Hiring a professional registered agent service can unburden you of a big portion of the hassle that comes with running a business. It helps your business to remain compliant and gives you more time to focus on other aspects of your business. If you want to experience these benefits and your goal is to start a business in Washington, we have compiled a guide on the best Washington registered agent services to help you pick the best option.
If you’re not keen on reading through the whole article and want to get to the gist of our recommendations, check out all the features of our top three picks in the table below.
Best Washington Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Office Location |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Not stated |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Washington DC |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Spokane |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Not stated |
| Better Legal | $10 a month/ | Fife |
| Washington | $90 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent | $59 a year | Spokane |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Tumwater |
| Swyft Filings | $149 a year | Not stated |
If you’re not sure how to navigate starting your business and you need some guidance, check out our section on how to register your Washington business. Our guide also contains an FAQ section where we cover some important questions.
With all that out of the way, let’s begin by defining the purpose of a registered agent and all the benefits it brings.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is either an individual or a company that has the task of forwarding the legal correspondence and documents that your business receives directly to you in a timely manner.
Does Washington Require a Registered Agent?
Yes, all business entities in Washington are required to appoint and maintain a registered agent that complies with all the rules imposed by the state.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent?
Still unsure whether you should hire a registered agent? Here are all the benefits that come with doing so:
- You won’t have to work during normal business hours and you can be more flexible with your time;
- Your business will be easily expandable since you won’t have to hire a new registered agent for other states;
- You will remain compliant with all the Washington state regulations;
- You can travel without the concern of missing a document;
- You will never have to risk damaging your business image.
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s proceed with our first recommendation.
1. IncFile
IncFile, a company that’s helped over 800,000 customers since their formation, will ensure that you meet all the Washington state legal requirements without breaking the bank. They offer an incredible loyalty deal – if you use their formation service, you can get a complimentary year of registered agent services. This includes:
- Access to all your important correspondence in due time
- Access to your correspondence on your personal dashboard
- Tailored email and text notifications
- Automatic mail forwarding
IncFile are dedicated to sending you regular compliance reminders and preventing you from getting fined for missing a deadline.
Moreover, they offer their services in every state, so you can expand your business to multiple states without going through the hassle of changing your agent.
Their regular fee will only cost you $119 a year.
On top of registered agent services, you can hire IncFile for:
- Virtual address
- Certificate of good standing
- Tax consultations
- Trademarking
- EIN Number
- Business licenses and permits
- Amendment
- Foreign qualification
2. ZenBusiness
Our next recommendation is rated as #1 on credible sites like Forbes and Investopedia. A popular option among entrepreneurs, ZenBusiness offers a plethora of business services, including a comprehensive registered agent service that includes the following tools:
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Email notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Fast turnaround
- Expert handling of all your documents
- Document scanning
ZenBusiness also distinguish themselves with their charitable $5K Grant Program that helps financially support business owners who need help with starting and growing their business.
On top of that, they have an excellent customer support team. You can come to them with any compliance-related question, and they’ll help you find the answers you need.
And if you’re still not convinced, you can read some of the thousands positive online reviews that cement ZenBusiness as one of the best registered agents.
Their starting fee is $199 a year. Customers have the option of upgrading their services to include more perks, like annual support alerts.
Additionally, they offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Annual reports
- Taxes and accounting
- Banking and finances
- Business license reports
- Operating agreement
- EIN Number
- Worry-free compliance
- Domain name and website
3. Northwest
Northwest is another one of our top recommendations for anyone looking for a registered agent in Washington. As your registered agent, they will give you access to a plethora of benefits, such as:
- Compliance alerts
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report reminders
- Document storage
- Pre-filled state forms
- Scanned documents
What stands out most to us regarding Northwest’s registered agent service is their premium customer support called Corporate Guides. Containing experts in fields like law and business, their customer support team is one of the best in the industry.
In addition, their sign-up process is fast and seamless, and their website is quite easy to navigate.
What will also help you stay compliant is the fact that you’ll get free access to their compliance calendar during your first year with Northwest.
