If you’re looking for a registered agent service that will keep your Massachusetts business compliant, you’ve come to the right place. Our article on the best Massachusetts registered agent services will get you acquainted with top-notch companies and ease your decision.
If you don’t feel like reading till the end, feel free to check out our summary table below where we lay out all the benefits of our top three recommendations.
Best Massachusetts Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Massachusetts Office location |
|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Pittsfield |
| IncFile | $119 a year/ a year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Pittsfield |
| Massachusetts Registered Agent | $49 a year | Pittsfield |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Boston |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Boston |
Apart from providing an individual overview of our top eleven recommendations, we have also included a section where we go over the necessary steps to register your business in Massachusetts and an FAQ section.
But before we get into all that, let’s define the role of a registered agent.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is a person or a company that receives official documents like government correspondence and legal documents on your behalf. Their role is to forward those documents to you in a timely manner.
Does Massachusetts Require a Registered Agent Service?
Yes, the state of Massachusetts requires all businesses to appoint a registered agent who meets all the state requirements, like being over 18 years of age, being a resident of the state, and having a physical address.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
If you’re still on the fence about whether getting a registered agent would be a good idea for you, here are all the potential benefits you can experience if you hire one.
- You will be able to maintain flexible business hours and a flexible travel schedule;
- Your business will be able to operate in multiple jurisdictions;
- You won’t have to risk getting in trouble with the state of Massachusetts or getting fined;
- You won’t risk getting into potentially embarrassing situations with clients;
- You’ll be able to seamlessly meet all the state deadlines;
1. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is one of the most distinguished registered agent services across the United States. Rated as #1 on influential sites like Forbes, MarketWatch, and Investopedia, ZenBusiness has helped over 300,000 businesses remain compliant throughout the years. Their registered agent package includes compliance tools such as:
- Fast turnaround service
- Access to an online personalized dashboard
- Document scanning
- Email notifications
- Mail forwarding
Their services will set you back $199 annually. If you have the budget for it, you can upgrade their services to unlock special perks, such as annual report alerts and two free filing changes a year.
Another incredible reason to support ZenBusiness is their dedication to helping out the community. A portion of their income goes to their $5K Grant Program, which helps struggling entrepreneurs start and run their businesses.
In addition, their website is intuitive and easy to use, which is always a plus.
Apart from offering registered agent services, you can also hire ZenBusiness for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Annual reports
- EIN Number
- Operating agreement
- Worry-free compliance
- Domain name and website
- Finances and bankin
- Taxes and accounting
2. Northwest
Another one of our top recommendations for a Massachusetts registered agent service is Northwest. Here are all the tools you will receive if you choose Northwest as your registered agent:
- Online document storage
- Mail forwarding
- Scanned documents
- Annual report reminders
- Pre-filled state forms
- Compliance alerts
In addition, each customer gets access to their Corporate Guides – a dedicated team of experts who are there to support you regardless of what kind of problem needs solving.
During the first year of registered agent services, you’ll get access to their compliance calendar which will help you keep track of all your due dates, ensuring that you never get fined or miss a deadline.
Their pricing remains transparent and a year of registered agent services will only cost you $125. If you hire Northwest for more than four states, however, you will unlock a discount, resulting in a yearly fee of only $100.
Their Massachusetts office is located in Pittsfield, Berkshire County.
Other services offered by Northwest include:
- Annual report filings
- Foreign qualification
- Mail forwarding
- Trademarking
- Payment processing
- Virtual office
- Phone service
3. IncFile
IncFile is an excellent option for entrepreneurs who are in need of both formation and registered agent services. If you hire IncFile for both, you will get your first year of registered agent services for free! This offer includes:
- Tailored email and text notifications
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Access to all your correspondence on your personal dashboard
After your complimentary year of registered agent services, they will cost you $119 annually, which is a pretty affordable price considering all the perks you’ll get in return.
