Northwest Registered Agent is the default pick for most corporations, at a flat $125 per year with same-day document scans, a business address for public filings, and no per-document charges. Compare renewal prices, not first-year prices, because ZenBusiness rises from $99 to $199 per year and Harbor Compliance rises from $99 to $159 per year after year one. Bizee is the cheapest way to start, with a free first year of agent service when you form through Bizee, then $149 per year, while Registered Agents Inc charges $200 per year and includes annual report filing.
A corporation must name a registered agent in its home state and in every state where it does business, and that agent must have a physical street address and be available during business hours to accept service of process and state notices. The real differences are price over three years, renewal terms, document speed, privacy handling, and what compliance help is included. The eight providers below all cover all 50 states, and every price below comes from an official provider page checked on 12 November 2026.
On this page
Best registered agent services corporations: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Registered Agent | Flat pricing and privacy | $125 per year | Not applicable | Visit |
| 2 | Harbor Compliance | Multi-state compliance tracking | $99 for the first year, then $159 per year | Not applicable | Visit |
| 3 | Bizee | Free first year with formation | $149 per year | Not applicable | Visit |
| 4 | ZenBusiness | Guided dashboard and compliance alerts | $99 for the first year, then $199 per year | Not applicable | Visit |
| 5 | LegalZoom | Switching agents with state fees covered | $249 per year | Not applicable | Visit |
| 6 | Registered Agents Inc | Annual report filing included | $200 per year | Not applicable | Visit |
| 7 | InCorp | Multi-year discounts | $129 per year | Not applicable | Visit |
| 8 | CorpNet | Bulk and multi-entity coverage | $149 per year | Not applicable | Visit |
The 8 best best registered agent services corporations, in detail
Northwest Registered Agent
Best for: Flat pricing and privacy
Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 per year, and its own page states that the price has not risen in 20 years, with no hidden fees or per-document charges. The rate drops to $100 per state per year for five or more states, so the second-year bill matches the first when the service is bought on its own. The service includes instant scans of state and legal mail, use of the Northwest business address on public filings instead of the corporation address, and local Corporate Guides for support.
- Northwest also scans normal business mail, up to 10 scans per year at no extra charge.
- Formation through Northwest costs $39 plus the state fee and includes the first year of registered agent service.
- A corporation that wants a stable annual cost and strong privacy handling should start here.
Pros
- Flat $125 per year with no per-document charges
- $100 per state per year for five or more states
- same-day scans and a business address for public filings
Cons
- Normal business mail scanning is capped at 10 scans per year at no extra charge
- formation costs $39 plus the state fee when you form through Northwest
Harbor Compliance
Best for: Multi-state compliance tracking
Harbor Compliance charges new customers $99 for the first year, and the service renews at $159 per year after that. It also sells 2-year and 3-year terms that hold the $99 yearly rate, at $198 for two years and $297 for three years, before renewal at $159 per year. A corporation that commits to three years pays $297 for the term instead of $417 on yearly billing.
- The service includes same-day document delivery, a phone call after service of process, Entity Manager software for tracking entities across states, u
- Harbor Compliance covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- One limit: all Harbor Compliance fees are non-refundable, and leaving needs 90 days notice with proof that Harbor Compliance has been removed in every
Pros
- $99 first-year rate for new customers
- Entity Manager software with annual report reminders
- same-day document delivery with a phone call after service of process
Cons
- Renewal rises to $159 per year
- all fees are non-refundable, and leaving needs 90 days notice
Bizee
Best for: Free first year with formation
Bizee, formerly Incfile, includes the first year of registered agent service at no extra charge when a business forms through Bizee, and the service then costs $149 per year. Its Basic formation package costs $0 plus the state fee. Bizee states that it owns and operates its own offices in all 50 states, and that service of process is mailed by FedEx with tracking.
- The Standard package costs $199 plus the state fee and adds an EIN, an operating agreement, and faster processing, while the Premium package costs $29
- The free agent year is tied to the formation order, so a corporation that already exists and only needs an agent pays $149 per year from the start.
