What is a "registered agent"?
A registered agent is a legal requirement that pretty much every state has, if you have a registered legal entity that's in that state. So, for instance, if we use an example of a California corporation, if you have a corporation in the state of California, you need to list out a registered agent. That is the agent that is allowed to receive what is called service of process. That's just legal mumbo jumbo, for you need a person who lives in the state that can accept important legal and government documents for your company. So every once in a while the Department of Corporations of the Secretary of State, their going to send out notices, and forms, and things that you need to answer, you need to reply to. Additionally the IRS might send things to you. Or you might get sued, and there needs to be at least one person that resides in the state that is responsible for collecting that mail and getting it off to you. If you don't want to do it yourself, or you don't reside in the state where your company is there are many places where you can do this. Many times the law firm that you use, if you use a law firm to form your corporation or LLC, they can act as your registered agent. If you went online, many companies, like www.legalzoom.com, they do registered agent services in all the fifty states. A lot of times when your in the state it's cheaper and easier to do it yourself.
