A Registered Agent is responsible for receiving legal mail on behalf of an LLC.
An LLC Manager runs the day-to-day operations of the business.
Sometimes the same person can serve both roles, but:
- a Registered Agent isn’t automatically an LLC Manager, and
- an LLC Manager isn’t automatically a Registered Agent.
Note: An LLC Manager is only applicable if you have a Manager-managed LLC. If you have a Member-managed LLC you may want to read this instead: Registered Agent vs LLC Member.
What is a Manager for an LLC?
An LLC Manager is a person responsible for running the day-to-day operations and making business decisions.
They also have the authority to bind the LLC in contracts and agreements.
Who can be an LLC Manager?
There are 3 types of LLC Managers:
1. Internal Manager
- This is when an LLC Member (owner) is also an LLC Manager.
- They both own the business and run the business.
2. External Manager
- This is when the LLC Manager isn’t an owner.
- They don’t own the business, but they run the business.
3. Company Manager
- This is when the LLC is managed by another company (like another LLC or Corporation).
- They don’t own the business, but they run the business.
Is the Manager of an LLC the Owner?
While an LLC owner (Member) may also be an LLC Manager, an LLC Manager isn’t automatically an owner of the LLC.
What does a Manager do?
The LLC Manager is in charge of:
- Running the day-to-day business
- Making decisions for the company
- Signing contracts and agreements
- Managing employees
- Handling finances
What is a Registered Agent for an LLC?
A Registered Agent is a person or company who agrees to accept legal mail on behalf of your LLC.
Who can be a Registered Agent for an LLC?
You have 3 options for who can be your LLC’s Registered Agent:
- You can be your own Registered Agent.
- A friend or family member can be your LLC’s Registered Agent.
- You can hire a Registered Agent Service.
Is the Registered Agent of an LLC the Owner?
No, the Registered Agent isn’t the same thing as the LLC owner.
Having said that, an LLC owner can choose to be the Registered Agent for their LLC.
And in this case, they are both the LLC owner and the Registered Agent. But they didn’t become one of them by virtue of being the other.
What does a Registered Agent do?
A Registered Agent’s key responsibility is to accept Service of Process on behalf of your LLC.
Service of Process arrives if your LLC is involved in a legal matter.
For example, if your LLC is sued, a Summons and Complaint is served upon the Registered Agent.
Then the Registered Agent notifies the LLC owners, so they can take the appropriate actions.
Registered Agents must:
- Have a street address in the state where your LLC is formed
- PO Boxes aren’t allowed.
- Be available during normal business hours
In summary, Registered Agents are required in nearly every state. And they are an important part of how our courts and legal system work.
So what’s the difference between a Registered Agent and an LLC Manager?
An LLC Manager runs the day-to-day operations of a Manager-managed LLC. And they have the authority to bind the LLC in contracts and agreements.
A Registered Agent is responsible for receiving (and forwarding) legal mail, called Service of Process, to the LLC owners.
(Note: In a Member-managed LLC, there are no Managers. Instead the Members run the day-to-day operations. And the Members have the authority to bind the LLC in contracts and agreements.)
Does being the Registered Agent make someone an LLC Manager?
No, just because someone is a Registered Agent doesn’t automatically make them a Manager of the LLC.
A Registered Agent doesn’t run the day-to-day operations of a business.
And they don’t have the authority to bind the LLC in contracts and agreements.
Note: The only exception to this is someone who serves as both the Registered Agent and the Manager for an LLC. But they didn’t become one of them by virtue of being the other.
Does being the LLC Manager make someone the Registered Agent?
No, just because someone is an LLC Manager doesn’t automatically make them the Registered Agent for the LLC.
An LLC Manager doesn’t receive Service of Process on behalf of an LLC.
Note: The only exception to this is someone who serves as both the Registered Agent and the Manager for an LLC. But they didn’t become one of them by virtue of being the other.
Can someone be both a Registered Agent and an LLC Manager?
Yes, an LLC Manager can also be a Registered Agent for the LLC.
And a Registered Agent can also be the LLC Manager.
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.
