How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?
Registered agent services range from $50 to $300 per year. Here's a transparent breakdown of what you're actually paying for — and how to find the best value for your business.
2026 Registered Agent Price Comparison
Annual fee per state. Prices reflect standard single-state RA service without add-ons.
| Provider | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| GeauxFile This is us | $100 /yr |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125 /yr |
| ZenBusiness | $199 /yr |
| LegalZoom | $249 /yr |
| Incfile / Bizee | $119 /yr |
| Registered Agents Inc. | $200 /yr |
| DIY (yourself) | $0 /yr |
Prices researched January 2026. Competitor pricing may vary; verify directly before purchasing.
What Does Registered Agent Service Include?
The core service is identical across providers: a physical address in your state, receipt of legal documents, and forwarding to you. Price differences come from overhead and add-ons, not the core legal function.
Physical State Address
A real street address (no P.O. boxes) that appears on your state filings as your RA address. Required by all states.
Service of Process Receipt
Acceptance of lawsuits, subpoenas, and court summonses delivered to your business on your behalf.
State Correspondence
Receipt of annual report notices, tax correspondence, and compliance letters from the Secretary of State.
Document Forwarding
Prompt forwarding of received documents to your contact email or mailing address.
Compliance Reminders
Alerts for annual report deadlines and other state filing requirements before they become delinquent.
Portal Access
Online access to view and download received documents. Quality varies by provider.
Hidden Fees to Watch For
The advertised annual fee isn't always the final price. Many national providers rely on upsells and incidental fees to increase revenue per customer.
Compliance Package Auto-Enrollment
Some providers automatically enroll you in a compliance monitoring package and bill it separately after the first year. Read renewal terms carefully.
Per-Document Scanning Fees
A few providers charge $5–$25 per document scan beyond a monthly limit. If you receive more than 1–2 documents per month, this adds up.
Discounted First-Year Pricing
Introductory rates of $0 or $49 in year one often jump to $149–$299 at renewal. Confirm the renewal price before signing up.
Multi-State Bundle Lock-In
National providers sometimes push multi-state bundles that lock in a per-state rate. If you only need one or two states, you may pay for coverage you don't need.
Cancellation Fees
Some providers charge $50–$100 to cancel service or transfer to a new agent. GeauxFile charges no cancellation fees.
Why GeauxFile Charges $100/Year
National providers charge $199–$299/year largely because of their marketing overhead, sales teams, and corporate infrastructure — not because the registered agent function itself costs more.
GeauxFile is AI-operated, which means we run leaner than traditional RA companies. We don't have a national call center, an army of sales reps, or a legacy platform with 15 years of technical debt. Our overhead stays low, and we pass that to you.
We focus exclusively on Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. That means we're not spreading thin across 50 states. Our registered agents are local, reliable, and vetted — not a forwarding address operation out of a Delaware mail room.
What $100/year gets you at GeauxFile:
- Physical address in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama
- Acceptance of all service of process and state correspondence
- Document forwarding within 1 business day
- Annual report and compliance deadline reminders
- Secure portal access to all received documents
- No per-document fees. No compliance package upsells. No cancellation fees.
No setup fees. Cancel anytime.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a registered agent cost per year?
Registered agent services typically cost between $50 and $300 per year. Basic services start around $50–$100/year for single-state coverage. National providers like LegalZoom and ZenBusiness charge $199–$299/year. GeauxFile charges $100/year in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama — this includes document forwarding, compliance alerts, and AI-assisted document processing.
Why do registered agent prices vary so much?
Price variation comes from brand overhead (large national providers have heavy marketing costs), feature bundling (some include compliance packages), number of states covered, and operational efficiency. AI-operated services like GeauxFile can offer lower prices because there is no large corporate overhead. The core service — receiving and forwarding legal documents — is the same across providers.
Are there hidden fees with registered agent services?
Common hidden fees include: document scanning fees (some charge per document beyond a limit), compliance package upsells billed automatically, multi-year billing that locks you in, state filing fees charged separately from the RA fee, and cancellation fees. GeauxFile charges a single annual fee — no per-document fees, no automatic upsells, no hidden billing.
Can I save money by being my own registered agent?
Yes, but there are real costs. You must be available at a physical address during all business hours (8 AM–5 PM, Monday–Friday) every business day. If you travel, work remotely, or are unavailable and miss a legal document, you could face a default judgment. Your home address becomes public record on SOS filings. Most business owners find $100/year is worth the privacy and reliability.
Does a cheaper registered agent mean worse service?
Not necessarily. Price reflects operational overhead and brand cost more than service quality for the core document-handling function. GeauxFile charges $100/year not because the service is inferior — we provide the same legal address coverage, document forwarding, and compliance alerts as providers charging $249/year. The difference is we run lean with AI-assisted operations.
What does $100/year buy from GeauxFile?
GeauxFile's $100/year registered agent service includes: a physical Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama address for your state filings; receipt and forwarding of all legal documents (service of process, state correspondence); compliance reminders for annual reports and key deadlines; AI-assisted document processing for faster delivery; and secure online access to received documents via your GeauxFile portal.
Do I pay per state or per year?
You pay per state per year. If your LLC is registered in Louisiana, you pay $100/year for Louisiana coverage. If you are registered in both Louisiana and Mississippi (foreign qualification), you pay $100/year per state. This is standard across the industry — each state requires a separate registered agent with a physical address in that state.
Is registered agent service tax deductible?
Yes. Registered agent fees are a legitimate business expense and are generally tax-deductible as an ordinary and necessary business cost. Keep your annual invoices as documentation for your accountant or tax preparer. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Related Resources
What Is a Registered Agent?
Complete guide to the RA role, requirements, and responsibilities.
GeauxFile vs. National Services
Detailed comparison: GeauxFile vs. LegalZoom, ZenBusiness, and DIY.
Registered Agent in Louisiana
State-specific requirements and local service details.
LLC Formation Guide
Step-by-step guide to forming an LLC in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama.
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