Vermont Registered Agent

Andrew C. McGuire

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A Vermont Registered Agent or Vermont Registered Agent Service is required by law for every business entity in the state of Vermont. 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 Vermont and be available during regular business hours.

In my Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont LLC. Check out my guide on how to setup a Vermont 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 Vermont Registered Agent Service

ZenBusiness will be the best option for setting up a registered agent service in Vermont. 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 the best option for your Vermont Registered Agent you need to go directly to ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent. These two services are going to be the best place for you to really figure out how to get your LLC formed and make sure you have the best registered agent service for your business. They have helped 1000s of business owners over the years and their ability to transact the volume needed for having the best customer experience is an important lens to view everything through.

The other piece you’ll need to consider is that they will have the best relationship with the Vermont Secretary of State’s office. By having a registered agent service that has been built for a relationship then it’s going to be much easier and create confidence in your choice for forming your LLC.

What is a Vermont Registered Agent?

A Vermont Registered Agent is no different than any other type of registered agent service in any other state through the US. A registered agent is going to provide three to four of the same services that you’d expect.

The first service is that they’re going to be able to receive any legal documents on your behalf. This could be summons, subpoenas, or any other type of official legal document that needs to be received.
The second service is that they will scan and upload these documents into their system so you can have access to them. This is an important part of the service because it’s really hard to keep track of all the different things that come through the mail.
The third service is that they will notify you when something comes in. This could be done through email, text message, or any other type of communication system that you prefer. It’s important to have this so you can be proactive about anything that comes in.
The fourth service is that they will store these documents for you. This is important because it’s one less thing that you have to worry about. It’s also helpful if you ever need to reference them in the future.

There are a few other things to consider which would be thinking about a virtual mailbox service. It’s not going to be possible for you to get a UPS Store or PO Box setup and have it act as your registered agent. That is not what a registered agent service is – that’s just a mailbox.

Think about this as you’re building a business – yes it makes sense to have a mailbox but does it really solve your registered agent requirements above?

Why do I need a Vermont Registered Agent?

The purpose of having a registered agent is because it’s required by law in every state in the US (except New York) and it’s typically done when you’re forming your LLC. The entire purpose of it is to make sure you’re legally protected and have a way of making sure you get legal notifications for your business.

If you’re going to get service of process delivered to you during normal business hours at your registered agent’s address, you’re going to need to have an official registered agent location – not just a mailbox. If you think about the long term effects of what this means for you and your business in Vermont – it will mean making sure you have the right business structure.

I also think that Vermont is going to be the best state long term for anyone to move to and / or setup a business due to climate change. I realize this is a bit off track but when you zoom out and look at where to move – Vermont is setup to have minimum smoke/fires, has access to clean water and will be a long term climate refugee spot. If you’re looking outside of Duluth, Minnesota (known as the climate refugee city) you’ll find that moving to Burlington, VT or another spot in Vermont is going to be your best bet for the quality of life.

As you figure out what type of your business structure, registered agent info and everything else that’s required, you’re going to need to make sure you are also aware that your registered agent and registered agent’s address is going to be searchable through the Vermont Secretary of State’s business name search portal here.

Do you really want to think about having your home address and your name in the searchable portal for anybody in the world to find? Anyone can legally show up at your home during normal business hours and serve legal papers to you so think about whether this is really the right thing for your business and you personally.

When should I obtain a Vermont Registered Agent?

The best time to obtain your Vermont registered agent service is when you’re forming your LLC in Vermont. If you are going to setup a Limited Liability Company and are in need to elect the registered agent information – you’ll need to do so when you’re forming your business.

If you just use a national provider like ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent, it’s going to make your life much easier and take this off your plate of work that needs to be done. I would highly recommend doing this from the beginning and if you don’t – you probably don’t have a business because it’s going to be required to setup a Vermont LLC through the Vermont Secretary of State’s office. You can also try to be your own registered agent but I really don’t recommend that in Vermont. There isn’t really a good reason to be your own registered agent.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent In Vermont?

Yes it is technically possible for you to be your own registered agent but should you be? It might seem like a good idea when you’re setting up your business because it’s the most cost effective on paper (or at least it looks like that) but it’s really not.

You are going to need to act as your own registered agent and if you do that, it’s going to mean that you’re required to:

Have a physical street address and business location in Vermont
Be able to accept service of process during normal business hours
File annual reports & make sure your Vermont business is up to date with all the annual reporting and compliance required

You can do this on your own but again the cost outweighs the benefits of doing so. You not only have to do all of the above but like we’ve been talking about – you’re going to be required to find a location and make sure it’s a business location that can be used for your business.

How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?

A registered agent costs anywhere from $0 (being your own registered agent) in Vermont up to a few hundred dollars per year. Depending on what type of service you go with, the cost will range quite substantially. The registered agent options in Vermont are:

Be your own registered agent (not recommended) in Vermont
Find a law firm in Vermont that has registered agent services (not recommended)
Use ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent (recommended)

By using a registered agent service, it’s going allow you to focus on building your business rather than worrying about the legal requirements of a registered agent service.

How Do I Elect A Registered Agent In Vermont?

To elect to be a registered agent in Vermont you’ll need to fill out the Articles of Organization that the Vermont Secretary of State’s office is going to require that you do.

How Do I Elect A Registered Agent Online in Vermont?

To actually get your LLC formed electronically, you’ll be able to create an online account through the Vermont Secretary of State’s office which will have a $125 filing fee.

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

It is possible to registered your business and elect a registered agent in person or by mail but you’ll need to fill out the required document. If you’re really going to do this, you’ll need to get the LLC Form – Articles of Organization that the Vermont Secretary of State’s office is going to request that you fill out.

How Do I Change My Registered Agent In Vermont?

If you picked a registered agent that is just not cutting it for you and you need to change your registered agent, you can. It’s pretty simple to get a Change of Registered Agent form completed and submitted to the Vermont Secretary of State. They are also going to want you to include a $25 filing fee. You will need to use their online filing site in the Corporations Division. If you are really into doing things slowly and want the Vermont Secretary of State’s office to take their time – you can go and use a paper form by requesting it but I wouldn’t recommend it.