Thinking of forming a new business in the state of Kentucky? Our article on the best Kentucky registered agent services will help you decide what registered agent service to opt for. We have included individual recommendations for our top 11 picks, which include pricing, features, and additional services they offer.
If you don’t want to read that far, check out our top three recommendations below.
Best Kentucky Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Kentucky Office Locations |
|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Richmond |
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Richmond |
| Kentucky Registered Agent | $49 a year | Richmond |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Lexington |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Solutions Inc. | $175 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
On top of our recommendations, you can also learn about all the steps required to form a business in Kentucky. Our article also includes a detailed FAQ section at the end.
But first, let’s cover some essentials.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent can be an individual or a company whose task is to receive and handle all your important documents and legal correspondence that’s immediately forwarded to you.
Does Kentucky Require a Registered Agent Service?
Yes, in the state of Kentucky it’s required by law that businesses appoint a registered agent before the business is officially registered. However, there are no restrictions in terms of who can be a registered agent – if you want, you can appoint yourself as your registered agent, assuming you meet all the necessary requirements.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
Here are all the benefits you and your business can enjoy if you hire a registered agent service.
- You’ll have more privacy because you can use your registered agent’s physical address instead of your own;
- You can expand your business across multiple states;
- You’ll remain compliant and never miss a deadline;
- Your business hours can be more flexible;
- Your business image will be clean and intact.
1. ZenBusiness
Our top recommendation for a Kentucky registered agent service is ZenBusiness. They’ve helped over 300,000 businesses remain compliant throughout the years and they’re rated as the #1 registered agent service on Forbes, Investopedia, and MarketWatch. Their registered agent service includes:
- Email notifications
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Mail forwarding
- Document scans
- Fast turnaround
A year of registered agent services with ZenBusiness will cost you $199. If you want, you could upgrade your package to include perks such as annual report alerts and two free filing changes.
Another aspect we love about ZenBusiness is how dedicated they are to supporting entrepreneurs who are in need of funding to start and grow their business. Their $5K Grant Program gives entrepreneurs the chance to apply for $5,000 in funding.
Customers also love the fast sign up process and the intuitive design of the website.
Apart from offering registered agent services, you can also hire ZenBusiness for:
- EIN Number
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Annual reports
- Banking and finances
- Taxes and accounting
- Business license reports
- Domain name and website
- Operating agreement
2. Northwest
Another incredible Kentucky registered agent service that will help you stay compliant is Northwest. Their registered agent service boasts tools like:
- Compliance alerts
- Online document storage
- Annual report reminders
- Pre-filled state forms
- Mail forwarding
- Document scanning
Their yearly fee is only $125 and you can get a small discount if you use their multi-year service, which will cost you only $100 a year.
Thanks to their Privacy by Default, your personal data will remain protected at all times.
One of Northwest’s best features is their Corporate Guides – their dedicated customer support team that provide professional guidance and incredible support.
Their Kentucky office is located in Richmond, Madison County.
On top of providing registered agent services, you can also hire Northwest for:
- Annual report filings
- Virtual office
- Phone service
- Foreign qualification
- Payment processing
- Mail forwarding
- Trademarking
3. IncFile
IncFile combines a reliable and professional registered agent service with affordable pricing. Join over 800,000 businesses by selecting one of the most popular registered agent services across the United States. In turn, you will receive:
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Online document storage
- Tailored email and text notifications
- Automatic mail forwarding
Another thing customers really appreciate is their timely compliance reminders, allowing you to always keep track of all your important deadlines.
Their registered agent services cost only $119 a year. If you use their formation service, you can get your first year of registered agent services for free! Talk about a bargain.
Apart from providing registered agent services, IncFile also offer:
- Tax consultations
- EIN Number
- Business licenses and permits
- Foreign qualification
- Certificate of good standing
- Virtual address
- Amendment
4. Harbor Compliance
If you’re looking for a reliable registered agent service that’s helped thousands of customers, all the while being relatively affordable, then Harbor Compliance might be your answer. Their registered agent service encompasses the following tools:
- Annual report reminders
- Pre-filled state forms
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
Their services will set you back only $99 a year, and you’ll get an additional 10% discount if you use their multi-year registered agent service offer.
