Pennsylvania Registered Agent: If you wish to start an LLC in PA, you must appoint a registered agent. According to Pennsylvania State Law, it is mandatory to have a Pennsylvania Registered Agent if you are conducting business in the state. A registered agent receives all the official and legal documents from the State at the registered office in Pennsylvania. They also receive the service of process if there’s any lawsuit in concern.
In the following guide, we have shared all the required information regarding hiring a registered agent and getting a registered office in Pennsylvania, why you need a registered agent, and who can be a registered agent for your LLC. Read this guide carefully before you hire a Pennsylvania Registered Agent.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
What is a Pennsylvania Registered Agent
A registered agent (or a statutory agent or a resident agent) in Pennsylvania is an individual or a business that represents your business in receiving official documents. These official papers include formation documents, business renewal documents, tax filing, and any legal document if the LLC gets sued by other companies. All these documents go straight to the registered agent’s official address in the state. While forming an LLC, it is mandatory to appoint a registered agent.
When you file the Pennsylvania LLC formation papers with the Secretary of State, LLCs must mention their registered agent’s name and address. When you choose a registered agent in Pennsylvania, you can go for two options, hiring an in-house registered agent or outsourcing the service.
Note: In Pennsylvania, a registered agent is known as a registered office. It is important to find and submit the registered office where the appointed registered agent will be available during working hours. A registered office in Pennsylvania is a physical office (with a proper street address) is an official office where your LLC will receive all the state-related and legal documents. A registered office must have a physical street address instead of only a P.O. Box.
Requirements for Pennsylvania Registered Office:
- You must have a proper physical office. It shouldn’t be just a Post Office Box.
- A county and a commercial office provider must be appointed for the registered office.
Hiring a Registered Agent in Pennsylvania
You may have several options for hiring a registered agent in Pennsylvania. To become a registered agent, one has to meet the basic eligibility criteria. If the minimum requirements are fulfilled, anyone residing in Pennsylvania can represent your LLC as your registered agent.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent
- The person must be above 18 years old.
- The person must have a legal and physical address in the state where the LLC will operate.
- The person must be physically present during normal working hours.
- Anyone who fulfills the above requirements can act as a registered agent.
- Recommended – You should use a professional registered agent in Pennsylvania always.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent
Yes, you can be your own registered agent. In fact, any member of the LLC, managers, and the owner can be a registered agent. Besides, someone from the owners’ family, such as a spouse, relatives, or other family members, can also act as a registered agent. As mentioned above, anyone who is representing the business as an agent should fulfill the basic criteria.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Your Own Registered Agent
Many small businesses do not hire a registered agent to save a chunk of money. However, it is not recommended to be your own registered agent. There are a bunch of problems one has to face while being a registered agent of his own LLC. Following are some of the issues you face,
- If you are operating your business from home or you are into web business, then your home address will be shared on the public portal. This address will be used for mailing and other official purposes. This will hamper your privacy.
- A registered agent has to be physically available at the official address during working hours on working days for 52 weeks. Being your own registered agent might restrict your other work due to this.
- The registered agent’s address must be up to date in the Secretary of State portal.
It is recommended to outsource the registered agent service to ease your work as it protects your privacy, especially if you conduct your business from home. It is always wise to outsource the RA service than be your own registered agent.
Recommended: You can get the best registered agent service at a reasonable price with online LLC service providers. We recommend using –
LegalZoom – $299 Per Year
How to Choose a Registered Agent in Pennsylvania
You can choose a Pennsylvania Registered Agent in two ways, either you can employ an in-house RA or outsource the service. Another option is to be your own registered agent. However, it is recommended to outsource the service as it is less worrisome and hassle-free.
In-house Registered Agent
As far as the in-house registered agent is concerned, it can be anyone from the LLC, including you, or you can employ an individual for this position. In that case, your office or home address will be the Registered Agent’s office address. Every LLC has to share its principal office address, mailing address, and registered agent’s office address to the state public portal. Hiring a registered agent service will make it easier as you can use the RA’s address as a mailing address.
Outsourcing Registered Agent Service
You may also avail yourself of professional registered agent services. Doing so ensures that you will have the best service provider to represent your business. Following are the best Registered Agent services on our list that will provide you with registered agents to ease your worries.
