Change Your Registered Agent
Free Change of Agent Service Included- Free Domain Name
- Free Website
- Free Business Email
- Free Business Address
- Free Phone Line
- Free Mail Scanning
- Free Brand Protection
- Only $125 Per Year
Switch to Northwest
With Northwest you get privacy, expert support, same-day mail scanning, and free website, domain, email, and phone service—all for $125 a year. Best of all, we’ll switch your registered agent for free, making it easy to start getting more.
The process for changing your agent is different in every state. You can hire us to take care of it for you or find a DIY state guide here.
Where do you need a registered agent?
Why Do I Need A Registered Agent?
Most states require LLCs and corporations to have a registered agent in each state where it conducts business. A registered agent is the person or business designated to receive service of process (legal notices), along with other official state documents, on behalf of your company. Without a registered agent, your business would not have a reliable way for the state to deliver important legal and compliance communications.
Check out our registered agent page to learn more about specific requirements.
Why Switch To Northwest Registered Agent?
Choosing a registered agent isn’t just about meeting a legal requirement—it’s about protecting your privacy, staying compliant, and making sure nothing important slips through the cracks. Northwest Registered Agent provides registered agent service designed to keep your business organized and make sure your personal information stays off public records.
At Northwest, we use our business address instead of yours on state filings, handle service of process and official state mail, scan and upload your documents, and notify you promptly so you never miss an important deadline. You’ll also get instant brand protection, plus domain and website services for no additional cost. Our focus is simple: reliable compliance support without upsells, hidden fees, or unnecessary add-ons.
When You Want More
A registered agent is the foundation of your business. We'll cover your change of agent fees so you can get more.
Common Reasons to Change Your Registered Agent
Many business owners initially serve as their own registered agent or appoint a trusted associate, accountant, or attorney to fill the role. While that arrangement may work at first, circumstances often change over time. As a result, it’s common for LLCs and corporations to need to change their registered agent after a few years in business.
Here are some of the most common reasons businesses change registered agents:
You Appointed Yourself or Someone Close to the Business
Serving as a registered agent can seem simple, which is why many business owners choose to act as their own registered agent when they first form an LLC or corporation. However, registered agents must maintain a physical address in the state and be available there during normal business hours to receive legal notices and official documents.
For most business owners, consistently meeting those requirements can become difficult. Running a business, attending meetings, traveling, and managing daily operations often make it impractical to remain available at one location throughout the workday. When that happens, many business owners choose to hire a professional registered agent service.
Your Registered Agent Resigned or the Relationship Ended
Many businesses appoint an accountant, attorney, or other trusted individual as their registered agent. However, people retire, relocate, change careers, or simply decide they no longer want the responsibility.
Likewise, if your professional relationship with that person ends, they may no longer be willing to serve as your registered agent. When a registered agent resigns or becomes unavailable, you’ll need to appoint a new registered agent and file the appropriate change with the state.
Your Business Is Expanding to Additional States
As your business grows, you may register to do business in multiple states. Because every state requires a registered agent with a physical address in that state, relying on an individual registered agent can become complicated.
Many businesses simplify compliance by switching to a national registered agent service with offices nationwide. A professional registered agent service can provide coverage in every state where your business operates, making it easier to manage compliance requirements and future registered agent changes from a single provider.
How to Change Your Registered Agent
1. Choose Your New Registered Agent
Your first step is to decide on your new registered agent. You can find a list of available registered agent services on most secretary of state websites to get a sense of the number of providers available and their size.
Northwest provides registered agent service in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for just $125 a year—a price that hasn’t changed in 20 years. Your service includes a secure online account, expert Corporate Guides®, and useful filing tools. Unlike many providers, we serve as your registered agent directly, giving you one company, one support team, and one reliable point of contact.
2. Submit Your Filing and Fee to the State
Some states require special forms to change your registered agent, some states allow you to change your registered agent by filing an amendment, and some states do both. In any case, you will file your change of registered agent paperwork with the agency in charge of business formations in your state (usually the office of the secretary of state), and you can expect to include the following information:
- Your company name
- The name & address of your current registered agent
- The name & address of your new registered agent
However, the filing requirements, forms, fees, and other details are determined by each state and vary widely. It costs $25 to file a Statement of Change in Alaska, for instance, $20 in Rhode Island, and $10 in North Dakota. Similarly, some states allow only online filing, some states will only accept your paperwork through the mail, and some states will do both.
3. Inform Your Current Registered Agent of the Change
States typically don’t require you to inform your former registered agent that you have appointed or hired someone new, but it is wise (and also polite!) to do so. If you neglect to inform your previous agent of the change, you might get billed for services you no longer need or use.
Ready to make the switch and hire Northwest to be your company’s registered agent? We’ll file your change of registered agent paperwork for you for free and even pay your required state filing fee.
Registered Agent Change FAQs
Most states require registered agents to be at least 18 years old (if an individual), maintain a physical address in the state where they serve, and be available during normal business hours to receive legal and government documents on behalf of the business. States may also refer to this role as an agent for service of process, resident agent, or statutory agent, but the responsibility is the same: keeping an open, dependable line of communication between your business and the state.