Pros
- First year of registered agent service free with formation
- Basic formation costs $0 plus the state fee
- own offices in all 50 states
Cons
- Renewal is $149 per year after the free year
- no multi-state discount is published on the registered agent page
ZenBusiness
Best for: Guided dashboard and compliance alerts
ZenBusiness charges $99 plus state fees for the first year when added at formation, and the service renews at $199 per year, so a corporation should judge it on its two-year cost of $298 rather than on the $99 first-year figure. The Starter formation plan costs $0 plus the state fee, Pro costs $199 per year plus the state fee, and Premium costs $399 per year plus the state fee, with the agent sold as a separate add-on. The service includes document receipt, secure digital delivery, email notifications, and priority handling of legal notices, and the dashboard tracks annual reports and amendments in one place.
- ZenBusiness offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on the service.
- One limit: mail scanning is not included, so a corporation that receives regular business mail at the agent address will need a separate mail handling
Pros
- $99 first-year rate when added at formation
- guided dashboard with compliance alerts
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Renewal rises to $199 per year
- mail scanning is not included in the agent service
LegalZoom
Best for: Switching agents with state fees covered
LegalZoom charges $249 per year for registered agent service, sold separately from every formation package. The Basic formation package costs $0 plus the state fee, Pro costs $249 plus the state fee, and Premium costs $299 plus the state fee. The $249 purchase price is available only to first-time registered agent customers, and the service renews automatically each year at the purchase rate, which LegalZoom states may change.
- The service includes same-day document scanning, compliance alerts, annual report reminders through the Compliance Calendar, unlimited cloud storage f
- LegalZoom states that it has served businesses since 2001 and covers all 50 states.
Pros
- Covers state fees when switching agents to LegalZoom
- same-day document scanning
- unlimited cloud storage for business documents
Cons
- $249 per year is the highest price in this list
- the agent is not included in any formation package
Registered Agents Inc
Best for: Annual report filing included
Registered Agents Inc charges a flat $200 per year, with the same rate in year one and on renewal. The price includes preparation and filing of the annual report or equivalent state filing at no extra charge, with only the state fee to pay on top. Most other providers charge separately for that filing work, often $50 to $150 per state per year, so the gap between $200 and $125 narrows when the filing work is counted.
- The service includes same-day document scanning and upload to a compliance dashboard, privacy protection with the Registered Agents Inc address on pub
- Coverage covers all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.
- One limit: mail scanning is an add-on, so a corporation that wants mail scanned as part of the base price should check the add-on cost before it signs
Pros
- Annual report filing included at no extra charge, state fee extra
- flat $200 per year with no first-year teaser
- same-day document uploads
Cons
- $200 per year is higher than Northwest at $125 per year
- mail scanning is an add-on rather than included
InCorp
Best for: Multi-year discounts
InCorp charges a flat $129 per year, with the same rate in every state and territory it covers. Multi-year terms lower the yearly rate to $117 for two years, $105 for three years, $96 for four years, and $87 for five years, so a corporation that commits to five years pays $435 for the term instead of $645 on yearly billing. The service covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, with same-day delivery of service of process and EntityWatch monitoring included.
- Formation through InCorp starts at $99 plus the state fee, and the agent service is sold separately from formation.
- One limit: the lowest rate needs the full 5-year term, and the price-beat offer is subject to conditions.
Pros
- Flat $129 per year in every state
- $87 per year on a 5-year term
- EntityWatch monitoring included
Cons
- The $87 rate needs a 5-year term
- the price-beat offer is subject to conditions
CorpNet
Best for: Bulk and multi-entity coverage
CorpNet charges $149 per year for registered agent service in a single state, and it publishes bulk pricing for corporations that hold many entities. The bulk rate is $119 per unit for 20 to 50 units, $99 for 51 to 150 units, $89 for 151 to 500 units, $59 for 501 to 1,000 units, and $49 for 1,001 or more units. Formation packages start with Basic at $99 plus the state fee, which includes 60 days of registered agent service, Deluxe at $219 plus the state fee, which includes 1 year of agent service, and Complete at $269 plus the state fee, which adds a customized kit and seal and customized corporation bylaws.
