Registered Agent.
In plain English
A registered agent is the official point of contact your business names with the state to receive legal documents, lawsuit notices, and government correspondence. Every LLC and corporation must have one, and the agent must have a physical street address (not a P.O. box) in the state where the business is registered and be available during normal business hours. You can be your own registered agent, name a co-owner, or pay a commercial registered agent service. If you are ever sued, this is who gets handed the papers.
01Why it matters
If your registered agent is unreachable, you can miss a lawsuit notice and lose a case by default without ever knowing it happened, and the state can dissolve your business for being out of compliance.
02The math, step by step
Maria forms an LLC for her photography business. She does not want her home address on public record, so she hires a commercial registered agent service that charges a flat annual fee. When a vendor later disputes an invoice and files suit, the court papers go to the agent, who scans and emails them to Maria the same day so she can respond on time.
03What this is NOT
A registered agent is only a mail-and-legal-notice contact, not someone with authority to run the company, make decisions, or sign for you. Naming an agent gives them no ownership and no control.
04Receipts
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Plain-English answers from our glossary. Receipts included. Never advice.
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