LLC Service | Our Rating & Pricing | Top Features | Learn More |
#1 TOP PICK  | $299 Per Year |
| |
 | $125 Per Year |
|
Note that availing of the services of professional registered agents would be your best option since you are guaranteed that whoever is handling your legal affairs knows their stuff well. If you are forming your LLC from scratch, then with LegalZoom Registered Agent, you will get the full formation package.
What to Consider While Choosing a Pennsylvania Registered Agent
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a registered agent.
- Service Fee: Since most states require formal businesses to have registered agents, selecting the best-registered agent is critical. Hiring a registered agent typically costs between $99 and $300 annually. When you consider how much time it will save you, this is a small price to pay.
- Tenure in Business of Registered Agent: You want the registered agent to have established and time-tested procedures for handling documents. We recommend Registered Agent Services that have been in business for a long time. They are experienced and well capable of handling all your documentation.
- State Jurisdiction Limitation: If your company expands to another state, you should use the same registered agent in all states to reduce the administrative burden of dealing with multiple registered agent service providers. Check out the best Registered Agent Services to consider for this job.
- Offer Monitoring and Follow-up Services: You want to receive up-to-date information and alerts from your registered agent as soon as possible so that you are aware of the various statutes, rules, and regulations that apply to your company. Some of the service providers offer this service. Make sure to choose an RA service that includes this service.
How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Pennsylvania
At the time of submitting the Pennsylvania Certificate of Organization, the registered agent can be appointed by the LLC. It can be done online or by mail. No additional fee is charged for appointing a Registered Agent. Only the state filing fee should be paid.
Appoint Registered Agent Online
To appoint a registered agent online, you have to go to the Pennsylvania LLC Online Filing page and provide the information of your Registered Agent accordingly.
Appoint Registered Agent By Mail
To appoint a registered agent in Pennsylvania by mail, you need to download the Pennsylvania LLC filing form (PDF). Fill up the “Registered Agent” section with appropriate details of the agent and submit it to the SOS office. For more information, read on Pennsylvania Certificate of Organization.
Cost of a Pennsylvania Registered Agent
The cost of having a registered agent can be variable. It depends on whether you are employing an in-house registered agent, being your own agent, or outsourcing the service. The cost of having a registered agent can start from $99 and go up to $300 per year. It will be cost-effective if you outsource the registered agent service in Pennsylvania.
Registered Agent services that also provide LLC formation packages can provide the same service at a lower price. For example, LegalZoom Registered Agent offers standalone registered agent service at $299 per year, but if you buy their LLC formation package at $0 + state fees, you might get a registered agent at a low cost.
How to Change a Registered Agent in Pennsylvania
To change the Pennsylvania registered agent, you must file a Change of registered agent or office by entity form. This form can be submitted to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State via mail or online.
File Online
For online filing, you need to get the online form which is available on the Pennsylvania Secretary of State portal. Fill in all the necessary information of LLC as well as current and old registered agents. This form must be completed and signed by the newly appointed registered agent and any authorized member of the LLC. The signature of the new registered agent acts like the consent to be appointed as one. Submit it online.
Fee: $5
File By Mail
You can also choose to file the form through the mail. You need to download the Change of registered agent or office by entity form from the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s portal. Fill in all the details on your computer. The completed form is to be signed by the newly appointed registered agent. The duly signed form must be sent to the following address,
Mail to: Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722
How to Pay: The filing amount is payable to the Pennsylvania secretary of state through a credit card when filing online/by email. For paper filing, you can choose to pay through money order or check.
Why Do LLCs in Pennsylvania Need a Registered Agent Service
There are several reasons why a business should appoint a registered agent in Pennsylvania. Some of the most important reasons are listed below,
- Confidentiality: Having a registered agent service in Pennsylvania ensures the complete privacy of your business and related documentation. Appointing a registered agent company instead of an individual gets you privacy and confidentiality contracts beforehand.
- Up-to-date Compliance: LLCs and corporates have plenty of paperwork and compliances that are to be updated on time. With a registered agent service, you don’t have to worry about those compliances as your registered agent will maintain a compliance calendar.
