Updated on: November 30th, 2024

Texas Registered Agent 2023 – Best Choices for Beginner Businesses Explained

Hire #1 Registered Agent Service for Texas

To begin an LLC in Texas, you must select a registered agent as required by Texas state law. This is necessary if you are operating a business in the state. The registered agent will receive all official and legal documentation from the state, as well as any legal proceedings.

We have created a guide that includes everything you need to know about hiring a registered agent in Texas. This guide will explain why a registered agent is necessary and who can fulfill the role of a registered agent for your LLC. Before hiring a Texas Registered Agent, please read this guide thoroughly.

Our #1 recommended Registered Agent service in Texas is:

And in case you’re wondering how you can start a Texas LLC, we have a dedicated guide explaining every step of how to start an LLC in Texas.

What is a Texas Registered Agent?

In Texas, a registered agent (also known as a statutory agent or resident agent) is someone who receives important documents on behalf of your business. These include formation papers, tax filings, and legal documents if your LLC is sued. All of these papers are sent directly to the registered agent’s official address. It is required by law to have a registered agent when forming an LLC.

When submitting the Texas LLC formation paperwork to the Secretary of State, you are required to provide information about your registered agent’s name and address. In Texas, you have two options for selecting a registered agent: hiring an in-house registered agent or outsourcing the service.

Hiring a Registered Agent in Texas

In Texas, you have multiple options for hiring a registered agent. Eligibility criteria must be met to become one, but if those are fulfilled, any Texas resident can serve as your LLC’s registered agent.

Who Can Be a Registered Agent

To serve as a registered agent for the LLC, the individual must meet the following criteria:

  • Be over 18 years old,
  • Have a legal and physical address in the state where the LLC operates,
  • Be available during normal working hours.

All Registered Agents in Texas must have a physical street address in accordance with Section 5.201 of the Business Organizations Code.

  • The address of a Texas Registered Agent, also known as the Registered Office, cannot be a PO Box or a mailbox rental or telephone answering service.
  • Texas Registered Agents must be available during regular business hours (9am – 5pm) in case they receive Service of Process, which includes legal documents such as a writ, complaint, summons, or subpoena.

Why Does My LLC Need a Texas Registered Agent?

Having a Registered Agent for your LLC is crucial for legal proceedings to function effectively. In Texas, it is mandatory for all LLCs to maintain a Registered Agent so that any legal correspondence and court papers can be tracked and delivered accurately.

In the legal world, process servers use a delivery method that is similar to ‘certified mail return receipt’ in order to create a record of the delivery of legal documents.

Who Can Be a Texas Registered Agent?

There are three options for selecting a Registered Agent for your Texas business:

  1. You can serve as your LLC’s Registered Agent,
  2. Choose a friend or family member to be the Registered Agent,
  3. Or hire a Texas Commercial Registered Agent Service.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

You are allowed to act as your own registered agent for your LLC. Additionally, any member of the LLC, such as managers or the owner, and even a family member like a spouse or relative can serve as the registered agent. However, it’s important to note that whoever is chosen as the registered agent must meet the basic requirements.

Why You Shouldn’t Be Your Own Registered Agent

Small businesses often avoid hiring a registered agent to save money, but this can cause problems if the owner becomes the registered agent themselves. Serving as your own registered agent for an LLC can lead to various challenges. Here are some of the issues you may encounter:

  • If you run a business from your home or operate an online business, your home address will be made public and used for official correspondence and mailing. This could potentially compromise your privacy.
  • If you choose to serve as your own registered agent, you must be physically present at the official address during working hours on all working days for 52 weeks. This may limit your availability for other work.
  • It is necessary to keep the registered agent’s address updated in the Secretary of State portal.

Outsourcing the best registered agent service, is recommended to make your work easier and protect your privacy, especially if you conduct business from home. It’s wiser to use an outsourced RA service instead of being your own registered agent.

How to Choose a Registered Agent in Texas

There are two ways to choose a Texas Registered Agent: you can either hire someone to be your in-house RA or outsource the service. You can also choose to be your own registered agent. However, it is advised to outsource the service as it is less stressful and easier.

