Forming and maintaining a new business requires dealing with a lot of paperwork and staying on top of important deadlines, which can be quite a time-consuming task. One way to allow yourself to have more time for your business is to hire a professional registered agent service.
If your goal is to open a business in Virginia and you’re overwhelmed by all the registered agent options, fear not – our guide on the best Virginia registered agent services will help you filter out all your options and hire only the best.
If you’re not feeling like reading through an entire guide, feel free to check out our summary table with our top three recommendations.
Best Virginia Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Virginia Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Virginia Beach |
| Better Legal | $10 a month/$90 a year | Not stated |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Virginia Beach |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Not stated |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Mechanicsville |
| Registered Agent LLC | $75 a year | Not stated |
| Virginia Registered Agent | $35 a year | Virginia Beach |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Richmond |
On top of giving you individual reviews, in our guide, you can also find a section where we cover all the steps required to register your business, as well as an FAQ section near the end of the article.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent can be either a person or a company who is appointed in order to receive all official correspondence and documents on your business’ behalf. They are also responsible for forwarding that correspondence to you in a timely manner.
Does Virginia Require a Registered Agent Service?
Yes, a registered agent in Virginia is a requirement for any business entity.
Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent Service
The benefits you can experience if you hire a professional registered agent service are the following:
- Your privacy will remain intact and you won’t be obliged to share your personal address with the public;
- You can expand your business without the fuss of changing registered agents;
- You will never risk getting in compromising positions with clients;
- You will have more time to invest in the growth of your business;
- You can travel easily and you can maintain flexible business hours.
Now that that’s settled, let’s start with our first recommendation.
1. IncFile
IncFile offer a comprehensive service for an incredibly affordable price. What’s more, they offer to give a complimentary year of registered agent services to anyone who signs up for their formation package. Their registered agent offer includes:
- Receiving your correspondence in due time
- Access to your correspondence on a customized dashboard
- Automatic mail forwarding
- Tailored email and text notifications
With over 35,000 five-star reviews, it’s safe to conclude that the customers enjoy the services offered by IncFile. What stood up to them was their affordability, as well as the easy set-up process.
Their services are known for being budget-friendly – a year of registered agent services with them will only cost you $119. Plus, you’ll never be hit with any hidden fees or unwanted contracts.
You can hire IncFile business for the following services:
- Annual report filings
- Phone service
- Payment processing
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- Virtual office
- Mail forwarding
2. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness started off as an LLC formation services, but since have expanded their range to offer a myriad of quality services, including a registered agent service. Since their formation, they’ve offered their services to 300,000 businesses. When you hire them as your registered agent, you’ll be granted access to:
- A personalized dashboard
- Mail forwarding
- Fast turnaround
- Document scanning
- Expert handling of all your documents
- Email notifications
What elevates ZenBusiness above other registered agents is their mission to help as many entrepreneurs as possible with their $5K Grant Program, which provides funds to those who are struggling to start and operate their business.
There are thousands of glowing online reviews that corroborate the quality of ZenBusiness’ services. Customers really enjoy their transparent approach.
Their yearly fee is $199. If you want to access added benefits, you can always upgrade the service to provide more for your business, like two free filing changes a year.
Other than registered agent services, ZenBusiness offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Worry-free compliance
- Business license reports
- Banking and finances
- Domain name and website
- EIN Number
- Annual reports
- Operating agreement
- Taxes and accounting
3. Northwest
Northwest is a nationwide registered agent company that provides all the necessities for your business to fulfil all the requirements set by the state of Virginia, such as:
- Document storage
- Scanned documents
- Annual report reminders
- Compliance alerts
- Pre-filled state forms
- Mail forwarding
Comprised of ex-lawyers and expert accountants, their customer support team is truly unmatched. Also referred to as Corporate Guides, their knowledgeable team is always up for the challenge of helping you deal with any issue that might arise.
Moreover, they’re also known for providing added protection and ensuring that their client’s data is kept safe with their Privacy by Default practice.
Northwest’s yearly fee will set you back $125 if you use their service in one to four states, and $100 if you hire them as your registered agent for five or more states.
