An Idaho Registered Agent or Idaho Registered Agent Service is required by law for every business entity in the state of Idaho. 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 Idaho and be available during regular business hours.
In my Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho LLC. Check out my guide on how to setup a Idaho 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 Idaho Registered Agent Service
ZenBusiness will be the best option for setting up a registered agent service in Idaho. They can also help you with getting your LLC formed so if you’re looking for the best option, check them out today!
In Idaho, the best registered agent service is ZenBusiness. They’ve done a fantastic job making sure that you’re going to have the best possible service at a price that makes them the best choice for your business. Typically they will include the first year of the registered agent service with the LLC formation you can run through them. There are three traditional options of finding a registered agent service.
- National Provider (Northwest Registered Agent, ZenBusiness, etc.)
- Law Firm in Idaho (Offers Registered Agent Services)
- Be your own registered agent (not recommended)
Whether you’re looking for a new registered agent service for your newly formed LLC or you’re looking to change your registered agent from something you’re currently unhappy with in Idaho – ZenBusiness is the right way for you to go.
I have been using a service out of Oregon (where my LLC is formed) and I love it. It’s really important that you spend the time to really understand the options and what’s right for you. You’ll have options whether it’s with Northwest Registered Agent who can help you with a domestic LLC, foreign LLC or just a standard Limited Liability Company. You are going to need a registered agent service like ZenBusiness no matter what you decide to do.
What is an Idaho Registered Agent?
An Idaho Registered Agent is no different than any other state out there. All states are required to do three primary things for you:
- Be available to receive service of process during business hours
- Forward any received documents in a timely manner
- Maintain a physical address in the state
As you can see, these are all very important things that an Idaho Registered Agent must provide for you and your business. If they don’t do these three things, then they are not going to clear the Idaho Secretary of State’s bar of what a registered agent is.
This is not a service that you can go get at a UPS Store. It may sound like a virtual mailbox service or something that you can find by getting a PO Box but it’s not.
It’s legally required for you to have a service that can accept legal documents (service of process) during regular business hours. That is not a FedEx worker at the store. If you do that, your Idaho LLC will most likely be dissolved because it’s not what you need.
Why do I need an Idaho Registered Agent?
The reason you need an Idaho registered agent is because it’s legally required to have. That’s the short and simple answer to why you need to have a registered agent in Idaho.
It’s also important to understand why a registered agent service exists in the first place. The Idaho Secretary of State’s office doesn’t do this just to be a pain and make it more challenging to run your business. It’s required because when a business is sued or someone needs to deliver service of process documents it needs to go to a lawyer. By having a registered agent in place, you’ll be able to have some legal coverage that you wouldn’t otherwise have.
The other big thing to consider is that your registered agent’s name and registered agent’s address is going to be on public record through the business name search on the Idaho Secretary of State’s website. This means that if you try and be your own registered agent it will show up on public record. Anybody will be able to show up during normal business hours and serve you legal papers. This is the reason why we have registered agent services (along with the items above in the previous section).
Here is a note from the Registered Agent Information section of the Idaho Secretary of State’s office to make this clearer for you:
NOTE: If the Secretary of State’s Office is notified and verifies that the registered agent street address listed on a filing is a UPS Store, PMB or PO Box, it may subject your business entity to being administratively dissolved/revoked.
When should I obtain an Idaho Registered Agent?
The time to obtain your Idaho registered agent is as you’re forming your business. If you don’t do it during this time, your business will most likely be dissolved by the Idaho Secretary of State’s office. It’s a requirement for forming a business and the best time will be during your business formation journey.
If you use Northwest Registered Agent or ZenBusiness, you’re going to most likely get the first year of the registered agent service they provide included if you form your LLC through their service. This is important to realize when you’re trying to figure out the total cost of setting up a business in Idaho.