One of Harbor Compliance’s many strong suits is their processing speed – you’ll get all your important documents and notices in due time, so you’ll never have to worry about missing any important deadlines. In addition, you’ll also receive timely reminders about any annual reports that you need to send.
Their Kentucky office is located in Richmond.
Apart from offering registered agent services, you can also hire Harbor Compliance for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Registration
- Amendments
- Business licensing
5. Kentucky Registered Agent
If you have a new business and you don’t have a lot of money to spare on a registered agent service, we recommend Kentucky Registered Agent. Costing only $49 a year, this registered agent service will supply you with tools such as:
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Online document storage
- Email notifications
Their pricing is both affordable and transparent – you will never have to worry about any hidden fees.
Their Kentucky office is located in Richmond.
On top of offering registered agent services, Kentucky Registered Agent also offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Filing services
6. CSC Global
Entrepreneurs who own larger businesses or have a bigger budget to spend on a registered agent service will benefit from hiring an all-encompassing registered agent service like CSC Global. While it’s slightly pricier than some of our other recommendations, it comes with many helpful tools, such as:
- Annual compliance reminders
- Electronic delivery of all your documents
- Same-day document scans
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
Thanks to their SOC-2 facilities, their data security is top-notch, so your personal information will never be compromised.
Their Kentucky office is located in Franklin County.
Other services they offer include:
- UCC
- Real estate and erecording
- Corporate filings
- Legal management
- Entity management
- Digital brand services
7. LegalZoom
Another excellent option for larger businesses is LegalZoom. Offering a variety of services in the legal field, LegalZoom have helped over 2 million businesses throughout the year. The benefits that come with their registered agent service include:
- Mail alerts
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Annual report reminders
In addition, they also offer up to $1M for identity theft insurance, so you’ll never have to worry about the protection of your business.
Plus, you’ll get access to their Compliance Calendar where you can seamlessly keep track of all your important documents.
Their registered agent service is slightly on the expensive side ($299 annually), but the features you get in return make it more than worthwhile.
LegalZoom also offer other services, including:
- Trademarking
- Residential lease
- Taxation
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Power of attorney
- Annual reports
- EIN Number
- Business registration
- Foreign qualification
8. InCorp
We recommend InCorp to anyone who’s planning on hiring a registered agent service for multiple years. With their multi-year deal, you can get an efficient and excellent service for only $87 a year. In return, you will receive:
- Annual report filings
- Mail forwarding
- Legal notifications
Moreover, you’ll get access to their Entity Management System, which gives you up-to-date information regarding all your important filings and helps prevent identify theft.
Their Kentucky office is located in Lexington, Fayette County.
They also offer a myriad of other services, such as:
- DBA Filing
- Foreign qualification
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- UCC search
- Apostille service
- Articles of amendment
- Copyright
- Trademarking
9. Registered Agent Net
Registered Agent Net is another great option for a registered agent service under $100. For $89 a year, you can access the following perks:
- Three-year price guarantee
- Same-day document delivery
- Compliance Calendar
- Compliance Entity Manager
Their compliance tools are excellent for managing your due dates and keeping track of all your annual renewals. Before any due date approaches, you will get notifications so you don’t miss any deadlines.
Here are all the other services offered by Registered Agent Net:
- Corporate filings
- Registered agent change
- Annual report services
10. Registered Agent Solutions Inc.
Registered Agent Solutions Inc. is a nationwide registered agent service that offers:
- Custom notifications
- Online application tools
- Fast processing speed
Customers love their attentive customer support service comprised of experts who are always ready to guide you in the right direction.
Their yearly registered agent service costs $175.
You can also hire Registered Agent Solutions Inc. for:
- Annual reports
- Business registration
- Entity management
- Certificate of good standing
- Name registrations
- Reporting
- Dissolutions
- Foreign qualification
- Tax clearance
11. Registered Agent Inc.
Last but not least, we recommend hiring Registered Agent Inc.’s registered agent services to anyone who doesn’t mind paying $200 a year. In return, your business will remain compliant thanks to the following tools:
- Digital notifications
- Professional filer tips
- Access to their Corporate Accounts Portal
- Compliance reminders
Registered Agent Inc. also offer other services, including:
- Start-up formation
- Incorporation services
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
How Do I Register a Business in Kentucky?
