New Mexico Registered Agent
If you want to register your business as an LLC, you'll be legally required to appoint a New Mexico registered agent.
New Mexico registered agents are responsible for receiving important legal documents on behalf of your business, like service of process.
You can be your own agent, but many small businesses choose to hire a commercial third-party service. This is because services:
- Reduce risk
- Increase privacy and flexibility
- Offer affordable pricing
We’ll help you make the best choice for your business.
Recommended: Northwest Registered Agent offers free registered agent services with LLC or corporation formation ($29 plus state fees).
Choosing a Registered Agent in New Mexico
A New Mexico registered agent serves as your business’s primary point of contact with the Secretary of State, as well as with any entity that needs to deliver notice of a pending lawsuit (ie. deliver service of process).
Appointing a registered agent will be a legal requirement if you want to start a New Mexico LLC or corporation. This can be a registered agent service, yourself, or another individual, so long as they:
- Are 18 years old or older.
- Have a physical address in New Mexico.
- Are always available at their registered office address during regular business hours.
New Mexico Registered Agent Services
- Convenience: Hiring a third-party service is the most convenient approach because it will allow you to be away from your business address during normal business hours.
- Privacy: Since your registered agent’s address will become publicly available as soon as your business is formed, you can choose to hire a third-party service in order to protect your privacy.
- Compliance and Online Storage: Several premium third-party services scan all legal documents received and upload them online. This can help you stay compliant as you will not have to worry about losing an important document.
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. Being your own agent can be a great choice if you are a smaller business that is operating with an exceptionally tight budget; this is because it can be done free of charge.
Having said that, this route is generally not recommended unless it is a requirement due to the fact that:
- It won’t save you a significant amount of capital: Being your own agent will save you about $150 per year (in comparison to a third-party service).
- It’s relatively time-inefficient: This is because you will need to split your time between acting as your own agent and actively running your business.
- It offers less privacy: If you are your own agent, your address and personal information will become publicly available.
If you are planning to form a new LLC, we recommend using an LLC formation service that includes a free year of registered agent services. These types of 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 New Mexico guide.
Best New Mexico Registered Agent Service
Northwest is our best registered agent service based on overall quality and transparent pricing. Northwest offers a seamless user experience and best-in-industry customer service and privacy protection.
When you choose Northwest as your registered agent service, you'll get an online account to access essential documents, mail forwarding, and business address services.
Northwest’s virtual mailbox service will scan your mail and forward it to you electronically. This means that you can keep track of your mail no matter where you are in the world.
LLC Formation + 1 yr Free Registered Agent Service
One Year Free Registered Agent with LLC Formation $29 (Plus State Fees)
Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service
Many businesses choose to use a professional 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 New Mexico Business 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 commercial 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 New Mexico
For your LLC in New Mexico, you will be required to appoint a registered agent when you are completing your LLC’s Articles of Organization.
This is the formation document that you will need to file with the Secretary of State ($50 processing fee) in order to form your LLC.
Electing a Registered Agent Online
You can form your LLC online by creating an account through the New Mexico Secretary of State website ($50 filing fee required). You’ll gain access to all the resources you need to appoint a registered agent and form your LLC online.
Consent to Appointment
New Mexico registered agents must consent to their appointment by completing and signing a Statement of Acceptance of Appointment form, which you must upload at the time of filing.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in New Mexico
If you want to appoint a new registered agent, you will need to fill out a Change of Registered Agent form.
You can access this via the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Corporations and Business Services website.
The filing fee is $20 for LLCs, $25 for corporations, and $10 for nonprofit organizations.
Consent to Appointment
Your new registered agent also will need to consent to their appointment. They do this by filling out a Statement of Acceptance of Appointment form and signing it for you to upload online.
Check out our full guide on how to change registered agents in New Mexico.
New Mexico Registered Agent FAQs
Can I be my own registered agent in New Mexico?
Yes you can.
If you are interested in acting as your own registered agent — also known as a resident agent — you will be able to do this while completing your LLC's Articles of Organization.
Having said that, this approach is generally not recommended due to the fact that it’s relatively time-inefficient.
See our New Mexico Registered Agent article for more information.
Does New Mexico require a registered agent?
It can do, depending on your business’s entity type.
For example, sole proprietorships and general partnerships do not need to appoint an agent, whereas both LLCs and corporations do.
This can be yourself, a registered agent service, or another individual.
What is a New Mexico registered agent?
A registered agent is an individual or third-party service that acts as your business’s primary point of contact with the state.
New Mexico registered agents are also responsible for receiving important legal documents from other private businesses, such as service of process.
See our What is a Registered Agent article for more information.
How much does a registered agent cost in New Mexico?
This will depend on who your agent is.
If you act as your own agent, it will cost you nothing (besides your time).
On the other hand, you will likely be required to pay anywhere between $90 and $300 per year for a commercial third-party service.
See our How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost review for more information.