Cheap Registered Agents: Common Questions (2026)

Quick answer: At the time of writing (October 6, 2026), a standard single-state registered agent service costs about $125 to $199 a year at its ongoing renewal price. That is the range of published standalone prices among the providers covered here that publish one.

For most small businesses, $125 to $200 a year is a reasonable budget, and anything above that should buy something specific, such as compliance filings or multi-state coverage. For someone forming a business now who wants formation and the agent from one company, ZenBusiness at $199 a year is a sensible choice within that budget.

How much should a registered agent service cost per year?

For a business that needs an agent in one state, the realistic range at the time of writing is $125 to $199 a year at ongoing prices. Promotional first-year prices can dip below $100, and some formation packages include a free year, but those figures do not show what the service costs over time.

A sensible budget for most small businesses is $125 to $200 a year. At that level, a business should expect the legal basics: a physical address in the state, someone available to accept service of process, and digital copies of what arrives. Paying more makes sense only when the extra money buys something the business will use.

What do the main providers charge right now?

The providers below are listed alphabetically, not ranked. Prices come from each provider's own website as of October 6, 2026 and can change, so confirm at checkout.

Bizee includes one free year of registered agent service with every formation package: Basic at $0, Standard at $199, and Premium at $299, each plus state fees. The page does not separately state what the free first year renews at, so confirm that before relying on it. Best for: someone forming with Bizee who wants the first year covered.

Harbor Compliance charges $159 a year for registered agent service on an ongoing basis. Its promotional first-year price is $99, and two- and three-year terms hold that $99 rate for the term before renewing at $159. The price is one national rate rather than a per-state price, and the service is built for multi-state and regulated filings at a scale most single-owner businesses do not need. Best for: businesses registered in several states.

LegalZoom does not publish its registered agent price on its LLC pricing page. Best for: businesses already managing other legal services through LegalZoom.

Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 a year, which includes a free domain, website, business address, phone line, and mail scanning. Its offer is built around privacy. Best for: an owner focused mainly on keeping a personal address off public filings.

Rocket Lawyer does not list a registered agent price on its pricing page, which is built around memberships. Plus is $249 a year (or $49.99 a month) and Pro is $349 a year (or $64.99 a month). Best for: someone who already wants ongoing legal document and attorney access.

ZenBusiness charges $199 a year for registered agent service on an ongoing basis. Any introductory offer should be checked at checkout, since promotional terms change and conditions apply. It serves LLCs and corporations, but its page says it does not currently offer the service to professional LLCs or nonprofits.

Best for: someone forming a business now who wants formation, the agent, and compliance from one provider.

How do the prices compare side by side?

The table is in alphabetical order, not a ranking. All figures are as of October 6, 2026.

Why do first-year prices differ from renewal prices?

The first year is where providers compete for new customers, so it is where discounts and free offers concentrate. The renewal price is what a business pays every year after that, often for as long as the entity exists. Over five years, a $40 difference in renewal price adds up to far more than any first-year saving.

When comparing, ask one question of every provider: what will this cost in year two? If the answer is not published, treat that as a reason to ask before buying.

Is a free registered agent really free?

Usually not in the long run. "Free" generally means one of two things.

The first is a free year bundled with formation, as with Bizee's formation packages, which is genuine value in year one but renews at a paid rate afterward. The second is serving as the business's own agent, which carries no provider fee but has costs of its own, covered below.

Can a business skip the fee by being its own registered agent?

Sometimes, but the rules depend on the state, and the entity itself usually cannot act as its own agent. The Texas Secretary of State says a Texas entity may not serve as its own registered agent, although an officer, owner, or employee may serve in an individual capacity. The California Secretary of State likewise says a California entity cannot act as its own agent for service of process.

Rules differ elsewhere, so check with the filing office in the relevant state. Even where an individual owner can serve, it means being available at a physical address in the state during business hours and accepting that the address becomes public. For many owners, that is the real price of the free option.

What does the cheapest option give up?

Privacy, more than anything. The California Secretary of State says its Business Search contains the most current filings on record, including the agent's name and address. Whatever address is listed for the agent can be looked up by anyone.

A paid service puts its own address on that record instead of a home address. For a business that wants only an agent, with privacy as the priority, Northwest's $125 a year is the better value than ZenBusiness's $199.

Is ZenBusiness worth \$199 a year?

For a particular reader, yes. Someone forming a business now needs the entity, the EIN, an operating agreement, and a registered agent, and ZenBusiness handles all of those from one account. One provider and one renewal date is simpler than a formation service, a separate agent, and a separate compliance calendar.

At $199 a year, ZenBusiness sits above the lowest standalone agents covered here. It monitors state notices sent to the agent address, scans documents to an online dashboard, and sends email notifications.

The relationship can also continue past formation. ZenBusiness offers accounting and bookkeeping help, including Money Pro, an invoicing and expense-tracking tool, at $30 a month at the time of writing. For a business that already exists and only needs an agent, a cheaper standalone service may make more sense.

Are there state fees on top of the agent's price?

Yes, and they are separate from what any provider charges. States set their own fees for formation, annual reports, and changes to the agent on file. Formation prices quoted "plus state fees" exclude these, and the state fee varies by state.

Changing agents can carry a fee too. The Texas Secretary of State charges $15 to change the registered agent or registered office using Form 401. Other states set their own fees, so check with the relevant filing office before switching to save on renewal.

What happens if a business lets its registered agent lapse?

The consequences can be serious, and they are set by state law. The Texas Secretary of State says that failing to maintain a registered agent may result in involuntary termination of a domestic entity, or revocation of a foreign entity's registration.

In California, corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships are required by statute to designate an agent for service of process. Other states have their own rules, so the safe assumption is that a lapse puts the business's standing at risk.

How should someone on a tight budget choose?

Start with what the business already needs. A business that is forming now should weigh a formation-plus-agent bundle, where the first year may be free or discounted and everything sits in one account. A business that already exists and only needs an agent should compare standalone renewal prices, which start at $125 a year among the providers covered here.

Then look past the first year. Compare the year-two price, any membership the price depends on, and what is included. The cheapest headline price is not always the cheapest service.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice, and registered agent requirements vary by state and change over time.