers enjoy using ZenBusiness because they’re able to get all of the support that they need to run their business alongside their registered agent service. 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.
Using ZenBusiness can also be a good idea if you’re just getting started with your business. The company will help you with business planning, products, and pricing entirely online. This kind of convenience is what makes ZenBusiness stand out with customers.
Northwest Registered Agent
Hiring a Northwest registered agent is an affordable way to satisfy your company’s legal obligations. The company also has an easy online account system to help with things like the service of process and setting up a physical address.
- Affordable
- Offers free registered agent service for LLC formation customers
- Offers many useful online tools
- LLC formation service isn’t the most affordable
Northwest’s registered agent service is affordable, but its services aren’t cheap. The company provides access to some of the best resident agent in the state and you can even gain access to Northwest’s Maryland registered office service for free.
Northwest provides access to many online resources as well. They can help you with everything from starting a business from scratch to making sure that you stay compliant with your annual reports.
Customers enjoy this level of convenience combined with the company’s affordable price tag. It’s hard to find a similar combination in another provider.
IncFile
IncFile focuses on security and has earned a strong reputation for providing great customer service. You can also get a free registered agent in Maryland through the company if you select the right package
- Focuses on online security
- Great customer service and reviews
- Free Maryland registered agent service available
- Doesn’t offer volume discounts
With IncFile, you can get a registered agent that will satisfy the Maryland Department of State, alongside other useful services. For example, the company will accept the service of documents and act as a street address if you need one. You can also get a free registered agent’s address and process server to form your limited liability corporation through this new registered agent provider.
IncFile’s customers stick with the company because of how easy it is to use. It offers most of the tools you need in an easy-to-access online account. Plus, the company offers phone-based customer support during standard business hours.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is an easy-to-use Maryland registered agent service that combines affordable pricing with a national reputation.
- Easy-to-use online interface
- Affordable pricing options
- Nationwide registered agent service
- No premium services available
Harbor Compliance is a registered agent provider that can act as a Maryland registered office address and help your company accept, receive, and process the legal documents that it deals with on a daily basis. With their simple online account system, they’ll get you set up with a new registered agent’s name in no time.
One reason why customers enjoy using Harbor Compliance is that you can switch to them without paying any fees for doing so. This makes it much easier to satisfy your legal requirements from the Maryland Secretary of State without having to sacrifice your budget to do so.
Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer is a good registered agent service if you need regular help with legal issues related to important documents, filing fees, state fees, tax notices, and other items you can’t handle in your physical office.
- Great customer support
- Offers subscription-based pricing
- Can help with ongoing legal issues
- Requires a credit card for your free trial
Rocket Lawyer offers subscription-based legal services that can help your business with legal notices, online filing, and even setting up a charter division in multiple states. The company operates across all 50 states, which makes it a good fit for businesses with multiple locations.
You also get everything that you want from a registered agent service through Rocket Lawyer. They can act as a physical street address for you, accept all of your official documents, and more. This combination of resident agent service and ongoing legal help is what customers love about Rocket Lawyer.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom has the best reputation of any registered agent provider on our list. The company also has excellent customer support options.
- Industry-leading reputation
- Great customer support options
- Offers a money-back guarantee
- More expensive than the competition
LegalZoom has a strong reputation and product offerings to back it up. They can help you out with many different kinds of legal issues, including creating contracts and resolving disputes. You can also get help with taxes, compliance, and more through LegalZoom.
Customers also choose LegalZoom to gain access to a registered agent in Maryland who they can interact with online throughout every work day. This makes it very easy to use the services that LegalZoom provides, which is why the provider consistently gets excellent reviews.
Better Legal
BetterLegal is a good choice for a registered agent if you value ongoing services. The company can help you remain in good standing and file documents in a timely manner, among other services.
- Offers many ongoing services
- Provides access to useful information
- Affordable prices
- Limited customer support
BetterLegal is an affordable registered agent service in Maryland that does more than act as just a registered agent. They also provide access to plenty of useful online resources, such as a business name search and an info center.
The company can even help you out with tax issues and provide an added layer of legitimacy to your business. Customers enjoy the value that they get from this registered agent service.
MyCompanyWorks
MyCompanyWorks is easy enough for anyone to use. The company provides good value and has a helpful website that’s full of useful resources.
- Easy-to-use website
- Strong customer support and reviews
- Good value
- Paid registered agent service only
MyCompanyWorks is a provider that offers a high-quality registered agent service at an affordable price. In addition to being your Maryland resident agent, the company can also help your business with same-day document filing, instant document receipt notifications, and by bringing more privacy to your company.
Customers who value their privacy will enjoy doing business with MyCompanyWorks. The company also has an online help center, which provides in-depth answers to some of the most common questions about resident agent services.
Inc Authority
Inc Authority offers a free LLC service, which makes it an ideal option for any business that still needs to form a limited liability corporation before hiring a resident agent.
