How to Get a Registered Agent in Nevada

Nevada state laws dictate that every corporation, organization, and limited liability company must designate a registered agent.[1] This agent will serve as a point of contact for the company. They must accept, sign, process, and forward various documents like service of process notifications for lawsuits and other legal papers from agencies and business entities.

The following guide helps Nevada business owners who don’t know how to appoint a registered agent and what that agent should do. We’ll go over what Nevada registered agents can accomplish, why third-party services are better, and how to elect or change a registered agent.

Key Takeaways

• Nevada registered agents can fall into one of three separate categories: commercial registered agents, noncommercial registered agents, and in-house agents.

• Both individuals and companies can be named registered agents when filing formation documents for a Nevada LLC, corporation, or nonprofit. 

• Third-party registered agent services in Nevada allow small business owners to hold on to their privacy and make it easier to focus on growing a business.

What Is a Registered Agent?

Almost anyone can be a registered agent in Nevada, whether a business entity or an individual. Ultimately, the main goal is to find someone who can serve as a point of contact and help clients manage service of process notifications and communications with state agencies.

For example, your registered agent can receive and sign delivery receipts for legal documents on your behalf. They can then forward the paperwork to your Nevada LLC at convenient times. They might also offer legal advisory business services.

Regarding communications with the state of Nevada, registered agents can file annual reports and keep small business owners in good standing with state agencies. They do this by ensuring LLCs don’t miss filing deadlines and remain compliant.

Registered Agent Responsibilities

A Nevada registered agent’s primary duties include filing annual reports, legal documents, and other corporate filings. However, agents have more responsibilities according to state laws:

• Maintain a registered office at a valid physical street address

• Make their registered office available on the public record with the Nevada Secretary of State

• Keep the office open during regular business hours to receive documents

Given some of these responsibilities, choosing between an in-house and third-party registered agent might be easy. For example, placing your address in the public record could be too risky if you value your privacy.

Choosing Your Nevada Registered Agent

Business owners must make two critical decisions when selecting a Nevada registered agent. They must decide if they want to appoint an in-house agent or themselves or work with a third-party individual or limited liability company.

Nevada Registered Agent Requirements

Like most states, Nevada doesn’t have strict requirements outlining who can be a Nevada registered agent. Both individuals and business entities can serve as authorized points of contact. Therefore, you can name an LLC in the formation documents for your Nevada business to be in good standing with the state and avoid paying fees.

For registered agents to operate in Nevada, they must meet these main requirements:

• Be over 18 years old

• Be a Nevada state resident

• Have a registered office at a physical address

• Be in good standing with the state

• Remain available during regular business hours

• Have no criminal record

• Disclose their legal name, online domains, and firm names used to do business in Nevada

• Not be previously denied or revoked by any state to serve as a registered agent

Types of Nevada Registered Agents You Should Know

Nevada registered agents or resident agents come in three types.

Commercial Registered Agents

A commercial registered agent typically serves ten or more business entities.[2] Commercial agents must register with the Nevada Secretary of State using a Commercial Registered Agent, Registration, Change, or Termination Statement.

It’s important to know that filing this form is mandatory upon reaching ten business clients. LLCs and individuals can have their licenses revoked if they fail to submit it.

Noncommercial Registered Agents

A noncommercial registered agent has ten or fewer clients. Again, you can choose an LLC or individual to serve as a noncommercial registered agent.

Title of Office or Position With Entity

You can appoint your own registered agent by naming a position or office within your company. This is only possible if your business has a physical street address that can serve as a Nevada registered office.

Can I Be My Own Nevada Registered Agent?

As a business owner, you can be your own registered agent in Nevada. Sometimes it’s the easiest way to get started when forming a company to ensure you comply with all state laws. You can also elect a company officer or employee as a Nevada registered agent.

While delegating a registered agent’s responsibilities in-house is tempting, you should know that it has various pros and cons. Here are the main benefits of being an agent for your company:

• All legal documents and notifications come straight to your office address

• Notifications may arrive faster because they don’t go through intermediaries

• Company expenses may be lower

However, these benefits might not be as advantageous as they seem on paper. Remember that serving as a registered agent comes with significant responsibilities. Some of them can make your job even harder:

• Having to maintain regular business hours means reduced schedule flexibility

• Listing your address in the public record means anyone can see it and send junk mail

• Receiving a lot of mail can affect your or your in-house registered agent’s productivity

• Being a registered agent requires legal expertise and organizational skills not everyone has

Benefits of a Third-party Registered Agent

Reducing your operating costs is a compelling incentive to be your own registered agent. But many companies choose to use the best Nevada registered agent or service as an authorized point of contact due to their numerous benefits.

