Top 7 Best Washington Registered Agents 2024: Reviews & Guides
Reviewed by Randolph Vialva, MBA
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If you run a Washington corporation or Washington LLC, you need to have a registered agent to avoid fines and penalties from the Secretary of State’s office. You can act as your own registered agent, but many business owners in the state of Washington prefer hiring a professional registered agent service.
With a Washington registered agent service, everything is taken care of you through a simple online account. You won’t have to worry about keeping your Washington LLC in good standing with the Washington Secretary of State. The registered agents you hire will do it for you.
Keep reading to discover top Washington registered agent services and to learn more about how you can benefit from hiring a registered agent in Washington.
Read More: Best LLC Formation Services in Washington 2024
The Definition of A Registered Agent
A registered agent is someone who acts as an official point of contact for your company during normal business hours. It’s their responsibility to accept service of process, mail forwarding, and other legal documents at a physical street address during regular business hours.
Your Washington registered agent maintains a physical address so that it’s always possible to reach your company in Washington state in a timely manner. You can also call a registered agent, a statutory agent, or a resident agent.
How To Start Washington Business With A Registered Agent?
If you still need to launch your LLC in the state of Washington, then it could pay to do so with a registered agent service. Many of the companies on our list will give you a free year of Washington registered agent service when you do so. The process is really easy.
You can begin by choosing one of the providers on our list. Then, navigate to their website and select the option for creating an LLC. The company will show you on-screen instructions that take you through the rest of the process.
You’ll likely only need to fill out some paperwork online. Then, your new WA registered agent will file that paperwork with the Secretary of State and let you know when you have an official Washington business with an official registered office address in Washington state.
What Are The Advantages Of A Washington Registered Agent?
There’s no law saying that you have to hire a Washington registered agent to stay in business. You always have the option of being your own registered agent. But this isn’t the right move for most companies.
When you act as your own registered agent, you become responsible for everything that a registered agent in Washington must do. Those responsibilities occur during normal business hours, which can eat into the time that you have to run your business entity and help it grow.
Hiring a commercial registered agent in Washington removes this responsibility from your plate. You’ll stay in good standing with the Washington Secretary of State while also benefitting from the additional services your registered agent provides, such as help with tax notices, legal mail, and public records for your local office building.
Read more: Best registered agent services
Top 7 Best Registered Agents In Washington in 2024
- Zenbusiness: Best Overall
- Northwest Registered Agent: Most Affordable
- IncFile: Most Well-Rounded
- Harbor Compliance: Easiest to Use
- LegalZoom: Best Reputation
- Better Legal: Best Service
- Incorp: Best Mobile App
Top 7 Best Washington Registered Agents That Save Your Money 2024
Zenbusiness
Zenbusiness is a well-rounded registered agent with stand-out customer support.
- Starts at $0 plus state fees
- Premium registered agent and compliances services
- Affordable EIN and expedited filing options
- Doesn’t have a national reputation
If you often do business outside of standard hours, then ZenBusiness could be your best option. It’s one of the only providers in this industry to offer after-hours customer support. Plus, they provide registered agent services like service of process and official street address registration at the same price as the competition.
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. It’s no wonder that people keep requesting registered agent information from this company.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest is our pick for the best-registered agent business in the state thanks to affordable pricing and strong customer reviews.
- Affordable pricing
- Same-day filing available
- Strong online reviews
- LLC formation service can be expensive
When you hire Northwest, you get a registered agent service that will do it all for you. The company will set you up with an online account dashboard that makes it easy to access everything you need in a single simple place.
With excellent customer service, process server assistance, and many different kinds of support available during business hours, you can’t go wrong by choosing Northwest to be your LLC’s registered agent.
Incfile
Incfile is a highly affordable registered agent service with a great interface and helpful online tools.
- Excellent online tools
- Easy interface to use
- No automatic renewal
- No volume discounts
When you choose IncFile, you get a registered agent who can bring a lot of value to your business without breaking your budget. Your LLC’s registered agent will be able to help with the service of process, act as the official office address for your business entity, and so much more.
The only real downside to this provider is that you won’t be able to qualify for volume discounts like you would with some of the other registered agent’s services on our list.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is a registered agent service that’s easy to start using.
- Easy to setup
- Accepts mail and service of process
- Annual report reminders
- Missing some premium service options
If you just want a registered agent service that will satisfy your legal obligations without making things complicated for you, then Harbor Compliance could be your best option. It offers high-quality registered agent service with streamlined sign-up and online account systems.
Plus, you’ll get help with the service of process, your next filing fee, and all of the registered agent requirements your business must satisfy to remain in compliance.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom has one of the best reputations in the industry and offers a wide variety of ongoing legal and business services.
