7 Best Florida Registered Agent Services Of 2023 – Forbes Advisor

Now that you know the different types of registered agent services and our top picks in each category, it’s time to choose one for your business. Here are a few factors you should consider:

• Do you need multistate support? You’ll typically pay for each state you do business in.
• Do you want comprehensive business services or just the basics? Similar to multistate support, the more services your business needs, the more it’ll cost you.
• How much can you afford to pay per year?
• Are you looking for a long-term relationship or something more temporary?

Once you’ve considered these factors, you should have a good idea of which registered agent service is right for your business.

Who Can Be a Registered Agent in Florida?

Almost anyone can be a registered agent in Florida, as long as they have a physical address within the state and are available to sign during regular business hours. Every company in Florida is required to have and keep on file a registered office and registered agent in the state.

The registered office and the corporation’s place of business in Florida may be the same, and a registered agent must be one of the following:

• An individual who lives in Florida and whose business address is the same as their registered office.
• Another organization within the country that is legally allowed to do business in the state and shares the same address as the registered office.
• An entity located outside of Florida that is allowed to do business in Florida and has been recognized as such by the Department of State’s Division of Corporations. This authorized entity shares the same address as the registered office.

Florida Registered Agent Cost

The cost of a Florida registered agent varies depending on the type of service you choose. Some Florida registered agents charge a flat rate while others charge per state or per year. You can expect to pay anywhere from $49 to $399 per year for Florida registered agent services, though $100 is typical. Some registered agent services will also help you form an LLC, and many provide a free year of registered agent services when you form with them.

Types of Registered Agent Services

Knowing what a registered agent’s tasks are can help you determine if you want to keep one in-house or hire an agency outside of your company to handle the task. A registered agent’s responsibilities are:

• Forwarding any process, notice or demand served on or received by the agent that pertains to the corporation to the corporation’s most recent address provided to the registered agent.
• If resigning as registered agent, providing the required notice under Florida statute 607.0503 to the corporation at the most recent address provided to the registered agent.

Use an In-house Registered Agent

The advantages of using an in-house registered agent in Florida include:

• You have more control over your company’s legal documents.
• It can be more cost-effective than using an outside registered agent service.
• Your company will be the first to know about any legal matters because they won’t be delayed going through a third party.

The disadvantages of using an in-house registered agent in Florida include:

• You or someone in your company must be available during business hours to sign for and accept any legal documents served on the company.
• If you have multiple businesses, it can be difficult to keep track of all the documents for each one.
• You may be required to disclose your home address on public documents, which could make you a target for identity theft or fraud.
• You risk getting served in front of clients, which can lead to embarrassment or even loss of business.
• If your registered agent’s address changes, the state of Florida requires you to pay a fee to change the address of the registered agent.

Use a Registered Agent Service

Using a registered agent service has its own set of advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages of using a registered agent service in Florida:

• You don’t have to worry about being served legal papers in front of clients or at your home address.
• You can use their business address for your registered address, which will keep your home address private.
• An outside service can be more reliable than relying on an employee to be available during business hours.
• If you have multiple businesses, a registered agent service can keep track of all the documents for each one.

Disadvantages of using a registered agent service in Florida:

• It can be more expensive than using an in-house registered agent.
• You’ll have less control over your company’s legal documents.
• Your company won’t be the first to know about any legal matters because the documents will be sent to the registered agent service first.

Registered Office Located in Florida

All corporations doing business in Florida are required to maintain a registered office and agent. The term “registered office” is defined in section 607.0501, Florida Statutes, as follows:

• The business address of the corporation’s registered agent in this state.
• If the corporation does not have and is not required to have a registered agent in this state, the business address, wherever located, that the corporation designates as its registered office, which may be the same as its principal executive office.

Registered Agent Consent Requirements in Florida

Before a company can operate, it must appoint a registered agent who will be responsible for accepting legal service on behalf of the company. The initial registered agent, and any successor appointed thereafter, must sign the formation or change papers.

Your registered agent must agree to their position by signing the formation document online or in person. The statement of acceptance must include an understanding and acknowledgment of the duties required for the registered agent position.