Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
Yes, you can be your own Registered Agent in Florida 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 so you can make your own decision.
What is a Florida Registered Agent?
A Registered Agent is a person or a company who receives legal documents and notices from the state for your LLC.
If your business is involved in a lawsuit, the Florida Registered Agent will accept Service of Process for your LLC. This is when legal documents are delivered to or “served on” your business.
Note: Some states call the Registered Agent a Resident Agent or Statutory Agent. These all mean the same thing, so we always 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)
Who can be a Registered Agent in Florida?
There are three options for who can be your Florida Registered Agent:
- You can be your LLC’s Registered Agent
- A friend or family member can be your LLC’s Registered Agent
- You can hire a professional Florida Registered Agent Service for your LLC
What is a Florida Registered Agent Service?
A Florida Registered Agent Service is a company that you pay to be your LLC’s Registered Agent in Florida.
(A Registered Agent Service is also called a Commercial Registered Agent.)
The Florida 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 that you can buy.
Florida Registered Agent Requirements
If the Florida Registered Agent is a person, they must be over 18 years old and have a physical address in Florida.
If the Florida Registered Agent is a company (a Registered Agent Service), it must be authorized to do business in Florida.
This is because all Florida Registered Agents are required by law to have a physical street address in the state. PO Boxes aren’t allowed.
(Note: The 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.)
Should you be your own Registered Agent in Florida?
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 Florida 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 Florida Registered Agent Service?
You should hire a Florida Registered Agent Service if:
- You don’t live in Florida
- You don’t have a friend or family member who lives in Florida
- You live in Florida, but don’t want to use your home address or be your own Registered Agent
Our recommendation for a Florida Registered Agent Service
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent.
They’ve been in business for over 20 years and have excellent customer service. They’re also the service we use for our own LLCs.
Northwest will also keep your address off of public records. This is our favorite Northwest feature. And no other Registered Agent Service offers this.
How to keep your address off public records
Northwest Registered Agent lets you use their business address throughout your entire LLC filing in all 50 states and D.C. This can keep your physical address off public records.
For example, you can list Northwest’s business address for any or all of the following:
- Principal office address
- Mailing address
- LLC Members or Managers address
- LLC Organizer address
(Note: The list above is an example. Some states have more address fields than others. Wherever there is an address field on the LLC filing, you can list the Northwest address if you’d like. This can keep your address off public records.)
Any mail that Northwest receives gets scanned and uploaded 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 Florida 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)
Can I be my own Registered Agent in Florida FAQs
What should I look for in a Florida 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 Florida Registered Agent liable?
No, a Florida Registered Agent is not 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 Florida?
Choosing the right Registered Agent for your LLC depends on your specific business needs.
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 Registered Agent?
The name and address of the Florida Registered Agent goes in the LLC filing paperwork.
Every state requires an LLC to list a Registered Agent and the Florida Registered Office address (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 Florida LLC?
No, a Florida 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: Registered Agent vs LLC Member
Registered Agent Service:
If you hire a Florida 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 aren’t automatically a Member just because you list them as the Registered Agent.
Who can be a Florida 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 Florida Registered Agent necessary?
Yes, a Florida 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.
