Finding the right registered agent service for your Vermont business can be challenging, given that there are so many options on the market. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve done the research on your behalf and compiled a comprehensive guide that includes detailed overviews of the best Vermont registered agent services. And you’re unsure about the role of a registered agent and the benefits it can bring to you and your company, we cover that topic as well.
If you’re not in the mood to read through every single recommendation, our summary table below contains all the benefits of our top three recommendations.
Best Vermont Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Vermont Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Shelburne |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Shelburne |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Manchester Center |
| Registered Agent Solutions Inc. | $175 a year | Not stated |
| MyCorporation | $120 for the first year $179 every year after | Not stated |
| Vermont Registered Agent | $35 a year | Shelburne |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Barre |
On top of our individual recommendations, we’ve also covered how to register your Vermont business. Whether you’re opting for an LLC or a corporation, you’ll find all the required steps to get your business going. Near the end, you’ll find an FAQ section that includes useful information, like how to do a Vermont business entity search.
With that out of the way, let’s start by exploring what the role of a registered agent entails.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent can be an individual or a company whose main task is to accept the official correspondence of your business and forward all the important documents to you promptly.
Does Vermont Require a Registered Agent?
Yes, all business entities in Vermont are required to appoint a registered agent during the registration process of their business.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent?
Here are all the benefits that come with hiring a registered agent service:
- A registered agent service provides you with a physical address so you don’t have to use your own and risk your privacy;
- If you’re ambitious and want to expand your business elsewhere, you won’t have to change registered agents;
- You’ll never risk getting into embarrassing situations with clients, like being served in front of them;
- You’ll have more free time to dedicate to the growth of your business;
- A good registered agent will help you remain compliant with all the state laws and regulations.
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s move on to our first recommendation.
1. IncFile
If you want to put your business in the hands of an experienced registered agent, consider one of our top recommendations, IncFile. Their package includes everything you’d expect from a top-notch registered agent service, including:
- Receiving your important correspondence in due time
- Tailored email and text notifications
- Accessing your correspondence on your personal dashboard
- Automatic mail forwarding
And since they’re a company that prioritizes compliance reminders, you’ll always be up-to-date with your important deadlines.
With their LLC formation package, you can get your first year of registered agent services for free. Otherwise, their yearly fee is $119, and you’ll never have to worry about hidden fees or unexpected contracts.
They offer a myriad of other services, including:
- Tax consultations
- Amendment
- EIN Number
- Certificate of good standing
- Virtual address
- Trademarking
- Foreign qualification
- Business licenses and permits
2. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness have mastered all the registered agent essentials. This company has helped over 300,000 businesses since they first offered their services to the world, so you can rest assured knowing you’ll be in good hands. When you sign up with them, you will access:
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Email notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Expert handling of all your documents
- Fast turnaround
- Document scanning
A great reason to support ZenBusiness is their effort in helping US entrepreneurs reach their business goals, all enabled by their $5K Grant program.
Customers also really appreciate their user-friendly platform, which is a great perk for those who have no previous experience with registered agents.
ZenBusiness’ registered agent services cost $199 a year. While it’s a slightly higher fee, it’s definitely worth the investment if you have the budget for it. If you’d like to get even more out of their service, you can upgrade this offer to include added perks, like two free filing changes a year.
If you’re approaching a deadline or you need to take immediate action, ZenBusiness will send you a notification.
Additionally, their customer support is among the best in the industry.
They also excel at other services, including:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Operating agreement
- Taxes and accounting
- Business license reports
- Worry-free compliance
- Annual reports
- Domain name and website
- Banking and finances
- EIN Number
3. Northwest
Northwest excel at providing all the tools you need to oblige by the legal requirements of the state of Vermont, including a premium customer support team at your disposal. If you choose them as your registered agent, you’ll get access to the following features:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Scanned documents
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report reminders
- Document storage
- Compliance alerts
Since their package includes electronic mail forwarding, you’ll be able to keep track of all your documents digitally, which is very convenient while travelling.
