Registered Agent Service
Comparison Guide
GeauxFile vs acting as your own registered agent vs national services like LegalZoom, Northwest, and ZenBusiness. Side-by-side on price, privacy, and features.
The 30-Second Summary
Technically legal, but your home address goes on public state records. Process servers can show up at your door. You must be available business hours every weekday.
Big brands like LegalZoom and Northwest are adequate for most businesses. Drawbacks: higher prices, renewal price hikes, heavy upsell pressure, and mail-drop addresses (not real local reps).
Local physical representatives (not mail drops) in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. AI-operated secure portal with same-day document delivery. No upsells, no price increases.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
GeauxFile vs acting as your own registered agent vs typical national services (LegalZoom, Northwest, ZenBusiness).
| Feature | DIY | National Services | GeauxFile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual price | Free | $125–$299/yr | $100/yr flat |
| Personal address on public record | YES — exposed | No | No |
| Must be present during business hours | YES — required | No | No |
| Local state representative | You (if resident) | Registered office / mail drop | Physical local rep |
| Document delivery speed | Immediate — if you're home | 1–3 business days | Same day to portal |
| Secure document portal | No | Basic dashboard | Full AI-operated portal |
| Instant notifications | No | Email (varies) | Email + portal alert |
| Multi-state support | Only your home state | All 50 states | LA, MS, AL |
| Upsells / add-on pressure | None | Heavy upsells | None |
| Price lock at renewal | Free | Often increases | Flat $100 guaranteed |
| Risk of being served in public | HIGH — personal address | None | None |
| Same-day document acceptance | Only if available | Yes | Yes |
National service pricing reflects LegalZoom ($299/yr), Northwest ($125/yr), ZenBusiness ($199/yr) as of March 2026. Prices vary by state and change without notice.
Why most owners shouldn't be their own registered agent
Being your own registered agent is legal in all three states we cover. But there are real, practical reasons to avoid it:
- Your home address becomes public record
State databases are public. Anyone can look up your business and find your personal home address linked to it — including data brokers, telemarketers, and litigants.
- You must be available during business hours
A process server has the legal right to serve you in person. If you're traveling, working remotely, or simply not home on the day a lawsuit is filed, it can cause serious procedural complications.
- Service in public can be embarrassing
Process servers can serve papers at your workplace, in front of clients, or at family events. A professional registered agent eliminates this scenario entirely.
What to watch for with national services
Big-brand registered agent services are reliable, but come with tradeoffs worth knowing:
- Renewal price increases are common
Many services advertise a low first-year price ($49–$99) then raise to $150–$299 on renewal. Read the fine print before signing up.
- Registered office ≠ local representative
Most national services maintain a "registered office" — a mail forwarding address in each state. GeauxFile uses actual human representatives with residential addresses, which is the stronger compliance posture.
- Upsell-heavy checkout
Services like LegalZoom and ZenBusiness generate significant revenue from upselling EIN, operating agreements, and annual report services. GeauxFile sells only what you need.
Built specifically for Louisiana, Mississippi & Alabama
Real Local Representatives
Physical people with addresses in each state — not mail drops or virtual offices. Our Louisiana rep is in Mandeville, Mississippi in Seminary, Alabama in Gadsden.
AI-Operated Secure Portal
Every document is scanned and uploaded to your GeauxFile portal the same day it arrives. You get an email alert immediately. No manual check-in required.
$100/yr — Price Locked
Same price for new and renewing customers. No introductory rates. No upsells at checkout. What you see is what you pay, year after year.
Common Questions
Why not just be my own registered agent?
You can legally be your own registered agent in most states if you have a physical address in that state and are available during business hours. The problems: your home or personal address becomes part of the public record permanently, you must be physically present Monday–Friday 9–5 to accept legal documents (a lawsuit server cannot leave a message), and if you're ever sued, a process server can show up at your home or office and hand you papers in front of employees, customers, or family. Most business owners find the $100/year privacy cost to be an easy decision.
How does GeauxFile compare to LegalZoom?
LegalZoom's registered agent service starts at $299/year and is primarily a document-forwarding mail drop using a national address network. GeauxFile uses actual local physical representatives in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama — real people with addresses in your state. We also include a full AI-operated secure portal for document storage and retrieval, while LegalZoom charges extra for comparable features.
How does GeauxFile compare to Northwest Registered Agent?
Northwest is a well-regarded service at $125/year that uses state-specific registered office addresses. GeauxFile is $100/year with local representatives (not just registered office addresses) and includes AI-operated document management. If you're operating in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama, GeauxFile provides stronger local presence at a lower price.
Does price increase at renewal with GeauxFile?
No. GeauxFile's $100/year price is locked. Many national services advertise a low introductory price and then increase fees at renewal — sometimes to $150–$299/year. We charge the same price to new and renewing customers.
What if I need a registered agent in a state not covered by GeauxFile?
GeauxFile currently covers Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. If you need a registered agent in another state, national services like Northwest ($125/yr) or Registered Agents Inc ($100/yr) are solid options for states outside our coverage. We plan to expand coverage over time — contact us to request a state.
Can I switch from my current registered agent to GeauxFile?
Yes. Switching registered agents is straightforward. After you sign up with GeauxFile, we provide you with our representative's address. You file a simple "Change of Registered Agent" form with your state's Secretary of State (typically $5–$25) and update your state records. The process takes 1–5 business days depending on the state.
Related Resources
Ready to get started?
Set up your registered agent in minutes. AI-powered, human-supervised.
Get Started — $100/yr