The best way to choose an enrolled agent is to research providers that offer the services your business needs, such as a personalized online document management portal and upcoming deadline notifications.
You may also want to consider other legal services offered by your provider, as many companies prefer to centralize their legal matters with one legal representative. This list of enrolled agent services on Forbes Advisor is a great place to start your search for an enrolled agent.
Required Enrollment Agent Service
When hiring an enrolled agent, make sure the provider you choose offers the solution you need. Here are some important services you should expect from your registered agent:
- Electronic upload on the day all documents are received
- Announcement of future registration updates
- Alerts for incoming high-priority and sensitive legal documents
- secure document storage
- Visit our online portal to view your documents 24/7
- Providing excellent customer service
- Timely customer support
Enrolled Agent Requirements
Each state has slightly different requirements regarding who can and cannot act as a registered agent. In all states, a registered agent must be at least 18 years old and maintain a domicile within the state. Post office boxes cannot be used. The table below shows the main requirements, but you should check with your state for exact regulations.
*Maine requires corporations and LLCs to have an agent to service the process.
Local providers and national providers
When purchasing registered agent services, you may wonder if there is a big difference between a local service provider and a national service provider. Using a national provider has several benefits for companies that do business in multiple states.
Most national registered agent services can assist you in any state where you are registered to do business as a corporation or LLC. If your business is registered in multiple states, you will need an agent in each state. Not only is it efficient for you to have one service provider that can cover all the states in which you operate, but some registered agents offer discounts for registering in multiple states. It can also help you save money.
If you plan to establish your business in only a single state, we recommend using a local registered agent provider. Prices vary depending on your local provider, and so do their features. However, you may be able to get services from a local agent for less than you would pay to a national provider (sometimes half the price or less).
Quality of service varies widely, so be sure to check customer reviews on Google Business Profile and other local customer review sites before choosing a local provider.
Software features
All Enrolled Agent Services use software to scan, upload, and store legal, tax, and other documents on behalf of their clients. Clients can then access these documents through a secure private portal. However, the ease of access to these documents may vary by service provider.
We want to make sure you can quickly and easily retrieve your documents whenever you need them. Investigate the software used by your Enrolled Agent service and request a preview of the dashboard it uses for document management. This preview of what to expect will help you assess whether the software is user-friendly and provides the features you need to manage your documents effectively.
By choosing a service provider with easy-to-use software, you can avoid frustration, save time, and ensure that you always have the documents you need at your fingertips.