In addition, their website is incredibly user-friendly, which can save you a lot of time that you can dedicate to the growth of your business.
Northwest have a competitive price – a year of registered agent services with them will only cost you $125. What’s more, if you use their service in five or more states, your fee will be lowered to $100.
Their Vermont office is located in Shelburne.
Other services include:
- Mail forwarding
- Virtual office
- Phone service
- Payment processing
- Annual report filings
- Trademarking
- Foreign qualification
4. LegalZoom
Known for providing a wide array of premium legal services, LegalZoom’s registered agent service is a lucrative option for anyone who owns a larger business. Their fees are higher ($299 a year), but they offer many appealing features in return, which include:
- Mail alerts
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Annual report reminders
- $1M in identity theft protection
Their package also includes access to their amazing Compliance Calendar, which will help you seamlessly keep track of all your important state deadlines.
If you happen to have a registered agent that you want to replace, you’ll need to go through a couple of arduous steps. Luckily, LegalZoom are kind enough to offer to change your current registered agent for you, making this transition much smoother.
If you also purchase their formation package, the first year of registered agent services with LegalZoom will only cost you $249.
LegalZoom offer the following legal services:
- Foreign qualification
- EIN Number
- Business formation
- Incorporation
- Annual reports
- Trademarking
- Residential lease
- Power of attorney
- Taxation
- Business registration
- Copyright
5. Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance combines quality and affordable pricing, making them among our top picks for the best Vermont registered agent services. A well-known name in the industry, Harbor Compliance grants you access to everything you need to stay compliant, such as:
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Customizable notifications
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Annual report reminders
Harbor Compliance have many strong suits, one of which is their fast processing speed. With it, you will receive your documents as soon as possible, allowing you to avoid getting fined or getting in legal trouble.
Customers also love how dedicated and responsive their customer support team is.
Their yearly fee is extremely cost-effective and it’ll only set you back $99 a year. Plus, you can access an additional 10% discount with their multi-year offer.
Their Vermont office can be found in Shelburne.
Harbor Compliance also offer the following services:
- Business licenses
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Amendments
- Registration
6. InCorp
Just like many other recommendations in our guide, InCorp offers a great deal for anyone looking to purchase a multi-year service. Their usual fee is $129, but with their multi-year option, your fee can be reduced to $87, making it an amazing deal. With it, you’ll receive:
- Annual report filings
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Legal notifications
- Mail forwarding
All businesses need protection from third parties and identity theft and InCorp will help you achieve this with their EntityWatch technology.
Customers love how responsive and professional their customer service representatives are, as well as their user-friendly interface.
Their Vermont office is located in Manchester Center.
You can hire InCorp for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Foreign qualification
- DBA Filing
- UCC search
- Articles of amendment
- EIN Number
- Apostille service
- Trademarking
- Copyright
7. Registered Agent Solutions Inc.
Offering an array of services, Registered Agent Solutions Inc. is another outstanding option for a Vermont registered agent. Their offer includes:
- Fast processing
- Excellent customer service
- Online application tools
- Added privacy
- Custom notifications
One of the aspects they excel in is their excellent customer service. If you’re ever stuck with a problem and you need help, their team will always be ready to help in a timely manner.
Their services will cost you $175 annually.
Apart from registered agent services, you can hire Registered Agent Solutions Inc. for:
- Annual reports
- Certificate of good standing
- Dissolutions
- Tax clearance
- Entity management
- Business registrations
- Name registrations
- Trademarking
- Reporting
- Foreign qualifications
8. MyCorporation
Another comprehensive registered agent service in Vermont we invite you to consider is MyCorporation. You will get immediate access to the following perks:
- Completed filings
- Expert handling of any paperwork
- Fast document delivery
One of the company highlights, according to customer reviews, is their customer support team that’s always there to lend a hand with any issue or question you might have.
On top of that, they’re known for their fast processing speed, so missing a document will never be an issue.