In-house Registered Agent

Regarding the in-house or free registered agent services, you have two options. You can either appoint someone from your LLC to serve as the registered agent, including yourself, or you can hire a separate individual for this role. If you do decide to hire someone, your office or home address will be used as the registered agent’s office address. All LLCs are required to provide their principal office address, mailing address, and registered agent’s office address to the state public portal. If you hire a registered agent service, you can use their address as your mailing address, which can be more convenient.

Outsourcing Registered Agent Service

Consider using professional registered agent services for your business. This guarantees that you will have a high-quality service provider representing reputable company for you. Our list includes the top Registered Agent services that can provide you with registered agents to alleviate any concerns you may have.

What’s the Best Registered Agent Option to Choose?

To qualify as your LLC’s Registered Agent, you need to have a physical address in Texas, be at least 18 years old, and be okay with your address being publicly available.

If you don’t have a physical address in Texas, you can ask a willing friend or family member with a Texas address to be your Texas Registered Agent. They should be available during normal business hours and be okay with their address being listed on public records.

You can hire a Registered Agent Service if you or anyone you know do not wish to be the Registered Agent for your LLC, or if you do not want your address to be publicly available.

Is a Registered Agent Address Public?

Your Texas Registered Agent address is publicly available as it is recorded in the Certificate of Formation, which is made public by the Texas Secretary of State. Although you can choose to appoint yourself or a trusted individual as your own Texas Registered Agent, please note that the registered agent industry address will be visible in public records.

The information is publicly available and can also be shared by other websites that download it from the state. This leads to a chain reaction as more and more “public record websites” share the same information.

If you don’t want your address to appear on public records and be easily accessible through Google search, we can suggest a strategy to help you keep it confidential.


Texas Registered Agent Fee ($29 or $125)

As a business owner in Texas, you have the option to serve as your own for most registered agent legal services. However, utilizing Texas registered agent services can be extremely beneficial for keeping up with compliance standards and avoiding costly late fees by setting reminders of important filing deadlines.

There is no additional cost if you will be your own Registered Agent, or have someone you know be your LLC’s Registered Agent.

OR:


What to Consider While Choosing a Texas Registered Agent

Consider these factors when selecting a registered agent.

Service Fee

LLCGuys-Service-Fee

Choosing the right registered agent is crucial for your formal business as it is required in most states. The yearly cost of hiring one ranges from $99 to $300, but the time saved makes it worth the investment.


Tenure in Business of Registered Agent 

LLCGuys-Tenure-in-Business-of-Registered-Agent

To ensure proper handling of your documents, it is recommended that you choose a Registered Agent Service with established and proven procedures. We suggest selecting a provider that has been operating for a considerable length of time as they will have the necessary experience and expertise to manage all your documentation.


State Jurisdiction Limitation

LLCGuys-State-Jurisdiction-Limitation

Using the same registered agent in all states when expanding your company into other services can help reduce the administrative burden of dealing with multiple registered agent service providers.


Offer Monitoring and Follow-up Services

LLCGuys-Offer-Monitoring-and-Follow-up-Services

To stay informed about the laws and regulations that affect your company, it’s important to choose a registered agent who can provide timely updates and alerts. Look for a service provider that offers this feature when selecting your RA.


How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Texas?

When submitting the Texas Certificate of Formation, the LLC can appoint a registered agent at the same time. This can be done online or through mail, and there is no extra fee for doing so. The only fee that needs to be paid is the state filing fee.

Appoint Registered Agent Online

To appoint a registered agent, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Texas LLC Online Filing page.

2. Provide the necessary information of your registered agent on the page.

Appoint Registered Agent By Mail

To appoint a registered agent in Texas by mail, follow these steps:

1. Download the Texas LLC filing form (PDF).

2. Fill out the “Registered Agent” section with the appropriate details of the agent.

3. Submit the form to the SOS office.


Cost of a Texas Registered Agent

The cost of a registered agent can vary depending on whether you hire an in-house agent, act as your own agent, or outsource the registered agent service cost elsewhere. The price can range from $99 to $300 per year. It may be cheaper to outsource the registered agent service in Texas.