We also like their Privacy by Default practice, the purpose of which is to protect your personal data and privacy.
Northwest’s fees are $125 a year if you hire them as your agent in one to four states, and $100 if you use their services in more than four states.
Their Washington office is located in Washington, DC.
Northwest also offer:
- Annual report filings
- Phone service
- Trademarking
- Mail forwarding
- Payment processing
- Virtual office
- Foreign qualification
4. Harbor Compliance
Another one of our picks that will help your business stay seamlessly compliant is Harbor Compliance. With experience that includes over 35,000 customers, Harbor Compliance ensures that you have access to any compliance tool you might need, including:
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Customizable notifications
Moreover, the setup process of Harbor Compliance is relatively easy, making them a great option for anyone who doesn’t have experience with registered agents.
Since they’re known for their rapid processing speed, you can rest assured knowing you’ll never miss an important due date and get in trouble with the state.
Their yearly fee is $99, but anyone who uses their multi-year service will receive an additional 10% discount.
Their Washington office is located in Spokane.
Harbor Compliance also offer the following services:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Registration
- Amendments
- Business licenses
5. MyCompanyWorks
Looking for a reliable registered agent service that will cost you around $100? In that case, we have the perfect recommendation for you – MyCompanyWorks. With their registered agent services, you will receive:
- Online order tracking
- Free E-delivery
- Access to an online dashboard
- Compliance monitoring
- Access to their Startup Wizard
- Same-day processing
One of their customers’ favourite aspects about MyCompanyWorks is how customizable their service is, so it’s ideal for those looking for an individualised approach.
In addition, they offer a customer-friendly 100% satisfaction guarantee, should you want to cancel your service at any point.
Their yearly fee is $99.
Other than registered agent services, they also offer:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Company dissolution
- File a DBA
- Business licenses
- Virtual office
- Annual reports
6. InCorp
InCorp allows you to keep your Washington business organized and compliant, all for the price of $129. If you decide to use their multi-year service, your fee will be reduced to $87 a year. In return, you’ll be given:
- Access to their Entity Management System
- Legal notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
Thanks to EntityWatch, their incredibly innovative technology, you can receive up-to-date information about the status of your filings, and the current registered agent, officers, and directors. On top of that, it also prevents corporate identity theft.
Their Washington office is located in Fife.
Other services provided by InCorp include:
- Copyright
- EIN Number
- Foreign qualification
- DBA Filing
- UCC search
- Articles of amendment
- Trademarking
- Apostille service
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
7. BetterLegal
BetterLegal offer a flexible payment plan along with a myriad of outstanding features that will never fail to keep you compliant. These features include:
- A Washington physical address
- Regular compliance reminders
- Fast turnaround
- Mail forwarding
Another benefit customers enjoy is their easy-to-use platform. Regardless of your experience navigating similar websites, you’ll find your way around it.
You have two choices in terms of payment: you can either pay $10 a month or $90 a year. Both options are quite affordable considering the quality of the service.
BetterLegal also offer other services, such as:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Compliance services
- EIN number
8. Washington Registered Agent
Costing only $59 a year, Washington Registered Agent is the most affordable recommendation in our guide. This budget-friendly option includes many different perks, such as:
- Year-round compliance monitoring
- Document forwarding
- 10 free courtesy scans
- Access to an online account
- Annual renewal reminders
In addition, they’re dedicated to protecting the privacy of their clients, which is crucial for any business.
Despite the affordable pricing, you’ll not encounter any added fees and the pricing will remain the same each year.
Their Washington office is located in Spokane.
They also offer:
- Registered agent change
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Mail forwarding
- Virtual office
- EIN Number
- Corporate book and seal
9. CSC Global
Ideal for bigger businesses, CSC Global offers a premium registered agent service that comprises of every tool you’ll need to never miss a state deadline and fulfil all your legal requirements with the state of Washington. Their clients get access to:
- A personalized online dashboard
- Annual compliance reminders
- Access to SOC-2 facilities
- Electronic delivery of documents
- Same-day document scans
If you’re worried about third parties accessing your vulnerable information, then CSC Global will put all your worries to ease with their outstanding SOC-2 technology that will keep your private data secure.
