There are a lot of responsibilities that come with being a Florida registered agent. You must be available to sign for and accept service of process, receive and pass on important documents, and maintain a schedule of key filing deadlines.
A professional registered agent will take care of these duties for you, ensuring that your business stays compliant. They also offer a range of other benefits, including privacy preservation and convenience.
IncFile
Incfile is one of the best Florida registered agent providers that offer a variety of services. They are also known for their client dashboard, which acts as a primary document repository for their clients.
They also provide free business tax consultations for a new business. This service helps ease the complexity of taxation, making it easier for the new business owners to navigate through the paperwork.
The service also provides lifetime alerts for license renewal, annual reports, and more through SMS and emails. It is important to keep track of deadlines for these documents to avoid late fees.
They also have a number of other helpful features, including a free year of registered agent service. This is a great deal for new business owners.
ZenBusiness
In Florida, every business is required to appoint a registered agent. This agent is responsible for receiving documents from the state, such as service of process (SOP), and ensuring that the business remains compliant with the state’s requirements.
A registered agent can be an individual or a corporation, LLC, LP, LLP, or other entity authorized to conduct business in Florida. The agent must have a physical address in the state of Florida and be available during normal business hours to accept SOP and other legal documents on behalf of the business.
A registered agent can resign from their role by filing a written statement of resignation with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations. The resignation must include the name and business address of the company that will be designated as the new registered agent.
Harbor Compliance
A registered agent serves as the legal point of contact for your business or nonprofit, receiving important legal notices on their behalf. Choosing a reliable registered agent can save your organization money and time in the long run.
One of the best Florida registered agents is Harbor Compliance, a company that has been in operation since 2012. They serve over 10,000 clients and have received strong reviews from them.
For a small fee, they will provide you with an address in the state of Florida, assign you a dedicated account manager, and help you scan, upload, and forward your important documents. They also offer a compliance alert system that will inform you of annual report due dates in advance.
The company takes online security seriously, using Norton Web Security to encrypt data and Trustwave scanning and encryption software. They also use a proprietary app to track renewals, fees, and deadlines.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is a popular online legal service for creating and filing documents without having to hire a lawyer. They offer many different types of legal forms, from wills and trusts to business formation documents.
They also have a variety of other services, including helping customers get patents, registering copyrights and trademarks, and protecting intellectual property.
There are several packages available with LegalZoom, ranging in cost and filing time. The Economy package has a 30 business day turnaround, the Standard Package is 15 days, and the Express Gold Package is 10 days.
The company is very well-rated across most online review sites, but the quality of customer support is a bit uneven. Some reviews are happy with the service, while others have complaints about the customer support reps and the quality of the business formation filings.
While LegalZoom is a top-notch choice for registered agent service, you’re probably better off with a more affordable option. Alternatively, you can also choose Harbor Compliance, which is a tried and tested option with great customer support.