Hire a Registered Agent in Washington
LLC Register serves as your Washington registered agent, scans legal documents same-day and keeps your LLC in good standing. LLC Register is the most affordable registered agent service in Washington — get a free LLC and annual compliance with your plan.
Washington Registered Agent
- Washington Registered Agent
- $99 per year
- Washington Street Address
- Free
- Same-Day Legal Mail Scan
- Free
- Washington LLC Formation
- Free
- Annual Compliance
- Free
Transparent Cost Guide to hire a Washington Registered Agent with LLC Register
Every fee, line by line. State filing fees are passed through at cost; there is nothing else to add at checkout.
| Service | LLC Register fee | Washington state fee | Estimated total | One-time or annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington registered agent service | $99 | $0 | $99 | Annual |
Registered agent's written consent (RCW 23.95.415) | $0 | $0 | $0 | Free |
Same-day scan of legal mail | $0 | $0 | $0 | Free |
Washington LLC formation (certificate of organization) | $0 | $0 | $0 | One-time |
Washington LLC compliance (annual report) | $0 | $70 | $70 | Annual |
Washington state filing fee | $0 | $200 | $200 | One-time |
LLC Register serves as your Washington registered agent for $99 a year: a physical Washington street address, written consent kept on file, and same-day scans of any legal or state mail we receive for your LLC, corporation or limited partnership. Also, all registered agent services include a free LLC and free annual compliance.
Comprehensive 10-Step Guide to Hire a Registered Agent in Washington
From checking the requirement to renewing every year, in the order you will do them.
Step 1 — Confirm you need a Washington registered agent
Every Washington LLC, corporation and limited partnership must continuously maintain a registered agent under RCW 25.15.021, which incorporates the registered agent rules at RCW 23.95.400 through 23.95.460. The agent is named on your Certificate of Formation and stays on the state's public record.
Step 2 — Decide between being your own agent or hiring a service
You can serve as your own noncommercial registered agent if you have a Washington street address and can accept delivery there during business hours; most owners hire a service instead to keep that address off the public record and never miss a delivery.
Step 3 — Check the registered office address rule
The registered agent's address must be a street address in Washington, not a P.O. box, under RCW 23.95.410; a separate Washington mailing address may also be listed, but someone must be able to accept delivery at the street address during normal business hours.
Step 4 — Choose a Washington registered agent service
Compare the annual price, whether mail is scanned the same day it arrives, and whether a Statement of Change is included at no extra charge before you sign up.
Step 5 — Sign up and provide your entity details
Give your legal entity name, entity type and Washington Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number, if you already have one, so the agent can be listed correctly.
Step 6 — Get the agent's written consent on file
RCW 23.95.415(2) requires a registered agent to give prior consent in a record before being appointed; without it, the agent can file a notarized statement with the Secretary of State and be removed from the entity's record immediately.
Step 7 — List your registered agent on your formation document
A new LLC names its registered agent and address directly on the Certificate of Formation, filed with the Washington Secretary of State under RCW 25.15.071 for a $200 online filing fee.
Step 8 — File a Statement of Change if you already have an entity
Existing LLCs switch agents by filing a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Washington Secretary of State under RCW 23.95.430; the state charges no fee for this filing.
Step 9 — Confirm the change on the public record
Use the Secretary of State's Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) business search to confirm your new registered agent is listed before your next Annual Report is due.
Step 10 — Keep your registered agent active every year
Washington can administratively dissolve an entity that goes without a registered agent for 30 consecutive days, after a 60-day notice-and-cure period (RCW 23.95.605, RCW 23.95.610), so renew your agent service before it lapses.
Washington Registered Agent Facts Table
The official statute, fees and links for a Washington registered agent, each checked against the state agency.