Here are all the steps you need to complete to successfully start your business in Kentucky.
Brainstorm Ideas for a Name
One of the first steps to registering any kind of business in Kentucky is deciding what to name it.
Apart from providing a good representation of your business and letting customers know what your business is about, your name also has to comply with a few state rules. For instance, your business name has to contain certain words, depending on what kind of business structure you go for – LLCs have to have “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation of the structure, whereas corporations have to contain “Corp”, “Inc.” or another variant.
If you don’t want to use your real name as your business name, you’ll need to register for a DBA (Doing Business As) name. This offer various benefits, including giving more credibility to your business and providing more privacy.
To help you in this process, you can always do an online name availability search, which will give you all the possible options to ensure that the name you choose isn’t too similar to existing business names in the state. In addition, you could also use an online business name generator that can help you come up with various ideas.
Decide on a Business Structure
Just like choosing a name, you’ll also need to decide on which business structure you’d like your business to have before proceeding to the next steps.
These are the four main most popular types of business structures in Kentucky:
Each of these comes with different obligations with the state, filing fees, required budget to form, and yearly costs. For instance, sole proprietorships and partnerships are some of the easiest and cheapest structures to form, but they don’t provide limited liability to their members, so they’re not going to be appealing to every entrepreneur.
File Articles of Organization
If LLC is your preferred business structure, you’ll need to file articles of organizations with the state of Kentucky. This is a legal document that contains important information regarding the ownership, management, and the designated registered agent of your business. By this step, you’ll already need to have chosen a registered agent for your business. The cost of filing articles of organization in Kentucky is $40.
File Articles of Incorporation
If, on the other hand, you’ve decided to go with a corporation as your business structure, then you’ll need to file articles of incorporation with the state of Kentucky. These have a similar purpose to articles of organization – they lay out information about your business’ location, registered agent, management, and stocks. The cost of filing articles of incorporation in Kentucky is $50.
Apply for an EIN
Another important step that’s mandatory for every business owner that aims to hire employees, or whose business is taxed separately from them, is applying for an EIN with the IRS.
An EIN is like a Social Security Number for your business, one that’s required for taxation purposes. Even if your business doesn’t require you to get an EIN, it might be a good idea to do so, considering it comes with many benefits, such as making it easier for you to open a bank account.
The application is free of charge and only requires a fraction of your time.
Obtain All the Required Licenses and Permits
Last but not least, to ensure that your business is operating legally, you’ll need to obtain every license and permit that’s required for your industry by the state of Kentucky.
Kentucky doesn’t require business owners to get a general business licence. With that said, depending on your industry, you might need to get special licenses, such as a professional or a health and safety license. Professional licenses are usually in the spheres such as medicine, psychology, geology, counselling, and investigation.
To ensure that you have all the licenses and permits that are required for your business, double-check the requirements on the Kentucky Government website. Keep in mind that licenses only last for a couple of years, so you will need to renew your license when it expires.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a Kentucky Business Entity Search?
You can do a Kentucky business entity search on the Kentucky Secretary of State website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Kentucky?
The registration costs for an LLC in Kentucky are $40, whereas registering a corporation will cost you $50.
Do I Need a Registered Agent in Kentucky?
Yes, it’s required by law that every business entity in Kentucky must appoint a registered agent in the state.
A Word of Farewell
We hope our article on the best Kentucky registered agent services proved to be useful and helped you choose your new registered agent.
Our top three recommendations are ZenBusiness, Northwest, and IncFile. These services will help your business stay compliant seamlessly without worrying about missing an important deadline or a state notice.
If you’re just starting out and you don’t have a big budget to spare, we have included a recommendation for an affordable Kentucky registered agent service – Kentucky Registered Agent, which will set you back only $49 annually.