When entrepreneurs and new business owners begin to establish their company infrastructures, the question of whether or not to hire a registered agent eventually comes up. But what is a registered agent, and why should you consider using one?
Registered agents are third-party representatives of your business who are entitled to receive legal documentation and service of process on behalf of your organization. With this in mind, there are several benefits that business owners should consider when deciding if a registered agent is right for them.
How Can a Registered Agent Give You Peace of Mind?
The early stages of business development, regardless of the industry, are the most critical for new business owners. Registered agents give business owners like you the freedom and flexibility needed to focus on essential elements of your business, while they handle the tedious minutia associated with your company’s legal requirements.
Registered agents are especially useful in smaller organizations where principal owners and leadership are frequently traveling out of the country and away from the business for extended periods of time.
How Registered Agents Help Your Company’s Legal Compliance
Most business owners are not regularly up-to-date with the latest compliance standards and legal requirements of their organization. That is why many growing companies decide to employ outside third parties to help manage these critical processes for them.
Registered agents are well-versed in state and federal filing requirements for businesses and can help keep you remain in good standing with local governments. This arrangement can help save your company from costly legal penalties in the form of hefty business fines, license revocations and expensive court fees.
Why Registered Agents Provide You With Better Privacy
It’s important to know that if you list yourself as a registered agent for your business, you’ll be expected to register an address as the primary point of contact. This usually ends up being the home address of business owners until the company is established and has core hours of operation. The problem with this approach is that this information is then entered into state records and becomes open to the public.
Registered agents protect your privacy by having a registered third-party address where you receive all legal correspondence. Since service of process matters are handled through designated agents, this arrangement will also save you from any embarrassing visits from local authorities or government agents directly, keeping these matters private and away from public eyes.
When trying to decide if hiring a registered agent is right for your business, keep the benefits mentioned above in mind. Having an experienced third party available to manage your legal compliance will help you concentrate on other essential parts of your business while ensuring your company continues to meet its state and federal obligations.