A Kansas Registered Agent or Kansas Registered Agent Service is required by law for every business entity in the state of Kansas. 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 Kansas and be available during regular business hours.
In my Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas LLC. Check out my guide on how to setup a Kansas 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 Kansas Registered Agent Service
ZenBusiness will be the best option for setting up a registered agent service in Kansas. They can also help you with getting your LLC formed so if you’re looking for the best option, check them out today!
When you’re thinking about the best registered agent service and option – you should be thinking about ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent. Typically they will include the first year of the registered agent service with the LLC formation you’re going to need to setup. Both of these services in Kansas are going to be great solutions to finding the best registered agent.
The alternative of having a law firm in Kansas or being your own registered agent might be solutions but they aren’t the best. I typically try and tell people to stay away from being their own registered agent because it’s just not a good idea.
What is a Kansas Registered Agent?
A Kansas registered agent is no different than any other type of state’s registered agent or registered agent service. With any traditional type of registered agent you’re going to be providing three typical services:
- Have a physical location in the state of Kansas for all legal documents (service of process) to be accepted on your business’s behalf
- Be open during business hours to accept service of process documents
- Be responsible for making sure the businesses you’re supporting are following the annual reports and compliance that’s required for all business entities.
This is not a UPS Box or some type of PO Box that you can use. If you do something like that then the Kansas Secretary of State’s office is most likely going to just dissolve your business. It’s not something you can do and if you do – they will dissolve your business.
Why do I need a Kansas Registered Agent?
The biggest reason to have a Kansas registered agent is because it’s legally required to have one for any type of business entity. Whether you’re going to setup a Limited Liability Company, C-Corp, S-Corp or anything else – it’s required by law. One of the main things that happens that you need to consider is that your registered agent’s name and registered agent’s address is going to be on public record. This means that if you go to the Kansas Secretary of State’s business name search portal, you’ll be able to find the name and address of the business entity that you put on file. The implications of doing this in Kansas are big for any business owner that doesn’t want to have their name or address on public record.
Think about what would happen if someone were to show up at your house during business hours and you’re legally required to be there all the time. Imagine if that happened to you – what would you do?
I just think it’s best to have a registered agent service that’s going to help you with this because it’s really not that expensive to have something like this setup for you with Northwest Registered Agent or ZenBusiness.
When should I obtain a Kansas Registered Agent?
The best time in Kansas to have a registered agent for your business is when you’re forming it. By setting up an LLC and getting a registered agent in the beginning of your business journey, you’re going to make sure and succeed. If you try and do this any other time your team is most likely going to have a dissolved business.
If you just use one of the Kansas registered agent services that will cover your LLC formation like ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent – you will most likely get the first year of your registered agent service included.
I would highly recommend checking on the latest opportunities they are going to have for you in order to determine what type of deal you can get.
The other big thing to consider is that you’re going to need someone to help you keep track of the annual compliance whether that’s annual reporting or submitting the compliance docs.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent In Kansas?
Yes. It’s possible to be your own registered agent in Kansas but I always recommend that people use a local law firm in Kansas or even better is to find a national provider that helps 1000s of business owners every month.
I recommend using ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent. You have to remember that a registered agent or registered agent service is going to help you accomplish a few main things:
- Get a business address in the state of Kansas for all legal documents (service of process) to be accepted on your business’s behalf
- Be open during business hours to accept service of process documents
- Be responsible for making sure the businesses you’re supporting are following the annual reports and compliance that’s required for all business entities.
It’s really important that you think about the long term impact of trying to accomplish the above on your own. Imagine if someone shows up at your house and is going to serve legal documents to you. Do you really want that happening at your house? It’s really not worth the pain for the cost that’s associated to doing this.
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?
The cost of a registered agent can range from $0 if you’re going to attempt to do this on your own up to $300 depending on the type of service you get.
The three types of registered agent options are:
- Become your own registered agent
- Use a law firm in Kansas that has registered agent services
- Find a national provider like Northwest Registered Agent and/or ZenBusiness
Typically on #3 they are going to include the first year of the registered agent service with the LLC formation you’ll need to have your registered agent associated to.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent In Kansas?
To elect a registered agent in Kansas you will need an LLC. In order to have an LLC you will need to complete the Kansas Articles of Organization. The Kansas Articles of Organization is going to be the form that the Kansas Secretary of State’s office is going to use to validate you are a real and valid LLC.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent Online in Kansas?
Kansas’s Secretary of State’s office is going to allow you to use their login portal called KanAccess where you’ll have to file the Articles of Organization and the filing fee is $160.
KanAccess is the tool they use for all eGovernment services provided by Kansas and that includes forming an LLC or a business entity in the state.
How Do I Elect A Registered Agent by Mail, Fax or In Person in Kansas?
If you want download the Articles of Organization and submit a copy through the mail – you can download it at the link above. From there, you’ll be able to add in your registered agent’s name and registered agent’s address in Section 2 of the form.
After doing that, you can go to the office address and submit it:
Kansas Secretary of State
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
120 S.W. 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
How Do I Change My Registered Agent In Kansas?
In order to change your registered agent in Kansas, you will need to fill out the Change of Registered Office/Resident Agent form that the Kansas Secretary of State’s office provides.
This is much less to file than the original LLC form. Typically it’s going to be $35 for filing the paper filing or $30 if you do this online.
You can do all this online if you want or go to the address above to file by mail or in person.
Here is the online form instructions
Kansas Registered Agent FAQ
Does Kansas require a registered agent?
Yes. You need a registered agent for all business entities that are formed.
Does registered agent mean owner?
No. A registered agent is someone that’s responsible for receiving service of process documents on behalf of the business.
How long does it take to become a registered agent in Kansas?
The whole process can take about 10 minutes once you have all the information ready. If you’re going to use an online filing system like KanAccess.
What is a registered agent service?
A registered agent service is a company that provides a physical address in the state of Kansas where legal documents can be served on behalf of your business.
