California Registered Agent Service

Our local registered agent service is the most reliable and affordable way to meet the California state requirement to appoint a registered agent for your business. But a registered agent isn’t just another box to check off.

Your registered agent can help you streamline your business operation. That’s why our service includes:

  • Same-day virtual mail scanning to your secure online dashboard
  • Use of our permanent building address on your public filings
  • Instant online business presence to put your company on the map

For just $49 a year, we do more than just forward your official correspondence to you ASAP—we help protect your privacy and provide you the platform to connect with your customers today!

Get a California Registered Agent

What is a California Registered Agent?

A California registered agent is someone you’ve designated to accept legal mail on behalf of your business. A registered agent (also referred to as an “agent for service of process”) must have a physical street address in the state of California and be present at that address during normal business hours.

If someone needs to send your business service of process (like a subpoena or a summons), they will look up your registered agent information on the California Secretary of State’s database. Then they will deliver the legal mail to your registered agent, who must be there to accept it and forward it to you.

 

Why Is a Registered Agent Important?

Whoever fulfills this role will be responsible for accepting service of process on behalf of your company and forwarding time-sensitive legal documents to you immediately. If you miss a crucial deadline, the state might revoke your authority to do business. That’s why your registered agent must:

  • Maintain a physical address in California
  • Be present at that address during typical business hours
  • Deliver your documents quickly, efficiently, and securely

 

You’ll need a registered agent you can trust with your business. That’s us. Because we work out of the building we own in Midtown Sacramento, California, we can provide you fast, secure, and reliable service.

What Makes a Great Registered Agent?

Your registered agent plays a key role in making sure your business remains compliant with the state. Here’s what you should look for when appointing a registered agent in California:

  • Fast & Reliable. We open, scan, and upload your registered agent mail the same day we receive it.
  • Online Portal. Receive, store, and manage your documents through your secure online dashboard.
  • Free Resources. Get access to a database of expert-drafted business documents and timely state compliance reminders.
  • Privacy & Stability. We own our building. That means your information is secure and our address won’t change.

How to Get a California Registered Agent

To appoint a California registered agent, you’ll need to choose or hire someone who agrees to be your registered agent. Then, you enter the information on the appropriate business formation or registration documents (listed below) and submit everything to the California Secretary of State.

  • LLCs: Articles of Organization
  • Corporations: Articles of Incorporation
  • Foreign LLCs: Application to Register a Foreign LLC (Form LLC-5)
  • Foreign Corporations: Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation (Form S&DC – S/N)

You’ll need to select or hire your registered agent before you complete your California business registration. For just $49 a year, you can hire us to serve as your registered agent.

Hire Us to Serve as Your California Registered Agent Today!

 

Just getting started with your business? You can also hire us to form your California LLC or incorporate your California business for just $100 plus state fees! We list our address on your formation documents (which are public record) to help keep your personal information private.

Build Your Brand with Our Registered Agent Service


Your business is more than just filing paperwork and meeting state requirements. Whatever industry you’re in, your brand is a critical part of your success. It’s how your customers and business associates will recognize you. Your brand is your ethos, and we make sure you have the tools to craft the right profile for your business.

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We Can Put Your Business on the Map

One of the key perks of our registered agent service is that we include all the web tools you’ll need to start driving customer traffic today.

  • Unique domain name. You can choose a unique domain name for your business and it’s free for one year when you hire us!
  • Business website, SSL, email, and local phone service. When you hire us, we include 90 days free use of everything you’ll need to connect with your customers while also setting a boundary between your business and your personal life.
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Your Information is Secure

Because we own our own building, everything we receive on your behalf is handled by us directly. As a local registered agent service, everything is in-house, so your information is not being shuffled anonymously across multiple channels. And we never sell your data.

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We’re Affordable & Tailored to Your Needs

Just $49 per year for premier service. That includes free use of our Sacramento building address on your public filings. It also includes 3 free mail scans of your non-state mail every year (on top of same-day scanning of all your state and legal mail).