Their Virginia office is located in Virginia Beach.
In addition, they also offer:
- Phone service
- Virtual office
- Payment processing
- Foreign qualification
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
- Trademarking
4. Better Legal
Better Legal is a comprehensive registered agent service that covers all the basics needed to ensure compliance with the state, including:
- Allowing you to use their Virginia physical address
- Sending you compliance reminders
- Mail forwarding
- Fast turnaround
If you don’t have experience with using a registered agent platform, don’t worry – customers praise Better Legal’s user-friendly interface.
Unlike other registered agent services, they offer a flexible payment plan – you can either pay $10 every month, or $90 per year.
Apart from hiring them as your registered agent, you can also use Better Legal for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Compliance services
5. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is among the most recognized names in our guide. Offering a plethora of expert legal services, it’s a go-to option for larger businesses and businesses that have a bit more money to spend on premium services. As your registered agent, LegalZoom will provide:
- Annual report reminders
- Email alerts
- Unlimited cloud storage
One of the best perks you’ll get by choosing LegalZoom is having access to their $1m insurance policy that will protect you from any identity theft, which is especially important for larger businesses.
What will also ensure the privacy of your business is their expert IP protection.
If you already have a registered agent but you’re not satisfied with the service provided, LegalZoom offer to change your agent on your behalf and take care of any fees included in the process.
Additionally, customers also get access to their helpful Compliance Calendar, where you can add and keep track of any important deadline.
With that said, their services are a bit pricier and they will cost you $299 per year.
LegalZoom also offer the following legal services:
- Incorporation
- Business formation
- Business registration
- Annual reports
- Trademarking
- Residential lease
- Power of attorney
- Foreign qualification
- Copyright
- EIN Number
- Taxation
6. Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance provides all the benefits of a premium registered agent without the extortionate pricing. Having helped over 35,000 clients, they’re experienced in keeping businesses stay compliant and grow. When you hire them as your registered agent, you will unlock many perks, such as:
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Personalized notifications
- Annual report reminders
One of their strong suits is the fast processing speed. If a document needs urgent attention, you’ll receive a phone call informing you of the matter.
Their yearly fee will cost you only $99. If you use their multi-year option, you will be eligible for a 10% discount.
Harbor Compliance’s Virginia office can be found in Virginia Beach.
You can also hire them for:
- Amendments
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Business licenses
- Registration
7. MyCompanyWorks
Another amazing budget-friendly option to consider is MyCompanyWorks. For the affordable price of $99 a year, you can access a wide range of tools, including:
- Their Startup Wizard
- An online dashboard
- Same-day processing
- Compliance monitoring
- Free E-delivery
- Online order tracking
Customers love their personalized approach, as well as their user-friendly interface.
Being a nationwide service, they make it easier than ever to expand your business across multiple jurisdictions without changing agents and facing additional costs.
In case you’re not satisfied with the service, you’ll be granted a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
On top of registered agent services, you can also hire them for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Business licenses
- Virtual office
- Company dissolution
- File a DBA
- Annual reports
8. InCorp
If you’re looking for a company that offers an excellent multi-year discount, we highly suggest considering InCorp. This A+ rated service has experience with over 250,000 clients and it encompasses the following tools:
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
- Access to the Entity Management System
- Legal notifications
Just like LegalZoom, InCorp are dedicated to helping you say safe from identity theft by utilizing their EntityWatch technology.
Their yearly fee is $129. Alternatively, you can take advantage of their multi-year deal and pay only $87.
Their Virginia address is located in Mechanicsville.
In addition to registered agent services, InCorp also offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Foreign qualification
- DBA Filing
- UCC search
- Articles of amendment
- Trademarking
- Copyright
- EIN Number
- Apostille service
9. Resident Agent LLC
Another great option for a nationwide registered agent service that is both affordable and efficient is Registered Agent LLC – an A+ rated service. Costing just $75, their service provides the following benefits:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Annual reports
- Compliance reminders
- Immediate notifications
- Access to an online account
With affordable services, sometimes you have to be wary of sneaky costs and contracts. Luckily, Registered Agent LLC remains transparent and their pricing doesn’t change from year to year.
