Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
Yes, you can be your own Registered Agent in Oklahoma 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 Registered Agent in Oklahoma?
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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma?
There are 4 options for who can be your Oklahoma Registered Agent:
- You can be your LLC’s Registered Agent
- Your LLC can be its own 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 Registered Agent Service?
An Oklahoma Registered Agent Service is a company that you pay to be your LLC’s Registered Agent in Oklahoma.
(A Registered Agent Service is also called a Commercial Registered Agent.)
Registered Agent Services accept Service of Process for your LLC and forward it to you electronically, or by mail. Some Registered Agent Services also offer additional LLC services, like forming your LLC for you.
Oklahoma Registered Agent Requirements
All Oklahoma Registered Agents are required to be available at a physical street address in the state during normal business hours.
(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.)
If the Registered Agent is a person, they must be over 18 years old and have a physical address in Oklahoma. PO Boxes aren’t allowed.
If the Registered Agent is a company (a Registered Agent Service), it must be authorized to do business in Oklahoma.
Should you be your own Registered Agent in Oklahoma?
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 Oklahoma 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 LLC’s Registered Agent is a great way to save money.
Additionally, your LLC can be its own Registered Agent in Oklahoma
Unlike most other states, Oklahoma allows your LLC to be its own Registered Agent.
This is essentially the same as you being the Registered Agent. But you will fill out your LLC paperwork differently.
Instead of listing your name as the Registered Agent, you will list your LLC’s name. For example, instead of “Steve MacKenzie”, you would enter “Spuds and Mac LLC”.
And for the address, you can use your home address or a business address (if you have one). For example, an office, warehouse, storefront, etc. The choice is up to you.
Reminder: The home address or business address you use must be in Oklahoma.
So which is better: Me being the Registered Agent or my LLC being the Registered Agent?
All the pros and cons of being your own Registered Agent are the same for when your LLC is the Registered Agent. The only differences are:
- It’s slightly more private to list your LLC name than to list your own name.
- And if you have a business address, many people prefer to use that instead of their home address.
Should I hire a Registered Agent Service?
You should hire a Registered Agent Service if:
- You don’t live in Oklahoma
- You don’t have a friend or family member who lives in Oklahoma
- You live in Oklahoma, but don’t want to list your personal address, or don’t want to be your own Registered Agent
Our recommendation for Oklahoma Registered Agent Services
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest has been the best Registered Agent Service in the business for over 20 years, and they have excellent customer service. They’re also the service we use for our own LLCs.
Hiring Northwest Registered Agent will also keep your physical 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 is a national Registered Agent Service, and lets you use their business 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 an Oklahoma 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)
Oklahoma 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. |
Are Oklahoma Registered Agents liable?
No, Registered Agents aren’t liable for any of the LLC’s lawsuits or debts.
Accepting documents on behalf of the LLC does not bring a 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?
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 Registered Agent’s name and address go 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 an Oklahoma LLC?
No, a 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
Oklahoma Registered Agent Services:
If you hire a Registered Agent Service, they won’t be a Member of your LLC.
Your Oklahoma LLC:
If your Oklahoma LLC is its own Registered Agent, it won’t be a Member of itself. That’s not even possible!
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 Registered Agent and an LLC Member in Oklahoma?
| 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 Registered Agent required in Oklahoma?
Yes, a Registered Agent is required for all business entities in Ohio. State law requires someone to be available to receive 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.
So I am filling a llc and I am under 18, but I want to be my own agent and put it under business so can I have one of my parents sign on it? I don’t want them to be the agent I want my business to be the agent so if they sign will it be ok? Also, I accidentally put my name down as the agent and I am under 18 I can’t do that, right? but I did have my mom sign that one too
Hi Gage, the Oklahoma LLC statute regarding Registered Agents is silent on the matter of you needing to be 18 years old. If it were me, and I wanted to be the Registered Agent for my LLC in Oklahoma, I’d be comfortable listing myself. Having said that, Oklahoma also allows for the LLC to be its own Registered Agent. So you could either be the Registered Agent yourself, or your LLC can be its own Registered Agent. Either will work, and be okay.