Starting a business? Our number one pick for registered agent services is ZenBusiness.
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ZenBusiness |
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Visit ZenBusiness |
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Northwest Registered Agent |
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Visit Northwest |
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Incfile.com |
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Visit Incfile |
When you’ve come up with a great business idea, excitement can get the best of you. While this is certainly a thrilling time, there are certain things that must be done to set up a business in Mississippi.
To legally form a Mississippi LLC, you’ll need to file LLC formation documents with the state, for starters. You’ll also need to select a registered agent. A registered agent is a person or company that will accept official, usually confidential, documents on behalf of the newly-created LLC.
To help budding entrepreneurs launch a business in the state of Mississippi, we’ll explore how to establish an LLC, how to select a registered agent, and how a registered agent’s role impacts the company as a whole.
What is a Mississippi registered agent?
A Mississippi registered agent is a person or company that’s willing to accept confidential documents for the company. The person can be the owner, an employee, a board member, or even a friend or neighbor. Entrepreneurs can also pay a registered agent service to fill this role. For a fee, there are companies that will accept documents for your company, whether they’re delivered via mail or delivered in person.
How does an owner select a registered agent in Mississippi?
The owner lists the registered agent’s name and address on the Certificate of Formation documents.
Who can be a registered agent in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, there are certain rules to select a registered agent. In this state, a registered agent can be:
- An individual over 18 years of age
- A state resident with a physical street address; or
- A company with a physical street address (as opposed to a P.O. box)
- A person or company that’s available during regular business hours
Can I be my own registered agent in Mississippi?
Yes. The owner can be the company’s registered agent. The owner can also select another person or company, as long as the owner follows the rules regarding who can be a registered agent.
Why would a company choose to work with a registered agent service?
A company owner could choose to work with a registered agent service. For a fee, a professional company will accept documents for your company. To explore why some entrepreneurs decide to pay for a registered agent service as opposed to doing the job themselves, here’s a look at the benefits:
- Availability. A registered agent service is open during regular business hours. This availability might be better than an owner can provide. An owner may need to travel or visit different sales territories, for example, and not be in one location during daytime hours.
- Peace of mind. A registered agent service provides peace of mind. The owner knows that all documents will go to a trusted, reliable company that will notify him or her with any updates.
- Privacy. Most of the documents that are sent to a registered agent are sensitive in nature. Documents like tax notices or process of service papers aren’t necessarily something you want floating around the office. For that reason, some owners opt for a more secure, offsite location for this kind of correspondence.
How much does a registered agent service cost in Mississippi?
The cost of a registered agent service will vary. The services that offer basic features like mail forwarding are about $50 a year. Companies with more extensive features like document storage, compliance reminders, and assistance with annual reports are more expensive. Expect to pay around $100-200 a year.
List of Mississippi registered agent services
Mississippi has many qualified registered agent services. To find a full list, reach out to the Secretary of State’s office. In the meantime, you can explore these three options to get a sense of what’s out there and what the cost could be. All of these companies offer multiple services, including but not limited to registered agent services:
Starting a business? Our number one pick for registered agent services is ZenBusiness.
|
ZenBusiness |
|
Visit ZenBusiness |
|
Northwest Registered Agent |
|
Visit Northwest |
|
Incfile.com |
|
Visit Incfile |
- ZenBusiness: ZenBusiness is fairly new to the market, but they’ve grown a strong following. Business owners love the affordable rates for a registered agent service, which are as low as $99 per year. The company offers worry-free compliance too, to help business owners file the necessary reports on time.
- Northwest Registered Agent: Northwest is one of the most recognized names in the registered agent business. The company has decades of experience and local offices scattered across the U.S. to serve small businesses like yours. The cost for a registered agent service is comparable to others. Business owners can also take advantage of additional services like report filing.
- Incfile: Incfile is another trusted name for business services, including its registered agent services. Business owners can get a registered agent free for a year. That’s right, free. After the first year, the price kicks in at $119. An online dashboard, automatic mail forwarding, and tailored notifications also come with the service.
Mississippi registered agent FAQs
Yes. It’s state law. The state of Mississippi, along with most other states, requires a registered agent to be on file with the state.
Yes. The registered agent can be changed at any time. It can be done online through an owner’s account with the Mississippi Secretary of State. A Change of Registered Agent form can be filled out and submitted. The fee to file is $50. The form is usually approved within 24 hours.
A statutory agent is the same as a registered agent. The name varies by state. In Mississippi, however, the term registered agent is most common.
A commercial registered agent is a registered agent service. A non-commercial agent is any person or company that’s not paid to fill the role. If the owner or an employee is the company’s registered agent, for example, the company has a non-commercial agent.
