A Connecticut Registered Agent or Connecticut Registered Agent Service is required by law for every business entity in the state of Connecticut. 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 Connecticut and be available during regular business hours.
In my Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut LLC. Check out my guide on how to setup a Connecticut 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 Connecticut Registered Agent Service
ZenBusiness will be the best option for setting up a registered agent service in Connecticut. They can also help you with getting your LLC formed so if you’re looking for the best option, check them out today!
Once you’ve decided that you’re going to be setting up a business in Connecticut as a business owner, you’re going to need a registered agent associated to it. The best registered agent service that I recommend is Northwest Registered Agent. Their team does an amazing job of having the volume in Connecticut and providing the best possible service to the 1000s of business owners they serve.
When you go with ZenBusiness, you’re going to find that they will include the first year of the registered agent service alongside the LLC formation you run through them in Connecticut. They are the national provider and have the services built up so you will get the best possible experience with ZenBusiness.
They have built a great relationship with the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office to make sure you will be operating legally and following the right annual compliance you need to. Typically you’re going to need to have an annual report and comply by having your registered agent renewed annually. This is something that you’re going to want some help with and that’s exactly what they do.
Whether you’re looking for a new registered agent service for your newly formed LLC or you’re looking to change your registered agent because you are unhappy with whatever the current situation is for your business – they will be able to help you.
I love using a registered agent service to make sure that I’m complying with the law in Oregon (where my LLC is based). No matter if you’re going to be setting up a domestic LLC, foreign LLC, Limited Liability Company, nonprofit, S-Corp or anything else – they will be able to make sure you’re covered at ZenBusiness.
What is a Connecticut Registered Agent?
A Connecticut Registered Agent is no different than any other state’s registered agent or registered agent service. All states in the United States are required to have a registered agent associated to them to provide three primary things:
1. Maintain a street address that is in the state of Connecticut
2. Be available during regular business hours
3. Accept legal papers on the business’s behalf
The other major thing that a registered agent will help you do is make sure you’re in compliance and understand the laws that you’ll need to follow on an annual basis.
If you’re thinking this is some kind of glorified virtual mailbox service, that would be incorrect. You can still get a UPS Store box or some kind of virtual mailbox but that’s not what this is.
This is a service that is required by the state to make sure you’re covered legally if and when something happens to the business.
A registered agent is your legal protection if and when your business is sued and you need a business entity or individual to inform you of such.
Why do I need a Connecticut Registered Agent?
The reason you need a registered agent is because it’s required by law. That’s the short answer. The details behind why are important to understand and it all starts with the Connecticut Secretary of State’s business name search portal. Think about going there and looking up your business. If you decide that you want to do this on your own, your home address and name will be on public record for anyone in the world to search.
The implications of that are pretty massive when you look at the long term game of what you’re trying to accomplish with your business. This means that if someone wanted to serve you legal papers and your home address was on file, they would show up to your house during normal business hours and everything would be legally ok with that. That is the main reason I think it’s so important for you to have a registered agent that is NOT you. It provides you legal protection and will make sure your business is covered in a way that is helpful and not hurtful. You need to focus on building your business and not worry about the legalization of having a registered agent and figuring out what the renewal date is, etc.
When should I obtain a Connecticut Registered Agent?
The best time for you to obtain a Connecticut Registered Agent is when you’re in the process of forming your LLC in Connecticut. If you don’t do this while you’re forming your business there is a good chance that it will be dissolved (or never formed to begin with).
The Connecticut Secretary of State’s office is going to require that you have a registered agent so it’s best that you do this when you’re forming your business.
If you use Northwest Registered Agent, you’re going to most likely have the first year covered of the registered agent service in Connecticut when you form your business with them. This is important to realize when you’re deciding how you want to go about finding the right registered agent service in Connecticut.
The other big thing to talk through is the annual compliance you’re going to be responsible for related to your business entity. There are compliance deadlines on an annual basis in Connecticut that you’ll need to think through and keep track of.
When you’re forming your Connecticut LLC the last thing you really want to do is keep track of and write down what annual reports are required to submit. You should just focus on scaling and building your business.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent In Connecticut?
Yes. It is possible for you to be your own registered agent. The better question that we’ve been talking about is should you be your own registered agent and I always tell people – no. It’s really not a good idea. The only reason you’re even thinking about doing this is because you want to save some money, right? Well, if you play this out and think about your Connecticut business as a business owner and think about having a successful one in 1-5 years, do you really want someone to look up your home address and name on file?
You’re going to be responsible for:
1. Having a physical address in Connecticut that has someone available during normal business hours
2. Accept all legal paperwork on behalf of your company
3. Keeping track of the annual compliance that you’ll need to follow
When I think about my business and what I want to focus on, it is not the compliance issues in Oregon (or Connecticut in your case) where you’ll have to deal with the legal mumbo jumbo that requires you to follow specific steps and stay in compliance. If you don’t do this, your business will most likely be dissolved and that’s by far the last thing you want to be informed of when you’re just trying to grow and build your business.
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?
The cost of a registered agent can range quite substantially depending on which direction you go. The cost will vary from $0-$300/year depending on which route you go.
We’ve talked about three potential options that you can follow for a registered agent service.
1. Be your own registered agent (not recommended)
2. Use a national provider like Northwest Registered agent
3. Find a law firm in Connecticut that offers registered agent services
Typically #1 is going to be the lowest cost up front because you’re not paying another service but the hidden costs of finding a physical location and your time of having to be in that location are going to cost more than just using #2 or #3 on the list.
If you decide to go with a Connecticut law firm who has registered agent services you can use, they are typically a lower cost than a national provider but they will have less service and have other services they’ll provide which means they aren’t 100% focused on it like the national providers.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent In Connecticut?
In order to elect a registered agent in Connecticut, you’ll need to go through the standard process the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office requires which is using their Certificate of Organization. You’ll be able to elect the registered agent associated with your LLC at the time of formation.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent Online in Connecticut?
If you’d rather do this online, you will need to set up an account with the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office with the Division of Corporations and you’ll be able to find the Articles of Organization document electronically and fill out the details that way. This is by far the easiest route for you to get something submitted vs. going in-person, faxing or mailing it in (snail mail).
The filing fee is $150.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent by Mail, Fax or In Person in Connecticut?
If you do prefer to elect the registered agent by mail or in person, you can do that by filling out the Articles of Organization PDF above, print it out and bring it into the address they have on file.
The filing fee is $20 and you’ll be able to go drop it off at:
How Do I Change My Registered Agent In Connecticut?
To change your Connecticut Registered Agent you will need to complete the Notice of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent form and send it back to the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office and include the filing fee mentioned above.
If you’re looking for other related business forms for Connecticut LLCs, you can find them on the business form / business portal login here.
Connecticut Registered Agent FAQ
Does Connecticut require a registered agent?
Yes. All businesses in Connecticut are going to require a registered agent whether that’s using a service like Northwest Registered Agent, being your own registered agent or finding a local law firm in Connecticut that has services to help you with this.
Does registered agent mean owner?
No. An owner of your business will have ownership rights but a registered agent is just acting as legal coverage to help if and when your business is sued or has legal papers that need to be delivered.
What is a registered agent service?
A registered agent service is an organization that will provide the required physical location in Connecticut, operate during normal business hours and accept legal papers on your business’s behalf.
Best Registered Agent
The best option for your registered agent service