- Industry-leading reputation
- Offers ongoing legal services
- Speedy customer support
- More expensive than other commercial registered agent options
With LegalZoom; you get more than a registered agent service. You can also get support with legal document creation, business paperwork, and other ongoing services that help your company thrive. Customers routinely write about LegalZoom’s great customer service as well.
The only reason not to choose this company is that its registered agent service is a bit more expensive than most. But if you have the budget for it, you’re very likely to be happy with the support your LLC gets from this provider.
Better Legal
Better Legal stands out with great service, fast turnaround times, and impressive online reviews.
- Fast turnaround times
- Competitive Pricing
- Great online reviews
- Customer support is hit or miss
If your registered agent must be able to offer fast turnaround times, Better Legal is a good selection. It will take care of your paperwork, next filing fee, and more, without disrupting your schedule. That way, your LLC stays in good standing with the Secretary of State and you never have to worry that changing.
The one downside is that customers have reported that service from Better Legal isn’t always consistent. If your registered agent must provide top-notch support to your LLC no matter what, then another provider may be a better fit.
Incorp
Incorp has one of the best mobile apps on the market and strong reviews from customers.
- Helpful mobile app
- Easy to start using
- Strong customer reviews
- Missing some premium services
InCorp is a good selection if you often manage your LLC on the go. Its mobile app will help you take full advantage of your registered agent no matter where you are. Plus, it’s affordable enough to make it an option for people who are considering becoming their own registered agent to save money.
The only potential drawback to consider is that your LLC may not be able to access some premium services that other companies offer if you choose this provider.
How To Start Washington Business With Registered Agent?
If you still need to launch your LLC in the state of Washington, then it could pay to do so with a registered agent service. Many of the companies on our list will give you a free year of Washington registered agent service when you do so. The process is really easy.
You can begin by choosing one of the providers on our list. Then, navigate to their website and select the option for creating an LLC. The company will show you on-screen instructions that take you through the rest of the process.
You’ll likely only need to fill out some paperwork online. Then, your new WA registered agent will file that paperwork with the Secretary of State and let you know when you have an official Washington business with an official registered office address in Washington state.
How Does A Washington Registered Agent Cost?
It typically costs between $99 and $299 per year to hire a registered agent for your LLC in the state of Washington. That number depends on the company you choose, the plan you select, and the type of registered agent services that your business needs.
This gives you some flexibility to find a registered agent in Washington who can help your company avoid legal trouble with the Washington Secretary of State without breaking its budget.
How Does Washington Registered Agent Help With Your Business?
A registered agent in Washington can help your LLC or corporation in many ways. They’ll ensure that you comply with state law and do everything that Washington requires you to do while running an LLC.
Your registered agents inc. can also help you receive legal documents, prepare annual reports, assist with mail forwarding, and accept service of process and other official documents to avoid fines and penalties.
The specific benefits that you get from working with a registered agent LLC will be determined by which new registered agent you pick. That’s why it’s important to do some research so that you can find the best-registered agent for your needs and goals.
Who Can Be A Washington Registered Agent Service?
There are only two major requirements for a Washington registered agent service. The registered agent you nominate must be at least 18 years old and they have to have a physical street address in the state.
As long as that physical address requirement is satisfied, you can choose nearly any person or company as your registered agent’s address in Washington.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right registered agent service will help your LLC remain in compliance with all Washington laws, while also freeing up more of your time to focus on growing your business.
Northwest registered agent is our top pick for registered agent services in this state. But you may also want to use Incfile if you’re looking for something affordable or Zenbusiness if you want a well-rounded registered agent service that can do it all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A registered agent is like an official point of contact for your business. They’ll accept legal and business documents on behalf of your company.
It typically costs between $99 and $299 per year to hire a registered agent company in Washington.
Yes, you need a valid registered agent’s name if you have a business address in Washington state. But you don’t necessarily have to hire a Washington registered agent LLC. You can also be your own registered agent.
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- RCW 23.95.415: Designation of registered agent. app.leg.wa.gov. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=23.95.415
- COMMERCIAL REGISTERED AGENT INFO: CONSENT to SERVE as REGISTERED AGENT -REQUIRED for ALL TYPES. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/corps/forms/registered-agent/commercial-registered-agent-listing-statement.pdf
- FAQ – Registered Agent | WA Secretary of State. www.sos.wa.gov. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/faq-registered-agent
- INSTRUCTIONS ANNUAL REPORT RCW 23.95.255. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/corps/1.2020—annual-report-form.pdf
- Washington Registered Agent | For LLCs or Corporations. Northwest Registered Agent. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent/washington
- Get a Washington Registered Agent Today. ZenBusiness Inc. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.zenbusiness.com/washington-registered-agent/