What is a Registered Agent?
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Registered Agent
Your LLC must assign a Florida Registered Agent. This is a formally recognized person or business that can receive business correspondence and other documents from the Florida Department of State. Assigning a Registered Agent is a legal requirement, and your LLC must have a Registered Agent at all times. You should appoint a Registered Agent when you start your Florida business, but you can always change your Registered Agent at a later date, provided there is a smooth transition between the old and new Registered Agent service.
Registered Agent Requirements
- Every LLC, whether foreign or domestic, must have a Registered Agent with a registered office within the State of Florida at all times.
- The Registered Agent can be a domestic or foreign (licensed to transact business in the state) artificial legal entity (corporation, LLC, LP, or LLP), or a natural person.
- If the Registered Agent is a company, they must be authorized to conduct business in Florida.
- If the Registered Agent is a person, they must live in Florida.
- The Registered Agent must be available in person to sign for any correspondence during regular business hours.
- The Registered Office must be located in the state of Florida at a street address (a P.O. Box is not acceptable)
The address for your Florida Registered Agent does not need to be the same as your business address. In fact, you can use a Florida virtual mailbox for your business address.
Important: A virtual mailbox is not a replacement for a Registered Agent. They perform two separate functions, and per state law, you're required to have a Registered Agent.
What a Florida Registered Agent Does
A Registered Agent’s primary function is to accept official correspondence and documentation, including but not limited to:
This includes:
- State and federal government correspondence and notices
- Service of process notices (e.g., if your LLC is sued or required to appear in court)
- Correspondence from the FL SOS
- Tax forms and requests to complete permits, company filings and reports
Having a Registered Agent also allows you to prove to the state that your business exists.
Bizee Provides Free Florida Registered Agent Service for the First Year
Bizee provides complete Florida Registered Agent service for any LLC formed in the state. Even better, if you form your LLC through Bizee, your Registered Agent is completely free for the first year and only $119 a year after that.
Bizee is authorized to conduct business in Florida and is able to legally act as your Registered Agent. Here’s what our Florida Registered Agent services include:
- A digital dashboard where you can access, store and retrieve any information we’ve received for your business
- An always-available Florida Registered Agent who can receive correspondence, documents, and legal proceedings on your LLC's behalf
- Email notification whenever we receive documents for your business
- Automatic forwarding of all legal correspondence, documentation and information directly to you
Appointing a Registered Agent for Your LLC
You appoint a Registered Agent when you first form your Florida LLC and can change Registered Agents at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it. Appoint a Registered Agent When You Create Your LLC Your business needs to have a Florida Registered Agent as soon as it’s formed. You can achieve this through one of the following methods.
Assign a Registered Agent When You Form Your LLC
Your business needs to have a Registered Agent as soon as it’s formed. You can do this two ways:
File Articles of Organization With the Florida Department of State
You'll need to include details of your Registered Agent in your Articles of Organization. This is the form that you file with the FL Department of State/Division of Corporations to formally create your business.
Form Through Bizee and Get a Free Florida Registered Agent
When you form your LLC through us, we complete and file your Articles of Organization based on the information you’ve provided. Additionally, we give you a free Florida Registered Agent for the first year, and we’ll include details of your Registered Agent in the form that we file.
Assign a New Registered Agent After Formation
You can also change your FL Registered Agent after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.
Choose a Registered Agent and File a Form with the Florida Department of State
Once you’ve chosen a new Florida Registered Agent, you can complete the Statement of Registered Agent/Registered Office Change form. Once you’ve filled it out, send it to the Department of State at the address on the form so they can update your records. The state charges a $25 fee to assign or change a Registered Agent.
Sign Up for Bizee’s Florida Registered Agent Service and We’ll File the Change on Your Behalf
When you use our FL Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect important information about your business, complete the required forms on your behalf and send it to the Florida Division of Corporations. We’ll let you know once we officially become your Registered Agent. Note that the Florida DOS charges a $25 filing fee to assign or change a Registered Agent.
Florida Registered Agent Search
In some situations, you might want to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another Florida LLC. If you do, you can search the business database of the Florida Department of State, as listings will often provide details of a specific business’s Registered Agent. If the Registered Agent isn’t available from the searchable business registry, contact the Florida Department of State requesting the information.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Registered Agent?
- Getting served or sued and not finding out about it: If your LLC is sued and you don’t know about it, you could lose to a default judgment in your absence.
- Falling out of good standing with the Florida Department of State: If you don’t respond to certain correspondence (like the request for your annual report), certain states may revoke your right to do business.
- Losing your status as a Florida LLC: A Registered Agent “proves” to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your Florida LLC may be dissolved.
Acting as Your Own Registered Agent
If you have an address in Florida, you can be the Registered Agent for your LLC. We don’t recommend this approach as there can be some drawbacks:
- The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Florida. If you’re forming an LLC outside FL, you'll need to use an in-state Registered Agent.
- You always need to have someone on hand during business hours at the Florida address to sign for important documents.
- The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the Florida Department of State's website. If you prefer your name and address aren’t published, choose a Registered Agent service.
- If you change your Florida business address or move out of state, you need to file additional documentation with the FL Department of State for the new address if you act as your own Registered Agent. This would not be the case if you use a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much simpler.
Other Useful Resources
FAQs About Florida Registered Agent Service
Do I Need to Appoint a Florida Registered Agent?
Yes. All business entities are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the FL SOS. You'll find more information above.
When Do I Need to Assign a Florida Registered Agent?
You must assign a Registered Agent when you form your Florida business with the Secretary of State. You can change your agent afterward by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Bizee, we’ll file all the necessary forms on your behalf. You'll find more information above.
Can I Act as My Own Registered Agent in Florida?
Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above.
Does the Registered Agent for My Florida-Based LLC Need to Have an Address in Florida?
Yes. And if you use a company as your Registered Agent, that company must be legally able to conduct business in the state. You'll find more information above.
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