California Registered Agent

Yes, you can be your own registered agent in California. With that said, after considering the registered agent requirements, most business owners elect to hire a registered agent service instead. Why? Well although being your own registered agent will cost you $0, a California registered agent’s name and address becomes part of the public record.  Additionally, the registered agent is required to be available to accept service of process during normal business hours 5 days a week.

• If your business is web-based or doesn’t have a physical presence in California, the business needs an agent of process located inside state lines.
• Some California business owners hire registered agent services because their business doesn’t keep regular business hours, so they are unable to receive notices and services of process in a timely fashion.
• Many business owners desire privacy and don’t want their home or business address listed on public record as a point of contact, so they hire a registered agent.
• Listing an employee or family member as your statutory agent could create a lot of unwanted distractions and tension. Do you really want your employee or relative knowing the intimate details your business’ lawsuits? Do you trust this person to notify you immediately if they receive a service of process? If not, you could miss a court deadline before realizing it.
• If you don’t want the added responsibility of tracking mail and notices from the state, you can hire a registered agent to track important paperwork for you. Having an online account to help maintain your business is often worth the registered agent fee.

That depends on you. Some people rest easier knowing they’ll be notified right away if something urgent arises. An agent of process should also help keep you updated on any business reports due to California. And if you hire Northwest Registered Agent, in your online account, we’ll also provide you with great customer service, any form you could file with the state, and helpful tips for filing forms and paying the state with no additional fees. Plus, a registered agent service will simplify your life if you plan on operating in multiple states (you’ll also receive a discount with Northwest if you have registered agent service in multiple states).

Northwest Registered Agent doesn’t charge more for high volume clients. However, if you know you’re going to get served hundreds of times a year, we should create a custom price for you that makes sense for both of us. Our typical clients receive less than 15 lawsuits a year and never pay additional fees.

We scan all documents locally from our office in Redding, CA.

Yes! We’re the only national registered agent service that allows our clients to list our address for everything on a filing to help keep your address private.

Yes! Just sign up for our unlimited California Mail Forwarding option ($20/month). You’ll get a unique suite number and a California business address you can use for mail, advertising and more. While you can use our address, we are not a return depot for online or Amazon sellers, though we’d love to accept your foosball tables.

Don’t need a unique suite number? Our California registered agent service comes with free limited mail forwarding. We’ll list our business address (no unique suite number) on your public docs to better protect your privacy. And, we’ll scan the occasional business mail we receive—up to 5 documents a year, for FREE. You can request any additional documents to be forwarded at a per document rate of $15.

Yes. You will be unable to form your California LLC if you don’t have a designated registered agent (aka: statutory agent or agent of process) when forming your corporation or LLC.

A process server will deliver a summons form and a complaint form to the registered agent’s address. The registered agent will sign any of process server’s documents acknowledging receipt of the lawsuit. If you’ve hired Northwest, we’ll scan the documents, upload them to your account, and notify you immediately.

Only in the name. All four come with the same job description.

Registered agents aren’t required for sole proprietorships and general partnerships because those entities aren’t officially formed with the California secretary of state. Those entities, don’t offer the asset protection and potential tax benefits of an LLC or corporation, though. A California nonprofit also requires a registered agent.

You can easily look up a company’s basic details online with a California business name search.

• Type in the name of the company you’re searching for.
• In the results, you’ll find the registered agent’s name and registered office street address.

To legally notify a business, just send a certified letter directly to the registered agent name and registered office address.

In California, to resign as a registered agent, you must submit a Resignation of Agent for Service of Process form to the California Secretary of State and make sure to provide the name and address of the new registered agent if appointing a successor. It’s pretty straight forward, but for a more detailed walkthrough you can refer to our guide on how to resign as a registered agent in California.