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ToggleBest Registered Agents in Washington DC
A registered agent in Washington DC is a designated representative of a legal entity, handling official communications on behalf of a business or organization.
This can be either an individual or a business entity entrusted with the responsibility.
The best registered agent for most companies in Washington DC is Northwest Registered Agent $125/yr or 1st free with a $39 LLC formation. |
Public records commonly include the Washington DC registered agent’s address, making it readily accessible to those seeking to contact the organization.
A significant responsibility of the registered agent involves receiving legal actions or lawsuits directed towards the company and ensuring their swift and accurate delivery to the relevant individuals within the organization.
The Top Washington DC Registered Agents
When creating a new Washington DC LLC or updating your registered agent for an existing business, selecting a good registered agent in Washington DC is an important decision.
I have researched and tested 16 Washington DC registered agent services and picked the top 6 services to review and feature.
Best Registered Agent Services in Washington DC
- Northwest Registered Agent  Best Privacy, Best Overall
- Bizee Best Value
- ZenBusiness  Best for Compliance Guarantee
- LegalZoom  Best for Ongoing Legal Services
- Harbor Compliance  Best for Multi-State Compliance
- InCorp Best for Simple Pricing
Many business owners use registered agent services to help make the LLC formation process more simple and less demanding.
Learn about the top 16 registered agent services in Washington DC that we hand-picked based on independent research.
If your LLC has not yet been formed, you can receive one year of registered agent services for no cost if your LLC is formed with Northwest Registered Agent ($39 + state fees). |
Best Washington DC Registered Agent Service
If you want someone who is knowledgeable about the legal process and can help you comply when choosing a registered agent. I think Northwest Registered Agent is the best registered agent service for most businesses in Washington DC.
Northwest R.A. has been helping small businesses start and grow for over 20 years.
1. Northwest Registered Agent (Best Premium Registered Agent)
Price: $125
First is Northwest Register Agent. This company offers a more premium registered agent service. Northwest provides free mail forwarding with its registered agent service, and the importance of client privacy is expressed in their motto, ‘Privacy by Default’, a core part of the company’s service. Visit Northwest Registered Agent Northwest Pros and Cons Pros
Cons
Northwest Registered Agent is our recommendation. They offer everything you need to start your LLC, including an EIN, LLC operating agreement, and top-notch registered agent services. This company has been helping small businesses grow and start for over 20 years.
Northwest offers a 100% error-free guarantee. This guarantees outstanding customer service, extraordinary services, and prices that match. Northwest Registered Agent is a great option for your business if data privacy and customer support are important to you. The outstanding customer service is the calling card of Northwest Registered Agent. Northwest does not outsource its support to a call center with untrained representatives. Northwest offers a one-year registered agent service with a $39 business formation. Northwest offers volume discounts on registered agent services. They’ll reduce your rate by $125 to $100 per year if you need service in more than five states. They also have strong customer reviews and free annual report reminders. |
2. Bizee (Best Value)
Price: $119 Bizee’s biggest claim to fame is its free business formation service. This includes a year of registered agent service. Bizee is only one part of their offerings. Let’s see what else they offer. Visit Bizee Bizee Pros and Cons Pros
Cons
Bizee has over 30,000 reviews online. This makes them a top choice for registered agent service in Washington DC. We are unaware of any other company that receives this many reviews and the same high-quality feedback as Bizee. Bizee can be a bit pushy with upsells. Bizee offers many add-on options, which will be a reminder to you several times as you go through their order process. Bizee has been in business for almost 20 years, and they have assisted with forming over 500,000 businesses. |
3. ZenBusiness (‘Worry-Free’ Compliance )
Price: $199
We love ZenBusiness in many ways. ZenBusiness offers a great deal if you aren’t yet forming your Washington DC LLC/corporation. They will create your business entity and provide a full year of registered agent services for $199 This combination of features is at an unbeatable price! Visit ZenBusiness ZenBusiness charges $199 annually for ongoing registered agent services in Washington DC. Let’s look at the pros and cons of ZenBusiness, and then talk about how they can impact your decision. ZenBusiness Pros and Cons Pros
Cons
Although the $199 price tag for Washington DC registered agent service is not the lowest, it is still very affordable. ZenBusiness offers a $199 package which includes an annual report service. This is a great deal. ZenBusiness has received over 8,200 online reviews. Nearly all of these were positive. This gives them one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry. ZenBusiness also has a knowledgeable and helpful customer service department that can answer any of our difficult questions. While ZenBusiness is a newer service. They have less experience than many competitors, including LegalZoom and Northwest. ZenBusiness is one of Washington DC’s best registered agent services. |
