A registered agent service for a business that operates in one state should cost about $125 to $199 a year. Among the providers covered here that publish one, ongoing registered agent prices run from $125 to $199 a year as of October 2026, and Rocket Lawyer's agent service requires a paid membership. For a founder forming the business now who wants the formation filing, EIN and registered agent from one provider with one dashboard, ZenBusiness at $199 a year is the practical choice.
How much should a registered agent service cost per year?
For a business registered in a single state, the published ongoing prices in this group run from $125 to $199 a year among the providers that publish one. That range covers the core job: a physical address in the state where legal papers and official mail can be delivered during business hours, and a system for passing them on to the owner.
The number that matters is the renewal price, not the first-year price. Several providers lead with a discounted or free first year, often bundled with a formation package, and that figure describes year one only. A dated, ongoing price is the basis for comparison, which is how the figures on this page are presented.
State fees are a separate matter. Where a formation package is quoted "plus state fees," the state sets that fee, it varies by state, and it is not part of the agent's price.
Can a one-state business pay $0 for a registered agent?
Sometimes, by having a person serve rather than paying a service, but the rules are set state by state. The Texas Secretary of State says an entity may not serve as its own registered agent, though an officer, owner or employee may serve in an individual capacity. The California Secretary of State likewise says an entity cannot act as its own agent for service of process, and that corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships are required by statute to designate one.
The trade-off is the address. The California Secretary of State notes that its Business Search shows the most current filings on record, including the name and address of the agent for service of process. An owner who serves personally from home is putting that home address on a public record, and that is the whole basis of the privacy argument for paying a service.
The other cost of doing it yourself is the obligation itself. The Texas Secretary of State warns that failing to maintain a registered agent may result in involuntary termination of a domestic entity. Outside Texas and California, the rules vary, so the safest move is to check the filing office of the state where the business is registered.
The six options at a glance
The providers below are listed alphabetically, not ranked. Editorial judgment is in each entry's "Best for" line.
| Provider | Ongoing registered agent price | First-year terms | Main condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bizee | Not published | Free first year with any formation package | Renewal after the free year not published |
| Harbor Compliance | $159/yr | $99 first year (promotional) | 2- and 3-year terms hold $99/yr, then renew at $159 |
| LegalZoom | Not published on its LLC pricing page | Not published | Renewal rate may change |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/yr | Same as ongoing | Includes business address, phone line and mail scanning |
| Rocket Lawyer | Membership add-on | 7-day free membership trial | Requires Plus ($249/yr) or Pro ($349/yr) membership |
| ZenBusiness | $199/yr | Check introductory terms at checkout | Add-on on Starter, Pro and Premium |
Bizee
Bizee includes one free year of registered agent service with every formation package, as of October 6, 2026. Those packages are Basic at $0, Standard at $199 and Premium at $299, each plus state fees. Its LLC pricing page does not state what the agent costs once the free formation year ends. Anyone counting on Bizee as the cheapest route should confirm the renewal rate before year two.
Best for: a founder forming now who wants the lowest possible outlay in year one.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance charges $159 a year on an ongoing basis, with a promotional first year at $99, as of October 6, 2026. It is one national price rather than a per-state rate, and its 2- and 3-year terms hold the $99 annual rate for the full term before renewing at $159. Across a 3-year term, the agent costs $297 in total.
Harbor is built for multi-state and regulated filings at a scale most one-state businesses will never need.
Best for: an owner who is confident the business will stay put and is happy to commit to a multi-year term.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom does not publish its registered agent price on its LLC pricing page. The service auto-renews at the purchase rate, though LegalZoom notes the renewal rate is subject to change. If a business switches its agent to LegalZoom, the company says it completes the paperwork and covers the state fees for the change.
Its formation packages, as of October 6, 2026, are Basic at $0, Managed Service at $249 and Expert Service at $999, each plus state fees.
Best for: an owner already using LegalZoom for other legal work who values keeping it in one account over saving money.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 a year for registered agent service as of October 6, 2026. That price includes a free domain, website, business address, phone line and mail scanning. Privacy is the core of its proposition, and for a home-based owner, a business address that is not the house matters beyond the agent field on the state record.
