Thinking of starting a business in New York? If that’s the case, you’ll need to appoint a registered agent before you submit all the necessary documents. If you don’t want to appoint yourself as your registered agent and want to hire a professional service instead, our article on the best New York registered agent services is here to help.
Don’t want to read through every single recommendation? Then check out our summary table below, where we included all the features of our top three recommendations.
Best New York Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | New York Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Albany |
| New York Registered Agent Service | $49 a year | Albany |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 | Albany |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Albany |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| MyCorporation | $120 the first year/ $179 every year after | Not stated |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Albany |
| Registered Agents Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
On top of our individual recommendations, we’ll also go over the benefits of hiring a registered agent, explain how to register a business in New York, and we’ll finish our article with an FAQ section.
With that out of the way, let’s start by defining the role of a registered agent.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent can be an individual or a company whose task is to receive all the government correspondence and important documents on your behalf and forward said documents to you.
Does New York Require a Registered Agent?
Yes, in New York, it’s required by law that every business has a designated registered agent. As long as you meet the requirements, you can even appoint yourself as your own registered agent.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent
While appointing yourself as your own registered agent might be enticing, here are all the benefits you can enjoy if you hire a professional service:
- You’ll have more time and energy to invest in your business;
- You’ll preserve your privacy because you can use your registered agent’s address instead of your own;
- You can have more flexible business hours and travel without worry;
- You won’t be put in embarrassing situations in front of clients if an unfortunate situation occurs;
- You’ll remain compliant and avoid fines.
Now, let’s start with our first recommendation.
1. IncFile
If you’re a start-up owner who would like to purchase a business formation package in conjunction with a registered agent service, then IncFile is the way to go.
Having helped over 800,000 customers throughout the years, they provide quality service, regardless of what service you choose. If you hire them for their formation service, you’ll get your first year of registered agent services for free. This includes:
- Access to said correspondence on your personal dashboard
- Tailored email and text notifications
- Receiving all your important correspondence in due time
- Automatic mail forwarding
Customers love IncFile’s user-friendly interface and their timely compliance reminders, which help prevent fines and getting in trouble with New York law.
Their regular yearly fee is $119 and there are no hidden fees or contracts.
IncFile also offer the following services:
- Trademarking
- Virtual address
- Certificate of good standing
- Tax consultations
- Business licenses and permits
- Amendment
- Foreign qualification
- EIN Number
2. ZenBusiness
We chose ZenBusiness as one of our top recommendations because of their rich registered agent service offer, but also their dedication to helping the entrepreneurial community.
With their registered agent package, you’ll receive the following benefits:
- Email notifications
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Fast turnaround
- Mail forwarding
- Document scanning
With their $5K Grant Program, a portion of their income goes to aspiring business owners who are struggling to start and grow their business, so you’ll be supporting a good cause.
Customers also love how intuitive and easy their website is to use, which is especially beneficial for first-time business owners and those who are not so tech-savvy.
ZenBusiness’s yearly fee is $199. You have the option of upgrading their service to include other perks, such as two free filing changes a year and annual support alerts.
Their other services include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- EIN Number
- Operating agreement
- Annual reports
- Taxes and accounting
- Worry-free compliance
- Business license reports
- Banking and finances
- Domain name and website
3. Northwest
Northwest, one of the most renowned registered agent services across the United States, offers a long list of tools that will help you remain compliant with New York state laws, which include:
- Document storage
- Pre-filled state forms
- Scanned documents
- Compliance alerts
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report reminders
One of the things Northwest are known for is their Corporate Guides – a dedicated mix of experts who are always ready to answer any question you may have regarding your business and help you with any compliance-related problem you might encounter.
Thanks to their Privacy by Default practice, your personal data will never be at risk of being exposed or sold.
Their yearly fee is $125 if you hire them for your business in 1 to 4 states. If you use their registered agent service in five or more states, you can access their multi-year discount, lowering the yearly fee to $100.
Northwest’s New York office is located in Albany.
