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ZenBusiness |
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Visit ZenBusiness |
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Northwest Registered Agent |
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Visit Northwest |
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Harbor Compliance |
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Visit Harbor Compliance |
A registered agent is a person or company that accepts official documents on behalf of a company. Every New Hampshire company, whether its a partnership, LLC, or a corporation, must select a registered agent when establishing a business in the state.
A registered agent should be someone you trust, whether that’s yourself, a company employee, or a professional registered agent service, the choice is yours.
To help entrepreneurs establish a business in New Hampshire and select a qualified registered agent, this guide should help. It’s full of educational information meant to ease the process of launching a new business.
What is a New Hampshire registered agent?
A New Hampshire registered agent is a person or company that serves as an official point of contact for a business. This person could receive documents like tax notices or legal correspondence. The owner selects the registered agent for the company. The owner can serve as the registered agent, but so can another employee, a friend, or even a family member. A registered agent service can be hired to fill this role too.
Read more: What is a registered agent?
How does an owner select a registered agent in New Hampshire?
Selecting a New Hampshire registered agent is done by listing the person or company on the LLC formation documents. In time, the registered agent can change. If that’s the case, an update must be filed with the state.
Who can be a registered agent in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, there are some rules regarding who can and can’t be a registered agent. A registered agent can be any resident at least 18 years old or a company in the state that maintains a physical street address. The person or company must be available during regular business hours and be willing to accept documents via postal mail or in-person deliveries.
Can I be my own registered agent in New Hampshire?
Yes. The owner can be the company’s registered agent, which is fairly common. The owner can also select another person like an employee or friend, or another company like a registered agent service.
Why would a company choose to work with a registered agent service?
A registered agent service comes with a lot of benefits. A service will collect documents for the company and notify the owner when they come in. Here’s a look at why some entrepreneurs are willing to pay a few bucks for this service:
- Convenience. Some owners simply don’t want to handle this job. A registered agent must always be ready to accept documents even though it might only happen a few times a year. They prefer, for convenience, to have a company take on the responsibility.
- Peace of mind. A registered agent service provides peace of mind. The owner knows that a company is ready and willing to accept documents at all times and he or she will be notified if it happens.
- Availability. A registered agent service is open during normal business hours. This kind of availability might not be obtainable for an owner. Maybe an owner travels a lot, for instance, and isn’t in one place all the time to receive documents.
- Privacy. Some of the documents that a registered agent receives are confidential. If your company is sued, for example, the service of process paperwork is “served” offsite when a registered agent service is in place. It provides an extra layer of privacy that some owners prefer.
Read more: Best Registered Agent Services
How much does a registered agent service cost in New Hampshire?
Cost is a concern for every business owner. However, the cost of a registered agent service isn’t as expensive as you might think. A registered agent service with basic mail forwarding features costs about $50 a year.
There are companies that offer more services that coincide with the registered agent’s tasks, like assistance in filing annual reports. Companies that offer advanced features like this are more expensive. Expect to pay between $100-200 for companies with extensive business services.
List of New Hampshire registered agent services
There are many qualified registered agents in the State of New Hampshire. Here’s a look at three registered agent services that are available in the state. Each of these companies offers services in addition to registered agent services that may be helpful.
- ZenBusiness is fairly new to the market, but it’s grown a strong following. Business owners love the affordable rates for a registered agent service, which are as low as $99 per year. The company also offers worry-free compliance to help business owners file the necessary reports on time.
- Northwest Registered Agent is one of the most recognized names in the registered agent business. The company has decades of experience and local offices scattered across the U.S. to serve small businesses like yours. The cost for a registered agent service is comparable to others. Business owners can also take advantage of additional services like report filing.
- Harbor Compliance is a great fit for organizations that register in multiple states and for those who don’t want to pay excessive service fees. With their network and electronic document delivery, they help ensure your business never misses a legal notification.
New Hampshire registered agent FAQs
Do I really need a registered agent in New Hampshire?
Yes. The State of New Hampshire requires every LLC to list the name and address of a registered agent on its LLC formation documents.
Can a company change its registered agent?
Yes. There is a change form that can be filed with the New Hampshire Department of State, Corporate Division to update a registered agent’s name, address, or both.
There are many reasons to update or change your company’s registered agent. Perhaps the employee who holds this position is retiring or maybe the friend that’s serving as the company’s registered agent is moving. No matter what the reason is, the change form should be filed with the state.
The form can be filled out online and submitted digitally. There is a $15 fee to file.
A statutory agent is another name for a registered agent. The name differs by state. Other names include service of process agent or resident agent.
What’s a commercial registered agent?
A commercial agent is a registered agent service. A non-commercial agent is a person like an owner or an employee that holds the position.