Every formal business in the state of New Jersey is required by law to have a registered agent. A registered agent receives any official documents from the State of New Jersey, as well as any service of process that may be served on a firm in a lawsuit.
In this New Jersey Registered Agent guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about registered agents, including what they do and how to choose one.
What Is A Registered Agent In New Jersey?
A registered agent in New Jersey is a person or corporate organization that serves as your company’s point of contact for:
All correspondence with the State of New Jersey, including the New Jersey Annual Report and certificate of good standing
In every litigation, the company receives full service of process.
In New Jersey, any formal business, such as an LLC or corporation, is required by law to have a registered agent.
In New Jersey, may I act as my own registered agent?
Yes, any owner or employee of a company may serve as its registered agent in New Jersey if they are above the age of 18 and have a New Jersey street address.
You might also designate a member of your LLC or a friend you trust, as long as they match these standards as well.
Why Do Companies Use a Registered Agent in New Jersey?
Many firms opt to employ a registered agent service when forming an LLC for the following reasons:
Compliance
A registered agent service keeps a compliance calendar and will notify you when yearly reports or other files are due, as well as assist you in submitting them.
This helps you avoid penalties and maintains your firm in good standing, both of which are necessary to preserve your limited liability protection.
If you do not reply immediately to serving of process, legal complexities, costs, or other concerns may develop. A registered agent will scan your papers, upload them to the internet, and tell you when they are ready.
Privacy
If you operate from home or a private office as your own registered agent, your address will be publicly shown on the New Jersey Business Entity Name Search.
If your privacy is important to you, a registered agent service will use their own address instead of yours.
Discretion
Receiving service of process for a lawsuit at your place of business may be a delicate circumstance to have in front of your staff and customers.
To circumvent this problem, a registered agent will accept service of process and other papers at their office and deliver them to you discreetly online.
Flexibility
If you are your own registered agent, you must be accessible every working day of the year during regular business hours.
Registered agent services have real offices and people to cover certain hours, allowing them to be accessible during those times.
Hiring a registered agent service enables you to be more flexible with your working hours and locations. So go ahead and take a vacation, work from home or the office, or travel the globe knowing they’ll be there to collect your documents.
Online Data Storage
A competent registered agent service will scan your papers as soon as they arrive, maintaining a digital record of all your company documents and any service of process on a user-friendly dashboard.
If you employed an LLC creation service, you would most likely also use them as a registered agent. This implies a copy of your formation paperwork will be accessible online as well.
National Reach
If you want to grow your company into other states, such as by employing an out-of-state employee or establishing a new sales office, you must have a registered agent for your foreign LLC or other corporation.
Most registered agent services operate in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.; just pay a small fee for each additional state in which you conduct business, and they will transmit all of your paperwork to the same online dashboard.
What Is the Cost of a Registered Agent?
A registered agent service normally costs between $50 and $300 each year. When you consider how much time it will save you, this is a little amount to pay.
In New Jersey, How Do I Choose A Registered Agent?
When you submit your LLC’s Certificate of Formation in New Jersey, you must choose your registered agent. The Certificate of Formation is the primary document used to create an LLC in New Jersey.
Online Registration of a Registered Agent
You may create an LLC online by registering with the State of New Jersey’s website ($125 registration fee needed). You’ll have online access to all of the tools you need to appoint a registered agent and incorporate your LLC.
Choosing a Registered Agent by Mail
Download the Business Registration Packet, fill out the appropriate information, and deliver a physical copy to the Division of Revenue to create your LLC by mail. The name and address of your registered agent will be required on page 23, Section 8.
In New Jersey, how can I change my registered agent?
To change your registered agent in New Jersey, just complete a change form and send it to the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, along with a $25 filing fee paid by credit card.