Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
Yes, you can be your own Registered Agent in Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia?
There are three options for who can be your Georgia 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 Registered Agent Service for your LLC
What is a Georgia Registered Agent Service?
A Georgia Registered Agent Service is a company that you pay to be your LLC’s Registered Agent in Georgia.
(A Registered Agent Service is also called a Commercial Registered Agent.)
The Georgia 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.
Georgia Registered Agent Requirements
If the Registered Agent is a person, they must be over 18 years old and have a physical address in Georgia.
If the Registered Agent is a company (a Registered Agent Service), it must be authorized to do business in Georgia.
This is because all Georgia Registered Agents are required by law to have a physical street address in the state. PO Boxes are not 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 Georgia?
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 Georgia 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 Georgia Registered Agent Service?
You should hire a Georgia Registered Agent Service if:
- You don’t live in Georgia
- You don’t have a friend or family member who lives in Georgia
- You live in Georgia, but don’t want to list your personal address, or be your own Registered Agent
Our recommendation for a Georgia Registered Agent Service
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest has been in business for over 20 years and they 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 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
(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 Georgia 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 Georgia FAQs
| 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. |
No, a Georgia 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.
Choosing the right Registered Agent for your Georgia 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.
The name and address of the Georgia 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.
No, a Georgia Registered Agent isn’t 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 Georgia 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 Georgia 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 |
Yes, a Georgia 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.
I’ve completed the LLC registration for the state of Georgia but have not utilized a registered agent during the registration process. Instead of being my own registered agent, I am now considering using a registered agent service. How much will this service cost and what is the procedure for including a registered agent while my LLC registration has been completed and is now being processed ?
Hi Carol, Registered Agent Services range between $100 and $300 per year. Please see our recommendations here: Best Registered Agent services.
And generally speaking, to change a Registered Agent in Georgia, there isn’t a “Change of Registered Agent” form (like in most states). Instead, the Registered Agent is changed/updated when you file your Georgia LLC Annual Registration ($50). And if you don’t have an Annual Registration due at the time you want to change the Registered Agent, you’d file an Amended Annual Registration ($25).
Having said that, if you hire a company, like Northwest Registered Agent (our favorite company), they take care of the change of Registered Agent for you (and don’t charge extra for it). Hope that helps.
Matt, many thanks I hadn’t at the time, but I called the Secretary of State and they gave me the answer.. The issue was I formed by LLC almost a year ago and I have not heard one word from my registered agent, it even a renewal notice. I started to think, what am I paying $249.00 per year for. Other than the LLC being hidden, I didnt seen a good reason.
Hi Wayne, I hear you. Not much value there. Check out Northwest Registered Agent. This is who we recommend for Registered Agent services. If you end up signing up with them, wait until they file the change of Registered Agent with the state, and then you can cancel your services with LegalZoom.
I used Legal Zoom to set up my LLC, but it is impossible to get any information, e.g. Local license requirements, they just provide a bunch of links where I have to dig for information.
Is there a way to change the registered agent?
Hi Wayne, sorry to hear. Yes, you can change your Registered Agent when you file your Georgia LLC Annual Registration. If you’ve already filed it, you can file an Amended Annual Registration to do so. Hope that helps.