Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
Yes, you can be your own Registered Agent in California as long as you meet the state requirements.
(Unfortunately, most Registered Agent Services and LLC filing companies hide this information.)
We explain the pros and cons below – as well as your additional options – so you can make your own decision.
What are the California Registered Agent requirements?
Your LLC’s California Registered Agent can be either a person or a company.
If the Registered Agent is a person, they must be at least 18 years old and have a physical address in California.
If the Registered Agent is a company, it must be authorized to do business in the state of California.
This means that in order to be your own LLC Registered Agent, you must be 18 or older and have a physical address in California.
This is because all Registered Agents are required to have a physical street address in California. PO Boxes aren’t allowed.
Note: Some states call the Registered Agent a Resident Agent or Statutory Agent. These all mean the same thing, and we tend call it a Registered Agent to keep it simple.
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
Does California require a Registered Agent?
Yes, all LLCs in California are required to keep a Registered Agent for the entire life of the LLC.
Meaning, you must list a California Registered Agent in your LLC formation documents (called the California LLC Articles of Organization). And then you must keep a Registered Agent up until you officially close your LLC with the California Secretary of State’s office, no matter how long that is.
What does a Registered Agent do?
A Registered Agent receives legal documents and notices from the state for your LLC, by mail and sometimes in-person.
For example:
If your business is involved in a lawsuit, your Registered Agent will accept Service of Process for your LLC. Service of Process is when legal documents are delivered to or “served on” your business.
This is why Registered Agents are required to have an address in the state of California where they can be reached during normal business hours. That’s when mail and court documents are delivered.
Who can be the Registered Agent for an LLC in California?
There are three options for who can be your California Registered Agent:
- You can be your LLC Registered Agent
- A friend or family member can be your LLC Registered Agent
- You can hire a professional Registered Agent Service
Remember, if you are the Registered Agent you need to have a physical address in California. And the same thing goes for a friend or family member if they are your Registered Agent.
Note: Registered Agent’s address is called the Registered Office. The Registered Office address and the name of the Registered Agent will go on your LLC paperwork.)
What is a Registered Agent Service?
A Registered Agent Service is a company that you pay to be your Registered Agent.
(A Registered Agent Service is also called a Commercial Registered Agent.)
The Registered Agent Service receives service of process for your LLC and forwards it to you electronically or by mail. Some companies also offer other services related to your LLC.
Should I be my own Registered Agent in California?
It depends. While being your LLC’s Registered Agent can save you money, there are some potential risks.
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of being your own California Registered Agent.
Pros of being the Registered Agent for your LLC:
- You save money.
- It’s one less online account to keep track of if you don’t hire a Registered Agent Service.
- Documents go directly to you. You don’t have to wait for someone to forward or email them.
Cons of being the Registered Agent for your LLC:
- You might miss an important notice or legal document. This could happen if you travel often or forget to check your mail.
- Registered Agent information is public record. Companies can use public records to send you junk mail, or post your address online.
If you aren’t bothered by your address being public, being your own Registered Agent is a great way to save money.
Should I hire a California Registered Agent Service?
You should hire a California Registered Agent Service if:
- You don’t live in California
- You don’t have a friend or family member who lives in California
- You live in California, but don’t want to be your own Registered Agent
Our recommendation for a California Registered Agent Service
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent as the best California Registered Agent Service for LLCs.
They’ve been in business for over 20 years and have excellent customer service agents who are true LLC experts.
They’re also the service we use for our own LLCs.
Our favorite Northwest feature is that they help keep your address off of public records. And no other Registered Agent Service offers this.
How to keep your address off public records
Northwest lets you use their address throughout your entire LLC filing in all 50 states and D.C. This can keep your address off public records.
For example, you can list their address for any or all of the following:
- Principal office address
- Mailing address
- LLC Members or Managers address
- LLC Organizer address
In fact, anywhere there is an address field on the LLC filing, you can list the Northwest address if you’d like. This is how they help keep your address off public records.