In addition to the registered agent, they also offer the following services:
- Virtual office
- Annual report filings
- Payment processing
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- Phone service
- Mail forwarding
4. New York Registered Agent Service
If you’re looking to hire a registered agent service for an affordable price, consider New York Registered Agent Service. Costing only $49 a year, this registered agent service comes with amazing benefits, such as:
- Legal notifications
- Online scans and storage
- Access to an online account
- State forms
Their New York office is located in Albany.
On top of registered agent services, they also provide:
- Business address
- Virtual office
- LLC formation
- Mail forwarding
5. Harbor Compliance
Another incredibly popular option for a registered agent is Harbor Compliance. With over 35,000 customers to vouch for their excellent service, they’re one of the best options to go for if you want a combination of affordability and quality.
With their registered agent service, you’ll get access to:
- Annual report reminders
- Pre-filled state forms
- Customizable notifications
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
Known for their rapid processing speed, you’ll never have to worry about missing an important deadline and being fined as a result.
Their yearly fee will set you back $99, but if you use their multi-year discount, you can get an additional 10% off.
Their New York office is located in Albany.
Other services offered by Harbor Compliance include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Registration
- Amendments
- Business licenses
6. CSC Global
CSC Global is an outstanding choice for a New York registered agent if you own a larger business or if you don’t mind spending a couple hundred dollars a year on a registered agent. Their service is slightly more expensive than some of our other recommendations, but it comes with a myriad of benefits, including:
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Annual compliance reminders
- Same-day document scans
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
They utilize a high-level data security facilitated by their SOC-2 technology, which is an added benefit that’s especially helpful for larger businesses. You’ll never have to worry about your data being leaked or sold to third parties.
Their New York office is located in Albany and their yearly fee is $381.
CSC Global also specialize in the following services:
- Corporate filings
- Real estate and erecording
- Digital brand services
- Entity management
- Legal management
- UCC
7. LegalZoom
If you’re looking for a wide range of legal services in addition to a premium registered agent service, look no further than LegalZoom. A renowned name in the industry, LegalZoom provides everything you need from a comprehensive registered agent service, including:
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Mail alerts
- Annual report reminders
One of our favourite features of LegalZoom’s registered agent service is that they offer up to $1M in identity theft protection. Another reason they’re a good match for larger businesses is their expertise in IP protection and trademark registration.
If you currently have a registered agent but you’re not entirely satisfied with the service, LegalZoom offers to change your registered agent on your behalf and cover any fees in the process.
The yearly fee for their registered agent services is $299. However, if you purchase their business formation package, the first year will cost you only $249.
Here are all the legal services you can hire them for:
- Business formation
- Incorporation
- Power of attorney
- Annual reports
- Taxation
- Trademarking
- Residential lease
- Copyright
- Business registration
- Foreign qualification
- EIN Number
8. Registered Agent Net
A great option for business owners looking to hire a registered agent service that’ll cost them less than $100 is Registered Agent Net. For only $87 a year, this registered agent service provides:
- Access to their Compliance Calendar and Compliance Entity Manager
- Two-year price guarantee
- Same-day document delivery
Their complementary compliance tools will help track all your business information and keep track of your renewal dates and deadlines.
Before any due date, Registered Agent Net will send you an email informing you about it, so you don’t miss any deadlines.
Their pricing is transparent and you’ll never have to worry about added costs or auto-renewals.
9. MyCorporation
MyCorporation is a premium nationwide registered agent service that covers all the basics and provides a wide range of services. Their package includes:
- Expert handling of any paperwork
- Completed filings
- Fast document delivery
Just like Harbor Compliance, they’re known for their fast processing speed.
Their yearly fee will set you back $120 for the first year, and $179 every year after.
