16 Best Registered Agents in Washington (December 2023)

When creating a new Washington LLC or updating your registered agent for an existing business, selecting a good registered agent in Washington is an important decision.

I have researched and tested 16 Washington registered agent services and picked the top 6 services to review and feature.

My Personal Experience With Registered Agents

Back in 2007, I had a small business in a state that I did not live in and I needed a registered agent to collect the mail for me. I signed up with LegalZoom as my first registered agent service.

The relationship was complaint-free for a solid three years. But around 2010, I began noticing their prices were edging towards the steep side compared to other options on the market.

I decided to make the switch to Northwest and boy, am I glad I did! From the get-go, the interaction was personal.

The first time I dialed their number, a real, live human answered – a delightful change. It was a Northwest representative who greeted me with such a pleasant voice, and from that point on, their service has been nothing short of exemplary.

I like Northwest but whoever you choose, I hope this article will assist you in choosing the right registered agent for your business. 

Learn about the top 16 registered agent services in Washington that we hand-picked based on independent research.

Best Washington Registered Agent

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.

Northwest R.A. has been helping small businesses start and grow for over 20 years.

Other registered agents

There are many registered agent services available in Washington. 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.

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 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 registered agent services at $159. This includes service of process and forwarding legal documents from the Washington 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 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 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 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 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 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 registered agent is an individual/business entity that has been appointed by a Washington 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.

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 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 registered agent

There are two options for choosing a Washington 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. They can take care of the job for you.

Choose a Washington 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: How do I appoint a registered agent?

The LLC can appoint the registered agent at the time of the Washington 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.

Our Selection Process

Here is how I determined the best registered agents in Washington to help you form your LLC.

When researching information about Washington 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 business owner should have a registered agent they can trust.

In choosing the right agent to represent a business or LLC within Washington, I considered customer service as the final factor.

I assessed Washington registered agent services based on whether they could efficiently and quickly resolve customer problems with highly-trained and experienced representatives. Washington registered agents are not required for small businesses or limited liability companies in Washington. They should be able to answer your calls and provide generic answers quickly.

Conclusion

Washington 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 Registered Agent FAQs

How can I find a good registered agent in Washington?

There are many registered agent services in Washington. We recommend Northwest Registered Agent.

What is the cost of a registered agent in Washington?

A registered agent service typically costs between $99 and $299.

Is a registered agent required in Washington?

Washington 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 business?

Small businesses should hire a Washington 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.

What should one look for in selecting the best registered agents in Washington State for the purposes of business formation and maintaining ongoing compliance?

In Washington State, finding the best registered agent is critical for both business formation and ensuring ongoing compliance. Whether you’re starting an LLC, Corporation, or other types of business structure, the agent should offer a comprehensive suite of legal services. They should be skilled in managing state filings with the Washington Secretary of State, handling annual reports, and adept in document handling to keep your business in compliance.

It’s advisable to check top-rated reviews to verify the agent’s reliability and trustworthiness in meeting your legal requirements. These may include service of process and receipt of legal notices. An established registered office with a physical mailing address is essential for these functions and for compliance with Washington state laws.

Perform due diligence by consulting with business advisors to get an overview of the landscape and ensure you are making a well-informed choice. The agent you choose should offer quality customer support and professional services that include a compliance calendar. This tool will be invaluable in tracking key dates such as the renewal deadlines for business licenses, and state filing due dates.

Transparency in fees is crucial, and these should be clearly outlined in the service packages the agent offers. These packages should include assistance in obtaining a Tax ID or EIN (Employer Identification Number), drafting operating agreements, and securing business licenses, among other services.

Confidentiality should be a priority, particularly if you’re considering incorporation. The agent should be well-versed in the nuances of Washington state laws and regulations and guide you through the legal maze to meet all required standards and legal requirements.

Consider also the jurisdiction of the agent. Agents with national coverage can simplify the process if you plan to expand your business beyond Washington State, thereby eliminating the need for a change of registered agent. The agent should also be able to help you maintain or obtain a certificate of good standing, which is often a requirement for financial transactions and other business operations.

In summary, the best registered agents in Washington should offer a comprehensive array of services that cover every aspect of business formation and ongoing compliance. They should be reliable, trustworthy, and well-reviewed, offering transparent fees and a variety of professional services to help you navigate state laws and meet all legal requirements.

What should businesses in Washington State consider when choosing the best registered agent, especially with regard to government regulations, document management, and overall business support?

Selecting the best registered agent in Washington involves a multifaceted approach, considering the complexities and specificities of varying types of businesses such as LLC (Limited Liability Company), C-Corporation, S-Corporation, Sole Proprietorship, Non-profit Organizations, LLP (Limited Liability Partnership), and LLLP (Limited Liability Limited Partnership).

Firstly, you should consider the interactions with various governmental bodies. The agent should be proficient in liaising with the IRS to obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number), coordinating with the State Secretary of State Office for filing necessary legal documents like Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization, and engaging with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office if your business involves intellectual property. The agent should also assist in navigating regulations from the Local County Clerk, Department of Commerce, and Department of Labor for securing business licenses and permits.

Legal document requirements can be another maze. An excellent registered agent should assist in crafting an Operating Agreement, submitting Annual Reports, and completing a Statement of Information. They should offer comprehensive compliance services, managing legal notices and process of service, as well as providing mail forwarding services. Tax considerations, including business taxes and business audits, should be within their wheelhouse.

Modern business operations require leveraging tech platforms. Look for agents offering well-integrated online dashboards, notification services, automated filing services, and document management systems to streamline your business.

It’s crucial to also take into account reviews and reputations. Trustworthy platforms include Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, Yelp for Business, Consumer Affairs, and Business.com reviews. Seeking advice from legal advisors such as business lawyers, tax advisors, and accountants can add an extra layer of verification and offer you more comprehensive insights into aspects like corporate governance, the integrity of the corporate veil, and fiduciary duty.

Your registered agent should adhere to industry standards and best practices, possibly holding certifications recognized by NASS (National Association of Secretaries of State) or ARMA International. Various legal and compliance certifications can serve as a seal of excellence and credibility.

Finally, do not ignore educational resources. A top-notch registered agent will provide various educational resources to keep you updated. These could range from webinars and online courses to books, eBooks, and tutorials.

By scrutinizing all these elements, businesses can engage in due diligence that takes them beyond the basic requirements and ensures that they select a registered agent in Washington who not only fulfills their immediate needs but is a genuine asset to ongoing business operations.