Can I be my own registered agent?

Only if you have a physical street address in the state of formation and are available during business hours. A PO box does not qualify. It also puts your address in a public register, which is why many founders pay for the service even when eligible.

Roughly $50–$150 a year as a standalone service. Some formation packages include the first year and renew at a materially higher rate, so check the renewal price rather than the introductory one.

Appoint the new agent and file a change of agent with the Secretary of State — a short form and a small fee. Do it before cancelling the old service, so there is no gap in coverage.

US company formation: choosing your entity and your state

Guide · 1 min read

Registered agents: what you are actually buying

A required service that is easy to overpay for and easy to under-buy. The difference is in what happens to your mail.

The short answer

A registered agent receives legal documents and state correspondence for your company at a physical address in the formation state during business hours. Every US state requires one. Standalone services typically cost $50 to $150 a year, and mail forwarding and compliance reminders are not always included.

What the service actually is

A physical address in your formation state where legal process and state correspondence can be delivered during business hours, and a party who accepts it on the company's behalf. That is the legal requirement in full.

What is often extra

Mail forwarding of anything that is not legal service.
Scanning rather than physical forwarding.
Compliance reminders for annual reports and franchise tax.
Filing the annual report on your behalf.
A business address usable on invoices and bank applications — different from the registered agent address.

The question to ask before buying

How do compliance reminders reach me — by email to me, or only as forwarded post to whatever address you hold? Reminders that arrive only at an agent's mailbox are the single most common cause of missed annual reports.

Frequently asked questions

Can I be my own registered agent?: Only if you have a physical street address in the state of formation and are available during business hours. A PO box does not qualify. It also puts your address in a public register, which is why many founders pay for the service even when eligible.
What should it cost?: Roughly $50–$150 a year as a standalone service. Some formation packages include the first year and renew at a materially higher rate, so check the renewal price rather than the introductory one.
How do I switch?: Appoint the new agent and file a change of agent with the Secretary of State — a short form and a small fee. Do it before cancelling the old service, so there is no gap in coverage.

Sources

Last reviewed August 23, 2026. Verify against the primary source before acting.

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