Every business entity in Texas must have a registered agent. These individuals or services receive service of process and legal mail for businesses and are tasked with handling varying state matters like annual reports and franchise tax.
Using an experienced registered agent service can save you money and stress. We review the top picks for Texas here.
Northwest Registered Agent
Since its founding in 1998, Northwest Registered Agent has formed around two million business entities. Its base package is priced somewhere in the middle compared to alternatives, and it includes one year of free service, which can be a good way to save money when starting a new company. The firm also offers a premium experience through local corporate guides, instant service, and locally scanned documents.
The firm’s website is a treasure trove of helpful information, and customers praise its friendly staff and convenient online tools. Unlike many competitors, Northwest doesn’t have confusing packages and hidden fees, making it easy to know what you’re getting for your money.
The firm will even help you publish your LLC information in public notices, a legal requirement for most states. It also provides a phone number and email address for customer support, and it will not sell your personal information to third parties. This is a big plus if you value privacy.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is a newer company in the industry, but they’re quickly rising to the top. They’re a great choice for regulated industries that have strict licensing and compliance requirements. Their services include registration, business licenses, and corporate governance. Their customer service is excellent, and they’re always willing to provide industry-specific advice. They also have a comprehensive information center for all states, which is a welcome change from the bare-bones information found on other competitors’ websites.
Their prices are also lower than those of competitors, starting at $89-$99 per year for registered agent services (plus state fees). They also offer bulk discounts if you pay multiple years up front.
They also have an excellent privacy policy, which means that only you will see your own personal address. This is a major advantage for privacy-conscious businesses and individuals. They also have a worry-free compliance package that helps manage annual filings and keeps your business in good standing with the state.
Business Formation
Business Formation is a tech company that’s in the business of making legal and tax services more accessible to aspiring business owners. They do a good job of that, offering value in their online filings and business advisory plans. However, their registered agent service is overpriced and not included in any of the LLC packages they offer.
Visit: Texas registered agent reviews.
Their website is easy to use, and they have great customer support. They respond to queries quickly and efficiently, and many of their customers mention their specific customer support representative by name.
Their prices are slightly higher than those of Harbor Compliance and Northwest Registered Agent, but they have a more extensive package offering that includes a business address and an online document portal. They also offer compliance deadline reminders and help with obtaining an EIN. This makes them a good choice for small businesses that value price over other services. You can learn more about their service offerings here.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is one of the best options for those looking to form an LLC. They have excellent customer support and reasonable initial prices. They also offer a number of add-on services, like worry-free compliance and annual reporting service. They also have a full refund policy.
Zenbusiness is a full-service registered agent that will register your business with the state and provide a physical address for your company. They will also file your initial paperwork with the state and keep you updated about any changes in your information with the secretary of state. They also help you manage your company by sending compliance deadline notifications and keeping your info off the public record.
Turnaround times vary depending on the state and how busy they are, but most clients report that ZenBusiness processes their paperwork within a few days. They also offer a priority LLC service processing option for an additional fee. They do have some upsells, but not nearly as many as some of their competitors.