What is a registered agent?
A registered agent is someone who is designated to receive legal documents and other important documents sent through the mail on behalf of your company. When government agencies need to send a company documents or notices, they will send them directly to the registered agent on file rather than sending them to the business address. The registered agent is then responsible for processing those documents and then, if necessary, forwarding them to the business owner or other members of the company.
The type of documents that registered agents regularly receive and process include ones like:
- Legal documents
- Tax forms
- Official government documents
- Service of process documents
LLCs in Washington DC are free to choose either an individual or another business entity to serve as their registered agent. However, there are a few requirements that both businesses and individuals have to meet before they are eligible.
Requirements for a registered agent in Washington DC
You can choose any individual or business to serve as the registered agent when you complete your DC LLC registration as long as they meet these requirements:
- Must have a physical street address in Washington DC (P.O. boxes and third-party mailboxes are not allowed).
- Can be an individual (such as yourself, a friend, or a family member) or a business entity authorized to operate in Washington DC.
You can choose anyone (or any business) that meets these requirements to serve as your registered agent, including friends, business associates, or even yourself. However, it’s a good idea to choose who you pick carefully and consider more than just the legal requirements. In practice, someone should be available at the agent’s address during normal business hours to accept legal papers. Registered agents play an important role in keeping businesses running smoothly, and you’ll want to choose one who will ensure that all your company’s important documents are processed correctly and in a timely manner.
How to appoint a registered agent in Washington DC?
Once you’ve decided who you want to appoint as the registered agent for your Washington DC LLC, there are several ways to do it. Before we dive into those methods, though, we need to mention that appointing a registered agent is part of the process of forming an LLC in Washington DC. You name your registered agent in your Articles of Organization.
What this means is that in order to appoint a registered agent, you will need to go ahead and begin the process of filing your LLC with the Corporations Division of the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). We’ll cover the different ways you can do this, and we’ll also explain how you can change your registered agent later on if you wish to do so.
Obtain the registered agent’s consent to appointment
Before you appoint another individual or business entity as your LLC’s registered agent, get your agent’s agreement before you list them. Filing the appointment confirms the agent has consented, and no separate consent form is needed.
Getting the registered agent’s agreement up front also provides the opportunity to make sure they understand the role and the responsibilities that are required of them.
Appointing online
The easiest way to register your Washington DC LLC and appoint a registered agent (aside from working with an LLC formation service such as Tailor Brands!) is to complete the process online. To register online, start by visiting DC BOSS (formerly CorpOnline), DLCP’s Business One Stop Solution, and signing in with an Access DC account. There, you’ll find the option to form a new LLC and step-by-step instructions on how to complete the process.
Along with submitting various documents and information about your company (including the documents/info necessary for appointing a registered agent), you will also have to pay a $99 filing fee, paid by credit card online.
Appointing by mail
If you don’t want to file your LLC and appoint a registered agent online, you can complete the process via mail by downloading the Articles of Organization form (Form DLC-1) from the DLCP website, printing it off, and completing it by hand. Along with being available for download on the DLCP website, you can also request that these forms be sent to you by contacting the department.
Once you’ve completed all the necessary documents, mail them to the address listed on Form DLC-1. The DLCP office at 1100 4th Street SW is a walk-in location, not a mailing address.
Be sure to also include the $99 filing fee as either a check or a money order.
How to change my registered agent in Washington DC
Choosing a registered agent is a required part of forming a new LLC in Washington DC, but you are also free to change your registered agent at any point. Here’s how:
Online
To change your registered agent online, you can visit DC BOSS (formerly CorpOnline). From there, look for the form called RA-3 Statement of Change of Registered Agent. Complete the form by providing details about your new registered agent, submit it, and pay the $50 fee.
By mail
To change your registered agent by mail, you’ll need to either print or request the RA-3 Statement of Change of Registered Agent form, fill it out, and mail it to the address listed on the form.
You’ll also need to include the $50 filing fee as either a check or money order.
In person
If you wish to change your registered agent in-person, complete the RA-3 Statement of Change of Registered Agent form and deliver it to the DLCP Business License Center at this address (walk-in filings pay an expedited fee):
Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
Business License Center
1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Can I be my own registered agent in Washington DC?
Yes, the short answer is that business owners in Washington DC are allowed to appoint themselves as their company’s registered agent. However, there are a few reasons this isn’t always advisable. For one, acting as your own registered agent will require you to shoulder even more responsibilities as a business owner and may make it more likely that you miss important documents and notices. Acting as your own registered agent also creates privacy concerns, as it means that business mail will be delivered to your personal address and that your address will be available to the public.
Benefits of using a Washington DC registered agent service
If you want to appoint a registered agent the easy way and also ensure that you receive reliable, expert services, using a registered agent service such as the one offered by Tailor Brands is a great option to check out. At Tailor Brands, we offer comprehensive registered agent services that include document processing, an online portal for viewing your documents, document forwarding, document storage, and document destruction. Registered agent services typically cost $50–$300 per year; Tailor Brands’ registered agent service is $199 per year.
When you work with trusted registered agent service, you can look forward to benefits like:
Peace of mind
Using a registered agent service ensures that all the important mail sent to your business is received and processed in a timely manner without any errors. Given the many issues that can result from missed or misplaced documents, this offers business owners a lot of peace of mind.
Compliance with the state law
Registered agent services are highly experienced at what they do, and they are able to perform their responsibilities in a way that is completely compliant with all laws and regulations.
Flexibility
If you appoint yourself as your company’s registered agent, you’ll need to be available to receive legal papers at a single DC address during normal business hours. Using a registered agent service frees you up to travel and work remotely, and it also allows you to view your business mail online from any location.
Reduces paperwork
A registered agent service takes on all the responsibility of processing and managing mailed documents, reducing the amount of paperwork you have to handle as the business owner. That leaves you more time for your other obligations, like filing your DC biennial report every two years.
A registered agent service can make your business life easier
When forming a new company in Washington DC, appointing a registered agent is a key part of the process. Thankfully, we at Tailor Brands make the entire process of registering your Washington DC LLC quick and easy!
We’ll file your LLC on your behalf to ensure everything is done quickly and correctly, and our registered agent services are a great choice if you want to easily appoint a reliable registered agent for your company. Contact us to learn more about these services and how Tailor Brands can help position your new company for success!
FAQ
In Washington DC, all LLCs and corporations are required to have an active registered agent. Your LLC’s status can be revoked if it goes more than 60 days without a registered agent.
No, having a registered agent is only required for formal business entities like LLCs and corporations. If you are acting as a sole proprietor, you are not required to appoint one.
The cost of a registered agent service in Washington DC typically ranges from $50 to $300 per year, depending on the provider and the specific package that you choose.