Washington registered agent statute | RCW 25.15.021; registered agent rules at RCW 23.95.400–23.95.460 |
|---|---|
Registered agent required | Yes — for LLCs, corporations and limited partnerships |
Who may serve as agent | A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial individual or entity with a Washington street address |
Registered office address rule | A street address in Washington; no P.O. boxes for the registered agent's address (RCW 23.95.410) |
Written consent required | Yes, before appointment (RCW 23.95.415(2)) |
Fee to change agent | $0 (Statement of Change of Registered Agent, RCW 23.95.430); optional $100 expedite |
Filing agency | Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division |
Standard processing time | About 5 business days online (3–4 weeks by mail); expedited service available for $100–$150 |
Penalty for no registered agent | Grounds for administrative dissolution after 30 days without an agent, with 60 days to cure after notice (RCW 23.95.605, RCW 23.95.610) |
Recurring compliance filing | Annual Report, $70, due by the last day of the LLC's anniversary month |
Washington business filings and registered agent search | ccfs.sos.wa.gov/#/AdvancedSearch |
Business name generator | swyftfilings.com/business-name-generator |
Virtual mailbox | snapmailbox.com |
Trademark registration | trademarkengine.com |
Free Trademark Search | trademarkengine.com/free-trademark-search |
Author: LLC RegisterLast reviewed 9/30/2026
Washington agency: Washington Secretary of StateLast reviewed 9/30/2026
Legal Requirements for a Washington Registered Agent
What Washington law requires of every registered agent, with the rule and the agency that enforces it.
A street address in Washington
Every Washington entity's registered agent must maintain a street address in this state, not a P.O. box, under RCW 23.95.410. A separate Washington mailing address may also be listed, but someone must be able to accept delivery at the street address during normal business hours.
Who can serve as your agent
Under RCW 23.95.415 and 23.95.420, the agent is either a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State or a noncommercial individual or entity with a Washington street address. The same registered-agent framework applies to LLCs, corporations and limited partnerships alike.
Written consent to serve
RCW 23.95.415(2) requires a person or company named as registered agent to give prior consent in a record before being appointed. If someone is named without consent, they may file a notarized statement with the Secretary of State and be removed from the record immediately.
Accepting and forwarding legal notices
RCW 23.95.455 limits the agent's job to forwarding process, notices and demands addressed to the entity to its last-provided address, and to keeping its own name and address information current with the Secretary of State.
Reporting a change of agent
A change in registered agent is reported on a Statement of Change of Registered Agent, filed with the Washington Secretary of State under RCW 23.95.430 at no state filing fee, or made as part of the entity's Annual Report.
Maintaining an agent at all times
If an entity goes without a valid registered agent for 30 consecutive days, that is grounds for administrative dissolution under RCW 23.95.605. The Secretary of State serves notice, and the entity has until the 60th day after that notice to fix it under RCW 23.95.610.
Washington Registered Agent Service Cost Comparison
Published prices for a Washington registered agent service, compared line by line.
| What you pay for | LLC Register | LegalZoom | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|---|
LLC formation service | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Washington filing fee | $180 | $180 | $180 |
Registered agent, first year | $99 | $249 | $99 |
Annual report filing | $0 | $99 | $100 |
First-year total | $99 + state fee | $249 + state fee | $99 + state fee |
Registered agent renewal | $99 per year | $249 per year | $199 per year |
Competitor prices are for each company's lowest-priced LLC package, as published on its own website on September 29, 2026. The Washington state fee is extra with every provider. Prices change; check each provider before you buy.
Most Trusted Washington Registered Agent Service
One flat price, a real Washington address, and your legal mail scanned the same day it arrives.
$99 a year. That is the whole price.
The same $99 at renewal, every year. No tiers to compare and nothing pre-checked at checkout.
A real Washington street address
A physical registered agent address in Washington, not a P.O. box or a shared mail drop, that meets RCW 23.95.410.
Written consent kept on file
We give and keep our consent in a record, satisfying the requirement Washington places on every registered agent under RCW 23.95.415.
Same-day scans of legal mail
Any service of process or state notice we receive is scanned and emailed to you the day it arrives.
We handle your Statement of Change
Switching from another agent? We prepare your Statement of Change of Registered Agent; Washington charges no fee to file it.
Support by email
Real people answer by email. We reply within one business day.