- Free LLC formation services
- Digital storage and delivery included
- Preparation and filing services offered
- Lots of upselling
Inc Authority is a good company to choose if you still need to create an LLC or corporation. They’ll help you fill out and file the documents that you need to form your business entity, and will then act as your registered agent.
Inc Authority also provides digital storage and delivery. This can help you keep important legal documents, service of process, and annual reports in a single, easy-to-access place.
Customers of Inc Authority enjoy being able to accept documents and process them in a single, easy-to-use online account. The company also has start-up bundles, which combine various legal services in a single affordable package. Customers enjoy the value that these packages offer.
Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings is a good company to pick if you value a speedy turnaround time. The company also has very high ratings in customer satisfaction
- Great turnaround time
- High customer satisfaction ratings
- Easy to contact the customer support staff
- Can be expensive
Swyft Filings is another great company to consider if you need help achieving compliance with the Maryland State Department of Assessment. The company can also help you manage your business with a digital corporation kit, amendments, and name changes, among other services.
Customers of Swyft Filings enjoy being able to take care of all of their business legal needs on a single platform. The business also has a live online chat help system, which makes it much easier to get the customer support you need on your schedule.
How To Start Your Business With A Maryland Registered Agent?
Before we dive into our list, it’s worth mentioning that a registered agent service can also help you form your business. Many of these companies offer to process and help with formation documents so that you can turn your idea into an official business that’s recognized by the Maryland State Department and State Department of Assessments.
You may even be able to get a free year of a registered agent service when you have a registered agent in Maryland to help out with your business formation.
This is a good way to save money while getting the help you need with annual reports, service of process, legal documents, and other necessary things for your Maryland LLC, as well as all domestic and foreign LLCs.
Read more: Best LLC Services In 2024
The Advantages Of Using Maryland Registered Agent
Hiring a Maryland registered agent service is advantageous for a few key reasons.
First, your Maryland registered agent will help you ensure that you don’t fall into any legal issues by mistakenly forgetting a key deadline or failing to respond to service of due process in a timely manner.
Additionally, your Maryland registered agent service will reduce a lot of obligations and stress in your life as a business owner. This will give you more time to focus on the other important parts of running your company, which is one of the main reasons to hire a statutory agent.
How To Choose A Maryland Registered Agent That Suits You Best?
Choosing the right registered agent for your business in Maryland is an important decision that can have a major impact on your business. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a Maryland registered agent:
- Choose a professional service: A professional registered agent service will provide annual report reminders, state forms and filing instructions, and software to give your staff and management confidence .
- Consider value, not just price: While price is important, it is also important to consider the value that the registered agent service provides.
- Go with a nationwide provider: As your organization expands into new states, you’ll need a registered agent with an address in each.
- Evaluate service levels: Look for a registered agent that provides excellent customer service and has a good reputation.
- Check reviews and ratings: Check reviews and ratings of different registered agent services to find the one that suits your needs best.
When choosing a registered agent, it is important to keep in mind that the registered agent must be either an adult citizen of Maryland, a Maryland corporation, or a Maryland LLC.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a Maryland registered agent will allow you to focus on running your business and avoid having to worry about legal issues that don’t impact your bottom line. ZenBusiness is our favorite option for a Maryland registered agent thanks to its affordability and excellent service.
However, you may also think about hiring a Northwest registered agent in Maryland if you want a more affordable selection. Or you could hire a registered agent from Rocker Lawyer if you need ongoing legal support.
The bottom line is that there are registered agent services in Maryland for everyone, regardless of what your needs are. You can use our list to find the registered agent in Maryland that’s the best fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Hiring a registered agent is a very easy thing to do. You can simply go online and look for registered agent services in your area.
Our list is a great place to start. It features the top 10 registered agent options in the state of Maryland and at least one of those should be a good fit for your goals.
You should expect to pay between $100 and $300 per year for registered agent services in Maryland. Your exact costs for a registered agent will depend on the company you choose and the add-on services you select, among other factors.
Your registered agent can help you out with legal notices, accepting due process, annual report reminders, and more. Check with the company that you’re interested in hiring to get a complete list of the services your registered agent will provide.
Yes, you always have the option of being your own agent. However, hiring a registered agent is typically easier since a registered agent will remove a lot of responsibility from your plate.
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- Laws – Statute Text. mgaleg.maryland.gov. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=2-108&enactments=false
- Business FAQs – Maryland Business Express. businessexpress.maryland.gov. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/resources/business-faq
- Maryland Registered Agent | For LLCs & Corporations. Northwest Registered Agent. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent/maryland
- Get a Maryland Resident Agent Today. ZenBusiness Inc. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://www.zenbusiness.com/maryland-resident-agent/
- Maryland Registered Agents for LLCs | MD Resident Agents. www.incfile.com. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://www.incfile.com/maryland-llc/registered-agents-maryland-llc
- Register Your Business Online | Maryland.gov. egov.maryland.gov. Accessed November 10, 2022. https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2FBusinessExpress%2FUBD%2FCreate#/