What is a registered agent? What address should be used for my business filing?

Last updated: March 29, 2024

What is a registered agent?

A registered agent is a person or company that gets listed on your business filing. This person or company will be the point of contact in the state you file. They are tasked with receiving legal and state documents, service of process, and any other important documents on behalf of the company.

Can I be my own registered agent?

Yes. Most states allow a business owner to be listed as their own registered agent. Sometimes folks prefer to use a third party who will be available to receive mail on their behalf.

Who else can be the registered agent should I wish to not be my own?

Someone a business owner knows who has a residence in that state can also be listed as the business owner’s registered agent. In order to be someone’s registered agent, they must be aware that they are being listed for this purpose and agree to it.

And last, a client can hire/pay for a registered agent service. These are companies that exist in every state and usually charge a monthly or yearly fee ($40-$80 a year or so).

What about the other address(s) on the filing like the principal place of business? How does the registered agent relate?

The business application process requires 3 types of addresses: a mailing address, the registered agent's address, and the principal place of business address.

Oregon and Washington law allows you to use a commercial registered agent address as your principal place of business address on your business registration. This is helpful if you work from home and want to protect your privacy by not having your home address in public records. You may also use the registered agent address for the mailing address, and this will direct all important correspondence from the Secretary of State to your registered agent, who will promptly pass it along to you. 

Two things to keep in mind: (1) While the mailing address can be a PO Box or UPS store or other type of virtual office, you absolutely cannot use a virtual office address as your principal place of business. The Secretary of State keeps a list of mailbox rentals and virtual offices and is likely to reject your filing. And (2) you should only use your commercial registered agent address for the Secretary of State listing! Do not direct mail or other correspondence there, such as your bank statements or insurance policy documents, because the registered agent is hired only to accept legal documents and important documents from state and local governments (like the secretary of state) and they will charge extra for "regular" mail.

Can’t I just use the firm address as my principal place of business?

Unfortunately, no.

For your principal business address, you should use an address where you are able to receive mail on a regular basis to monitor important business communications.

It is true that on the Secretary of State website per Oregon’s rules, an attorney or firm’s address can be listed as a principal place of business in addition to the other two addresses described above. https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/business-privacy.aspx
However, our firm does not offer this as a paid service.

Oh - one more thing.

After you register, you will start to get some junk mail. Please read carefully about that mail here.

If you have more questions about the subject of this blog or would like to schedule a no cost 30 minute consult, please complete a submission here.