4. LegalZoom (Best Legal Services)
LegalZoom has many similarities to Rocket Lawyer. However, it is a large company that serves millions of customers and charges a high price for Washington DC registered agent services. LegalZoom’s rates are almost double those of Rocket Lawyer and three times that of ZenBusiness. Visit LegalZoom LegalZoom Pros and Cons Pros
Cons
I liked LegalZoom’s 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. It is much more robust than many other companies refund policies. They also have the longest customer service hours in the industry, with nine hours of availability on weekends and 14 hours on weekdays. LegalZoom’s extremely high cost of registered agent service is a problem. LegalZoom does not offer registered agent services as part of its business formation packages. This means that the value propositions for other options in this guide are significantly better than LegalZoom. |
5. Harbor Compliance (Best Multi-State Compliance)
Price $99
Harbor Compliance is, in fact, a more premium service when it involves business formations. They only offer this service to large enterprises. They offer outstanding value in registered agent service and have one of the lowest national prices we’ve ever seen. Are they worth the effort? Harbor Compliance charges $89-$99 per year for registered agent service, depending on the state. This is a great price point. They offer volume discounts for service to multiple states or prepay for multiple years. Harbor Compliance was founded in 2012 and is one of the newest companies in this sector. Harbor Compliance is a new company that has been around since 2012. They have served over 10,000 clients and are a rising star in the industry. Harbor Compliance Pros and Cons ProsHarbor Compliance offers a great price and reminds you of annual reports well before the due date. This is a nice bonus for registered agents. Harbor Compliance has received high reviews from clients and even offers volume discounts. ConsWe only found 100 reviews online, so while their reviews are very high quality, they are not as numerous. |
6. InCorp
Price: $129
InCorp may be the best option for you if you are looking for the lowest prices for nationwide registered agent services. The base rate is quite high, but you can get your annual cost down to $87 with volume discounts. InCorp will only charge $129.95 for a year of registered agent services. InCorp will offer deep discounts if you are willing to prepay additional years of registered agent service. InCorp is America’s fourth most popular registered agent service provider, with over 125,000 customers. InCorp was established in 1998 and began offering registered agent services in 2001. They have served thousands of customers across the country since then. InCorp Pros and Cons ProsTheir prepaid discount system allows you to access some of our lowest prices for registered agent services. They have a high volume of clients, making them one of the country’s most sought-after registered agent providers. Customers also receive a compliance calendar and their EntityWatch program, which monitors your business for identity theft signs. ConsInCorp only has a handful of reviews online. Their average rating is not very high. Their LLC formation service costs $99. |
Other registered agents
There are many registered agent services available in Washington DC. The top 6 that I just mentioned above are the most popular options. However, I want to highlight a few other services available in Washington DC.
7. Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer is a cheaper option than LegalZoom. Registered agent service is a small part of their product offerings. They also offer online legal services, including talking to an attorney, documents, and ongoing legal services.
You can get a physical address in Washington DC for $149 to ensure state mail forwarding. Rocket Lawyer also accepts service of process on your behalf, but they offer fewer services and lower customer support than Northwest Registered Agent.
8. SunDoc Filings
SunDoc Filings offers basic Washington DC registered agent services at $159. This includes service of process and forwarding legal documents from the Washington DC Secretary of State.
There is also no dedicated customer support system such as ‘Corporate Guides’ offered by Northwest Registered Agent.
9. Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings provides registered agent services for your Washington DC LLC or business for $149. Not nearly as good as Northwest’s best-rated customer service.
10. CSC
CSC, aka Corporation Service Company, is a premium Washington DC registered agent service that costs $299 per year. They don’t have any premium features, except that you must pay the state fees to change your Washington DC registered agent.
You could easily switch to Northwest Register Agent and save money. CSC has a long history; they are just another option to consider when shopping for a Washington DC registered agent.
11. Registered Agents Inc.
Registered Agents Inc. costs $200 and includes the same features as Northwest Registered Agent at $125: online account access and compliance alerts that keep you in good standing with the Washington DC Secretary of State.
Additional Registered Agents to Consider
Legalinc
URS Agents
Cogency Global
First Corporate Solutions
LegalCorp Solutions
What does a registered agent do?