Apart from providing registered agent services, they also offer:
- Annual reports
- Amendment
- Filings
10. InCorp
If you’re planning on purchasing a registered agent service for multiple years in a row, InCorp is a wonderful option we recommend. Their regular fee is $129, but you’ll pay as low as $87 if you opt for their multi-year service. This offer includes perks like:
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Legal notifications
- Annual report filings
- Mail forwarding
With their EntityWatch technology, your business will always be protected from identity theft. In addition, you’ll also get access to information like the status of your filings and your state’s officers.
Their New York office is located in Albany.
Other services include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Articles of amendment
- EIN Number
- Copyright
- DBA Filing
- Trademarking
- Foreign qualification
- UCC search
- Apostille service
11. Registered Agent Inc.
Last but not least, Registered Agent Inc. is a comprehensive nationwide registered agent service that includes the following benefits:
- Access to a Corporate Accounts Portal
- Digital notifications
- Professional filer tips
- Compliance reminders
Moreover, customers greatly appreciate the intuitive design of their website and how easy it’s to use.
Their yearly fee is $200.
Registered Agent Inc. also offer the following services:
- Incorporation services
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
- Start-up formation
- Dissolution
- Copyright registration services
How Do I Register a Business in New York?
Now it’s time to go over all the steps required for a business in New York to be officially registered.
Find a Name for Your Business
Assuming you already have a clear business idea, the first step to registering any business is finding the right name for it.
There are certain things you have to keep in mind when choosing a business name. It’s required by New York state law that your business name is different from any other existing businesses in New York. To check this, you can do an online business name search on the New York State Department website.
If the name is available, you have the option of reserving the name for 60 days. The filing fee is $20.
In addition, you should keep in mind that your business name has to include a word that will denote its entity, such as “LLC”, “Corporation”, “Inc.” or “Limited Liability Company”, depending on what structure you choose.
Decide on a Business Entity
Choosing the right business entity for your budget and needs goes hand in hand with deciding on a name.
There are four main types of business entities to choose from in New York:
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership
- LLC
- Corporation
Deciding the structure of your business will dictate how you proceed with your business registration. It’s important to consider various factors such as taxation, limited liability, starting budget, and yearly obligations with the state.
Sole proprietorships and partnerships allow for a lower starting budget and less obligations with the state, but they come with the risk of the owners being liable for any debts or claims that the business undergoes.
File Articles of Organization
If you decide to start an LLC, you’ll have to go through an additional step – filing articles of organization with the state of New York.
This document denotes important information about your business, such as its location, name, members, and registered agent. So, by this point, you’ll need to have chosen a registered agent to represent your business.
The cost of filing the articles of the organization is $200.
File a Certificate of Incorporation
If corporations appeal more to you, you’ll need to file a certificate of incorporation.
This document has a similar purpose to articles of organization, but since it contains information about a corporation, it includes additional information, like stocks.
The filing fee for a certificate of incorporation is $75.
Get an EIN
Getting an Employee Identification Number is a requirement for anyone who wants to hire employees for their business, as well as those who want their business to be taxed separately from them.
You can obtain an EIN from the IRS website. The application is free of charge.
Obtain Business Licenses and Permits
Last but not least, you’ll need to obtain the required licenses for your business.
Some licenses vary in terms of the business’ location, so you’ll want to check the New York State website for a comprehensive list of all the professional licenses that might be required for your business.
In addition, if your business includes selling goods, you’ll need to register as a sales tax vendor on the New York Department of Taxation and Finance website.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a New York Business Entity Search?
You can do a New York business entity search on the New York State Department website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in New York?
The cost of registering a corporation in New York is $75, whereas the cost of registering an LLC is $200.
Final Thoughts
We hope you found our article on the best New York registered agent services helpful in your pursuit of finding the right registered agent.
IncFile is an outstanding and affordable option if you want to hire a company for both a formation service and a registered agent service. Northwest, one of the most renowned names in the industry, is known for their excellent customer support. ZenBusiness, another one of our top recommendations, comes with a myriad of compliance tools and is known for giving back to the community.
If you’re on a tight budget, New York Registered Agent Service will provide you with all the basics for just $49 annually.
Leave a Reply