Apart from offering registered agent services, you can also hire IncFile for:
- Amendment
- Trademarking
- EIN Number
- Certificate of good standing
- Virtual address
- Foreign qualification
- Business licenses and permits
- Tax consultations
4. Harbor Compliance
If your budget is a priority, a great registered agent option is Harbor Compliance. They’ve helped over 35,000 customers and provide both an affordable and a reliable service. Here is what their registered agent service encompasses:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Same-day electronic delivery of all your documents
Another thing customers really appreciate is their knowledgeable customer support team.
Their services cost $99 a year, but you can get an additional 10% discount if you use their registered agent service for multiple years.
Their Massachusetts office is located in Pittsfield.
Other than registered agent services, you can also hire Harbor Compliance for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Business licensing
- Amendments
- Registration
5. Massachusetts Registered Agent
Another incredibly affordable option for a Massachusetts registered agent is Massachusetts Registered Agent. They cover all the basic tools to ensure that you remain compliant throughout the year, like:
- Annual report reminders
- Email notifications
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Online document storage
You can access all the abovementioned tools for just $49 a year.
Despite the affordable pricing, you’ll never have to worry about encountering any hidden fees or sneaky auto-renewals.
Their Massachusetts office is located in Pittsfield.
In addition to their registered agent service, you can use Massachusetts Registered Agent for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Filing services
6. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is an established company that offers a myriad of services in the legal field. Their registered agent service offers many benefits in the likes of:
- Annual report reminders
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Mail alerts
In addition, each customer will be granted up to $1M in identity theft insurance.
If you’re in the process of changing registered agents, LegalZoom offer to complete the process for you, covering any paperwork and fees that are required.
With that said, their services are slightly on the more expensive side – their yearly fee is $299.
They also offer other services, such as:
- Copyright
- Business formation
- Incorporation
- EIN Number
- Taxation
- Power of attorney
- Foreign qualification
- Business registration
- Residential lease
- Trademarking
7. InCorp
InCorp combines good pricing with outstanding service. Costing only $129, their registered agent service comes with many perks, such as:
- Legal notifications
- Annual report filings
- Mail forwarding
In addition, you’ll get access to their Entity Management system, where you can get relevant up-to-date information and keep track of all your state deadlines.
If you purchase InCorp’s multi-year service, you can pay as low as $87 annually.
Their Massachusetts address is located in Boston, Suffolk County.
Other services offered by InCorp include:
- EIN Number
- Apostille service
- DBA filing
- Articles of amendment
- Trademark and copyright
- LLC formation
- Foreign qualification
- Incorporation
8. Registered Agent Net
Joining our list of amazing yet affordable registered agent services is Registered Agent Net. Here are all the benefits you can enjoy if you use their registered agent services:
- Access to their Compliance Calendar and Compliance Entity Manager
- Three-year price guarantee
- Same-day document delivery
The complementary compliance tools will help you track all your important due dates. In addition, you’ll receive reminders about your annual renewal filings.
Their registered agent services will set you back only $89 a year.
Registered Agent Net also offer the following services:
- Corporate filings
- Registered agent change
- Annual report services
9. MyCompanyWorks
MyCompanyWorks is a nationwide registered agent service that provides you with all the basics for a reasonable price. With their service, you will access tools such as:
- Same-day processing
- Access to an online dashboard
- Free E-delivery
- Online order tracking
- Access to The Startup Wizard
- Compliance monitoring
If you’re not completely satisfied with their service, you will get a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
This company also offers other services that pertain to business formation and maintenance, such as:
- Virtual office
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- File a DBA
- Annual reports
- Company dissolution
- Business licensing
10. Registered Agent Inc.
Guarantee your compliance with the state of Massachusetts with the help of Registered Agent Inc. This nationwide registered agent service comes with many pros, such as:
- Access to a Corporate Accounts Portal
- Compliance reminders
- Professional filer tips
- Digital notifications
A year of registered agent services with Registered Agent Inc. will cost you $200.
They also offer various other services, including:
- Incorporation service
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
- Start-up formation
11. CSC Global
Our last recommendation is ideal for larger businesses who have a bigger budget to spend. CSC Global is outstanding, although costly, registered agent service that provides the following benefits:
- Annual compliance reminders
- Same-day document scans
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
Every customer will get access to their SOC-2 facilities which help protect your data and keep you safe.