A Washington DC registered agent is an individual/business entity that has been appointed by a Washington DC LLC/corporation to receive tax and legal documentation such as service or process of process and compliance documents.
A registered agent does a variety of small tasks, but they have a greater role that is more important. They act as the link between your company and the state in which you do business.
Service of Process
First, the registered agent must be designated as the recipient of any tax documents or legal documents that are sent by Washington DC.
For legal matters, the registered agent must be present in order to receive the hand-delivered service of process (SOP) paperwork about legal proceedings against your company.
The registered agent must then effectively report the delivery to your company and forward the documents.
They should agree on a set of procedures for receiving and delivering these documents. They should decide whether documents will be sent by the registered agent to the business via email, mail, or fax.
Washington DC Business Compliance
A registered agent can also help ensure your business is current and compliant with all state-required continuing maintenance filings.
Each state has its own laws about maintenance filings, usually annual reports or franchise tax payments.
These rules can change at any moment, so your registered agent must keep up-to-date in order for your business to remain in good standing with the state and avoid fines or dissolution.
How to choose a Washington DC registered agent
There are two options for choosing a Washington DC Registered Agent. You can either appoint someone internal that you know or hire a professional registered agent.
You can also be your own registered agent. It is better to have a professional service do this job. It doesn’t cost very much, and you know they will get the job done for the year.
Internal Registered Agent
The registered agent can be any member of the LLC, including yourself, or an employee. Your home or office address will become the Registered Agent’s address. Each LLC must share its principal office address and mailing address with the state’s public online system.
Hiring a registered agent service will be easier as you can use the registered agent’s address as a postal address.
A Registered Agent Service
Professional registered agent services are available for a reasonable cost of around $100 – $299 per year. This will ensure that your business is represented by the best possible service provider.
We have listed the top registered agent services in Washington DC. They can take care of the job for you.
Choose a Washington DC Registered Agent
These are some things to keep in mind when selecting a registered agent.
- Service Fee: Since many states require that formal businesses have registered agents, it is important to choose the best-registered agent. A registered agent can be hired for between $99 to $300 per year. This is a very small price to pay when you consider the time savings.
- The experience and tenure in business of a registered agent: You want the registered agents to have established and tested procedures for handling documents. Registered agent services should be in operation for a while. They have the experience and ability to handle all of your documentation.
- State Jurisdiction Limit: To reduce the administrative burdens of dealing with multiple registered agent providers, it is best to use one registered agent in each state. Our recommended registered agents are available in each of the 50 states.
- Follow-up and Monitoring Services: You want to get the most up-to-date information from your registered agent as quickly as possible, so you are fully informed about all statutes, rules, and regulations that affect your company.
Washington DC: How do I appoint a registered agent?
The LLC can appoint the registered agent at the time of the Washington DC Certificate of Organization. You can do it online or by mail. Appointing a registered agent is free of charge. Only the state filing fee must be paid.
My Research for Choosing the Best Washington DC Registered Agent
Here is how I determined the best registered agents in Washington DC to help you form your LLC.
When researching information about Washington DC registered agent services and comparing their respective packages, I’ve been there myself. When I needed to find the best registered agent for my business website, I searched for a good service.
For my website to receive mail and process service, I needed a street address that was available during normal business hours. I needed compliance alerts to keep my businesses in good standing before the Secretary of State.
In conversations with small business owners, entrepreneurs aspirants, and friends who own online businesses, I discovered that not everyone has the time or patience to search from website to site for the best Washington DC registered agent service provider.
However, many required registration agents. They would rather choose the first registered agent available and pay less to avoid this frustrating process.
My knowledge helped me and my colleagues make informed decisions about Washington DC registered agent services. It surprised me that my advice would be trusted and make the business formation experience easier for many people who read my website.
How I Chose the Best Washington DC Registered Agents
I began with over 10 service providers. After a four-part screening process, I narrowed down the list to 4. I selected my top four best services based upon my four key evaluation steps.
My First Step: Reviews
I began by reading and gathering reviews, the honest voices of thousands of people like me. I was overwhelmed by reviews on TrustPilot, Facebook, and Better Business Bureau that would allow me to classify them according to different criteria (ease of use, affordability, customer service, privacy protection, taxes, fees, etc. ).
I was able to identify obvious frauds and misleading offers.
My 2nd Step: Website Analysis
After I had eliminated illegitimate providers, I went on to examine the websites of the remaining corporations in order to gain a better understanding of what they stand for, how authentic their advertising is.
