The registered agent of an LLC is the person or entity who must be given notice of any legal actions involving the business. In other words, if you are the owner of an LLC and your company goes through any legal action, such as a lawsuit, the county in which your business resides can send official documents to your registered agent’s address. In Texas, there are no requirements regarding who may serve as the registered agent of an LLC; however, it is recommended that you choose someone who can act on behalf of your company in all cases, including bank transactions or lawsuits.
What Is A Registered Agent?
A registered agent is a person or company designated to accept service of process on behalf of an organization when it cannot be served. A registered agent can also monitor, collect, and/or distribute public records for an organization as well as file annual reports. If you are running a business that will do any substantial business activity within the state (such as if you will have employees or offices), this is something you need to take care of.
At the minimum, all businesses operating within the state should designate a resident agent. Resident agents are responsible for receiving and making the proper response to legal documents served on behalf of their organizations. It’s important to designate an individual who lives close enough to where they work so they can get noticed quickly when they are being sued by someone else.
How To Find The Right Person As Your Registered Agent
There are two criteria that any agent must meet to be eligible to register an LLC. First, the company must be incorporated or registered in the state of Texas. Second, the agent must not be listed on the home page of the Secretary of State website as prohibited from acting as an agent. If you do not find anyone qualified with those two requirements, then your best bet is to search for someone locally who may offer this service and could likely be found on LinkedIn or by checking them out on Facebook. Of course, if all else fails and there’s no one nearby or online that can help you then you’re stuck looking nationally again and hoping they have a physical office location where you can come speak with them face-to-face.
What Are My Responsibilities As An LLC Owner?
To stay compliant with state laws, LLC owners must understand their responsibilities. First and foremost, you need to maintain a registered agent with the secretary of state. This person will be responsible for taking care of receiving notifications that have been served to the company and filing an annual report with the secretary of state. It is also crucial that they keep records up-to-date, including changing addresses and general contact information so important documents can reach you correctly. If these responsibilities are not fulfilled, your business could end up being dissolved by the state.
How Do I Know If I Need To Register My Business?
Most businesses will need to register as an LLC or Limited Liability Company. The types of businesses that don’t need to register to include sole proprietorships, partnerships, and general partnerships where none of the partners are professional service providers.
An attorney should always be consulted before registering your business. They can help you decide which type best suits your needs and they can even help you with the registration process, if necessary.
Another important thing is making sure you have a registered agent. This is a person or entity responsible for receiving all communications on behalf of the business when it comes to serving legal papers such as summonses, lawsuits, and court notifications.
How Can I Avoid Unnecessary Mistakes?
Some business owners may be able to avoid mistakes by appointing an agent as the registered agent. The registered agent is the first contact with government entities and should be available for delivery of state correspondence on behalf of the company, such as licensing applications, corporation filings, notices, and tax returns. Having an appointment with an agent helps simplify the process. Business owners are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with all the requirements before incorporating and finding out what licenses they need to operate legally. Remember that you must register your company within 10 days after forming it, so take steps now to get everything sorted out before you get started. Lastly, once you’ve followed these steps to avoid mistakes when starting a new business, remember that success cannot come without hard work.
Common Misconceptions About Registered Agents.
Many people misunderstand the role of the registered agent and what it entails. The registered agent is not like an officer or director; instead, they act as your organization’s representative when you are out of state or otherwise unavailable. They also have the power to speak on behalf of the company should any legal matters arise, but this does not give them decision-making authority. As such, we recommend that someone with appropriate credentials serve as your company’s registered agent so that they can handle any administrative duties that need to be taken care of.
A common misconception about finding an appropriate person to serve as your company’s registered agent is that they need experience handling these kinds of responsibilities.
A List Of Our Services.
Our company offers expert, affordable, and personalized registered agent services. We provide the resources you need to start and grow your business while at the same time providing peace of mind knowing that we’ll always be there when you need us. We offer state-specific incorporation and registered agent services tailored to meet the needs of the business owner. Our sole purpose is to help entrepreneurs with their formation, filing, and regulatory needs. The first step is registering as an entity with the Secretary of State, but what about compliance? As one of our clients said Forming an entity without compliance as part of your initial formation process can lead to unintended consequences.