Your first year of registered agent services with MyCorporaiton will cost you $120. After that, your yearly fee will be $179.
They also offer other services such as:
- Annual reports
- Copyright registration services
- Dissolution
- Amendment
- Filings
9. Vermont Registered Agent
If your business would benefit from hiring a registered agent service that charges around $50 a year, then we have the perfect recommendation for you. Meet Vermont Registered Agent, the most affordable recommendation in our guide on the best Vermont registered agent services. Costing only $49, this cost-effective option entails:
- Annual report reminders
- Online document storage
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Online account
- Email notifications
Sometimes, affordable pricing comes at the cost of other downsides, like auto-renewals. With Vermont Registered Agent, that will never be an issue.
Their Vermont office is located in Shelburne.
On top of registered agent services, they also offer:
- LLC formation
- Filing services
- Incorporation
10. CSC Global
Our last recommendation will pertain to those who own larger businesses and would benefit from expert level of data security. CSC Global is an outstanding option for anyone willing to pay a couple of hundred dollars a year for a premium registered agent service that includes:
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Annual compliance reminders
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Same-day document scans
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
Their advanced SOC-2 technology will give you peace of mind – you’ll never have to worry about third parties accessing your personal information.
Their Vermont office is located in Barre.
CSC Global also offer:
- Entity management
- Legal management
- UCC
- Real estate and erecording
- Corporate filings
- Digital brand services
How Do I Register a Business in Vermont?
In this section, we’ll elaborate on all the steps you need to complete to register a business in Vermont.
Find a Name for Your Business
Among the first steps in registering your business, regardless of its type, is finding the right name for it.
After you’ve come up with some ideas, the Vermont Secretary of State website will help you check if any of the names you have in mind have already been used by another business owner. If not, your name is good to go.
In addition, ensure that you’ve included a word in the name that indicates what kind of business you’re opting for. For instance, corporations can use various abbreviations, including “Inc.” and “Incorporated”.
Find the Right Business Structure
The next step in registering your business is finding the right business structure. The most common entity types in Vermont are:
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership
- LLC
- Corporation
Before deciding on a structure, ask yourself questions like “What will my yearly obligations with the state be?” and “How much money will I have to spend to register my business?”. The answers will give you a clue about what structure would suit you most.
File Articles of Organization
The state of Vermont requires all LLCs to file articles of organization while registering your business. This process is relatively straightforward and it requires submitting information like the location of your business, its purpose, and information about your chosen registered agent. It’ll cost you only $125 and only a couple of minutes to file and complete.
File Articles of Incorporation
Similarly, corporations are required to file articles of incorporation before the state can recognize them as an entity.
Corporations have more complicated structures, so with this document, you’ll be required to provide more information.
Obtain Licenses and Permits
To operate legally, a business needs to have all the required licenses and permits for its industry.
Vermont doesn’t have a general business license, but there are some other licenses you might need if your goal is to open a business in this state.
For instance, you might be liable for a state and use tax if your business sells certain types of goods.
Every city in Vermont has different laws and regulations, so make sure you look for specific information about your city/county.
Apply for an EIN
Everyone who owns a business that’s taxed separately from them or hires employees for their business, needs to apply for an Employee Identification Number on the IRS website.
The good news is that this process is quick and easy and completely free of charge. Plus, it comes with many added benefits, like making it easy to open a business bank account.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a Vermont Business Entity Search?
You can do an online Vermont business entity search on the Vermont Secretary of State website.
How Much Does it Cost to Register a Business in Vermont?
The cost of registering a business in Vermont is $125.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our guide on the best Vermont registered agent service recommendations! We hope you found the right service for your business.
If you don’t have a special preference, you can’t go wrong with the highest-ranking registered agent services, which have the best online reviews – IncFile, Northwest, or ZenBusiness. All of these services come with a myriad of benefits and have years of experience helping thousands of businesses, so you know your business will be safe and thriving in their hands.
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