Important Washington Registered Agent Resources and Links
Official Washington offices, forms and data in one place. Every link goes to the source.
State government offices
- Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division801 Capitol Way S, Olympia, WA 98501 · (360) 725-0377
- Washington Secretary of State — Business Entitiessos.wa.gov
- Washington Department of Revenuedor.wa.gov
- Washington Employment Security Departmentesd.wa.gov
- County recording officesTrade name filings vary by county
Filing, forms and records
- Registered agent information (Washington SOS)sos.wa.gov
- Certificate of Formation — Limited Liability CompanyOfficial PDF
- All business entity forms by namesos.wa.gov
- Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) business searchccfs.sos.wa.gov
- Returning a business to active status (reinstatement)sos.wa.gov
Taxes, permits and licenses
Washington Registered Agent FAQs
Short questions, direct answers.
What is a registered agent in Washington?
A registered agent is the person or company named to receive legal papers and official state mail for a Washington entity, at a Washington street address. It is required by RCW 25.15.021, which incorporates the registered agent rules at RCW 23.95.400 through 23.95.460.
Do I need a registered agent for my Washington LLC or corporation?
Yes. Every Washington LLC, corporation and limited partnership must designate and continuously maintain a registered agent under RCW 23.95.405, from the day it files its formation document.
Can I be my own registered agent in Washington?
Yes, if you have a Washington street address where you can accept delivery during normal business hours; you would serve as a noncommercial registered agent under RCW 23.95.415. Many owners hire a service instead to keep that address off the public record.
Can I use a P.O. box for my Washington registered agent address?
No. RCW 23.95.410 requires the registered agent's address to be a street address in Washington; a P.O. box does not qualify, though a separate mailing address may also be listed.
How much does a Washington registered agent cost?
LLC Register charges $99 a year. Commercial registered agent services generally range from about $99 to $249 a year, based on published pricing checked 9/30/2026.
How do I change my registered agent in Washington?
File a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Washington Secretary of State under RCW 23.95.430, at no state filing fee, or update it as part of your Annual Report.
What happens if I don't have a registered agent in Washington?
Going without a valid registered agent for 30 consecutive days is grounds for administrative dissolution under RCW 23.95.605; the Secretary of State serves notice, and the entity has until the 60th day after that notice to fix it under RCW 23.95.610.
Does my registered agent need to consent in writing?
Yes. RCW 23.95.415(2) requires a registered agent to give prior consent in a record before being appointed. Without that consent, the agent can file a notarized statement and be removed from the entity's record immediately.
Can a family member or friend be my Washington registered agent?
Yes, as long as they have a Washington street address, are available there during business hours, and consent in a record under RCW 23.95.415.
Can an out-of-state company be my Washington registered agent?
Only if that company itself maintains a Washington street address or is listed with the Secretary of State as a commercial registered agent under RCW 23.95.420; it cannot serve from an address outside Washington.
How fast will I know if my registered agent receives a lawsuit?
A registered agent must forward any process, notice or demand to the entity's last-provided address under RCW 23.95.455; LLC Register scans and emails it to you the same day we receive it.
Is my registered agent's address public record in Washington?
Yes. The registered agent's name and address are part of the entity's public filing with the Washington Secretary of State and can be looked up through the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS).
Can my registered agent resign?
Yes. A registered agent can file a resignation with the Secretary of State under RCW 23.95.445, which starts the notice process for the entity to name a replacement before facing administrative dissolution.
Do I need to update my registered agent on my annual Washington filing?
Yes. The Annual Report, due by the last day of your LLC's anniversary month for a $70 fee, must show your current registered agent, and can also be used to file a change of agent.
Does every Washington entity type need a registered agent?
Yes, for every domestic entity and every registered foreign entity: LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships and most other entities filed with the Washington Secretary of State must designate one under RCW 23.95.405.
Does a foreign LLC formed in another state need a registered agent to do business in Washington?
Yes. A foreign LLC must designate a Washington registered agent with a Washington street address before the Secretary of State will accept its Foreign Registration Statement under RCW 23.95.505 and 23.95.510, the same requirement that applies to a domestic LLC.
