5 Best California Registered Agent Services in 2023

1. Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest is the top registered agent service based on overall quality and transparent pricing. Northwest provides a streamlined user experience and best-in-industry customer support and data privacy protection.

With Northwest, you'll gain an online dashboard to track essential legal and business documents, California business address service, and business mail forwarding. In addition, you'll get the most transparent and straightforward pricing of any platform.

Northwest's virtual mailbox service scans your mail and forwards it to you electronically, which means you can track your legal mail from anywhere.

Northwest's $125 Basic Plan Includes:

• California Registered Agent Service
• Privacy by Default®
• Local Corporate Guides®
• Free Limited Mail Forwarding/Scanning
• Same-Day Local Document Scanning
• Free Phone Service for 60 Days
• Lifetime Customer Support

Northwest will accept service of process on behalf of businesses at its location in Sacramento.

2. ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is another ideal option for a professional registered agent service because of the company's helpful customer support and great value.

ZenBusiness’ Standard Package ($199/year) Includes:

• High-quality registered agent services
• Access to important legal documents through an intuitive online dashboard
• Expert customer support

Note that if you have already formed your California business and are just looking to change your registered agent platform to ZenBusiness, they offer 50% off ($99) for the first year.

Another valuable service worth mentioning is ZenBusiness’ Worry-Free Compliance guarantee ($199/year as a standalone service or included in Pro and Premium LLC formation packages). This guarantee includes:

• Annual report reminders
• Important documents submitted on your behalf (you'll only be responsible for state filing fee)
• Two free changes to your filings per year (state filing fees may still apply)
• Protection for any costs if you fall out of compliance with state law

3. Incfile

Incfile has served over 150,000 customers since 2004, and its Learning Center offers helpful information for California business owners.

Incfile's Basic Package Includes:

• A full year of included California registered agent services with LLC creation
• $119/year fee after the first year (or $119/year fee without forming an LLC)

Incfile also offers a convenient digital dashboard to help you track and instantly gain access to important legal correspondence. Additionally, the company sends SMS and email notifications so you can stay up-to-date on statuses of legal documents.

Incfile's virtual mailbox provides international businesses with a physical street address for their business entity in addition to a registered agent office address.

4. Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer has provided services to over 800,000 companies. This service is excellent for LLC owners who will need extra legal help. 

Rocket Lawyer offers exceptional legal help and advice to founders. The service is highly experienced in providing high-quality registered agent services. It also promises a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Exclusive Deal: Need affordable California registered agent service, legal resources, and incorporations? We partnered with Rocket Lawyer to offer our readers a discounted price!

5. LegalZoom

LegalZoom offers powerful brand recognition, more expensive prices, and a strong foothold in the registered agent industry.

LegalZoom Pricing:

• $249 for the first year with LLC formation
• $299 annually on its own

Its service includes a compliance calendar, data protection, and unlimited cloud storage. 

LegalZoom's prices are higher than competitors, but you may feel more secure choosing its service due to its brand power and experience.

Electing a California Registered Agent for a New Company

To start an LLC on your own and appoint a registered agent service, choose the article that matches your business entity type:

• How to Form an LLC in California
• How to Start a California Corporation
• How to Form a Nonprofit in California

If you are hiring a formation service to create your LLC or corporation, the service will elect your agent for service of process for you when it fills out your formation documents. 

Some formation services, like Northwest, provide free registered agent service when you form a corporation or LLC with them.

Recommended: If you use a formation service to start an LLC or corporation, you can receive free registered agent services from platforms like Northwest

Changing Your California Agent for Service of Process

If you already have an LLC, nonprofit, corporation, or other business entity in California and you want to hire another registered agent service to replace your existing one, the new agent will fill out one of the following forms on your behalf: 

• LLC Statement of Information
• Corporation Statement of Information
• Nonprofit Statement of Information

Compliance

A professional service provider will help your company stay updated with state requirements.

Peace of Mind

With a California registered agent service, you can focus your time, energy, and attention on growing your enterprise.

Flexibility

California registered agents will enable you to choose your own business hours instead of having to make yourself available between the regular business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. every weekday to receive service of process.

Privacy

The public record will list your registered agent's address — not your personal or California business address.