Top Washington, D.C. Registered Agent Services (2024 Rankings) (2024)

Best Registered Agent Services in Washington, D.C.

There are many registered agents available to provide services to your business. Here are our top Washington, D.C. registered agent services we recommend:

• Most Comprehensive: ZenBusiness
• Best Overall: LegalZoom
• Best Customer Service: Northwest Registered Agent
• Most Cost Effective: Bizee
• Fast Turnaround: Swyft Filings

How Much Does a Washington, D.C. Registered Agent Cost?

Costs for starting an LLC in Washington, D.C. can vary. Registered agent services, specifically, usually cost between $50 and $600 per year. Some providers offer free services for the first year if you use their LLC formation packages. Bizee and Northwest Registered Agent are examples. After one year, Bizee charges $119 annually, and Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 annually. Other registered agents, including ZenBusiness, Swyft Filings and LegalZoom, charge their standard fee immediately. Their annual costs are $199, $596 and $249, respectively.

What Is the Cheapest Washington, D.C. LLC Registered Agent Service?

You can try to keep costs down by using a cheap registered agent service like Washington DC Registered Agent LLC. This provider only charges $49 per year for registered agent services, and it’s located in Washington, D.C. The low price and convenient location are great benefits. However, extremely low-cost options are not always ideal.

A primary disadvantage is that cheap registered agents don’t usually provide additional services you may need to start and maintain your LLC. LegalZoom, for example, also offers trademark, legal and licensing services. Washington DC Registered Agent LLC, on the other hand, doesn’t provide this comprehensive assistance.

Another thing to keep in mind is that low-cost options may lack credibility, experience or good customer service, so you may have to make sacrifices in some areas.

What Is a Registered Agent in Washington, D.C.?

A Washington, D.C. registered agent is a person or commercial entity that’s the main point of contact for legal mail addressed to your company. The agent is responsible for receiving documents like service of process, government correspondence and compliance-related paperwork. They’re also responsible for notifying you about the mail they receive and forwarding documents to you to ensure you can take the proper steps.

Some registered agents will provide same-day notifications and forward documents through an online portal. Others will send paperwork via mail. The type of service you get depends on the registered agent you choose. That’s why it’s important to ask how a potential agent communicates and the methods they use to forward legal documents.

Washington, D.C. Registered Agent Requirements

Your Washington, D.C. registered agent’s main duties are to accept legal documents on behalf of your company and forward them to you. These responsibilities are straightforward, but you can’t just designate anyone or any business as your registered agent. The person or commercial entity must meet some criteria.

One requirement is that the registered agent must have a physical address in Washington, D.C., and the address can’t be a P.O. box. Also, a commercial entity acting as a registered agent must have the authority in its own articles to be a registered agent in Washington, D.C. However, the commercial entity can’t be an LLC or limited liability partnership, as these entities are unable to serve as registered agents, according to Washington, D.C.’s Articles of Organization.

Another requirement is that the registered agent must be available at their office address during normal business hours to receive legal mail. Otherwise, you could miss important deadlines or paperwork, which can lead to legal trouble for your business.

How To Choose a Washington, D.C. Registered Agent

Choosing a registered agent in Washington, D.C. can be challenging if you don’t know where to start. Here are several tips to make your selection process easier:

• Consider cost and any additional services
• Research customer reviews around what matters most
• Prioritize responsiveness in their communication methods
• Check their address and availability requirements
• Compare levels of expertise and years of experience
• Discover which agents are local to your neighborhood for convenience

How To Designate a Registered Agent in Washington, D.C.

Designating a registered agent in Washington, D.C. is simple. The first step is to pick your registered agent, get their consent to be appointed and pay the fee to use their services. The second step is to complete your Articles of Organization. This form will ask for your registered agent’s name, address and signature. For commercial agents, this must include the president or vice president’s signature and its secretary or assistant secretary’s signature.

Once you’ve completed the form, you can mail it to Washington, D.C.’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). The department’s address is listed on the document. Another option is to file the form online. Doing it online allows you to access and submit the document immediately. An alternative option is to provide your Articles of Organization as a walk-in customer.

Types of Washington, D.C. Registered Agents

There are two types of registered agents in Washington, D.C., including a commercial registered agent and an individual. A commercial registered agent is a business entity like LegalZoom, Swyft Filings, Bizee, Northwest Registered Agent and ZenBusiness. One of the biggest benefits of using a commercial registered agent is that their address is on public record, not yours. That ensures privacy protection. In addition, commercial registered agents are usually more organized, efficient and timely. The downside, however, is that this type of agent can be expensive.

An individual serving as a registered agent can be a business partner, friend, employee or family member. You can also be your business’s own registered agent. Regardless of the individual you choose, the main benefit of this option is that it’s free. However, a drawback is that the person may not be as organized, efficient or timely as a commercial registered agent. Another drawback is that an individual may not be consistently available at their registered office during normal business hours. Perhaps the person takes a vacation, has a client lunch or goes to an appointment during work hours. These situations could lead to them missing important legal mail addressed to your company.

The Bottom Line

Having a registered agent is critical and required for your LLC. This person or commercial entity will receive legal documents on your company’s behalf and forward them to you to ensure you can act quickly. The important role registered agents play means it’s essential to find a good representative for your business.

We recommend comparing fees and services, customer reviews, responsiveness, availability, experience and qualifications before making a final decision. Taking time to diligently research registered agent service providers will ensure you make the best selection for your company and keep it in good standing.

Other Local Registered Agent Resources

Methodology

To provide consumers with objective and accurate information, our credentialed legal experts created a comprehensive rating system for Limited Liability Company (LLC) services. We researched five online LLC, registered agent and trademark registration services, including ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Swyft Filings, Northwest Registered Agent and Bizee (formerly Incfile).

We conducted a survey in 2024 of 200 professionals who were currently using LLC services or had used LLC services within the past year. We analyzed the results of this survey to determine the following rating criteria:

• Features (20%)
• Value for Money (25%)
• Customer Service (20%)
• Usability (25%)
• Reputation and Credibility (10%)

Visit the full LLC methodology page for more details on our rating system.