Northwest will then scan and upload any legal documents or state notices that they receive for your LLC to your online account.
Need to save time? You can also hire Northwest to form your LLC.
Special discount for LLC University® readers
Northwest usually charges $100 + state fees to form a California LLC. But they offer a special price (60% off) for LLC University® readers.
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
California Registered Agent FAQs
What should I look for in a Registered Agent Service?
Service of process: | Do they forward documents by mail? Do they scan and email them? |
General business mail: | Will they accept general business mail sent to your LLC? Most Registered Agent Services will only accept Service of Process. |
LLC Formation: | Will they form your LLC with the state? How much do they charge beyond the state filing fee? |
Annual Report or other services: | Do they offer Annual Report filing or other services you can buy? How much do they charge for these? |
Cost: | How much do they charge for the stand-alone Registered Agent Service? Most Registered Agent Services charge $100 to $300 per year. |
Customer Support: | Do they have great customer support? Read some online reviews of the service or call and ask a few questions. |
Is a California Registered Agent liable?
No, a California Registered Agent isn’t liable for any of the LLC’s lawsuits or debts.
Accepting documents on behalf of the LLC does not bring the Registered Agent into a lawsuit.
If you are the Registered Agent and someone sues your LLC, they are still only suing the business. The Registered Agent does not get sued. That’s true even if you are the Registered Agent and the owner of the LLC.
And only the LLC gets sued – not you, as the individual owner. That’s because an LLC protects your personal assets.
How do I choose a Registered Agent in California?
Choosing the right Registered Agent for your LLC depends on your specific business needs and meeting the state requirements.
We’ll guide you through your options and how to choose a Registered Agent, so you can confidently pick the best one for your LLC.
Where do I list myself as the California Registered Agent?
The name and address of the California Registered Agent goes in the LLC filing paperwork.
Every state requires an LLC to list a Registered Agent and Registered Office (the Registered Agent address). This information goes on public record, so that a process server, if needed, can serve your LLC.
Is a Registered Agent a Member of a California LLC?
No, a California Registered Agent is not automatically an LLC Member (aka owner).
Meaning, just listing someone as a Registered Agent doesn’t make them a Member of your LLC.
Learn more in Registered Agent vs LLC Member.
Registered Agent Service:
If you hire a California Registered Agent Service, they won’t be a Member of your LLC.
You:
If you are a Member of an LLC and you want to be your own Registered Agent, then that is totally okay. In that case, you are both a Member of the LLC and the Registered Agent for the LLC.
Friend or family:
If a friend or family member is your LLC Registered Agent, they can be a Member of your LLC (if you make them one). But they won’t automatically be a Member just because you list them as the Registered Agent.
Who can be a California Registered Agent and an LLC Member?
Who: | Can they be the Registered Agent? | Can they be a Member of the LLC? |
---|---|---|
You | Yes, if you live in the state where you formed your LLC | Yes, always |
Friend or family | Yes, if they live in the state where you formed your LLC | Yes, if they co-own the LLC with you |
Registered Agent Service | Yes | No, never |
Is a California Registered Agent necessary?
Yes, a California Registered Agent is necessary. State law requires someone to be available to accept Service of Process for your LLC.
You must list a Registered Agent on your LLC paperwork. And then you must continuously maintain (keep) one on file with the state as long as your LLC exists.
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
Hello
I am trying to be my own registered agent but cannot find the state form to do so without a business trying to sell me their services. Can you please tell me how and where to find it please.
Thanks,
Shannon Thomas
Hello,
If I become my own Registered Agent and I move houses in the future (staying in CA), how do I go about changing my address on my LLC?
Hi Taryn, to change the address of the Registered Agent (being yourself) in the future, you’d just need to file a California LLC Statement of Information ($20) to update the address. The form can be filed by mail or filed online via “BizFile” (it’s still $20 in both cases). Hope that helps!