Businesses that are incorporated or doing business in Delaware must have a registered agent. This person or company is required to have a physical address in the state and be available during business hours to receive service of process and important mail from government agencies.
Some of the best Delaware registered agents services offer a full range of features, great customer service and a competitive price. Here are some options to consider:
1. Tracking and Reporting
A commercial registered agent service will scan and upload any mail received on behalf of your business to an online management system. They will also notify you of compliance deadlines (such as annual report filings) so that you don’t miss them and risk harsh penalties.
A registered agent must have a physical address in the state of Delaware and be available during normal business hours to accept service of process or notices on behalf of your company. Individuals are generally not a good choice for this role because their residential addresses will become public information.
The best Delaware Registered Agent Services provide monitoring tools and services that ensure insight into your company’s compliance so you never miss a deadline. These services can save you money over hiring an attorney for the same purpose and will help ensure your company remains in good standing with the Division of Corporations. Many of these services will also handle your company’s annual report filing for you, saving you more time to focus on your business operations.
2. Compliance Alerts
A quality registered agent will keep your business informed of compliance filing deadlines and other important state notices. These alerts can help your business stay ahead of the curve and avoid fines or penalties.
Like many of the top-rated registered agents, CSC Global will scan and upload all mail and service of processes they receive on your behalf to your online account. They also notify you of upcoming filing deadlines for your LLC and corporation, and they offer a range of delivery options (email, phone, text, apps, etc.).
If you want to change your Delaware registered agent, you must file a Certificate of Amendment Changing Only the Registered Agent Office/Agent with the Division of Corporations. The filing fee is $50. It is advisable to hire a reliable Delaware registered agent company to help you with this process. It will save you time, money, and hassles down the road. Moreover, it will ensure your business’s privacy and peace of mind.
3. Document Management
A registered agent service in Delaware helps businesses stay in compliance by handling high-priority and sensitive documents. These include tax notices and lawsuits received on behalf of the business. They can also provide reminders of upcoming business filing deadlines, keeping the company in good standing with state regulators.
If you choose to hire a local Delaware registered agent service, they may be cheaper than national services. However, many local firms can be slow to respond to requests or may not understand the nuances of state-specific requirements.
A good example of a national firm that does not take advantage of its prestige to charge extra is LegalZoom. They offer registered agent services for $299 per year and their LLC formation packages start at $79 + state fee. Online customer reviews of LegalZoom are mixed with some very positive and some highly negative.
4. Customer Service
The best-registered agent services offer a full range of customer service to help businesses comply with state regulations. These often include document scanning and forwarding, compliance alerts, and online management of business records.
Some registered agents also provide additional services to small business owners like identity theft protection. This can be a great add-on for those looking for extra peace of mind when it comes to their business.
The best Delaware registered agent service providers offer a range of packages to suit businesses of all sizes and budgets. They also keep up with fast-paced changes in corporate law and filing requirements. Some of these include Northwest Registered Agent, Incfile, and ZenBusiness. They all offer top-notch customer support and great value for their packages. For example, with the Gold LLC Formation Package from LegalZoom, users will get a full year of Delaware registered agent services along with important company tax paperwork like an EIN business tax number and IRS Form 2553.
