How To Be Registered Agent

Before filing an LLC Document of Organization with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Corporations, you demand to select a Registered Office Address for your LLC.

A Registered Role Address is a street address located inside the state of Pennsylvania where Service of Process (legal documents) can be delivered in the result of a lawsuit.

In Pennsylvania, the Registered Office Address also serves as a general indicate of contact for receiving business organisation and tax notices, payment reminders, and other documents from the State.

The Registered Office Address you apply must be a street address located in Pennsylvania. You cannot use a PO Box address.

Unlike well-nigh states that require your LLC to listing the name of a Registered Amanuensis, Pennsylvania is unique in that it only requires you to list the address of the Registered Agent (known every bit the Registered Function). For simplicity, throughout this lesson, we will utilise the terms "Registered Agent" and "Registered Office" interchangeably.

Someone at the Registered Office Address (technically the LLC's Registered Agent) needs to exist available during normal concern hours of 9:00am to five:00pm, in case Service of Process for your LLC arrives.

Service of Procedure can include the delivery of legal documents such as complaints, summons, and/or subpoenas.

It's of import to annotation, that the Registered Office Address on file becomes a part of the public tape. Many people who prefer privacy and don't want their abode or part address listed publicly, choose to hire a Commercial Registered Part Provider (Ingather). In most states, this is known as a Commercial Registered Agent.

Special offer: If yous hire Northwest to class your LLC ($39 + state fee), they'll include their Registered Amanuensis service gratuitous for the 1st yr.

Who Can Exist Your Registered Agent/Registered Office in Pennsylvania?

When forming an LLC in Pennsylvania, you lot have 3 options for the address you can use as your Registered Office Address:

Option ane: You can use your home or office address.

Option ii: You tin use the address of a friend or family member.

Option three: You can hire a Commercial Registered Office Provider, also known as a Commercial Registered Agent.

How Do I Know Which I to Choose?

• If you have a street address located in Pennsylvania (such as a home or office), and are available during concern hours, you lot can use your accost as the LLC's Registered Office Accost.

• If you don't have a street address in Pennsylvania, y'all can apply a friend or family fellow member'due south address. They need to have a street address in Pennsylvania and be available during business organization hours.

• If yous don't have a street address in Pennsylvania, and you don't accept a friend or family unit member's accost that you can use (or prefer not to), you can rent a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP).

Using a Commercial Registered Office Provider (Crop) offers more privacy (keeps your accost off public records) and is a more reliable setup for most people.

Reminder: Most states refer to a Commercial Registered Office Provider as a Commercial Registered Agent, but they are basically one and the same.

Commercial Registered Part Providers (CROPs) in Pennsylvania

A Commercial Registered Office Provider (Ingather) is a company that specializes in receiving Service of Procedure on behalf of your Pennsylvania LLC. Companies charge anywhere from $100-$300 per year.

Once hired, they will receive Service of Process on behalf of your Pennsylvania LLC then forward information technology to you by mail at whatsoever accost you'd like. About will also browse and email your documents.

If you need to hire a Commercial Registered Part Provider in Pennsylvania, we recommend Northwest Registered Agent ($125 per year).

Why we recommend Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Amanuensis is our personal recommendation (and the service we use ourselves) because they've been in business for over 20 years, have swell customer service, and they permit you use their address in your entire LLC filing in social club to keep your accost off public tape.

How to keep your address off public records:

Many filers in Pennsylvania outset businesses from their home. For this reason, it'south important to know that all addresses that are on your LLC'southward Certificate of Organisation get listed on public tape and may appear in google searches.

If you lot were thinking of using your home accost, but would rather go along it off public records, you lot can rent a Commercial Registered Part Provider (aka Crop or Commercial Registered Agent) that will let you to utilize their address throughout your Certificate of Organization. Northwest Registered Agent offers this unique service at no additional cost. They offer Registered Agent services for $125 per yr and they'll let y'all employ their accost throughout your Document of Organization.

Whatever mail that is sent to your LLC volition be scanned by them and uploaded into your online account.

Special discounted pricing for LLC University® readers

Northwest ordinarily charges $100 + state fees to course an LLC. However, we've negotiated a discounted rate (60% off) for LLC University® readers.

Are in that location risks if you, a friend, or family member are your Pennsylvania LLC'southward Registered Agent?

In short, there are some risks. They are not likely to occur, but if they do, y'all could lose your liability protection. For example, if the state is unsuccessful in reaching your LLC'south Registered Agent, you may lose your good standing status, and the state has the authority to shut downwardly your Pennsylvania LLC.

Additionally, if a process server is unsuccessful in reaching your LLC'south Registered Amanuensis about a lawsuit (they'll endeavor a few times), a courtroom instance can continue in your absenteeism and you might not even know about it. Worse, the courtroom could enter a default judgment against your LLC if you aren't there to defend yourself.

A few reasons a process server might not exist able to accomplish your LLC's Registered Amanuensis:

yous, your friend, or family unit member are not there during concern hours
you/they are on vacation
you/they moved and you forgot to file a Modify of Registered Agent/Office Address with the state

Hiring a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) is a more than reliable setup and gives you the freedom to take vacations and not worry about changing your Registered Office Address with the state if you lot move.

Our recommendation: Northwest Registered Agent ($125 per year).

Hither is a video on how to sign upwards for their services:

LLC Registered Agent - Northwest Registered Agent

Adjacent Step

Once y'all decide the address you will use for your Pennsylvania LLC's Registered Role, you can and so go on to the next Lesson: Pennsylvania LLC Document of Organization.

If y'all demand to hire a Commercial Registered Office Provider in Pennsylvania, please do so before going to the next pace.

Founder & Educator, LLC Academy®

Matt Horwitz has been the leading good on LLC education for the by decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed unproblematic and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He'southward cited by Entrepreneur Mag, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.

Matt holds a Available'due south Degree in concern from Drexel University with a concentration in business organisation police force. He performs all-encompassing research and analysis to convert state laws into elementary instructions anyone tin can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more nearly Matt Horwitz and LLC University.