Even though they’re more expensive in comparison with other services and will set you back $381 a year, their comprehensive list of tools makes them a worthwhile investment.
Their Washington office can be found in Tumwater.
They can also be hired for:
- Entity management
- Legal management
- Corporate filings
- UCC
- Digital brand services
- Real estate and erecording
10. Swyft Filings
Last but not least, Swyft Filings is an affordable registered agent option that also offers a plethora of other services. They provide all the resources you’ll need from a registered agent, like:
- Expert handling of all your documents
- Access to an online account
- Document storage
They’re known in the industry for having a fast turnaround service, so if that’s something you prioritise, definitely consider them as an option.
Additionally, the sign-up process is easy and their platform is user-friendly.
Their yearly fee will cost you $149. Their pricing remains transparent, so customers don’t have to deal with any hidden fees.
Here is a list of the other services Swyft Filings offer:
- Foreign qualification
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Amendment
- Withdrawal
- EIN Number
- Registered agent change
- Business dissolution
How Do I Register a Business in Washington?
Here are all the steps required to open a business in Washington.
Name Your Business
Once you have a business idea in mind, the first step to starting your business is to find the right name for it.
You have a great deal of freedom to choose a creative name that suits your business idea. With that said, there are also a few guidelines business owners have to follow when it comes to naming. For instance, your business name should include a word or an abbreviation that denotes what kind of business entity it has. Some examples include “LLC”, “Inc.”, “Limited Liability Company”.
Additionally, the state of Washington requires all business names to be unique. To see if any other business in the state has your name or a similar name to yours, you can do a Washington business entity search on the Washington Secretary of State website.
Choose a Business Structure
One of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your business is selecting the business structure. These are the four main entity types:
You should make your decision based on a couple of different factors, including how much you’re willing to spend per year to fulfil all the state requirements, how big your starting budget is, and whether or not you want to have limited liability.
File a Certificate of Formation
If you decided that the higher cost of forming an LLC is worth it for the protection of the assets and you opted for this type of entity, then you’ll need to file a certificate of formation with the state of Washington.
This document includes crucial information about your business and your registered agent, so, at this point, you’ll need to have come up with a name for your business and chosen your registered agent.
Filing a certificate of formation will cost you $180.
File Articles of Incorporation
The equivalent of a certificate of formation for corporations is articles of incorporation. If you intend to form a corporation, you’ll need to fill out and submit this document to the state. The articles of incorporation contain information about the location of your business, its name and purpose, and information about the stocks and shares of your business.
This process will cost you $180.
Obtain an EIN
Every business owner who wants to hire employees for their business or wants their business to be taxed separately from them needs to apply for an EIN on the IRS website. Getting an EIN comes with many benefits, like allowing you to pay taxes, open business bank accounts, and obtain certain licenses.
The application is free of charge and it takes minutes to complete.
Obtain all the Required Licences and Permits
Last but not least, to ensure that your business is operating legally, you’ll need to get all your required licenses and permits.
Unlike many other states, the state of Washington requires all businesses to apply for a general business license. The application fee is $19 and you can apply either online or by mail.
On top of obtaining a general business license, you might have to get a professional or occupational license, depending on what industry your business is in. These types of licenses usually pertain to business owners who work as medical professionals, accountants, or real estate brokers.
The Washington State Department of Licensing website has a section detailing all the specific licenses required by every industry, so make sure you check that out.
To help you out in this process, you can also do a business license search.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Washington?
The cost of starting a business in Washington is $180.
Where Can I Do a Washington Business Entity Search?
You can do a Washington business entity search on the Washington Secretary of State website.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right registered agent can be a daunting task. Hopefully, with our detailed recommendations, you are able to pick the option that suits your business vision and budget best.
If you don’t have a specific preference for your future registered agent, consider one of our top picks – IncFile, ZenBusiness, or Northwest.
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