Does Washington's registered agent law work the same way for LLCs, corporations, nonprofits and limited partnerships?
Yes. Washington's Uniform Business Organizations Code at RCW 23.95.400–23.95.460 is the single registered agent framework every entity type is routed into — RCW 25.15.021 incorporates it for LLCs, RCW 24.03A.020 incorporates it for nonprofit corporations, and RCW 25.10.121 incorporates it for limited partnerships.
Does a Washington professional LLC (PLLC) need a registered agent?
Yes, the same as any other Washington LLC. A PLLC is organized under RCW 25.15.046 for licensed professionals and must additionally maintain at least $1,000,000 of professional liability insurance or an equivalent bond under RCW 25.15.048, but it names its registered agent the same way a standard LLC does.
How much notice must my registered agent give before resigning?
At least 31 days. Under RCW 23.95.445, a registered agent resigns by filing a Statement of Resignation with the Secretary of State, and the resignation does not take effect until the 31st day after that filing is placed on record.
What happens if someone tries to sue my LLC and my registered agent can't be found?
Washington law provides a fallback chain. Under RCW 23.95.450, the plaintiff may serve by registered or certified mail to the entity's last-reported principal office address, then by handing papers to the person in charge of a regular place of business, and if both fail, the Secretary of State itself becomes the entity's agent for service of process.
Does a Washington nonprofit corporation need a registered agent?
Yes. RCW 24.03A.020 directs that service on a nonprofit corporation, through its registered agent or in the absence of one, is governed by the same registered agent chapter, RCW 23.95, that applies to LLCs and corporations.
Does a Washington limited partnership need a registered agent?
Yes. RCW 25.10.121 requires every limited partnership and foreign limited partnership to designate and continuously maintain a registered agent in Washington, in accordance with Article 4 of chapter 23.95 RCW.
How do I look up a company's registered agent in Washington?
Search the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS), the Secretary of State's free online business search, by entity name or Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number to see its current registered agent and address.
If my commercial registered agent updates its own listing, do I need to refile anything for my LLC?
No. Under RCW 23.95.420, when a commercial registered agent delivers a new or amended listing statement to the Secretary of State, that filing automatically applies to every entity the agent currently represents, without each entity having to separately refile.
Can my registered agent change its own name or address without switching to a new agent?
Yes. Under RCW 23.95.440, a commercial registered agent that changes its name, address, entity type or jurisdiction of formation files its own statement of change with the Secretary of State — it keeps serving your entity throughout.
Can one person or company serve as the registered agent for more than one Washington LLC?
Yes. A commercial registered agent lists itself once with the Secretary of State under RCW 23.95.420 and can then serve any number of entities, while a noncommercial agent can likewise be named on more than one entity as long as each meets the Washington address requirement.
Are registered agent fees tax-deductible?
Yes. The IRS treats an annual registered agent fee as an ordinary and necessary business expense, deductible in the year you pay it.
Can my attorney serve as my Washington registered agent?
Yes, as long as your attorney has a Washington street address, or your law firm is authorized to transact business in Washington with a Washington address — the same eligibility rule under RCW 23.95.415 that applies to anyone else.
Is there a difference between a "registered agent" and an "agent for service of process"?
No. Washington's Uniform Business Organizations Code uses the term "registered agent," and "agent for service of process" describes the same role in plain language — some other states' statutes use that phrase directly.
What happens if mail sent to my registered agent's address is returned as undeliverable?
The Secretary of State treats that the same as having no valid registered agent on file, which is grounds for administrative dissolution if it isn't fixed: notice goes out, and under RCW 23.95.610 the entity has until the 60th day after that notice to correct its agent or address.
Do I have to name my registered agent on my Certificate of Formation, or can I add one later?
You have to name one upfront. The Certificate of Formation, filed with the Secretary of State under RCW 25.15.071, requires the registered agent's name and Washington street address before the state will file it.
What is the difference between my registered agent's address and my principal place of business?
