Vermont Registered Agent
LLC owners are required to appoint a Vermont registered agent to accept legal documents like service of process.
You can be your own registered agent, but many small business owners choose to use a professional registered agent service because a service will:
- Protect your privacy
- Give you the freedom to leave your place of business during normal business hours
- Collect important legal documents securely, online
We’ll help you make the best choice for your business.
Recommended: Northwest Registered Agent offers free registered agent services with LLC formation ($29 plus state fees).
Choosing a Registered Agent in Vermont
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A Vermont registered agent will serve as your business’s primary point of contact with the Secretary of State.
Moreover, your agent will be responsible for receiving important legal documents from other entities (i.e., service of process).
Appointing a Vermont registered agent is a legal requirement for LLCs and corporations. This can be a registered agent service, another individual, or a business attorney, so long as:
- They’re 18 years old or older.
- They have a physical street address in Vermont.
- They will always be available during regular business hours at their specified address.
Vermont Registered Agent Services
- Convenience: Working with a third-party service means that you will not become your business’s primary point of contact for service of process and so will not need to stay in your designated office address during normal business hours.
- Privacy: Your agent’s address and name will become publicly available as soon as you register your LLC. This means that using a third-party service can be an affordable way of protecting your privacy.
- Compliance and Online Storage: Most reputable third-party services choose to scan and upload all legal documents online. This improves your storing capabilities and ensures that you will not lose an important document down the line.
Let’s Find the Right Registered Agent for Your Business
We’ve tested and reviewed the most popular registered agent services.
Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent?
Yes you can.
In fact, anyone can be a registered agent, so long as they have a physical address in Vermont, are available during regular business hours, and are at least 18 years old.
Having said that, being your own agent is generally not recommended unless you are operating on an extremely tight budget. This is because a third-party service is relatively affordable (around $10 per month) and provides a variety of different benefits.
These include improved privacy, storage, and flexibility.
If you are forming a new LLC, we recommend hiring an LLC formation service that includes free registered agent service for a year. These can charge as little as $29 per formation (plus state fees).
If you are forming an LLC but prefer to file the paperwork yourself and act as your own registered agent, take a look at our How to Start an LLC in Vermont guide.
Best Vermont Registered Agent Service
If you're in Vermont and either looking to form a new LLC or switch your existing registered agent, it's crucial to consider factors like cost, range of services, reputation, and customer support.
Many people seek registered agents offering features like mail forwarding, document scanning, and compliance monitoring.
Northwest Special Offer
If you haven't formed your LLC yet, consider Northwest's LLC formation package for $29 plus state fees, which includes a free first year of registered agent service.
- Premium customer service
- Streamlined ordering
- Robust privacy features
To help you make an informed choice, we've compiled a table comparing the top 5 Vermont registered agent services below.
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Best Registered Agent Services |
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Northwest
4.7/5 |
BEST REGISTERED AGENT SERVICE
|
VISIT SITE |
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LegalZoom
4.5/5 |
TRUSTED AND WELL-KNOWN COMPANY
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VISIT SITE |
|
ZenBusiness
4.3/5 |
|
VISIT SITE |
|
Bizee
4.1/5 |
|
VISIT SITE |
|
Rocket Lawyer
3.9/5 |
|
VISIT SITE |
Whether you're starting a new business or considering a change, it's crucial to weigh factors like pricing, services, reputation, and customer support when choosing a registered agent in Vermont. Compare quotes and read online reviews to find the best fit for your needs.
Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service
Many businesses choose to use a third-party service when they form an LLC. This is because it can offer a number of benefits, including:
- Legal compliance: A registered agent business will ensure that you do not miss an important legal document or notification (e.g., service of process, etc.) as a result of not being in your office (or as a result of a human error).
- Improved privacy: If you act as your own agent, your name and address will become public record on the Vermont Business Entity Search. Using a third-party service will help keep your information private.
- Discretion: When it comes to legal disputes, you will want to avoid receiving lawsuit-related documents in front of your clients and/or some employees.
- Better storage: Your service will generally scan all documents received and upload them online in PDF form. This means that you will always be able to access them online, and won’t have to worry about an employee accidentally losing an important document.
A third-party service can also be beneficial if you plan to expand into other states as a foreign LLC. This is because, otherwise, you would need to find an individual or business entity that is a resident — or is allowed to transact business — in each state that you want to register in.
How to Elect a Registered Agent in Vermont
For your LLC in Vermont, you will be required to elect your registered agent when you complete your LLC’s Articles of Organization. This is the formation document that you will need to file with the Vermont Secretary of State in order to officially form your LLC.
Electing a Registered Agent Online
To form your LLC online, create an account through the Vermont Secretary of State ($125 filing fee required). You’ll gain access to all the resources you need to appoint a registered agent and form your LLC online.
Electing a Registered Agent by Mail or In Person
To form your LLC by mail or in person, request Form LLC-1(D) - Articles of Organization form ($125 filing fee required), fill out the required fields, and submit a physical copy to the Vermont Secretary of State.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Vermont
To change your Vermont registered agent, you will need to complete a Change of Registered Agent form online through the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division ($25 filing fee).
You can also request a paper form in order to file your form via email or deliver it in person.
For more information read our how to change registered agents in Vermont guide.
Vermont Registered Agent FAQs
Yes, so long as you have a physical address in Vermont, are available during normal business hours, and are at least 18 years old.
Having said that, this is seldom recommended, especially when considering how affordable a third-party service is (i.e., around $10 per month).
See our Vermont Registered Agent article for more information.
This will depend on the business entity in question, as Vermont registered agents are required for all LLCs and corporations.
Having said that, you will not need to appoint an agent as a sole proprietorship or general partnership.
See our What is a Registered Agent article for more information.
A partner, another individual, yourself, or a third-party service, so long as they satisfy the following requirements:
- Are at least 18 years old
- Have a physical street address in Vermont
- Are always available during regular business hours.
We recommend having a look at our What Does a Registered Agent Do article for more information.
You can do this by filling out a Registered Agent Change form online via the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division.
If you wish to file the form via mail or deliver it in person, you can also choose to request a paper form through the SOS website.
For more information, have a look at our How Do I Change My Registered Agent in Vermont article.