- CorpNet states that its agents are available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm to accept service of process, legal notifications, tax documents,
- One limit: CorpNet adds a 3% convenience fee and a $29 shipping and handling fee to packages.
Pros
- $149 per year for a single state
- bulk pricing drops to $49 per unit for 1,001 or more units
- 1 year of agent service free with the Deluxe formation package
Cons
- A 3% convenience fee and a $29 shipping and handling fee apply to packages
- the first bulk tier needs 20 to 50 units for $119 per unit
How we chose
We chose providers that publish a registered agent price on an official page, cover all 50 states, and serve corporations as well as LLCs. We compared first-year prices with renewal prices, because the renewal price is the cost a corporation pays every year after the first, and we checked multi-year terms where a provider publishes them. Prices and plan limits come from official vendor pages checked on 12 November 2026, listed in Sources. We did not test any tool hands-on.
Which service fits your corporation
| Situation | Pick | First-year cost | Renewal cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most corporations, one state | Northwest Registered Agent | $125 per year | $125 per year |
| Multi-state compliance tracking | Harbor Compliance | $99 | $159 per year |
| New corporation, lowest first year | Bizee | $0 agent fee with formation | $149 per year |
| Guided dashboard | ZenBusiness | $99 | $199 per year |
| Annual report filing included | Registered Agents Inc | $200 per year | $200 per year |
| Long-term agent, 5-year term | InCorp | $129 per year | $87 per year on a 5-year term |
| Many entities | CorpNet | $149 per year | $149 per year, $49 per unit at 1,001 units |
| Switch handled for you | LegalZoom | $249 per year | $249 per year |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered agent cost for a corporation?
A registered agent for a corporation costs $99 to $249 per year for the first year across the eight providers in this article, and $125 to $249 per year on renewal. Northwest charges a flat $125 per year, InCorp charges $129 per year, Bizee and CorpNet charge $149 per year, Harbor Compliance renews at $159 per year, Registered Agents Inc charges $200 per year, ZenBusiness renews at $199 per year, and LegalZoom charges $249 per year.
Which is the best registered agent service for corporations?
Northwest Registered Agent is the best default pick for most corporations, at a flat $125 per year with same-day scans, a business address for public filings, and no per-document charges. Registered Agents Inc is the best pick when annual report filing matters, because it includes that filing in its $200 per year. Bizee is the best pick for a new corporation that wants a free first year with formation.
Does a corporation need a registered agent in every state?
A corporation needs a registered agent in its home state and in every state where it does business, and each agent must have a physical street address in that state and be available during business hours. A national provider covers all 50 states under one account. State fees for changing an agent are separate from the agent fee.
What happens if a corporation misses a legal notice?
A missed legal notice can lead to a missed court deadline, a default judgment, or loss of good standing with the state, which is why same-day scanning matters. Harbor Compliance calls after service of process, Northwest scans documents the same day they arrive, and Registered Agents Inc uploads documents the same day.
Is a free first year of registered agent service a good deal?
A free first year is a good deal only when the renewal price is fair, because Bizee is free for year one with formation and then $149 per year, while ZenBusiness is $99 for year one and then $199 per year. Compare the three-year total, not the first year alone: Northwest costs $375 over three years, Bizee costs $298 over three years when formed through Bizee, and ZenBusiness costs $497 over three years on its own.
Can a corporation be its own registered agent?
A corporation can name an officer or director with a physical street address in the state as its own registered agent in most states, and that costs no agent fee. The trade-off is privacy, because the agent address goes on the public record, and availability, because someone must be present during business hours to accept service of process. A commercial agent keeps a home address off public filings and covers the hours when the office is closed.
Sources
- https://northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent-service
- https://harborcompliance.com/registered-agent-service
- https://bizee.com/llc/massachusetts/registered-agent
- https://www.zenbusiness.com/am/registered-agent/
- https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/registered-agent-in-alaska
- https://www.registeredagentsinc.com/registered-agent/
- https://www.incorp.com/registered-agent-services
- https://www.corpnet.com/start-business/registered-agent/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.