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Reviewed
When starting a business in Georgia, it is critical to have a reliable and efficient registered agent to ensure smooth and compliant operations. Opting for a registered agent service can do just that. Not only can they help you stay in compliance with the law, but they can also protect the privacy of your business.
With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which provider is the best fit for you. In this article, we will explore seven best Georgia registered agent services that have proven their expertise, reliability and commitment to providing exceptional service.
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
LegalZoom
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
3
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.
We reviewed 15 registered agent services using a detailed methodology to help you find the seven best registered agent services for small businesses in Georgia. Our ratings consider factors, such as pricing, user experiences, expert opinions and key features including multistate support and limited liability company (LLC) filing services. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Starting price | Free registered agent services | Additional services | LEARN MORE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Lawyer |  |
4.5 |  |
$124.99 with membership or $249.99 per year | No | Business formation filing, legal services and legal documents | Learn More | On Rocket Lawyer's Website | |
| Northwest Registered Agent |  |
4.5 | |
$125 per year (one to four states) and $100 per year (five or more states) | Not included | Business formation filing, business tools and legal help | Learn More | On Northwest Registered Agent's Website | |
| ZenBusiness |  |
4.4 | |
$199 per year | Not included | Business formation filing, licenses and permits and build a website | Learn More | On ZenBusiness's Website | |
| LegalZoom |  |
4.4 | |
$249 per year | Not included | Business formation filing, legal help and personal services | Learn More | On Legal Zoom's Website | |
| Bizee |  |
4.3 | |
$0 to $119 per year | Yes. Free for first year with business formation | Business formation filing, business license or permits and doing business as (DBA) | Learn More | On Bizee's Website | |
| Harbor Compliance |  |
4.3 | |
$99 per year | No | Business formation filing, business license and tax manager | Learn More | On Harbor Compliance's Website | |
| Inc Authority |  |
4.2 |  |
Contact for quote | Yes; free with business formation for the first year | Free business formation filing, free EIN and business name check | Learn More | On Inc Authority's Website |
A registered agent, also referred to as a resident agent or commercial registered agent, is an individual or company assigned to receive all official mail, which includes the service of process documents for a business entity. This includes official federal and state correspondence, subpoenas, tax notices, court summons and corporate filing notifications.
While sole proprietorships are not obligated to have a registered agent, LLCs and corporations are required by the state to designate one. The registered agent must always be available during normal hours of operation, generally Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Registered agents must also have a physical address within the state where the business is registered. This physical address is important as it ensures a reliable point of contact for the delivery of important documents.
Adults over the age of 18 years old, residing in the same state as the business can serve as the appointed registered agent. However, some individuals have privacy concerns since the registered agent’s information is available to the public. As a result, many businesses opt to use commercial registered agent services. These services specialize in handling legal documents and state notices on behalf of businesses while keeping their details confidential.
Commercial registered agent services not only receive and forward legal documents, but they often provide additional advantages, such as assistance with business formation, compliance services, basic mail forwarding and digital mail forwarding. Registered agent services also include an online dashboard for printing, downloading and viewing which allows quick access to important information.
Overall, it’s important to appoint a trusted and reliable registered agent, as it plays a critical role in helping your business stay compliant with state laws and regulations.
In Georgia, it is a requirement for all types of entities to have a registered agent and a registered office. The registered agent’s business office address must match the registered office address and must be continuously maintained within the state of Georgia.
It is important to note that the entity cannot act as its own registered agent. The registered agent can be an individual or an entity located within Georgia and must have a physical street address in the state. The registered agent’s address cannot be a post office box or a “mail drop.”
In addition, the registered agent does not necessarily have to be an owner, shareholder or officer of that entity. The registered agent can have a separate professional relationship with the entity, such as an attorney or a professional corporate service company.
If there is a need to terminate or change the registered agent or the registered office, this can be done by filing an annual registration or an amended annual registration.
The specific requirements and regulations for registered agents can also be found in
Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) §§ 14-2-501 and 14-2-1507 (profit corporation); 14-3-501 and 14-3-1507 (nonprofit corporation); 14-8-46 (foreign LLP); 14-9-104 and 14-9-902.1 (limited partnership); and 14-11-209 and 14-11-703 (LLC).
When choosing a registered agent service for your business, there are several important factors to consider. Here are some key features and services to keep in mind:
Featured Partners
1
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
2
LegalZoom
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
3
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
To compile our list of the best Georgia registered agent services, Forbes Advisor conducted a comprehensive evaluation of 15 different providers using a specific set of criteria. Factors considered included multistate support, same-day document delivery, user experience, reputation, customer support, and pricing. The goal was to determine the most reliable, affordable, and user-friendly services. Each criterion was assigned a weighted score, and the top Georgia registered agent services with the highest scores were included in the final list.
We researched the average pricing of registered agent service providers and rated them based on their transparency and affordability. Providers that publicly listed their pricing plans received higher scores than those that did not. We also considered companies that offered free registered agent services for the first year with business formation services. Pricing and affordability made up for 20% of the overall score.
To assess the quality of customer support, we examined the support options offered by each registered agent provider, including phone support, live chat, 24/7 customer care, and access to knowledge base resources. This accounted for 15% of the overall score.
General features made up the largest portion of our scoring, contributing 30% to the overall score. This category encompassed a range of factors, such as the provider’s ability to handle multiple states, same-day document delivery, business formation filing and user-friendly features.
We took into consideration registered agent services that provided mobile apps and assigned a rating that accounted for 5% of the overall score. Providers that offered mobile app functionality on both Android and Apple platforms received higher scores in this category.
The customer review score was determined by aggregating ratings and feedback from platforms, such as Trustpilot, G2, Capterra, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This component accounted for 10% of the overall methodology score. Each registered agent service provider received a score based on their customer reviews, ranging from 0 (lowest) to 5 (highest).
The expert score was evaluated based on standout features, value for money, ease of use, and popularity among the public. Factors considered included security features, additional services, money-back guarantees, and exceptional customer support. The expert score contributed 20% to the overall rating.
By evaluating these criteria and assigning weighted scores, we were able to identify the top Georgia registered agent services that offer the best combination of reliability, affordability, and user experience.
According to Georgia law, all entities are required to have a registered agent in the state. The registered agent serves as the designated recipient for legal documents, service of process, and official communications on behalf of the business entity.
To appoint a registered agent in Georgia, choose an individual, entity or service provider with a physical address in the state. You then obtain their consent either by written agreement or by providing their information in the entity’s formation documents. This information is filed with the Georgia Secretary of State. Keep the registered agent’s information updated to ensure compliance with Georgia’s requirements.
You can change the name of the registered agent and/or the registered office of your entity by filing an annual registration or an amended annual registration. This can be done through the appropriate filing process, which you can access online.
Yes. It is permissible to act as your own registered agent for your business entity in Georgia, provided you meet certain state requirements. These requirements entail being at least 18 years old, having a physical address in the state of Georgia and being available during standard business hours.
There are several reasons to consider using a registered agent service instead of self-representation. A registered agent service offers numerous advantages, as they specialize in managing legal documents and ensure that your business adheres to state regulations. By utilizing their expertise, you can have peace of mind as they handle important notices promptly and professionally.