Need more? You can always upgrade to our Virtual Mail Forwarding services, including our Virtual Office Services that include a unique office suite number that you can use on your business website, business cards, and more!

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Ongoing Support

Here’s our commitment to you: we do everything to make sure your business is compliant while providing you the tools to truly thrive. From providing you the infrastructure to build your brand to making sure you get timely compliance reminders, we give you lifetime support. And we’re always just a phone call away.

Hire Local Registered Agents You Can Trust

How Do I Change California Registered Agents?

To change your corporate agent you must file an Amended Statement of Information with the California Secretary of State. If you’re planning to hire us as your registered agent, simply select “Yes” when given the option “Change Registered Agent” and then select “Hire Us to Change Your Registered Agent” to have us fill out and file the paperwork for just $45 (including state fees).

Corporations

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You can file the amendment online but only if you are inside your normal filing period. California requires corporations to file a Statement of Information every year. There is a six month window to file. So, if you filed your formation documents in June, your normal filing period would be June and the five months prior to June (January to May).

 

LLCs

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LLCs must mail or hand-deliver the Amended Statement of Information to the Secretary of State’s office. LLCs file a Statement of Information biennially (every two years). Like corporations, there is a six-month window to file. That means if you registered in August, you have August and the preceding five months (March-July) to file.

 

California Registered Agent FAQs

Do I Need a California Registered Agent?

Yes. California’s state statutes require every business registered in the state of California to appoint a California registered agent (as per the California LLC Act, § Section 17701.13). If you don’t include your registered agent information on your formation documents, your Articles of Incorporation or Organization will be rejected by the California Secretary of State.

The requirement is intended to make sure all businesses can be easily contacted for official purposes by the general public and the Secretary of State.

What Does a Registered Agent Do?

A registered agent acts as a liaison between your company and governmental agencies. That means your registered agent must do the following:

  • Accept service of process and official mail on behalf of your business
  • Notify you when they receive official mail, notifications or documents for your business
  • Forward documents to you in a timely manner
  • Maintain an in-state physical address (called a registered office)
  • Remain open during regular business hours to accept any notices on behalf of your business

When you hire us to be your California registered agent, we’ll scan your legal mail as soon as it arrives in our office. Then we’ll upload it to your secure account so you can respond to your mail quickly.

Do I Need a California Business Address?

Yes. When you file your articles of organization or formation, you’ll need to provide a business address on your filing. This requirement can be tricky for business owners who don’t work out of a commercial space and want to keep their home address private. Any address you list on your filings will become part of the public record.

When you hire us, we’ll provide a California business address for you to use on your formation documents. Using our California business address will keep your home address private. That’s a big reason why we own our Midtown Sacramento building and maintain that local presence: it’s part of our commitment to be there for you for the long haul.

What is Service of Process in California?

In California, service of process is the act of delivering legal documents (“process”) to registered businesses (through their registered agents). You might be familiar with the phrase “you got served” with regard to subpoenas—that’s an example of service of process. Lawsuits, summons, and other court-issued documents are other examples of processes served to businesses.

What's the Difference Between a Registered Agent
and a Service of Process?

In California, a registered agent and a service of process are the same thing. That’s why you’ll often hear “agent for service of process” used interchangeably with “registered agent.” In fact, registered agents go by a long list of different names:

  • California Registered Corporate Agent
  • California Agent for Service of Process
  • California Resident Agent
  • California Corporate Agent
  • California Statutory Agent

No matter what you call them, having a reliable registered agent is critical because they are responsible for delivering legal and state mail documents to you ASAP.

Who Can Be a California Registered Agent?

Any person or company can be a registered agent if they meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old (if it’s a person)
  • Have a physical address in California
  • Be available during normal business hours to accept service of process
  • Forward documents to clients in a timely manner

If your registered agent is a company, then it must also be authorized to do business in California.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in CA?

Yes, you can. Keep in mind, though, that you will need to be available to accept service of process during normal business hours. You will also have to list your name and registered office address on state documents. These are all public record. Hiring a registered agent service can help you keep your personal information private, and you can avoid solicitors, junk mail, and bad actors.