The 5 Cheapest Registered Agent Services Compared
Shopping for a registered agent can feel like buying bottled water at the airport. The prices are all over the place, and you suspect half of them are the same product in different packaging. The cheapest registered agent service is not always the one with the lowest advertised price.
Most reputable providers charge between $99 and $300 per year, but first-year discounts, renewal jumps, and bundled extras make direct comparison tricky. This guide compares the five most affordable options on what matters: the real price you will pay in year two, what is included, and where the catches hide.
Prices change often, so treat the numbers below as a snapshot and always confirm current pricing before you buy. If you want the full pricing landscape first, our guide on how much a registered agent costs per year covers the whole market.
How We Compared Them
We looked at five things for each service: the advertised first-year price, the standard renewal price, mail forwarding and scanning, compliance tools like annual report reminders, and customer reputation for actually delivering legal documents on time.
That last point matters most. A registered agent that is slow to forward a lawsuit or a state notice can cost you thousands. Saving $30 a year is not worth an unreliable agent.
1. Harbor Compliance: Around $99 Per Year
Harbor Compliance is frequently the lowest flat-rate option among established providers, at around $99 per year with no first-year gimmick pricing. What you see is close to what you pay on renewal, which makes budgeting simple.
You get same-day document scanning, an online compliance dashboard, and annual report reminders. The company focuses on compliance services rather than formation bundles, so the experience feels more professional and less salesy than some competitors. Support is US-based and generally well reviewed.
The tradeoff is fewer extras. You will not get free formation bundles or slick startup perks. If you want a no-frills, reliable agent at the lowest steady price, this is hard to beat.
2. Bizee: Free First Year, Then Around $119
Bizee (formerly Incfile) offers the first year of registered agent service free when you form your LLC through them, then charges around $119 per year after that. If you are forming a new LLC anyway, that first free year is genuine savings.
The dashboard is straightforward, documents are scanned and uploaded, and you get basic compliance alerts. Bizee is one of the largest formation companies, so the infrastructure is solid even if support can feel stretched during busy periods.
Watch the renewal. The jump from free to $119 is expected, but Bizee also sells add-ons aggressively during formation. Decline what you do not need and the deal stays good.
3. Northwest Registered Agent: $125 Per Year
Northwest charges a flat $125 per year with no teaser rates and no renewal surprises. It is the provider we recommend most often, and our Northwest vs ZenBusiness comparison explains why in detail.
What sets Northwest apart is service quality. Every customer gets a dedicated Corporate Guide, documents are scanned the same day, and the company has a genuine privacy-first culture. They were one of the first providers to push back on selling customer data, and their support team actually picks up the phone.
At $125 it is not the absolute cheapest, but the gap between Northwest and the budget options is small enough that the better service usually justifies it. For most founders, this is the sweet spot of price and reliability.
4. ZenBusiness: Around $199 Per Year
ZenBusiness charges around $199 per year for standalone registered agent service, though it is often discounted or bundled when you form your LLC through them. The platform is modern and beginner-friendly, with a clean dashboard and helpful compliance tools.
The service itself is reliable, with timely document scanning and annual report reminders. Where ZenBusiness earns its keep is the ecosystem: formation, banking partnerships, and ongoing compliance products in one place.
As a pure registered agent play, though, $199 is steep compared to Northwest at $125 or Harbor at $99. It makes sense if you are already using ZenBusiness for formation and want everything under one roof, but less sense as a standalone purchase.
5. LegalZoom: Around $299 Per Year
LegalZoom is the biggest brand name in the space, and its registered agent service runs around $299 per year. You are paying a premium for the brand, the broad legal services ecosystem, and the comfort of a household name.
The service works fine: documents get scanned, reminders go out, compliance tools are decent. But nothing about the core registered agent offering justifies double the price of Northwest or triple the price of Harbor Compliance for most small LLCs.
LegalZoom can make sense for businesses that also want ongoing access to attorneys and a wide menu of legal products. If you only need a registered agent, your money goes further elsewhere.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is the short version. Harbor Compliance leads on flat low pricing at around $99. Bizee wins year one with its free first year, then settles around $119. Northwest at $125 offers the best balance of price and service quality. ZenBusiness at around $199 makes sense mainly as a bundle. LegalZoom at around $299 is the premium brand option.
Remember that the cheapest headline price can hide the most expensive renewal. Always check the standard renewal rate, not just the first-year promo, before you commit. A $49 first year that renews at $299 is worse than a flat $125 every year.
What Cheap Services Sometimes Leave Out
Before you chase the lowest number, check what is included. Some budget providers charge extra for mail forwarding beyond legal documents, meaning regular business mail sent to your registered address costs more or gets returned.
Also check document scanning speed. Same-day scanning is the industry standard among good providers. If a service only scans weekly or charges per document, that is a red flag regardless of price.
Finally, look at the cancellation policy. Reputable providers let you leave easily and will even help transfer your agent designation. Providers that make cancellation difficult are telling you something about how they treat customers.
Our Honest Recommendation
If you want the lowest reliable price, Harbor Compliance at around $99 is the pick. If you want the best overall value, Northwest at $125 is worth the small premium for the service quality. If you are forming your LLC right now, Bizee’s free first year is genuinely useful.
Whichever you choose, pair it with a formation approach that fits your budget. Our roundup of the best LLC formation services covers which companies bundle agents well and which ones to avoid.
For background on your ongoing obligations as a business owner, the IRS overview of LLCs at irs.gov and the SBA’s compliance guide at sba.gov are both worth bookmarking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest reliable registered agent service?
Harbor Compliance at around $99 per year is typically the cheapest flat rate from an established provider. Bizee is cheaper in year one with its free first year, then renews around $119.
Are cheap registered agent services trustworthy?
Price alone does not determine reliability. Established budget providers like Harbor Compliance and Bizee handle documents properly. Be cautious with unknown brands offering dramatically lower prices, and always check reviews about document forwarding speed.
Why do some services advertise $0 or very low first-year prices?
It is a customer acquisition strategy. The provider hopes you will stay for renewals at the standard rate and buy add-on services. The deal is fine as long as you know the renewal price going in.
Can I switch to a cheaper registered agent later?
Yes. File a statement of change with your secretary of state, which usually costs $0 to $50 and takes a few days. Your new provider will often handle the paperwork for you.
Is it cheaper to be my own registered agent?
Yes, it costs nothing but your time and privacy. You can read about the tradeoffs in our guide on being your own registered agent before deciding.
The cheapest registered agent is the one that costs little and never causes a problem. Spend the hour comparing real renewal prices, pick a provider with a track record of fast document handling, and move on to building your business.