- Privacy: It is mandatory for businesses in Pennsylvania to publicly upload their address to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. If you are using the home address for your business, then it would not be safe to make your private address public. On the other side, appointing a registered agent service will cover you up here as they have to provide their address to the Pennsylvania SOS and not yours.
- Availability: Every registered agent has to be available during office hours of work on business days. If you hire a registered agent service, then they can be available at the required time without harming other tasks at the company.
- Online Safe Backup: Every registered agent in Pennsylvania or any other state usually takes an online backup of all the documents and paperwork. This ensures the LLC papers are securely saved in a central system.
- Lawsuits or Summons: Getting summoned or involved in a lawsuit does not leave a good impression on the employees. With a registered agent, all the related papers will be delivered to the Registered Agent’s official address. Hence, owners do not have to receive any such papers in their office in front of their employees.
Pennsylvania Business Laws for Registered Agents to Note
Deceptive business practices, securities fraud, environmental requirements, such as air and water cleaning standards, insurance and liability, and contracts are all examples of business laws. Pennsylvania business laws protect and safeguard any business registered in the state. Pennsylvania registered agents should be aware of the below-mentioned laws:
Pennsylvania Antitrust Laws
Antitrust laws are designed to discourage major mergers and acquisitions, resulting in a more competitive marketplace. Antitrust laws in Pennsylvania have a four-year statute of limitations and permit private litigation. The primary agenda of antitrust legislation is to promote competition in the hopes of benefiting consumers. Some antitrust laws make it illegal for businesses to enter into price or noncompetition agreements.
Pennsylvania Deceptive Trade Practices Laws
While it is not unlawful in Pennsylvania to engage in dishonest commercial activities, the state does prohibit some actions that are deceptive. The Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law includes a variety of unfair or misleading conduct or practices that are prohibited. Among them include, but are not confined to:
- Passing off one’s services or goods as one’s own.
- Using false geographic origin designations or statements in conjunction with goods or services.
- If items are damaged, modified, refurbished, reclaimed, used, or secondhand, they must be represented as original or new.
- Advertisements for goods or services with the intention of not selling them as advertised.
Pennsylvania Civil Statute of Limitations
A civil case must be filed within a certain amount of time, known as the statute of limitations. These limitations are in place to ensure that potential plaintiffs cannot continue to threaten litigation forever, as well as to maintain evidence integrity (including eyewitness testimony). Personal injury, trespassing, and fraud lawsuits in Pennsylvania have a two-year statute of limitations, similar to other states. The clock usually begins to tick on the date of the event or discovery of the error.
Pennsylvania Corporations Laws
Entrepreneurs who wish to create a firm can choose from a variety of business structures, each with its own set of merits and disadvantages. Taxation and liability are, in general, the most significant issues to consider when choosing a business structure.
One of the most important advantages of the corporation is that it protects the owners from personal accountability. Every state has its own set of corporate laws, which might vary significantly from one state to the next. For anyone interested in beginning a business in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of State website includes a business section with useful links and information.
Pennsylvania Interest Rates Laws
The legal rate of interest in Pennsylvania is set by law. Unfortunately, consumers are being charged greater interest rates than are legally permitted. In order to agree to the terms of a loan, they basically forego these protections. While they are largely irrelevant in most cases, most states have regulations limiting the amount of interest that can be charged. Interest rates in Pennsylvania, for instance, are capped at 6%.
Pennsylvania Securities Fraud Laws
Making false representations regarding the worth of a company’s stocks or the firm itself to persuade investors to make financial choices based on that information is known as securities fraud. While the notion of securities fraud is simple to grasp, recognizing that one has been a sufferer of securities fraud can be challenging.
Securities are supervised by both federal and state legislation. The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities offers both investors and industry people resources on securities.
Pennsylvania Security Deposit Laws
A security deposit is usually required by landlords to ensure that the rental property is not harmed by the tenant. If there is any outstanding rent, the landlord has the right to keep the security deposit. If the renter pays all rent on time and does not cause any damage to the property, the landlord is expected to return the security deposit within a certain amount of time. The amount of time a landlord has to repay a security deposit varies by state.
A landlord in Pennsylvania is required to restore the security deposit within 1 month after the lease’s conclusion and the tenant’s departure. Security deposits above $100 must also be transferred into an escrow account in Pennsylvania.