Your registered agent's address is specifically where your agent accepts legal mail and must be a street address in Washington under RCW 23.95.410; your principal office is wherever you actually run the business and does not have to be in Washington at all.
Can a UPS Store or other commercial mail-receiving service be my registered agent's address?
No. RCW 23.95.410 requires a street address in Washington where the agent can be reached, and a commercial mail-receiving service or mailbox rental does not meet that rule any more than a P.O. box does.
Is my registered agent's phone number or email made public?
Not in the public search results, though a return email address is now required on the filing itself. Washington Administrative Code § 434-112-045 requires every record submitted to include a return email address or the filing can be rejected, but the CCFS public business search still displays only the registered agent's name and street address — no phone number or email.
Do Washington nonprofit corporations have to confirm their registered agent on a periodic report?
Yes. Like other Washington entities, nonprofit corporations file an Annual Report, due by the last day of their anniversary month, and it must show the corporation's current registered agent and address.
Can my registered agent also be an officer or manager of my company?
Yes. RCW 23.95.415 lets an entity designate the title of an office or position within the company to serve as its noncommercial registered agent, so an owner, manager or officer can fill that role.
Does Washington require registered agents to be licensed or bonded?
No. A commercial registered agent only has to deliver a listing statement to the Secretary of State under RCW 23.95.420; the statute imposes no licensing fee or bonding requirement to be listed.
Can I serve as my own registered agent if I live out of state but own property in Washington?
No. RCW 23.95.410 and 23.95.415 require a noncommercial registered agent to maintain a street address in Washington where it can accept delivery; owning Washington real estate does not satisfy that if you have no Washington address of your own.
Does my registered agent have authority to sign contracts or make decisions for my LLC?
No. RCW 23.95.455 limits a registered agent's duties to forwarding process, notices and demands addressed to the entity — it has no authority to sign contracts or act on the entity's behalf.
Can the same Washington address serve as both my registered agent's address and my principal place of business?
Yes. Nothing in RCW 23.95 requires the two to be different — a small business commonly uses one Washington street address for both, as long as it meets the registered agent's physical-address and availability rule.
Complete Washington Registered Agent Glossary
The terms, forms and filings you will meet when appointing a Washington registered agent.
Registered agent
The person or company with a Washington street address named to receive legal papers and state mail for an entity, required by RCW 25.15.021 and RCW 23.95.405.
Registered agent's address
The street address in Washington where the registered agent can be reached during normal business hours; it cannot be a P.O. box (RCW 23.95.410).
Certificate of Formation
The document filed with the Washington Secretary of State under RCW 25.15.071 to create an LLC. It names the LLC's initial registered agent and address.
Statement of Change of Registered Agent
The filing made with the Washington Secretary of State under RCW 23.95.430 to update an entity's registered agent, at no state filing fee.
Consent of registered agent
The registered agent's prior consent "in a record" to serve, required under RCW 23.95.415(2) before appointment.
Service of process
The formal delivery of legal documents, such as a lawsuit summons, to an entity through its registered agent, governed by RCW 23.95.450.
Administrative dissolution
The Secretary of State's dissolution of an entity that fails to fix a registered agent or other compliance problem within the cure period after notice, under RCW 23.95.605 and RCW 23.95.610.
Certificate of Existence
Washington's certificate of good standing, available from the Secretary of State for $20, showing an entity is validly formed and in compliance.
Business and Occupation (B&O) tax
Washington's gross receipts tax on business activity, administered by the Department of Revenue. Washington has no state income tax.
Annual Report
The recurring filing, due by the last day of an entity's anniversary month for a $70 fee, that keeps an entity's registered agent and other information current with the Secretary of State (RCW 23.95.255).
Commercial registered agent
A registered agent business listed with the Secretary of State under RCW 23.95.420 to serve as agent for multiple entities, as distinct from a noncommercial individual or entity agent.
Foreign qualification
Registering an entity formed in another state, using the Foreign Registration Statement under RCW 23.95.510, so it can legally do business in Washington; it requires naming a Washington registered agent.