Are you thinking of expanding your business in Florida or starting a new business in this state? Then you’ll need to appoint a registered agent during the formation process of your business who will receive all important correspondence on your behalf and handle your legal documents. If you’re not sure what registered agent service to go for, our guide on the best Florida registered agent services will give you various ideas for services that vary in terms of nationwide presence, budget, and features.
If you don’t have the time to read each individual review, here are our top 3 recommendations for registered agent services in Florida.
- Free For The First Year
- $119 / Annually After That
- Never Any Hidden Fees or Contracts
- Loved by 800,000+ Entrepreneurs
- Available in All 50 States
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 On Trustpilot
- $199 / Year
- Only Takes 5 to 10 Minutes To Set-up
- 100% Accuracy Guarantee
- Expert Customer Support
- Free First Year If You Use Their $39 formation package
- $125 Per Year After
- Available in all 50 states
- Free mail forwarding
- Locally-Scanned Documents
Best Florida Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | St. Petersburg |
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| Sunshine Corporate Filings | $35 a year | St. Petersburg |
| Florida Registered Agent LLC | $49 a year | St. Petersburg |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Loxahatchee |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Tallahassee |
| Registered Agent Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | St. Petersburg |
| Swyft Filings | $149 a year | Not stated |
On top of giving you individual overviews of our top 11 recommendations, we have also included a section where we go over all the necessary steps for registering a business in Florida, as well as an FAQ which you can find at the end of our article.
But before we delve into our recommendations, let’s clarify what a registered agent is and their purpose.
What is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent, also known as a statutory agent or a resident agent, can be an individual or a company that’s responsible for receiving government notices and legal correspondence on your business’s behalf. They also have the task of forwarding that correspondence to you so that you receive it in a timely manner.
Do I Need a Registered Agent in Florida?
In Florida, every business is required by law to have a registered agent. There are no restrictions as to who can serve as a registered agent.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent?
Now that we defined the purpose of appointing a registered agent, let’s explore all the benefits you can enjoy in the process.
- Registered agents allow you to have more flexible business hours and more flexibility when you’re travelling;
- If you ever want to grow your business in other states, you can do so easily without changing registered agents;
- Your business will be more organized and all your documents will be in one place;
- You won’t have to be put in vulnerable situations in front of clients, in case you get served at the workplace, resulting in a clean business image;
- You can use your registered agent’s address instead of your own;
- You won’t have to complete tedious paperwork in case you change your business address;
- You will remain compliant at all times.
Now it’s time to get into our individual recommendations for the best Florida registered agent services.
1. ZenBusiness
Rated as #1 on Forbes, Investopedia, and MarketWatch, ZenBusiness is one of the best registered agent services across the United States. They offer a nationwide service, as well as a plethora of benefits with their registered agent package, such as:
- Mail forwarding
- Access to a personalized digital dashboard
- Scanned and uploaded documents
- Mail notifications
- Monitoring of state notices
They’ve helped over 300,000 businesses and they’re known for having thousands of positive reviews. We also love how dedicated they are to giving back to the community – they fund businesses and help them grow with their ZenBusiness $5k Grant Program.
Their registered agent package will cost you $199 a year. At any time, you have the option to upgrade their package, which will allow you to access additional perks such as free filing changes.
Apart from providing registered agent services, they also offer other services that will help plan and grow your business, such as:
- Formation services
- Operating agreement
- Banking services
- EIN Number
- Accounting and bookkeeping
- Business license reports
2. Northwest
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced registered agent service that provides multistate support, then consider Northwest – one of the most recognized names in the industry. This family-owned business is known for their great customer support and the many tools they offer, like:
- Free mail forwarding
- Pre-filled state forms
- Online document storage
- Scanned documents
- Compliance alerts
Their customer service, or what they refer to as Corporate Guides, is one of the many benefits of using their registered agent service. Regardless of what you might need help with, you’ll be met with a team of experts who are always ready to help you.
The registered agent package will set you back only $125 a year, which is pretty affordable considering how many perks it gives you access to.