I was particularly interested in optimizing their products, services, customer support, company experience, and any recognition they had received.
My 3rd Step: Talking with actual customers
Websites and sales teams can tell you about the company, but customers will tell you how they deliver it. Are they efficient? Are they efficient? Are they polite? Are they polite?
Online reviews may fill in some gaps, but most reviews are written by people with overwhelmingly positive experiences. This can distort your perspective. Talking to current customers will give you a better picture.
I reached out to people I had helped to find a registered agent and new visitors to my website looking for one. It was great to hear their stories.
This allowed me to get a comprehensive and complete picture of each service.
My 4th Step: Talking to the Sales and Marketing Teams
I talked to each company’s sales staff to complete my research. After collecting all complaints, files, and reviews, I asked tough questions about their failure to meet customer expectations.
Many companies will simply ignore negative reviews. Others will explain that they have incorporated feedback and improved their operations.
This was the last step that separated the average and the exceptional.
My Rating Criteria
Four key aspects influenced my selection for the best registered agent to represent your Washington DC LLC.
#1: I Checked the Services and Features
The company’s available services and features were the first things that I evaluated. Other factors, such as cost and ease of use, customer support, etc., don’t really matter if a company doesn’t offer the required services that Washington DC registered agents expect. I reviewed the different companies as a shopper and consumer would.
My own needs for finding a good registered agent were considered. I asked myself, is this a registered agent service that I would be comfortable working with? Do they provide the features that I need for my business?
These were the aspects I considered:
- Is the registered agent able to give you access to online documents? Or do they mail them to your Washington DC registered street address?
- Is the registered agent able to alert you about compliance dates and filing deadlines for annual reports? Or does the registered agent only give your LLC or business a calendar?
- Is there a privacy guarantee provided by the registered agent?
- Is the registered agent also able to provide an affordable LLC formation service, or is their LLC formation service any good?
- Is the registration agent responsible for filing and paying state fees?
- You have the option of filing the change online or mailing the form.
- Is the registered agent willing to accept the service of process?
Registered agents offering the most Washington DC registered agent services were ranked at the top, while those with fewer offerings were placed near the bottom or in the middle.
#2: I Checked the Pricing
While most people jump to the pricing, it is important to consider the product’s value. This factor can vary greatly from one Washington DC registered agent to the next. For a good registered agent, expect to pay $125 to $299 per year. Brand names like LegalZoom charge $299 per year, but most people in the registered agent industry know that the best service and privacy is from Northwest, and they charge an affordable $125 per.
#3: I Checked the Ease of Use
Your time is valuable when you start a company or LLC here in Washington DC.
The ease of signing up was my next factor. The easiest, most efficient, and least intrusive systems rose quickly to the top of my list. If a company asked me to move from one document to another in a slow system, I gave them one of my lowest ranks.
#4: I Checked Their Customer Service and Support
All customers require support and assistance, no matter how easy, intuitive, and user-friendly a system may be. While not all business owners are tech-savvy, every Washington DC business owner should have a registered agent they can trust.
In choosing the right agent to represent a business or LLC within Washington DC, I considered customer service as the final factor.
I assessed Washington DC registered agent services based on whether they could efficiently and quickly resolve customer problems with highly-trained and experienced representatives. Washington DC registered agents are not required for small businesses or limited liability companies in Washington DC. They should be able to answer your calls and provide generic answers quickly.
Conclusion
Washington DC registered agents play a critical role in your company’s legal compliance. Although these tasks seem simple, if done incorrectly, they can lead to significant fines and even the possibility of your company being disbanded by the state.
Although you can always replace your registered agent later, it is important to choose the right registered agent for your company from the beginning. To ensure that nothing goes wrong, you should also monitor your compliance standing.
Washington DC Registered Agent FAQs
How can I find a good registered agent in Washington DC?
There are many registered agent services in Washington DC. We recommend Northwest Registered Agent.
What is the cost of a registered agent in Washington DC?
A registered agent service typically costs between $99 and $299.
Is a registered agent required in Washington DC?
Washington DC law requires all LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits to elect and maintain a registered agent and registered office.
Should I be my own registered agent or hire a service?
A registered agent service provider can be a great investment in your time, privacy, and peace of mind.
Do I need a registered agent to represent my Washington DC business?
Small businesses should hire a Washington DC registered agent.
What is the cost of changing my registered agent?
Depending on how many states you have to do business with your LLC, it can cost between $0 and $50 to change your registered agent.