Arizona Registered Agent
All limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations in Arizona are required to appoint an Arizona registered agent — also known as a statutory agent.
Statutory agents are responsible for receiving service of process in the event of a pending lawsuit, as well as for acting as your business’s point of contact with the Arizona Corporations Commission.
You can be your own agent or hire a professional registered agent service. Using a service is affordable and will:
- Improve privacy and flexibility
- Help you avoid fines and penalties
- Ensure your documents are stored safely
We’ll help you make the best choice for your small business.
Recommended: Northwest Registered Agent offers free registered agent services with LLC or corporation formation ($29 plus state fees).
Choosing a Registered Agent in Arizona
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Your Arizona registered agent will serve as your business’s point of contact with the state and will also be responsible for receiving service of process in the event of a pending lawsuit.
In Arizona, you are legally required to elect a statutory agent in order to form an LLC or a corporation. This can be a registered agent service or an individual.
Keep in mind that all prospective Arizona registered agents need to satisfy the following requirements in order to be appointed:
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must have a physical street address in Arizona.
- Must always be physically available during normal business hours at their registered office address.
Arizona Registered Agent Services
- Convenience: Working with a third-party service will allow you to operate with more flexibility on a day-to-day basis. This is because you will not need to be physically present in your business address to receive service of process.
- Privacy: Since your business’s registered agent’s address and name will become publicly available, you can choose to hire a third-party service in order to protect your personal information.
- Legal compliance: Most registered agent services offer additional features that can help your business remain compliant (e.g., annual report reminders, online uploads of documents, etc.).
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, as long as you have a physical address in Arizona, are at least 18 years old, and will always be physically available in your registered office during normal working hours to receive service of process.
Having said that, you should note that acting as your own statutory agent in Arizona will inevitably carry certain risks.
For example, you will be solely responsible for receiving and storing all important legal documents sent to you via the Corporation Commission, and any errors on your part could result in your Arizona business facing penalties and/or fines.
You will also not be as flexible when it comes to how you can operate on a day-to-day basis. This is because you will need to be physically present at your address during regular business hours in order to receive service of process.
Note: Acting as your own agent will not save you a significant amount of capital in comparison to a third-party service (i.e., around $90 per annum).
If you are forming a new LLC, it makes sense to hire an LLC formation service that includes a free year of registered agent services. These services can charge as little as $29 per formation (excluding 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 Arizona guide.
Best Arizona Registered Agent Service
If you're in Arizona 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 Arizona 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 |
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ZenBusiness
4.3/5 |
|
VISIT SITE |
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Bizee
4.1/5 |
|
VISIT SITE |
|
Rocket Lawyer
3.9/5 |
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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 Arizona. 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 registered agent service when they form an LLC. This is because it can offer a number of benefits, including:
- Legal compliance: A registered agent service will ensure that you don’t 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 Arizona Entity Search. Using a registered agent 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 losing an important document.
A registered agent 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 Arizona
If you want to start an LLC in Arizona, you will be required to elect a statutory agent when you are completing your LLC’s Articles of Organization.
This is the main formation document that you will need to sign with the Arizona Corporation Commission in order to form your LLC.
Note: Your statutory agent will need to sign their consent on Form M002: Statutory Agent Acceptance in order for your filing to be accepted.
Electing a Registered Agent Online
You can form your LLC online at the Arizona Corporation Commission website ($50 filing fee required). Your registered agent’s name and contact information will be requested under the “New Statutory Agent Information” section on the online form:
Electing a Registered Agent by Mail or In Person
To form your LLC by mail, download the Articles of Organization ($50 filing fee required), fill out the required fields, and submit a physical copy with the State of Arizona Corporate Commission Corporate Filings Section. You’ll be asked to provide your statutory agent’s information in the middle of page 1 under Article IV (Statutory Agent):
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Arizona
If you want to appoint a new agent, you will need to submit a Statement of Change form with the Arizona Corporation Commission. This can be done online via the Corporation Commission’s eCorp website or via mail.
Keep in mind that different forms will need to be filed depending on how your business is registered:
This document can be filed online, by mail, or in person.
Mail or In Person:
Arizona Corporation Commission
Corporations Division - Examination Section
1300 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Consent to Appointment
Your new statutory agent will need to consent to their appointment in writing using the Statutory Agent Acceptance form. This form must include the following information:
- Business entity name
- Statutory agent name
- Statutory agent signature
- Whether the statutory agent is an individual or an entity
There is no additional filing fee for the acceptance form, and it can be submitted by mail or in person.
For more information read our how to change statutory agents in Arizona guide.
Arizona Registered Agent FAQs
Yes, you can, although this is seldom recommended.
This is because acting as your own statutory agent will involve a certain degree of risk, and it won’t save you a significant amount of money as a small business owner (i.e., around $90 per year).
For more information, we recommend having a look at our Arizona Registered Agent article.
This will depend on how your business is registered.
If you are planning to form an LLC or a corporation, then you will be legally required to appoint an Arizona statutory agent in order to form your business.
Having said that, this is not the case for sole proprietorships and general partnerships.
This will depend on who your statutory agent is. If it is a registered agent service, you should expect to pay anywhere between $90 and $300 per year.
Note: Some Arizona LLC or corporation formation services offer free registered agents for the first year post-formation.
You can find an Arizona statutory agent service via our review of the best registered agent service in Arizona.
If you want to act as your own statutory agent instead, you will need to include your own details when you are completing your LLC’s Articles of Organization.
A statutory agent — also known as a registered agent or a resident agent outside of Arizona — is an individual or business entity that will act as your LLC’s point of contact with the Arizona Corporation Commission, and that will also be responsible for receiving service of process in the event of a pending lawsuit.
See our What is a Registered Agent article for more information.