A year of registered agent services with CSC Global will cost you $381.
Their Massachusetts office is located in Boston.
- CSC Global also offer the following services:
- UCC
- Legal management
- Entity management
- Real estate and erecording
- Corporate filings
- Digital brand services
How Do I Register a Business in Massachusetts?
As promised, here are all the steps you need to complete to register your Massachusetts business.
Brainstorm a Name
Regardless of what kind of business you want to open, brainstorming a name for your business is one of the first steps you need to take.
Your business name should accurately represent your company’s services or goods. Moreover, it should be unique and not taken up by another business in the state. To check this, you can use one of several online tools, such as a business entity search, which you can find on the Government of Massachusetts website.
Depending on what kind of business you’re opening, you might have to include certain words in the name. For instance, LLC owners need to include “Limited Liability Company”, or one of its abbreviations, while corporation owners need to include “Inc.” “Corporation”, or “Corp”, or words that have the same meaning.
Once you have a name, you can reserve it on the Massachusetts Secretary of State website.
Decide on a Legal Structure
The next step is to decide what kind of legal structure you want your business to have so that you know which steps you need to proceed with. The four most popular business structures in Massachusetts are:
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership
- LLC
- Corporation
When deciding what structure to opt for, consider factors like budgeting, obligations with the state, limited liability, and tax. Every structure comes with a set of benefits and drawbacks, so decide the one you find most appealing. For example, LLCs and corporations provide their owners with limited liability, meaning they offer protection of their assets in case of a claim or lawsuit, whereas sole proprietorships and partnerships don’t have that feature. So, if this sounds like something you’d want to prioritize, you might want to go for an LLC or a corporation.
On the other hand, if you’re short on a budget, then sole proprietorships and partnerships would be a better fit.
File a Certificate of Organization
If LLC is your preferred structure, you should file a certificate of organization with the state of Massachusetts.
Essentially, a certificate of organization is a document that contains crucial information about your business, such as what registered agent you choose, its location and purpose, and information about the owners. So, by this stage, you’ll need to have chosen a registered agent to represent your business. The filing fee for a certificate of organization is $500.
File Articles of Incorporation
If you’re starting a corporation, you’ll need to file articles of incorporation with the state of Massachusetts. Just like a certificate of organization, this document is crucial for you to complete your business registration and it contains information about the business, its owners, and shares.
Get an EIN
An Employee Identification Number is a requirement for any business that has hired employees, as well as businesses that are taxed separately from their owners.
The good news is that getting an EIN is easy and completely free. You can find the form on the IRS website and submit your application online.
Even if your business doesn’t require you to get an EIN, there are many benefits from doing so. It’s helpful in preventing identity theft, it adds credibility to your business, and it’s useful for opening bank accounts.
Apply for Licenses and Permits
Last but not least, to ensure that your business is operating legally, you need to apply for the necessary licenses and permits.
Massachusetts doesn’t require business owners to get a general business license, but you might have to get an industry-specific license or permit depending on what kind of business you intend to open.
Some licensing laws vary from location to location, so, to ensure that you have all the required information about the licenses you’ll need to obtain, it’s a good idea to visit the Professional Licenses and Permits section on the Government of Massachusetts website.
Just like conducting a business name search is useful in finding a unique and valid business name, getting a business license search can be of immense help when you’re trying to learn what kind of licensing rules apply for your business in the state of Massachusetts.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a Massachusetts Business Entity Search?
You can do a Massachusetts business entity search on the Government of Massachusetts website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Massachusetts?
Registering a business in Massachusetts will cost you around $500 for both an LLC and a corporation.
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost in Massachusetts?
A Massachusetts registered agent service can cost you anywhere from $50 to a couple hundred dollars.
A Word of Farwell
We hope you found our article on the best Massachusetts registered agent services informative!
If you want the best of the best, we recommend opting for one of our top three recommendations: ZenBusiness, Northwest, or IncFile. All three registered agent services are available nationwide and come with many appealing perks, like mail forwarding, a digital dashboard, and annual report reminders.
If you’re on the lookout for more affordable services, check out Massachusetts Registered Agent or Registered Agent Net.
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