How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Pennsylvania
A registered agent for LLC in Pennsylvania can be removed by filing a Change of Registered Office Form with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State with a filing fee of $5.
Removing a registered agent from an LLC is a valid procedure in Pennsylvania. However, it’s important to keep in mind the legal requirements and the steps to do it right. Here are some key considerations for those who need to remove a registered agent from their LLC:
Firstly, it’s important to review the LLC’s operating agreement to understand the requirements for removing a registered agent. In some cases, an LLC’s operating agreement may have specific procedures for changing a registered agent. If this is the case, you’ll need to follow those procedures step by step.
If the LLC’s operating agreement is not clear about the process of removing a registered agent, the Pennsylvania LLC act provides instructions that need to be followed. This act requires the LLC’s organizers or members to provide written notice to the Registered Agent that they are being removed from this position. This notice should provide the name of the new registered agent and their mailing address.
If the Registered Agent does not respond to the notice within the specified timeframe, which should also be mentioned within the act, it’s time to inform the state. In Pennsylvania, it is a legal requirement to submit an LLC filing in order to change the registered agent information with the state’s Department of State, and therefore officially removing the current registered agent from the LLC.
In the event that the Notice is sent back as undeliverable or a registry does not have information on where or how to contact the Registered Agent, then Pennsylvania requires the LLC then moves through an “Alternative Method of Service”. This gives a less-formal (read: non-court-sponsored / binding as before/precedential) option, allowing one to publish a formal communication to the agent in local news outlets/circulations within the area in which a former Registered Agent; or “matchless” service, therefore acting as though they no longer existed from there onward.
Bear in mind that Pennsylvania requires all LLCs operating within the state that cannot actively transact business via the web to have formally-regulated Registered Agents. These are members of the state with physical residence ties within Pennsylvania which usually act as an extra-step to prevent dommestic/international LLC or corporate malfeasance. Ultimately, where and how those alongside it feel directed to remove mapped agents is usually clearly explained in Pennsylvania’s correlative state manifesto, so familiarizing yourself in advance is suggested in order to keep the company un-broken along the whole removal process.
In conclusion, Pennsylvania takes Registered-Agents more than serious, since they are responsible with administering extremely important notices that could burden an operation or relieve them at their own discretion. Therefore, would-be Registers will existent requisite annual sessions equipped with instructions along with being expected to allow for any incoming critically-time-sensitive mailings inside of the normal business hours. Speaking directly with a legal expert while swimming through acquiescence procedures for an initial corporate setup and ongoing operation actions—thus becoming a new ”Total Corporate Package” manageable from remote—is highly recommended, to help ensure that removing a registered agent does not have any negative consequences for your Philadelphia LLC.
FAQ
To change the registered agent in Pennsylvania, you need to submit the RA change application form to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. This can be done online, by mail to the address Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, P.O. Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722, or by fax, whichever provision is available for you. The cost to change a registered agent in Pennsylvania is $5.
It is easy to become a registered agent in Pennsylvania. To become a registered agent, you have to be above 18 years of age and a resident of the state. It does not require any specific educational background to become a registered agent in Pennsylvania.
Who Can Be A Registered Agent In PennsylvaniIn Pennsylvania, anyone can be a registered agent. Spouse, relatives, any member of the LLC, and yourself, anyone who fulfills the criteria can be a registered agent. The person has to be a resident of Pennsylvania and must be a legal adult.
To change a registered agent’s address in Pennsylvania, you need to submit the RA Change Form mentioning the new address. The form can be submitted online, by mail to the address Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, P.O. Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722, or by fax, whichever provision is available for you. This form should be submitted to the Pennsylvania SOS.
To find a company’s registered agent in Pennsylvania, you must visit the Pennsylvania Secretary of State website. You will get an option to find the business by name. If you enter the name of the company, you can select the registered agent’s name to see the details.
A registered agent in Pennsylvania is responsible for receiving legal notices and permits and serving any process on behalf of the company. It is mandatory to have a registered agent in Pennsylvania. You can hire a professional or can be your own registered agent in Pennsylvania.
Registered agents can be appointed by submitting their details at the time of company registration in Pennsylvania. The formation document has a section where you need to provide details like the name, address, and contact information of the appointed registered agent. If you are serving as a registered agent, then provide your personal information.
