The short answer
- Every LLC must keep a registered agent and a registered office in its state. In Florida and Delaware, the agent's business address must be identical to the registered office.
- An individual can serve as registered agent only if they live in the state, in both Florida and Delaware. A founder living abroad needs a professional agent.
- Delaware requires commercial registered agents to be generally present at their location during normal business hours to accept service of process.
- The main job of a registered agent is to receive service of process and official notices. Scanning, forwarding and deadline reminders are services that vary by provider.
- At MyUSAService the registered agent costs $99 per year in every state (price as of September 2026).
Table of contents
Every U.S. company needs a registered agent. For a founder who lives abroad, choosing one is not a formality: the registered agent is where lawsuits and official notices arrive, and often the only contact the state has with your company.
This guide explains what the law requires, what a registered agent actually does, why prices differ so much and how to choose a provider you can trust.
What the law requires
State laws require every LLC to keep a registered office and a registered agent in the state. Two examples:
- Florida. Each LLC must designate and continuously maintain a registered office and a registered agent in the state. The agent can be an individual who lives in Florida, or an authorized business entity, and in both cases its business address must be identical to the registered office.
- Delaware. Each LLC must have a registered office and a registered agent for service of process, with a business office identical to the registered office. An individual agent must be a Delaware resident. Commercial registered agents must be generally present at their location during normal business hours to accept service of process.
The consequence for non-residents is direct: you cannot act as your own registered agent if you do not live in the state. You need a professional agent.
What a registered agent actually does
The core job is legal: receiving service of process, that is lawsuits and other legal papers, and official documents from the state, and passing them to the company.
Everything else depends on the provider:
- Scanning and uploading documents.
- Forwarding physical mail.
- Email or app notifications when something arrives.
- Reminders for annual reports and state taxes, listed in our guide to annual compliance requirements.
Two providers with the same legal role can offer very different services. Compare what is included, not only the price.
Why registered agent prices differ so much
If you have searched for “international registered agent”, you have seen prices from very low to several hundred dollars a year. The difference usually comes from:
- What is included. A low price can cover the legal address only, with scanning, forwarding or notifications charged separately.
- Renewal price. Some providers offer a low first year and a higher renewal.
- Bundles. Some features are available only inside larger compliance packages.
- Support. Being able to reach a person who explains what a document means, and what to do next, has a cost.
Before paying, ask for the renewal price and the list of what is included in writing. Our article on the hidden costs of a U.S. LLC puts this cost in context.
Red flags when choosing a provider
- Unclear renewal pricing or fees hidden in the terms.
- No clear way to receive notifications when a legal document arrives.
- No answer to a simple question before you buy.
- Rankings of “best registered agents” that are paid placements: many comparison sites earn commissions from the providers they list.
- No written policy on how your documents and data are stored.
What happens if a notice is missed
If a lawsuit is served and nobody forwards it, a court can decide the case without you. If a state notice is missed, the company can fall behind on filings, lose good standing and, in the end, be dissolved by the state. In Florida, for example, companies that have not filed their annual report by the third Friday in September face administrative dissolution. Our compliance guide for non-residents covers the other yearly obligations.
Privacy
The registered office appears in the company’s public records. Using a professional agent means that address is the agent’s, not your home address. A registered agent is not a business address for clients and banks: for that, see our guide to virtual office services.
Your agent also handles sensitive documents: legal papers, tax notices, court summons. Ask how documents are stored and who can access them.
Changing registered agent
You can change agent. The change must be filed with the state, and the state may charge a fee. Make sure the new agent is active before the old one stops, so that no document arrives without anyone to receive it.
How MyUSAService helps
At MyUSAService the registered agent costs $99 per year, the same price in every state. It is also included in our yearly renewal package, together with Form 5472, the pro forma Form 1120 and the state fee. A physical business address in Miami, with mail management, is a separate service at $39 per month. Prices as of September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is an international registered agent?
A registered agent service used by founders who live outside the United States. The legal role is the same for everyone: receiving legal papers and official notices in the state where the company is registered.
Can I be my own registered agent if I live abroad?
No, in states like Florida and Delaware. An individual registered agent must live in the state.
Why is my registered agent service so expensive?
Usually because the price includes more than the legal address: scanning, forwarding, notifications and deadline reminders. Check the renewal price and what is included before comparing providers.
Does the registered agent receive IRS notices?
The core role covers legal papers and state documents. The IRS writes to the address it has on file for the company, which may or may not be the agent’s address.
How much does a registered agent cost at MyUSAService?
$99 per year, in every state, at September 2026 prices.
Choosing a registered agent for your company?
Talk for 30 minutes, free of charge, with a MyUSAService consultant.
- No obligation
- Consultation in English
- 30 minutes
- We explain what to check before you sign
Sources
- The Florida Statutes, section 605.0113, Registered agent
- Delaware Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, section 18-104, Registered office; registered agent
- Florida Division of Corporations, Annual report
First published May 12, 2025. This article is general information, not tax advice for your situation. MyUSAService packages and prices | Book a free call
Annual Compliance Requirements for U.S. LLCs & Corporations
U.S. Business Compliance for Non-Residents: Owner's Guide
Hidden Costs of a U.S. LLC for International Entrepreneurs
How virtual office services help you run a U.S. business from abroad