Free Registered Agent Service: What Is Included and What Happens at Renewal?

What "Free" Registered Agent Service Usually Means

When a formation company advertises a free registered agent service, it almost always means free for the first year only, bundled as part of an LLC formation package. The service itself is unchanged: the provider maintains a physical address in your state and accepts legal and state mail on your LLC's behalf during business hours. What is temporary is the price, not the function.

Which Providers Bundle a Free First Year

As published on each company's own site in October 2026, Bizee includes registered agent service free for the first year with any formation package (Bizee's own notes mention it has tested shorter free periods, from three to twelve months, depending on package). Northwest Registered Agent bundles one free year of registered agent service into its $39-plus-state-fee LLC formation package. Inc Authority's only published LLC package is $0 plus state fees and includes one free year of registered agent service along with EIN filing and a custom business website.

What the Published Renewal Prices Become

Once the free year ends, each provider renews at a separate, higher published price: Bizee renews at $149 a year, and Northwest Registered Agent renews at $125 a year, a rate the company states is fixed and does not increase. Inc Authority does not publish one flat renewal number; its own blog cites a range of roughly $179 to $249 a year depending on state, described as representative rather than a fixed published price, so confirm the actual figure directly with Inc Authority before relying on any single number.

Providers Without a Free Introductory Period

Not every company structures its pricing this way. LegalZoom charges $249 a year for registered agent service starting in year one, the same amount at renewal, though LegalZoom notes its renewal rate is subject to change. Harbor Compliance charges $99 for new customers in year one (a discount, but not free), renewing at $159 a year. LLC Register charges $99 a year starting in year one, with no change at renewal.

What a Free Offer Usually Does Not Include

A free first year of registered agent service typically covers only that specific service. Annual report filing is commonly billed separately: Bizee publishes $99 plus the state fee for this service, and Northwest Registered Agent publishes $100 plus the state fee. An operating agreement and EIN filing assistance are also commonly separate, paid add-ons in a provider's free or lowest-cost tier.

How LLC Register compares

LLC Register's registered agent service is $99 a year, the same price at renewal. LLC formation in year one and annual report filing are included, while most providers charge $99 to $199 a year extra for annual report filing. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before checkout.

How to Compare a Free Offer Against a Flat Price

To compare a free-first-year offer against a flat-price provider, add the free year's $0 to the published renewal price for year two, then compare that two-year total to a flat-price provider's two-year total, which is simply its annual price doubled. This shows whether the free year genuinely saves money over the period you plan to keep the LLC, rather than comparing only the first year's headline price.

A Free Year Is a Discount, Not a Permanent Price

Treat a free first year the same way you would treat any limited-time discount: useful if the ongoing renewal price afterward is still reasonable for your budget, less useful if it means paying significantly more every year after the first.

Confirm the Exact Free Period Length

Some providers have tested offering a free period shorter than a full year depending on the specific package purchased. Confirm the exact length of the free period for your specific order at checkout rather than assuming a full year applies by default.

An Uncertain Renewal Number Is a Reason to Ask Directly

When a provider does not publish one fixed renewal price, such as a range described as representative rather than fixed, contact the provider directly for the actual number that applies to your state before signing up, rather than relying on a range from a blog post.

Free Registered Agent Service Does Not Reduce the State's Own Fees

Whether or not registered agent service is free, the state's own LLC filing fee and annual report fee, where required, still apply and are unaffected by any registered agent discount.

This Is Not Legal or Tax Advice

Which offer makes sense for your business depends on how long you plan to operate the LLC and what other services you need. Talk to a tax professional about ongoing compliance costs, and confirm all current prices directly on each company's site before signing up.