A corporation’s or LLC’s registered agent is a person or an agency that is appointed by the owner or CEO to receive all legal notices on that company’s behalf. This means any correspondence with the state, notifications about federal and local taxes, and service of process with regard to pending lawsuits. The registered agent serves as the designated method of contacting a business for all legal intents and purposes.

While the registered agent can be any person or agency, such as the business owner, his or her spouse, an employee, or an outside person, it is usually best to delegate the role of registered agent to separate entity. That is why many businesses hire a registered agent service to accept service of process and all legal notices on their behalves. But, some business owners believe that it is easier and more cost-efficient to take care of these duties on their own. This is not always a great idea. Here are a few reasons why you should leave registered agency to the pros:

1. Professional Agents are Proficient

Each registered agent firm has the tools and procedures to masterfully track all notices that they receive that are meant for your company, and will be sure to notify you immediately. It is what they are paid for. Nothing will fall through the cracks or get accidentally filed in a desk drawer for months. You never have to worry about delinquent tax payments, or, even worse, a judgment filed against your business because you were unaware of a lawsuit and did not appear in court.

2. Agents are Necessary in Every State that you Conduct Business

If you are conducting business outside your domicile state, you will need a representative with a brick-and-mortar location in each state where business is being conducted. This is necessary for the delivery of mail, notices, and service of process, if necessary.

3. An Agent Must be Available from 9-5

The registered agent needs to be around during the proverbial business hours of 9AM to 5PM to coordinate with process servers and state office hours. Many small business owners work different hours, such as those with bars that open at 4 in the afternoon, and don’t want to hang around during the day, or can’t afford to hire employees to stick around all day in their places.

4. Agents Require Physical In-state Addresses

Anyone that is acting as a registered agent for a company must have a physical address in the state from which said business is operating. Post office boxes do not count.

This can be bad because you typically would want to be spared the embarrassment of being served at your store, salon, restaurant, or office in front of your clients, customers, and associates. If you are running a home-based or online business, you could be served at your home in front your whole neighborhood. A professional registered agent has a separate address and these awful scenarios will never occur.

At Lafayette Process Servers, we will act in your best interest as your go-to registered agent for the state of Louisiana. You can trust us to accept process of service and notices on your behalf, which we will forward to you promptly and orderly. Give us a call or sent us an email to learn more about our registered agent service today.

Donna Lee Hellmann is a New Orleans-area copywriter. The foregoing article has simply been presented for informational purposes only. She, and those at Lafayette Process Servers, are not attorneys. If you seek further information about this topic, contact an attorney in your local area.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This