Yes, you can elect for yourself, an employee, or a person hired outside of your business to act as your company’s a registered agent.

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However, there are a number of reasons to consider hiring a professional service. One reason that it is good to opt for a professional service is the added measure of privacy. If you choose to act as your own registered agent and use your home address as that of your registered agent, your address will be publicly listed for anyone to see. Hiring a professional registered agent service helps avoid potential lapses in privacy resulting from using a personal home address.

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Another consideration is that a registered agent must be available at their physical location during all regular business hours, and have an agent available in all states in which the company does business.

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Finally, having a registered agent helps avoid any fees or further legal trouble caused by missing or misplacing an important legal document or notice.

The typical range of services a Registered Agent provides includes:

• Receiving Service of Process documents for legal actions (ex. court documents, state entity notifications from the Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller's Office, or County Clerk

• Scanning, storing, and sending legal documents via email, with recurring reminders

• Mailing documents in need of a signature, or as a final reminder

• Providing compliance calendars for filing information such as Texas annual reports, Texas Franchise tax returns, Texas Sales Tax Notifications

• Note that other business mail is not handled by a registered agent. 

FLEXIBILITY

A major benefit of using a registered agent service is that it enables you to run your business the way you want. With a registered agent service, you can:

• Maintain flexible business hours. A registered agent must be available during normal business hours (i.e. 9a - 5p or 8a -4p). By hiring a registered agent service, you can work the hours that work for you.

• Form an LLC in another state. A registered agent must have a legal residence in the state where the business is formed. Hiring a registered agent service will let you form an LLC in any of the 50 states.

• Form an LLC in multiple states. If your business plans to have a physical presence in multiple states, you will need to have an appointed registered agent for each state.

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PRIVACY

Another advantage of hiring a registered agent service is the added layer of privacy. If you choose to be your own registered agent, keep in mind that:

• A registered agent’s address is available to the public. Your home or business address will be publicly searchable.

• Lawsuits will be served to the address of the registered agent. In the unfortunate event of a legal dispute, the lawsuit will be served at your place of business in front of your employees.

 

COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW

Registered agent services help businesses stay up to date on requirements with their state and also offer other forms of practical assistance. If you use a registered agent service, they can:

• Send you regular reminders for state filings. This will ensure that you stay up to date on all your entity's requirements.

• Assist you in finding state-specific accountants and legal professionals. Most businesses need accounting or legal assistance at some point during their formation.

• Keep backup copies of your corporate documents. In the case of theft, natural disaster, or other unexpected losses, you will have a backup of all your important business papers.

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PEACE OF MIND​

A registered agent service provides you with peace of mind, so you can:

• Focus on running and growing your business. You can know that your important business documents will be received and stored for safekeeping.

• Keep your business and personal mail separate. This will help prevent your work from overtaking your home life.