As part of your LLC in Pennsylvania registration requirements, the state will want to know how it can reach you regarding the business. This way, the authorities can direct all legal letters and notices to that address, ensuring that you stay in the loop and can act on behalf of your company. A good example would be when someone sues your organization. The authorities would need to serve you with the papers to ensure you act for the company and provide your defense in court. How will they find you? Who should they contact? That’s what we will cover in this guide:
What is a Registered Agent?
Do you remember what we discussed earlier? Your business needs someone who can receive documents for it. Think of it this way. Your company has rights like a person but it’s not a natural entity. Instead, it’s a legal entity and requires you to perform some tasks on its behalf such as receiving mails. This is known as a registered office provider in Pennsylvania.
What Do Registered Agents Do?
Your company’s Pennsylvania registered agent has a range of tasks to accomplish, all which relate to the wellbeing of the company. These include:
- To receive legal notices. At any given time, you will receive documents about your company. For example, you could be behind on payments. Whoever is on the other end will require a direct line to the business and this can only take place if the go-between can accept service of process.
- Filing annual reports: You will need to keep up with statutory requirements. For example you deal with professional services. You must keep up with your annual certificates to ensure your compliance is in line with the state requirements. If you get a professional service to handle the reports for you, this task will no longer be part of your to-do list.
Your registered agent for LLC in PA can handle these and more tasks but it all comes down to who you choose to give this role.
Why do I need a Registered Agent?
First of all, your registration cannot go through if you do not elect someone to serve as the business’s main point of contact. If you look at your registration documents, you will notice there’s a section where you are required to provide the information of whom the state should contact as needed, listed as your Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP). Unlike some other sections, you will also notice that this part is not optional. Without it, you cannot start a company. It’s that simple. However, you will notice that in Penn, the registered agent service requirements are not that detailed. You don’t even have to give the name as long as you can give a valid address of this person or company.
Other than legal requirements, you will also appreciate having someone process documents on your behalf, allowing you to focus on the business. When starting a business, this is very important as every minute spent on the startup helps it scale greater heights.
Can I be my own registered agent in Pennsylvania?
If you prefer handling state communication by yourself, this is also possible. All you have to do is ensure that you meet the criteria of the state. Please note that you will have your home or office address listed publicly, which might not be ideal for someone who works from home and requires you to keep this information private. When you indicate your Pennsylvania LLC’s place of business on the registration documents, this becomes public information. However, if you would like to keep these details from the public, you can hire a professional CROP who will list their registered office address. That way, if anyone looks you up, you can keep your home address hidden to ensure your safety and privacy.
What are the requirements for Pennsylvania registered agents?
Not much is necessary for you or any other person to serve as your go-between. However, the registered office provider must be:
- A resident with a location where they can be found where need be. Keep in mind that this is where your communication will be sent and you need someone who will be available to receive it.
- Able to receive mail via post. Make sure you choose a company that can provide such services or you could end up not getting all your paperwork.
What Is the Best Registered Agent Service?
Choosing a commercial registered agent you can trust with your legal documents is not easy. You need to conduct adequate research and choose based on the company that gives you the best value for your money. Some companies have gained reputation for their reliability, fair pricing and great customer experience. The top choices include:
- Northwest Registered Agent: If you are after experience, you can trust these professionals to get the paperwork right from the start.
- ZenBusiness: For people who want to work with a company deep-rooted in core values, this is a great choice.
- IncFile: With the basic services starting at $0, this option is a dream for people on a budget.
- LegalZoom: This large company not only offers representation but also has a wealth of legal knowledge to share.
How much does a registered agent service cost in Pennsylvania?
If you look around, you will notice that different services charge differently. Additionally, most of them have service levels different from the others. Dealing with the ballpark, you can pay anything from nothing up to a couple of hundred dollars each year. Be sure to look at what value you will get for your money and how much money you need to top up once you’re no longer getting free services. Also, consider the customer service as some companies will charge you cheap prices but will hardly be available for help when you need it.
All in all, though, hiring a professional will save you time and money in the long run by enabling you to focus on the most important aspects of your business.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent?
You can choose to take on this responsibility or you can delegate it to another person in the company, a friend, or a professional. All this takes place as you file your main LLC formation document in Pennsylvania where you put in the name of your contact. Please note that if you’re using a commercial service provider as your go-between, you must sign a contract with them and provide this together with your election details. Without this agreement, you can face legal penalties. Also, note that you cannot use your provider’s DBA and must use a legal name in the listing. Once you have all this covered, you can go ahead and elect your choice via:
Online
The PENN online system allows you to create an account where you not only list who will represent you but also details about the organization you want to form. At the end of the process, you have the option to make a payment and go ahead with registering your company. It’s quite simple and you will have some prompts all the while to help you navigate any areas you might not understand.
By Mail
If you want to do your company registration by mail, it follows that you will also select your go-between the same way. Go to the state website and download your registration documents , make sure you fill everything and send the completed forms to:
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105
FAX
Instead of using the mail, you can send the complete form to: (717) 705-0927 or (717) 783-2244
How Do I Change My Registered Agent?
If you’re currently serving as your primary point of contact, you may want to change your registered agent in Pennsylvania and hand over the responsibility to a professional. Alternatively, if you already hired someone for the job and they don’t seem to be pulling their weight, you can as well replace them. Luckily, the state does not make this transition hard and has instead put in measures to make the change as easy as it can be.
All you need to do is access the online file system and complete the Change of Registered Office form . You will need to include pertinent details about your business, who you now want to represent you, when you started the company, your location, and other basic things. Please note that your authorized representative will need to sign the form. Once complete, you can either complete the submission online, or you can send it to the state by mail, fax, or even walk in and hand over the form. Each change will cost you $70 and it’s always a good idea to review all your options before making an amendment. Otherwise, you will keep paying this sum each time you want to make a change.
Also, note that as much as you can change your initial registration documents to elect another point of contact, this will cost you much more money. Use the method advised above instead. It’s not only simpler but also more affordable.