Alaska Registered Agent

An Alaska Registered Agent or Alaska Registered Agent Service is required by law for every business entity in the state of Alaska. A registered agent is an individual or business entity that will accept legal papers (documents) on your behalf if it is sued. The registered agent or registered agent service must have a physical street address in Alaska and be available during regular business hours.

In my Alaska Registered Agent guide, I’ll walk you through the detailed process of when you should get a registered agent or registered agent service for your Alaska business, how to pick one, if they are required and how to change one if needed. Typically you’re getting a registered agent when you setup your Alaska LLC. Check out my guide on how to setup an Alaska LLC so you can make sure you’re following all the right steps in the process. If you are just looking for the professional service to help you – use Northwest Registered Agent or ZenBusiness.

Best Alaska Registered Agent Service

ZenBusiness will be the best option for setting up a registered agent service in Alaska. They can also help you with getting your LLC formed so if you’re looking for the best option, check them out today!

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When you’re thinking about getting the best Alaska registered agent for your business, you need to consider ZenBusiness. It’s the best option when you’re looking for a registered agent service. They help 1000s of business owners every month and will provide the best service for you.

Typically you’re going to get the first year of the registered agent service included as you’re forming your LLC in Alaska and they will make it easy for you to do that too.

They have a great relationship with the Alaska Secretary of State’s office which is going to be imperative when you’re getting started in your business adventure.

Whether you’re looking to get started with a new business and need a new registered agent or you have an existing business and need to change your registered agent – ZenBusiness is the way to go.

What is an Alaska Registered Agent?

An Alaska registered agent is no different than any other state’s registered agent options. Each state in the United States requires that you have a registered agent so you have legal coverage as a business owner. The requirement for a business entity exists not to make your life more difficult but because it provides you legal coverage.

An Alaska registered agent is going to provide three main services for you as a business owner:

A physical location in Alaska is required and must be available during business hours
Accept service of process (legal paperwork) on your business’s behalf
The ability to receive and forward legal correspondence from the Alaska Secretary of State’s office
Keep your business in annual compliance for the registered agent service

An Alaska registered agent is required by law for every business entity. You’re going to have annual compliance and deadlines that you’re responsible for and it’s important as a business owner to focus on building your business vs. dealing with legal compliance issues that you can have a registered agent service help you with.

This is not something you can solve by going to get a PO Box at the post office or some type of UPS box. It is possible for you to get a virtual mailbox for your business like this but that’s not the point here. If the Alaska Secretary of State’s office finds out that you’re using a box like this they will dissolve your business.

Why do I need an Alaska Registered Agent?

The most important reason to use a registered agent in Alaska is because it’s lawfully required. This is not some kind of norm that everyone does and you should too. This is a legal requirement as a business owner and as you’re forming your business – you need one.

One of the main items to consider when doing this and realize is that when someone looks through the Alaska Secretary of State’s business name search portal, they will be able to find your registered agent’s name and registered agent’s address in the public record.

The implications of what this means to you as a business owner are pretty massive in Alaska because of what someone can do with this information.

Imagine that someone wanted to find you as a business owner for whatever reason and you’re acting as your own registered agent. They could go to the business name search portal and find your name and address because it’s in the public record search.

Think about what this means for you and your family as you’re just trying to start and build your business. They can legally show up during business hours at your home (or whatever address you elect as your registered agent) and you would legally be required to accept any legal paperwork or your business may be dissolved by the Alaska Secretary of State’s office for being out of compliance.

When should I obtain an Alaska Registered Agent?

The best time to obtain an Alaska registered agent is when you’re forming your business. If you were somehow able to form a business without a registered agent – your business will most likely just be dissolved. It’s important to realize that you must have a registered agent or registered agent service elected at the time of formation.

If you just use a national registered agent service like ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent, you’re going to most likely have the first year of the registered agent service included. Check with them on the latest deals they have going but when you factor in the cost of forming your business and getting the first year of the registered agent service formed – it’s an easy decision.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent In Alaska?

Yes – it is technically possible for you to be your own registered agent in Alaska. The real question is whether you should be your own registered agent not if you can. Think about what we talked about earlier and the impact of having your name and address as a searchable entity in the Alaska Secretary of State search portal. I always recommend using a service that will give you legal coverage so you don’t have to worry about this happening to you.

The main things that you’d be responsible for as your own registered agent are:

Making sure you’re available during normal business hours and have a physical location for someone to contact you
Accept service of process (legal documents) on behalf of your business
Communicate all legal documentation and notifications from the Alaska Secretary of State’s office.

The cost of a registered agent service is worth it vs. trying to figure out how to do this on your own so I always recommend using ZenBusiness when you’re forming your own business.

How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?

The cost of an Alaska registered agent is going to vary depending on how you go about pulling this off. Traditionally the cost is going to range from $0 to $300 per year depending on what direction you’re going. If you decide to do this with your own (which I do not recommend) it can be close to $0 but again it’s not something I recommend.

The three options you have are:

Be your own registered agent (Cost: $0)
Use a law firm in Alaska with registered agent services (Not Recommended)
Use a national provider like ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent (Recommended)

By using a national provider, you’re going to get the first year included when forming your business and on top of that – they have the team to provide the support you’re going to need as a new business owner.

Each of these options will have their own cost and typically you’ll see a lower cost option being your own registered agent or finding a law firm who adds on a registered agent service vs. making it their main business like ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent

How Do I Elect A Registered Agent In Alaska?

In order to elect a registered agent in Alaska you’re going to need to follow the traditional path the Alaska Secretary of State’s office lays out for business owners.

You’ll need to file Articles of Organization from the Corporations Section of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. They look at this document as the main form of whether your business entity is real and valid.

How Do I Elect A Registered Agent Online in Alaska?

If you want to elect a registered agent online, you can do so going through the Commerce Department’s online portal and file your Articles of Organization there.

You can fill out section 4 which will ask for the details of your registered agent’s name and address whether it’s an individual or business entity.

It will take the Examiner about 10-15 days to review once you’ve applied and there will be a $250 filing fee for doing this.

How Do I Elect A Registered Agent by Mail, Fax or In Person in Alaska?

If you’d rather do this by mail, you can and fill out the Articles of Organization which will also have a $250 filing fee and submit the physical copy to the Alaska Divisions of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

You can mail it into the following address:

State of Alaska

Corporations Section

]PO Box 110806

Juneau, AK 99811-0806

How Do I Change My Registered Agent In Alaska?

To change your Alaska registered agent, that’s pretty straightforward too. You’ll need to get the Corporate Statement of Change (if it’s a corporation) or the LLC Statement of Change (if your business is an LLC) or finally if it’s a nonprofit use the Nonprofit statement of change document.

There is going to be a $25 filing fee but you can do this online if you’d like or mail it into the same address as above.