Whether you’re starting a new LLC or updating the registered agent for your existing business, it’s important to choose the best Arizona registered agent for your needs.

This article will help you to choose the registered agent that best fits your business, go over the basic functions of registered agents, and answer common questions about registered agents.

If you haven’t yet formed your LLC, you can get one year of registered agent services for free if you form your LLC with Northwest Registered Agent ($29 + state fees). (This is a great deal!).

Best Arizona Registered Agent Service

When choosing a registered agent service, you want someone who understands the importance of staying compliant and being diligent about legal processes and paperwork. That’s why Northwest Registered Agent is our #1 registered agent service choice for Arizona businesses.

We recommend Northwest Registered Agent, which offers everything that you need to form your LLC along with Registered Agent services. The company boasts over 20 years of operations helping small businesses start or grow.

Northwest has a 100% Error-Free Guarantee with outstanding customer support, exceptional services, and high prices to match. If data privacy and access to customer support are top on your list, the extra costs of working with Northwest Registered Agent may be well worth it for you and your business.

What Does an Arizona Registered Agent Do?

A registered agent does a few things for a company. Their main task is to be present when or if the company needs to receive tax or legal paperwork. These would be documents that can’t be sent to a mailbox or delivered to a front desk; rather, documents that must be handed directly to the person who represents the company.

A simple example would be a service of process, which is the delivery of legal documents in a lawsuit. These service documents must be delivered directly to the company’s representative – the registered agent – to ensure they are received.

This may seem like a small task, but the caveat that makes this a critical position is that the registered agent is required to be at the documented location to receive these papers during all “regular business hours.” This is the main reason that most people choose to use a registered agent service rather than operating as their own agent.

Other forms that your registered agent may receive on your behalf are:

• Tax forms
• Legal documents
• Official government correspondence
• Service of process

Another function of a registered agent is to file official documents with the state in which the LLC or corporation is established. In most states, businesses are required to file an annual report once per year to keep the business in “good standing” with the state.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Arizona?

The short answer is yes, you can be your own registered agent.

Whether or not that’s the best plan for you or your company is another question entirely. If you are looking to spend the absolute, bare minimum amount of money on your business, then being your own registered agent may not be a terrible choice. Still, even in that scenario, we don’t recommend it.

Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service

There are only a few realistic options when it comes to whom you file as your registered agent:

• Yourself
• An attorney
• A registered agent service

As mentioned above, being your own agent has pitfalls and isn’t recommended. What’s more, an attorney in this position would be quite expensive and is generally only a viable option if you had them form your business for you.

So, that leaves you with the option of using a service. Here are the biggest benefits of using a professional registered agent service:

Privacy

When you form an LLC or corporation, your formation data goes into a state database which is open and searchable to the public. The information in this database can include:

• Business name
• Formation date
• Registered agent name
• Registered agent address

While you can’t stop the state from publishing this information, you can retain the privacy of your name and your address by using a registered agent service. Since this information is public, marketing companies use these databases to gather information to market their products and services to business owners. Your mailbox will thank you for keeping your business address private.

Another major privacy benefit is having legal documents delivered to your agent and not you personally. If, for some reason, someone brings a lawsuit against your company, would you rather have your agent call you with these documents or have them served to you in front of your customers, clients, or employees?

Easy Compliance

Along with privacy, another of the main benefits of using a registered agent service is that they will help to keep your business in “good standing” with the state.

Some states require LLCs and corporations to file annual reports or other timely documents. While these generally aren’t difficult tasks, they are often easily forgotten or lost in the day-to-day work that your business hands you.

Your registered agent will send you reminders that this work needs to be completed, and some will even provide you with the proper documents to make your work even easier.

How Do I Elect a Statutory Agent in Arizona?

Arizona requires all LLCs to have a statutory or registered agent. Statutory agents must be over the age of 18, have a street address in Arizona, be available to receive mail during normal business hours, able to accept service of process and official correspondence, and have their name and address listed on the LLC formation paperwork.

To form an LLC in the state of Arizona, you will need to complete the Articles of Organization. This is where you will officially assign your LLC’s statutory agent. If you are using an LLC formation service to file your LLC, they will handle all of this for you.

After assigning your statutory agent, complete one of the following filing options:

1. Go online to the Arizona Corporation Commission eCorp Portal, file your LLC’s Articles of Organization, and assign your statutory agent. The statutory agent must consent to their appointment via email at least seven days after filing your LLC’s Articles of Organization. To complete the paperwork, you will need to pay the Arizona LLC filing fee, which is $50. To file online, you’ll have to create an account with your business information, including the name of your business, an active email address, and a credit card.
2. You may also file by mail, by fax, or in person, but it will require several documents to be filled out completely and correctly. Any forms filled out incorrectly could be cause for denial. You’ll need:
   Articles of Organization (Form L010)
   Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002)
   Manager Structure Attachment (Form L040) OR Member Structure Attachment (Form L041)
   Cover Sheet

Take your extra documents and submit them, along with your Articles of Organization and a money order or check for your $50 filing fee, to the Arizona Corporation Commission (see address below).

How Do I Change My LLC Statutory Agent in Arizona?

You may change your statutory agent in Arizona, but it does require several steps in order to update your previous agent to a new one.

• File a Statement of Change The best and easiest way to change your registered agent is to file the LLC Statement of Change of Principal Address or Statutory Agent. Your new statutory agent must accept the appointment, sign the document, and complete the applicable section in the Statement of Change form. You may submit the form to the Arizona Corporation Commission by mail, fax, or in person, along with the $5 filing fee.

• File the Articles of Amendment Your other option is to change your statutory agent using the Arizona Articles of Amendment. Filing an amendment for your Articles of Organization is time-consuming and complicated. Unless you have an updated business purpose or you are adding LLC members, it’s recommended to use this option as a last resort. Download the Articles of Amendment form. Fill out all information and mail the form with your cover sheet and $25 filing fee to the Arizona Corporation Commission.

If you choose to use or switch to a registered agent service, they should complete and file the changes for you. For more information about our recommended Registered Agent service for your LLC, check out our Northwest Registered Agent review.

Arizona Corporation Commission Contact Information

Mailing/Physical Address

Arizona Corporation Commission
Corporations Division
1300 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007 – 2996

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Phone: (602) 542-3026

Email: answers@azcc.gov