On top of that, customers really love how easy and intuitive their interface is to use.
If you’re looking for other services apart from a registered agent, you might be interested in the other services they offer:
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
- Virtual offices
- LLC formation
- Foreign qualification
Their Florida office is located in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County.
3. IncFile
Another excellent option for a Florida registered agent service is IncFile. They offer a free year of registered agent services with their formation services. After that, their registered agent service costs $119 a year. In return, you will receive:
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Tailored notifications
- Compliance reminders
Apart from their formation services, they offer a myriad of other helpful services such as:
- Company dissolution
- Foreign qualification
- Amendment
- Trademarking
- Certificate of good standing
- EIN
- Tax consultations
4. Sunshine Corporate Filings
Those who are looking for an extremely affordable Florida registered agent service will love our next recommendation. Sunshine Corporate Filings’ services cost only $35 annually, and, in return, will receive:
- Free mail forwarding
- Same-day scanning
- Annual report reminders
- A Florida business address
Their pricing is incredibly transparent – there are no hidden fees or contracts.
In addition to the abovementioned benefits, you will also receive a free 60-day trial of Florida Phone Service. If you want, you can also get an annual report filing for only $100 plus fees. Their office is located in St. Petersburg.
Apart from a registered agent service, they also offer LLC formation and incorporation services.
5. Florida Registered Agent LLC
Another great option for those on a tight budget is Florida Registered Agent LLC. Their registered agent package includes:
- Free mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
- Annual report reminders
Additionally, you can use their Florida Phone Serviced free of charge for the first 60 days.
Their pricing is incredibly affordable – a year of registered agent services will only cost you $49. Their office location is in St. Petersburg. Apart from a registered agent service, they also offer the following services:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Florida virtual office
- Foreign registration
6. InCorp
If you’re planning on expanding your business across multiple states, then it’d be best to invest in a nationwide registered agent service like InCorp. With their service, you’ll get to enjoy benefits such as:
- Legal notifications
- Annual report filings
- Access to their Entity Management System
Their registered agent service costs $129 a year. You can get a substantial discount if you use their multi-year service – the price can go as low as $87 a year.
Another thing we love about InCorp is their EntityWatch technology which allows them to prevent corporate identity theft.
In addition to their registered agent services, they also offer:
- LLC formation
- Corporation formation
- File a DBA
- EIN Number
- Foreign qualification
- Apostille service
- Articles of amendment
- Trademarking
- Copyright
- UCC search and filing
Their Florida office is located in Loxahatchee, Palm Beach County.
7. CSC Global
CSC Global is another premium nationwide registered agent service that offers a variety of perks like:
- Same-day scanning
- Automatic mail alerts
- Annual report reminders
- Access to CSCNavigator
They’re dedicated to protecting the privacy and data of their clients through the use of their SOC2-audited facilities.
Their registered agent services cost $381 annually. Their Florida office is located on Hays Street, Tallahassee.
CSC Global offer various different services in addition to a registered agent, such as:
- Corporate filings
- UCC
- Real estate and erecording
- Entity management
- Legal management
- Digital brand services
8. Registered Agent Inc.
Registered Agent Inc. is a nationwide registered agent service that offers an appealing package with benefits such as:
- Access to a Corporate Accounts Portal
- Compliance reminders
- Digital notifications
- Professional filer tips
Their registered agent services cost $200 a year. You can also hire them for various other services:
- Incorporation services
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
- Start-up formation
9. LegalZoom
LegalZoom allows you to keep track of all your documents and correspondence and stay compliant, all the while offering a wide range of legal services that can be of immense help when running a business. Their registered agent service costs $299 a year and it comes with features like:
- Email alerts
- Annual report reminders
- Unlimited cloud storage
In addition, if you’re in the process of changing your registered agent, they offer to handle the process free of charge. All you have to do is pay the state fees.
LegalZoom also offers 1 million identity theft protection guarantee, ensuring that you stay safe at all times.