The other piece that’s important to realize that a registered agent will do (especially when forming your business), is help you think about the annual compliance your going to be responsible for related to your business entity. There are compliance deadlines on an annual basis in Idaho that you’ll need to keep track of. When you’re forming your Idaho LLC, having to remember the exact dates and deadlines of what you need to do can be challenging. You really should think about having an Idaho registered agent service help you with this too.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent In Idaho?
Yes. It is possible to be your own registered agent but like we’ve discussed it’s not the best thing to do. You’re going to end up with more of a headache then it’s worth. Every dollar counts when starting a business in Idaho but this is not a place to decide to save some cash. You will end up spending more money (and time) in the long run instead of just biting the bullet and paying for a service.
If you decide to be your own registered agent and we play this out for a few years, think about these items:
- You’ll know when the compliance deadlines are because you have to remember them. If you forget, your business will be dissolved and you’ll have to restart the process.
- You’ll need to be available during regular business hours at the address that is on public record with the Idaho Secretary of State’s office.
- If somebody needs to deliver legal papers – you need to be there to accept them.
- You must have a physical location in Idaho
The last item here is enough to justify the annual cost from Northwest Registered Agent or ZenBusiness. If you need to get a physical location, it completely defeats the purpose of trying to save money. Now you’re spending more money on an Idaho physical location vs. using the funds to scale your business.
Remember this is not a virtual mailbox service or some type of PO Box that can accept your legal papers. It must be a registered agent the Idaho Secretary of State’s office can recognize.
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?
The cost of a registered agent can range pretty substantially from $0 to $300 per year depending on the type of service you decide to go with. If you decide to be your own Idaho registered agent the cost (monetarily) is going to be $0 but remember all the time and energy and costs in other areas to support your decision. If you go with a national provider like Northwest Registered Agent or ZenBusiness typically that’s going to be $125 per year. Check with them on the latest and again if you decide to use them to form your business, they traditionally will include the first year.
If you decide to go with an Idaho law firm who has registered agent services associated to their practice, it will be more than doing it yourself but less than a national provider (typically). The national providers will typically have higher quality service just due the sheer volume of business owners they help.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent In Idaho?
In order to elect a registered agent in Idaho, you’re going to need to start the standard process through the Idaho Secretary of State’s office. Typically that means you’ll need to get the Articles of Incorporation from their Business Forms page and choose the type of business you’re going to be incorporating. This is the traditional way you’ll be able to elect your registered agent.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent Online in Idaho?
If you want to process this online, you can do so but will need an account setup at the sosbiz.idaho.gov site here. Once you get that setup, you’ll be able to get the appropriate paperwork filled out.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent by Mail, Fax or In Person in Idaho?
If you want to elect this through the internet, you can do so by downloading the Certificate of Organization for a Limited Liability Corporation (Filing Fee: $100 + $20 for manual processing)
If you want to process this by mailing or hand delivering, you’ll need to go to:
Office of the Secretary of State
450 N 4th Street
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0080
If you have questions or need help, call the Secretary of State’s office at (208) 334-2301.
How Do I Change My Registered Agent In Idaho?
To change your Idaho registered agent, you’re going to need to fill in the Statement of Change of Registered Agent, Registered Office or Both Form which you can then submit and file with the Idaho Secretary of State’s office ($20 filing fee – paid by check or credit card)
If you want to mail this in or deliver in person
Office of the Secretary of State
450 N. 4th Street
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0080
Idaho Registered Agent FAQ
Does Idaho require a registered agent?
Yes. It’s required to have a registered agent associated with your business or it will most likely be dissolved by the Idaho Secretary of State’s office.
Does registered agent mean owner?
No. An owner of your business is exactly what it sounds like. They own a portion of your business and a registered agent does not.
What is a registered agent service?
A registered agent service is a company that specializes in being the point of contact for your business. They will receive any legal papers on behalf of your business and then notify you about them so you can take appropriate action.
Best Registered Agent
The best option for your registered agent service