To search for the address of a registered agent, you need to follow these steps,
1. Go to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s website
2. Search by the name of the company
3. Check the Registered agent section and the address list
This way, you’ll be able to search for the registered agent’s address in Pennsylvania.
To search for a business in Pennsylvania, go to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s website. You will find the “Search” option. You can search for a business by its name and by the registered agent’s name. Select the “registered agent” option and enter the name of your registered agent to get the business details.
For a registered agent in Pennsylvania, you need to fulfill 3 main criteria. The first one is you have to be aged more than 18 years. Second, you have to be a resident of the state. That is, you must have a physical street address in Pennsylvania. Finally, you must have the right to conduct business in Pennsylvania.
It is easy to look up a registered agent for a corporation in Pennsylvania. To do so, you need to visit the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s website. Go to the Business Search option. By selecting the Look up by name, you will be able to search for a business by its name. Once you get the business, you can check for the registered agent details.
In Pennsylvania, if a registered agent wants to resign, he/she has to send the resignation letter to the company he/she is representing. After a certain number of days, along with the resignation letter, a resignation notice should be sent to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State to confirm the resignation of the registered agent.
To update a registered agent in Pennsylvania online, you have to submit the RA Change Form to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. Not all states provide an online method of updating a new registered agent. Check the Pennsylvania SOS website to find out if the online method is available.
You can get a free registered agent in Pennsylvania in three ways. The first way is if you become your own registered agent. Secondly, if any one of your relatives, spouse, or friends becomes a registered agent. Finally, there are business formation companies that provide free registered agent services in Pennsylvania.
You can easily research a registered agent in Pennsylvania. You need to visit the official website of the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. If you have the business name, then you can go for the option “search by name.” As you find the company details, you can research a registered agent’s details from the list.
In the state of Pennsylvania, the registered agent form should be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, P.O. Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722. While registering your business, you must appoint the registered agent and enter all their details on the formation documents. Then mail it to the above-mentioned address.
In Pennsylvania, having a registered agent for your company is mandatory. However, if there is no registered agent for your company, then you might get into legal trouble. Hence, it is important to hire a registered agent (you can also be your own registered agent) in Pennsylvania.
If a registered agent dies, your company will be left with no registered agent. In Pennsylvania, it is necessary to have a registered agent for your company. If he/she dies, all the power will be invalid. Companies must change/replace the registered agent by notifying the SOS asap.
It cannot be said surely if the registered agent’s name can be hidden or not. In some states, it is possible to hide an LLC member or the owners’ names in the public registry. It can happen if you have an anonymous LLC. In some states, it is not possible to hide the registered agent’s name. Check the regulations of business registration in Pennsylvania Secretary of State for this.
To get the registered agent information in Pennsylvania, you need to call (717) 787-1057. The official time of the Pennsylvania Secretary of State is 8 am to 5 pm (central time). You can call on this number and follow the instruction to reach the division you are looking for.
A registered agent’s consent is a written notice that confirms that the registered agent is ready to represent the company. In Pennsylvania, if you appoint a new registered agent or change the previous person, then the new person appointed must submit their consent to the SOS.
There is no such difference between a registered agent and a resident agent. In Pennsylvania, the registered agent is sometimes called a resident agent. In most states, a resident agent is called a registered agent. A few states use the term resident agent.
If a person appointed as a registered agent in Pennsylvania has not given his/her consent, then a legal penalty and liability can be imposed on the person who is appointing a registered agent without their consent. Besides, they have the right to deny any duty of the process.
Yes, if there is no registered agent in your company in Pennsylvania, your LLC can still be sued. There are different ways to sue any business entity in Pennsylvania. If there is no one to receive the legal documents, then there will be another way to sue the company.
A registered agent can accept or reject the designation in Pennsylvania. To reject the designation, the person can sign the statement of rejection and submit it to the Secretary of State. The statement of rejection is available on the SOS website.
In Conclusion
Before you choose a registered agent for your Pennsylvania LLC, compare their price and services from the table. They will be responsible for all your documentation, filings, and other LLC-related tasks. Hence, choose the best one for your business that provides 100% accurate service at a reasonable price.
