Are you unsatisfied with your Florida registered agent? Or perhaps you’re currently serving as your own registered agent, but would rather hire a professional registered agent service instead?
The state of Florida makes it rather easy to change your registered agent, but there are some details involved in the process that are worth reviewing.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all the relevant details of changing a registered agent in Florida.
Rocket Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Florida registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is a Florida Registered Agent?
Why is a registered agent required for every limited liability company (LLC) or corporation? It all comes down to the fact that the state needs to be able to contact an official representative of your business if they need to deliver important documents to you, especially service of process.
Without a registered agent, you could remain unaware of a lawsuit against your business progressing through the court system.
Who Can Be a Florida Registered Agent?
If you’re looking to change your company’s registered agent, it’s a good idea to know who is eligible to serve as one.
For service purposes, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations dictates that a registered agent must have a physical office in the state of Florida rather than a P.O. box.
In Florida, an agent may be either an individual who is a resident of Florida or a business entity that is registered and authorized to do business in the state. While an entity is not permitted to serve as its own registered agent, an individual associated with the business (if he/she is a qualifying resident of the state) may serve as the company’s registered agent.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Florida
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
You must simply complete and submit either the Registered Agent Change Form for Corporations or the Registered Agent/Registered Office Change form for LLCs depending on the business entity type. The documents will require the following information:
- Name and address of the LLC or corporation
- The name and address of the previous registered agent
- The name and address of the newly appointed registered agent
- The new registered agent’s signature
- The signature of an authorized representative from the business entity
The form must be printed (along with the included cover sheet) and mailed to the Amendment Section of the Division of Corporations.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: $35.00 for corporations and $25.00 for LLCs
Should You Hire a Professional Florida Registered Agent Service?
Hiring a registered agent service like Northwest Registered Agent has some distinct advantages. First and foremost, compared to serving as your own agent, professional registered agent services allow you to keep your personal address private. They’re also much less expensive than hiring a lawyer or accountant to provide registered agent service.
An often-overlooked benefit is how easy it is to expand your Florida business into other states if you choose a professional registered agent. They typically have offices in all 50 states, so if you begin transacting business in an additional state, your same registered agent service can handle that for you.
If you’re interested in hiring a professional registered agent service, take a look at our guide to the top service providers.
Conclusion
The process for changing a registered agent in Florida isn’t a complicated one, but it’s certainly advisable to know exactly what you want to do ahead of time. If you know what you want going in, you’ll find that the process is really quite painless.
We hope this article answered your questions about changing your Florida registered agent!