Registered agent · September 20, 2026
Best registered agent services (2026)
An agent receives service of process. A virtual mailbox scans junk mail. They are not the same product.
By Gregory GreensteinUpdated September 20, 2026Affiliate disclosure
Registered-agent shopping fails when you buy a $0 formation and discover a $249/year agent at checkout — or you use a virtual mailbox and think service of process is covered. The job is: a statutory in-state agent, notice you will actually see, and a renewal you can model.
Northwest is the specialist. Bizee (the Incfile rebrand) publishes $149/year standalone and a free first year with formation. LegalZoom’s agent is $249/year. ZenBusiness bundles the agent into paid plans.
Prices as of September 20, 2026. State change-of-agent fees are extra. This is not legal advice.
The short list
Public list prices as of September 20, 2026. Promos change. Confirm on the vendor page before you buy.
| # | Product | Best for | Public starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Registered Agent | Founders who want an agent company, not a $0 formation funnel | $39 + state filing fees for formation-plus-agent packages on Northwest’s public comparison. Confirm northwestregisteredagent.com and the live agent-only renewal — do not freeze a third-party “$125/year” blog as official. | 8.6 |
| 2 | Bizee (formerly Incfile) | Owners who searched Incfile and want the $0 formation plus a published agent renewal | Formation: Basic $0 + state fee; Standard $199; Premium $299 on bizee.com. Registered agent: free first year with formation; standalone $149/year on Bizee’s agent page. Some third-party 2026 recaps cite $119 renewals on certain plans — confirm checkout. Confirm bizee.com. | 8.0 |
| 3 | LegalZoom | Owners who want a familiar brand and will treat the $249 agent as a line item | LLC formation from $0 + state fees. Pro $249 + fees; Premium $299 + fees. Registered agent $249/year. Confirm legalzoom.com. | 7.6 |
| 4 | ZenBusiness | Founders who want a cheap formation plus a dashboard that includes the agent on paid plans | ZenBusiness markets a $0 Starter formation + state fees and paid Pro/Premium bundles with registered-agent and compliance extras. Confirm zenbusiness.com/pricing — they promote heavily. Do not freeze a third-party $199 agent figure without the live cart. | 7.5 |
01
Northwest Registered Agent
Founders who want an agent company, not a $0 formation funnel
Public pricing: $39 + state filing fees for formation-plus-agent packages on Northwest’s public comparison. Confirm northwestregisteredagent.com and the live agent-only renewal — do not freeze a third-party “$125/year” blog as official.
Northwest official site, reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You want Atlas-style equity docs. Northwest is an agent. Or you will legally serve yourself and will actually check the mail.
Why it ranks
- Registered agent is the craft. Privacy and a real address are the point.
- $39 + state fee is honest next to $249/year consumer agents.
- Good when you already know the state and just need the filing or the agent.
- Less upsell theater than the $0 consumer brands — still read the cart.
Watch-outs
- Not a startup operating system.
- No 83(b) package like Atlas.
- You may still want a lawyer for the operating agreement.
- Foreign qualification is another state, another agent.
02
Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Owners who searched Incfile and want the $0 formation plus a published agent renewal
Public pricing: Formation: Basic $0 + state fee; Standard $199; Premium $299 on bizee.com. Registered agent: free first year with formation; standalone $149/year on Bizee’s agent page. Some third-party 2026 recaps cite $119 renewals on certain plans — confirm checkout. Confirm bizee.com.
Bizee official pages (bizee.com, bizee.com/business-management/registered-agent), reviewed September 20, 2026. Incfile redirected here after the rebrand.
Skip if
You only need an agent and already filed. Northwest is the specialist. Do not buy a new formation to get a free year.
Why it ranks
- If you typed Incfile, this is the company. The login moved.
- Published $149 standalone agent beats LegalZoom’s $249 on the pages we reviewed.
- $0 Basic + free first-year agent is a real on-ramp if you decline extras.
- They market owned offices in all 50 states — ask them, do not assume a franchise.
Watch-outs
- Year two is a bill. Model $149 (or your checkout number), not $0.
- EIN is free at IRS.gov. Decline the upsell if you will file it.
- A virtual address add-on is a mailbox, not the agent.
- Not Atlas.
03
LegalZoom
Owners who want a familiar brand and will treat the $249 agent as a line item
Public pricing: LLC formation from $0 + state fees. Pro $249 + fees; Premium $299 + fees. Registered agent $249/year. Confirm legalzoom.com.
LegalZoom LLC and comparison pages, reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You only need an agent. LegalZoom’s $249/year is the expensive way to buy what Northwest sells.
Why it ranks
- The $0 formation plus state fee is a real on-ramp.
- A consumer brand some partners and spouses will recognize.
- Nationwide support motion.
- Fine if you already filed there and switching agents is more hassle than $249.
Watch-outs
- The $0 plan becomes $249/year the moment you buy their agent.
- You can file an EIN free at IRS.gov.
- Compliance subscriptions renew. Read them.
- Not your lawyer unless you buy that product and it applies.
04
ZenBusiness
Founders who want a cheap formation plus a dashboard that includes the agent on paid plans
Public pricing: ZenBusiness markets a $0 Starter formation + state fees and paid Pro/Premium bundles with registered-agent and compliance extras. Confirm zenbusiness.com/pricing — they promote heavily. Do not freeze a third-party $199 agent figure without the live cart.
ZenBusiness official site, reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You will DIY the state site and buy Northwest. Any paid dashboard is extra.
Why it ranks
- Competes with LegalZoom and Bizee on the $0 + state-fee story.
- A single login for reports some owners will actually use.
- Fine for a freelancer who just needs the entity to open a bank account.
- Published bundles beat Atlas for a home-state LLC.
Watch-outs
- Promotional $0 is the hook; agent and “worry-free” plans are the business.
- Read what files in year two.
- Not a Delaware venture kit.
- DIY at the secretary of state is still cheaper if you will do the work.
How we picked
The job is a US statutory agent for LLCs and small corps. We scored published renewal honesty, specialist vs consumer funnel, and whether the vendor pretends a mailbox is an agent. Harbor Compliance is fine for multi-entity; four is enough.