Choosing the right registered agent is one of the most important steps in the formation process of your business. If you’re thinking of starting a business in Idaho or expanding your business in this state, you’ll need a registered agent to accept correspondence on your behalf and forward all your legal documents. To help you in this process, we’ve included 11 different recommendations for the best Idaho registered agent services.
Don’t have the time to read through our whole article? Check out our summary table below of our top 3 recommendations for a quick overview of their features.
Best Idaho Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Office Locations |
|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Coeur D Alene |
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Post Falls |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Not stated |
| Idaho Registered Agent | $35 a year | Post Falls |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Nampa |
| Registered Agents Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
| All Day Idaho Registered Agent | $49 a year | Post Falls |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Boise |
| Resident Agent | You name the price | Not stated |
In addition to providing individual reviews for registered agent services, our article also contains a section where we go over all the necessary steps of registering a business in Idaho, as well as a FAQ section.
But first, let’s cover some basics.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is an individual or a company designated to receive legal correspondence and papers on your behalf.
There are a few requirements to becoming a registered agent, such as having a physical address, being at least 18 years of age, and being a resident of the state.
Does Idaho Require a Registered Agent?
Idaho is a state that requires you to appoint a registered agent during the formation process of your business.
With that said, you still have the freedom to appoint yourself or someone you know as your official registered agent, as long as they meet the requirements mentioned above.
What Are the Benefits of Getting a Registered Agent?
Hiring a registered agent comes with many benefits.
Most importantly, a registered agent gives you more privacy. You will no longer have to use your own home address when filing documents or sharing them with the public.
In addition, you’ll have someone monitoring all your due dates and obligations with the state, which will give you more peace of mind and more time to dedicate to your business.
It will also allow for more flexibility with your business hours, and allow you to take more time off and travel without worrying about missing any important documents.
1. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is one of the most renowned registered services in the United States and rated as #1 on MarketWatch, Forbes, and Investopedia. Their package includes many features that will help you stay compliant with your business, such as:
- Handle all your documents
- Email notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Fast turnaround
- Access to a personalized dashboard
Their registered agent service costs $199 a year. Even though it’s a slightly higher price than some of our other recommendations, the excellent features and outstanding customer support make it a worthwhile investment.
One of the best aspects of ZenBusiness is how dedicated they are to giving back to the community. With their 5k Grant Program, they support struggling entrepreneurs and help them start and grow their business.
Other services they offer include:
- Domain registration
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Banking and finances
- Licenses and permits
- Business license reports
- EIN Number
- Operating agreement
- Annual reports
2. Northwest
If you’re looking for a well-rounded registered agent service that’s reasonably priced and provides excellent customer support, then Northwest is your answer. They offer a plethora of benefits, such as:
- Online document storage
- Annual report reminders
- Free mail forwarding
- Access to business forms
- Same-day document scanning
Known as Corporate Guides, their customer support is composed of experienced experts who are ready to help you at all times with any obstacle you face.
Unsurprisingly, they are dedicated to protecting your data and will never sell your personal information to third parties.
Their annual fee is only $125. You can find their Idaho office in Coeur D Alene, Kootenai County.
Apart from registered agent services, you can also hire Northwest for:
- LLC formation
- Foreign qualification
- Phone service
- Mail forwarding
- Annual reports
- Virtual office
3. IncFile
IncFile gives their customers a free year of registered agent services with their formation package. With this offer, you will get access to perks like:
- Personalized dashboard and notifications
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Compliance reminders
- Document scanning
After your first year of complimentary services, the fee will be $119 a year. You don’t need to worry about any increases in the price or hidden contracts – their pricing will remain the same every year.
In addition to registered agent services, they also offer:
- EIN
- Company dissolution
- Amendment
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- Certificate of good standing
- Tax consultations
4. Harbor Compliance
Affordable, nationwide, and providing a myriad of features, Harbor Compliance is an outstanding option for an Idaho registered agent service. Their registered agent package includes:
- Same-day electronic document delivery
- Pre-filled and pre-signed state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Customizable notifications
Their registered agent service will set you back only $99 a year. If you’re planning on using them for multiple years, you can take advantage of their multi-year discount which allows you to save up to 10%.
Their nationwide presence makes it easier than ever to expand your business without worrying about changing registered agents. You can find their Idaho office in Post Falls, Kootenai County.
If you’d like to check out more of their services, here’s a list of what they offer:
- LLC formation
- Annual reports
- Business licensing
- Incorporation
5. MyCompanyWorks
Another registered agent service that costs only $99 a year but comes with a variety of perks is MyCompanyWorks. Here are all the benefits you can access if you use their registered agent service:
- Immediate notifications
- Compliance reminders
- Access to an online account and dashboard
- Same business day processing
- Lifetime company alerts
In addition to the abovementioned benefits, they also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee – if you’re not satisfied with the service, you can get your money back without any additional fees.
They also offer the following services:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Filing a DBA
- Company dissolution
- Annual reports
- Licensing
- Change of a company name
6. Idaho Registered Agent
If you’re looking for an affordable registered agent service that will cost you less than $50, we highly recommend Idaho Registered Agent. For only $35 a year, you will access:
- An online account
- Instant state forms
- Compliance documents
- Real-time document delivery
Despite the low annual fee, their pricing is always transparent and there are no hidden fees or contracts.
Their Idaho office is located on Sherman Ave, Coeur d’Alene. In addition to their registered agent service, they also offer LLC and incorporation services.