10. Virginia Registered Agent
Looking for an even more affordable registered agent service? Look no further than Virginia Registered Agent, the most budget-friendly option in our guide. With a yearly fee of only $49, this registered agent service provides every tool your business requires for continued compliance, such as:
- Annual report reminders
- Email notifications
- Online document storage
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Online account
The fee will remain the same as long as you continue to use their services, so you’ll never have to face an increase in pricing or any auto-renewals.
Their Virginia office is located in Virginia Beach.
Other than registered agent services, you can also hire them for the following equally affordable services:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Filing services
11. CSC Global
Our last recommendation is ideal for larger businesses that can afford to pay a higher price for a premium registered agent. CSC Global is a company that’s well known in the industry, one that will give you everything you need from a registered agent, including:
- Annual compliance reminders
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
- Same-day document scans
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
Another reason why CSC Global are a hit with larger businesses is the excellent protection they offer from third parties, that including protecting their personal data and any third-party interference. These perks are enabled by their excellent SOC-2 technology.
With that said, their fee is a bit more expensive than the average registered agent’s and you’ll be charged $381 every year.
Their Virginia office is located in Richmond.
CSC Global also offer:
- Entity management
- Legal management
- Corporate filings
- UCC
- Digital brand services
- Real estate and erecording
How Do I Register a Business in Virginia?
These are the steps required to register your business with the state of Virginia.
Choose the Right Name
The first step to forming any business is deciding what to name it.
Don’t be afraid to take some time to brainstorm ideas about your business name. Ensure that the name is a good representation of what your business offers, as well as your personal values.
You have some freedom when it comes to the naming process, but you also have to take some rules into account. One of these rules is making sure that the business name you go for is completely unique from other businesses in the state. To check if this is the case, you can do a business entity search on the Government of Virginia website.
On top of that, you also have to add a word to the name denoting what kind of business structure you chose. For more information, check out the Business Entity Names section on the state of Virginia website.
Decide Your Legal Structure
In Virginia, you have the option of choosing many structures. The four most popular are:
Consider what the requirements and responsibilities of each business structure are before you make a final decision.
File Articles of Organization
If you’re set on opening an LLC, you’ll need to file articles of organization with the state of Virginia.
This mandatory step requires filling out a document where you include different type of information about your business and the registered agent of your choosing.
This process will cost you a total of $100.
File Articles of Incorporation
On the other hand, if your goal is to form a corporation, you’ll need to file articles of incorporation.
This document has a similar purpose to articles of organization, except you’ll also be required to add information about the stocks of your business.
The filing fee is the same as articles of incorporation – $100.
Get an EIN
Anyone who has hired employees for their business is required to obtain an Employee Identification Number from the IRS website. Additionally, this step is mandatory for any business owner whose business is taxed separately from them.
Unlike other documents, getting an EIN doesn’t come with a fee.
Obtain all the Required Licenses and Permits for Your Business
The state of Virginia doesn’t require business owners to get a general business license.
If your business is a part of sectors like health and safety, you might be required to get additional licenses.
Additionally, if your business includes handling food and drinks or retail, you might need a retail license. Usually, owners of restaurants, stores, and hotels are required to obtain a retail license.
Keep in mind that some licenses vary from location to location, so you might want to check with your city or county to be on the safe side.
For more information, check out the Licenses section on the Government of Virginia website.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a Virginia Business Entity Search?
You can do a Virginia business entity search on the Government of Virginia website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Virginia?
The cost of registering a business in Virginia is $100.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a registered agent service comes with a myriad of benefits, like making it significantly easier for you to stay compliant with the regulations of the state of Virginia, allowing you more free time which you can use to expand your business, and giving you more privacy. Whatever your preferences may be, we hope our guide helped you pick a registered agent that suits all your needs and fits your budget.
If you don’t have specific preferences, you can’t go wrong with our top picks – IncFile, ZenBusiness, and Northwest.
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