How to Change a Registered Agent in Texas

In order to replace the Texas registered agent, you need to fill out and file the “Change of registered agent or office by entity” form. You can send this form to the Texas Secretary of State by mail, in-person, or fax.

File By Mail

Another option is to file the “Change of registered agent or office by entity” form via mail. To do so, first download the form from the Texas Secretary of State’s portal, then fill in all the details on your computer. Next, the newly appointed registered agent must sign the completed form. Finally, send the signed form to the designated address.

Mail to: Secretary of State

P.O. Box 13697

Austin, TX 78711-3697

In-person: James Earl Rudder Office Building

1019 Brazos St.

Austin, TX 78701

Fax: (512) 463-5709 

Fee: $15

How to Pay: When filing online or by email, you can pay the filing amount to the Texas Secretary of State using a credit card. If you choose to file on paper, you can make the payment through a check or money order.

Registered Agent Consent Application

In Texas, when appointing a Registered Agent, it’s important to obtain their consent beforehand by filing an Application of Consent. This letter serves as proof that the agent has agreed to serve in this role. It’s essential to have their consent in order to avoid any penalties. The agent can provide their consent by signing a letter, whether it be electronically or in print.

The consent form should have the:

  • LLC name.
  • The execution date.
  • The name of the registered agent.
  • A letter from the person giving their consent for the registered agent to serve the LLC.
  • the signature of the registered agent.

While filing the consent letter is optional, it is suggested to do so to prevent any potential disagreements between the Registered Agent and the LLC down the line. If you decide to file the Acceptance of Consent (Form 401-A), there is a filing fee of $15 that you will need to pay when you hire a Registered Agent.

If the Registered Agent wishes to decline the appointment, they can submit the Rejection of Appointment form (Form 428).


Why Do LLCs in Texas Need a Registered Agent Service?

Some important reasons why a business should appoint a registered agent in Texas include the following:

  • Confidentiality: By using a registered agent service in Texas, your business and related documents can be kept completely private. Choosing a professional registered agent service or company, rather than an individual, will give you access to privacy and confidentiality agreements before appointing them.
  • Up-to-date Compliance: If you have an LLC or corporation, you know there’s a lot of paperwork and compliance tasks that need to be done on time. But if you use a registered agent service, you won’t have to worry about those tasks because your free registered agent service will keep track of a compliance calendar for you.
  • Privacy: In Texas, businesses are required to publicly share their address with the Texas Secretary of State. If you’re using your home address as your business address, it may not be safe to share it publicly. However, if you use a registered agent service, they will provide their address to the Texas SOS instead of yours, which can protect your privacy.
  • Availability: To comply with regulations, registered agents must be available during standard business hours on weekdays. If you use a registered agent service, they can ensure availability during these hours without disrupting other tasks at your company.
  • Online Safe Backup: Usually, all registered agents in Texas and other states take an online backup of the LLC documents and paperwork to securely save them in a central system.
  • Lawsuits or Summons: Being summoned or involved in a lawsuit can negatively impact how employees view their employer. However, by having a registered agent, all legal documents will be sent to the registered agent’s address instead. This means that business owners won’t have to receive such papers in their workplace, in front of their employees.

How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Texas

To remove a registered agent for your LLC in Texas, you need to file a Statement of change of registered agent and/or registered office with the Texas Secretary of State and pay a filing fee of $15.

Running a business in Texas requires complying with several legal requirements to ensure its smooth operation. One of these obligations is appointing a registered agent to act as a liaison between the business entity and the state government.


Best Registered Agent Services for Texas

As we mentioned before, being your own Registered Agent isn’t the best option for various reasons. That’s why we recommend hiring true professionals and forgetting all of the headaches of legal papers, being available 24/7, and collecting a ton of business mail.

#1 — Northwest Registered Agent Service

Northwest is one of our (and many others) top-rated LLC services. They have thousands of positive testimonials and hundreds of thousands of happy customers.
You can read our full review of Northwest Registered Agent here.

$39+State Fees

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Rating: 4.9/5
Review count: 4850+

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Form an LLC today with Nortwest. They have 98% customer satisfaction rating and over 4150+ verified reviews. They will include 1 year of free registered agent service!


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