The price does not depend on a first-year promotion, a multi-year commitment or a membership.
Best for: a home-based owner whose priority is keeping a home address off public records.
Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer offers registered agent service only with a Plus or Pro membership. As of October 6, 2026, Plus is $49.99 a month or $249 a year and Pro is $64.99 a month or $349 a year.
The membership brings other things: the first LLC registration is free with a membership (then $99 plus state fees), there is a 7-day free trial, and attorney consultations are priced at $149 for 30 minutes or $249 for 60. Judged purely as a registered agent purchase, it is the most expensive route on this page.
Best for: an owner who would pay for an ongoing legal membership anyway.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness sells registered agent service at $199 a year as an add-on to all three of its formation packages, as of October 6, 2026. Those packages are Starter at $0, Pro at $199 and Premium at $299, each plus state fees. Starter does not renew, while Pro and Premium renew at their annual prices, and the EIN and operating agreement are included from Pro up and cost $99 each on Starter. Introductory terms should be confirmed at checkout.
Where ZenBusiness genuinely wins is the founder who is forming the business now. Formation, EIN, operating agreement, compliance support and the registered agent come from one provider, with one renewal to track instead of two vendors.
Best for: a first-time founder who wants the whole setup handled in one place, with the agent from the same provider rather than a separate vendor.
Which option is cheapest over one, two and three years?
First-year prices mislead, so the table below adds up the published registered agent price over three years. It assumes current prices hold, excludes state fees and formation packages, and is listed alphabetically.
| Provider | Year 1 | Through year 2 | Through year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bizee (formed with Bizee) | $0 | Not published | Not published |
| Harbor Compliance (annual terms) | $99 | $258 | $417 |
| Harbor Compliance (3-year term) | $99 | $198 | $297 |
| LegalZoom | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | $250 | $375 |
| Rocket Lawyer (with Plus) | $249 plus the agent fee | $498 plus agent fees | $747 plus agent fees |
| ZenBusiness (agent add-on) | $199 | $398 | $597 |
Bizee could undercut every option in year one, but its later-year cost cannot be calculated from what it publishes. LegalZoom's totals cannot be calculated either, because it does not publish its agent price on its LLC pricing page.
What else changes the real annual cost?
Switching agents is not free everywhere. The Texas Secretary of State charges $15 to change the registered agent or registered office, filed on Form 401. A cheap first year followed by a move to another provider carries that filing cost in Texas, and other states set their own fees.
Package renewals are a separate line item. An owner who buys a formation package that renews annually is paying that renewal on top of the agent fee, not instead of it. Reading the two separately is the only way to compare providers fairly.
Where the registered agent fits in a first-year setup
For a new business, the agent is one line in a short list of first-year tasks: form the entity, get an EIN, separate business and personal money, and set up the books. Buying each piece from a different vendor can cost less on paper and more in time, renewals and missed deadlines.
That is the case for a bundled provider. Customers who form an LLC or corporation with ZenBusiness receive a free accounting consultation with recommendations on accounting, bookkeeping and tax needs for the first year of business. Its Money Pro bookkeeping product is $30 a month as of October 6, 2026, for owners who want the books in the same account as the agent and compliance filings.
How to choose the cheapest agent for a one-state business
For a business that is not formed yet, total first-year cost matters more than the agent line alone. A founder who wants formation, EIN, operating agreement and agent from one provider should look at ZenBusiness first, and Bizee is worth a look for its free first agent year, provided the renewal price is confirmed before it arrives.
For a business that is already formed and only needs a compliant agent, price alone points elsewhere: Northwest's $125 a year is the lowest flat rate here, and Harbor's 3-year term is the lowest three-year total.
Sources
- Texas Secretary of State, "Registered Agent FAQs"
- California Secretary of State, "Service of Process"
- California Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions"
- Texas Secretary of State, "Form 401 Instructions, Change of Registered Agent or Office"
This article is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice, and registered agent requirements vary by state and change over time.