The role of a registered agent is very important and the decision of choosing an agent isn’t easy. There are a ton of commercial agents and an entity can be their own agent if a reliable physical presence can be made in the state. The goal of this article is to guide you to switch agent services. If you unsure what a Registered Agent is, read our article on the role and responsibility of a Registered Agent.
tldr; You’ll need to research the available agents in the jurisdiction, hire your agent of choice, and file a Change of Agent amendment certificate with the Secretary of State. Total cost ranges from $5 – $500 depending on the state and agent.
Review the contract you have with your current agent. There might be some additional requirements or costs that you will need to fork up in order to cease your relationship with the current agent. Your existing agent may also provide some unique and key value-added services that you want to look for in your next agent.
Discuss your needs with potential agents to find the Registered Agent for your needs. Agents work for you and you need to find the one that is best for you. Specialties can range from low price points, being extremely flexible, having a one on one relationship with an account manager, or being able to handle any request. Many agents offer additional services such as virtual office and mail forwarding.
Obtain service from a new Registered Agent. You will likely have to sign a new contract with the new agent and pay them up front for the service. Make sure you obtain their official name and address (plus any other additional information) in the jurisdiction so you can continue with the next step!
Make the Change of Agent Official. Either you or your new agent will need to complete + file a Change of Agent Certificate with the Secretary of State. The certificate at a minimum will list the name of the entity, the name and address of the new agent, and the signature of an authorized person of the entity. States have different methods of submitting documents, so you’ll have to check with the state/jurisdiction that applies to you. At the time of filing of the Change of Agent Amendment, that newly listed agent is the registered agent — but the old agent might still receive mail and Service of Process for you