7. CSC Global
While it’s one of our more expensive registered agent recommendations, CSC Global are a great option for big businesses that have a larger budget to work with. Their registered agent services include:
- Same-day document scanning
- Automatic mail alerts
- Annual report reminders
Their services cost $381 a year and you can find their Idaho office in Nampa.
With their offer, you also get unlimited access to CSCNavigator – an online compliance dashboard that allows you to keep track of all your deadlines.
CSC Global are dedicated to protecting their clients, which they accomplish with the help of SOC 2-audited facilities and processes.
Apart from registered agent services, they also offer:
- UCC
- Annual reports
- Business licenses
- Entity management
- Corporate filings
8. Registered Agents Inc.
Registered Agents Inc. is a registered agent service that has offices in every state and will help you stay on top of all your documents and deadlines. Their registered agent service includes:
- Digital notifications
- Access to an online account
- Mail forwarding
- Compliance reminders
Their services cost $200 a year, so they’re a bit on the pricier side, making them a good option for larger businesses that want to expand their business across multiple states.
Registered Agents Inc. also offer the following services:
- Start-up formation
- Incorporation
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
9. All Day Idaho Registered Agent
Another affordable option for an Idaho registered agent is All Day Idaho Registered Agent. For only $49 a year, you can access:
- Compliance tracking
- Same-day document scans
- Free annual report reminders and instructions
- State forms and filing tips
Even though their services are affordable, you’ll never have to worry about any hidden forwarding or maintenance fees. Their Idaho address is located in Post Falls.
In addition to a registered agent service, they also offer:
- Federal tax ID
- Incorporation
- Annual report compliance
- Certificate of existence
- Registration
- Articles of amendments
- Articles of dissolution
- Articles of merger
10. InCorp
InCorp is a popular choice for a registered agent services across the United States. For an annual fee of $129, you can access perks like:
- Legal notifications
- Email forwarding
- Compliance reminders
- Entity management system
If you use their multi-year discount, your fee will be as low as $87 a year. Their Idaho office is located in Boise.
Apart from handling your documents, they will provide up-to-date information for the filing status and officers in various states, as well as information about identity theft prevention.
InCorp also offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Entity dissolution
11. Resident Agent
Resident Agent specialize in providing registered agent services in every state. The benefits that are included with their registered agent service are the following:
- Idaho annual report reminders
- Access to state forms
- An immediate physical address in Idaho
Rated as A+ BBB, they provide customers with all the tools needed to stay organized and compliant.
Our favourite aspect of Resident Agent is how they don’t have a set price – you name the price and say how much you’re willing to pay, and your proposal will be approved or disapproved in around 30 minutes.
How Do I Register a Business in Idaho?
Now that we’ve gone over our top recommendations for a registered agent services in Idaho, it’s time to go over the crucial steps for registering a business in this state.
Choose a Legal Structure
If you haven’t already, a great place to start when you’re registering a business is deciding on which legal structure to go for. If you want to, you can consult someone to help you get acquainted with all the downsides and upsides of every legal structure and inform you about the requirements for starting a business in this state. Alternatively, you can visit the Idaho State and Federal Resources for Business website where you can find an overview of the most popular business structures in Idaho and their requirements.
Choose a Name for Your Idaho Business
After deciding on the business structure, it’s time to choose a name.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that your business name should be unique and not similar to any existing business name. Doing a business name search is crucial in this step since it helps you narrow down all the potential names. Once you think of a name you like, you have the option of reserving the name with the Idaho Secretary of State so that no other business grabs a hold of it while you’re completing the formation of your business. The name reservation fee is $20.
File a Certificate of Organization
If an LLC is the business structure you decided to go with, you’ll need to file articles of organization with the Idaho Secretary of State. You’ll be asked to provide crucial information regarding your business, such as its location, name, and information about the owners. You can file the articles of organization online for $100. The fee for filing them in person is $120.
File Articles of Incorporation
Articles of incorporation have a similar purpose to articles of organization, only they apply to corporations. If you’ve decided that a corporation would be the best business structure for you, you’ll need to file articles of incorporation with the Idaho Secretary of State. The fees are the same as with LLC – a $100 online filing fee and a $120 in-person filing fee.
Get an Employee Identification Number
An Employee Identification Number (EIN) has a similar purpose to a Social Security Number, but it applies to your business. Getting an EIN is a requirement if you plan on hiring employees for your business and for tax purposes. You can apply for an EIN online with the IRS and there is no fee for the application. Even if getting an EIN isn’t a requirement for your business, there are many benefits that come with obtaining one, such as making the process of opening a bank account easier.
Obtain the Necessary Business Licences and Permits
Last but not least, you must ensure that you have obtained all the necessary business licenses and permits for your industry.
Idaho doesn’t issue a general state business license. The type of business license you’ll need for your Idaho business depends on what kind of business you want to open. Some licenses are issued by the state of Idaho, whereas others are issued on a local level. The Idaho State and Federal Resources for Business website contains all the information you’ll need for licensing in different sectors and the steps you need to allow your business to operate legally.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Idaho?
The filing fee for LLCs and Corporations in Idaho is $100 when done online, whereas the fee for non-profits is $30.
Where Can I Do an Idaho Entity Search?
You can do an Idaho entity search on the Idaho Secretary of State website.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Idaho?
Yes, the state of Idaho allows you to be your own registered agent.
Final Thoughts
We hope you found our article on the best Idaho registered agent services helpful in your search for a registered agent.
If you want the best of the best, our top three recommendations are Northwest, IncFile, and ZenBusiness. They provide all the necessary tools for your business to stay compliant and on top of every document.
If you’d like to hire a more affordable registered agent service, we recommend Idaho Registered Agent and All Day Idaho Registered Agent.