On top of their registered agent services, they also offer:
- Business registration
- Taxation services
- Foreign qualification
- Power of attorney
- Licensing
10. Harbor Compliance
Affordable, efficient, and swift, Harbor Compliance is one of the most popular options for a registered agent service across the United States. Their annual fee is only $99, and, in return, you get to access:
- Same-day document delivery
- Pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
If you want to use their services for multiple years, you can take advantage of their 10% multi-year discount. Their pricing is transparent and you’ll never be charged extra fees.
Apart from their registered agent service, they also offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Business licensing
- Annual reports
Their Florida office is located in St. Petersburg.
11. Swyft Filings
Last but not least, Swyft Filings is an excellent choice for a Florida registered agent service. For only $149 a year, their package includes:
- Access to an online dashboard
- Compliance assurance
- Privacy protection
Customers really love how easy and intuitive their website is to use.
If you’re in need of other services, you can also hire Swyft Filings for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Business dissolution
- Amendments
- Foreign qualification
How Do I Register a Business in Florida?
Here are all the steps required for your business to be officially registered in Florida.
Decide on a Business Structure
The most common types of business structures in Florida are the following:
- Sole proprietorship
- General partnership
- Partnership
- LLC
- Corporation
The Florida Department of State – Division of Corporations website has a good overview of the abovementioned types of business structures, so make sure you consult their website when you’re thinking of what kind of entity would suit your business best. If you already have a business structure in mind, then proceed to the next step.
Decide on a Name for Your Florida Business
The next step is to come up with a business name. Like with any other state, the State of Florida imposes certain restrictions in terms of what is and isn’t allowed to be included in your business name. You can get informed on all the restrictions in the Fictitious Name FAQ section on the State of Florida’s website.
To ensure that the name you’ve chosen is unique, we recommend doing an online name search. This will show you whether there are any existing businesses that have already taken up the name. Keep in mind that your name shouldn’t be too similar to any other businesses on the market.
If you’re registering a sole proprietorship, you’ll need to register a fictitious name if you don’t want to use your legal name. The fictitious name registration filing is conducted online and the fee is $50.
Obtain an EIN
Getting an EIN (Employee Identification Number) from the IRS for your business is a requirement in Florida. This process can be conducted online, by mail, fax, or telephone. The online registration is fast and free- you’re only required to answer a few questions regarding your business and send the application.
Submit Articles of Organization
If you’re starting an LLC in Florida, you’ll need to file articles of organization with the state. Articles of organization is a legal document that’s required to establish an LLC at a state level. The application is available online in a PDF format. You’ll need to include information regarding your business, such as the address of your business, its name, the type of business, and the purpose of the business.
File Articles of Incorporation
If, on the other hand, you want to start a corporation in Florida, you’ll need to file articles of incorporation with the state. These have a similar purpose with articles of organization and contain information such as the name of your business, the type of corporation you’re opening, and its location. The articles of incorporation are submitted to the Florida Division of Corporations. Just like with articles of organization, you can find the application online.
Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
Last but not least, in order for your business to function legally, you’ll need to obtain all the necessary business licenses and permits.
Florida doesn’t require businesses to have a general license, however, businesses in certain industries are required to get special licenses.
You can access a license search on the Department of Business and Professional Regulation website that allows you to check if you require any licenses for your particular business. Business licenses in Florida are also issued by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
FAQs
Can I Act as My Own Florida Registered Agent?
Yes, the state of Florida allows you to appoint yourself as your own registered agent.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Florida?
The registration fees in Florida depend on the type of business entity you choose. For LLCs, you’ll need to pay a total of $160, whereas the filing fee for a corporation is $87.
Where Can I Do a Florida Business Entity Search?
You can do a business entity search on the State of Florida’s Division of Corporations.
A Word of Farewell
We hope you enjoyed our article on the best Florida registered agent services and that you’ve found your perfect match!
Our top three recommendations for a Florida registered agent service are ZenBusiness, Northwest, and IncFile – they have years of experience and thousands of satisfied clients that vouch for their expertise and efficient service.
If you’re looking for a very affordable option, check out Sunshine Corporate Filings and Florida Registered Agent LLC.