1. Increased Privacy

Being your own registered agent in Nevada throws privacy out the window. Imagine yourself holding a meeting with clients at the office. Suddenly, someone walks in and hands you a service of process notification informing you of legal action against the company. It can be embarrassing and ruin negotiations.

Alternatively, consider the influx of junk mail you can get from various marketers when listing your home address as a registered office. These situations are not only awkward, but they’re invasions of privacy.

But business owners who elect a third-party registered agent can create a veil of privacy for their companies and employees. Your appointed agent receives, signs, and processes your essential legal documents, subpoenas, and notifications.

2. Staying Compliant With the Nevada Secretary of State

Filing your formation documents and including the name of a registered agent is essential to be in good standing with the state of Nevada. But this is only one of the most manageable conditions to meet. Operating in Nevada requires maintaining your good standing with the state. That’s easier said than done if you want to be your own registered agent.

The benefit of using a third-party registered agent service is that you don’t have to worry about the details. You can switch office spaces, move into a new home, and not worry about dealing with the state. Your agent’s office stays the same. And should your registered agent relocate, they know enough about the state law to maintain compliance and file the proper papers and notifications.

3. Expertise

Not all Nevada businesses can afford in-house legal counsel. Having a registered agent process, decipher, and forward service of process paperwork is crucial to understanding your next move.

The best Nevada registered agent services may also serve in an advisory capacity. In addition, they will notify you on time to ensure you meet critical deadlines with state agencies and other companies. It may cost more, but the legal guidance is worth it.

4. Incorporate From Out of State

You don’t need to be based in Nevada to run a business there or transact in the state. Naming a registered agent service licensed in Nevada is enough to be in good standing and get authorization to transact business in the state.

This can save you thousands of dollars in hiring new employees and setting up a new office.

5. Schedule Flexibility

One of the most critical responsibilities of a registered agent is to keep regular business hours. But not all businesses can do that. Some operate at odd hours or have hybrid workplaces with employees scattered across different time zones. That makes it challenging to meet the state requirements as your own registered agent.

A third-party agent can serve as your point of contact and mail forwarding hub during regular business hours to receive documents on your behalf. You still get notified on time and maintain your good standing. But you can travel, set up a more flexible schedule, work at night, and enjoy other perks of scheduling freedom.

Swyft Filings’ Nevada registered agent service can offer the impactful benefits above and more for your LLC. Find out more about our affordable and reliable registered agent service here.

How To Set Up Your Nevada Registered Agent

The most efficient way for business owners to elect a Nevada registered agent is when filing paperwork to form a Nevada LLC.

But you also need to know how to elect and change an agent if you want a different service or part ways with your existing agent.

Electing a Nevada Registered Agent

Appointing a Nevada registered agent is done by adding the registered agent’s information to the articles of incorporation or articles of organization. However, not all agents can sign the formation documents on time. If that’s the case, you can file a Registered Agent Acceptance/Statement of Change form separately and continue with the incorporation.

The standard filing fee for electing a new registered agent is $60. You can submit the form via mail, fax, online portal, and in person.

Changing a Nevada Registered Agent

Suppose you want to change your Nevada registered agent. You must pay $60 in state fees to the Nevada Secretary of State office. The good news is that this process is straightforward, and you don’t search through multiple forms.

Whether you have a Nevada LLC, nonprofit, corporation, or another business entity, you’ll need to complete and file the Change of Registered Agent by Represented Entity form. You can use the following filing methods:[3]

• Mail

• Fax

• Online

• In-person

Nevada Secretary of State Contact Information

You can mail or submit the paperwork in person at the following address:

202 North Carson Street

Carson City, Nevada 89701-4201

To contact the Nevada Secretary of State for additional information, call (755) 684-5708.

FAQs

Who can be a Nevada registered agent?

State residents over 18 can serve as Nevada registered agents. Additionally, companies in good standing and authorized to operate in Nevada can become commercial and noncommercial registered agents. They can represent LLCs, nonprofits, Nevada corporations, foreign companies, and other business entities.

How much does a registered agent in Nevada cost?

Registered agent services may cost anywhere from $100 to $300 in the first year or more, depending on the provider and the service package. Swyft Filings offers registered agent services at a flat $149 yearly rate.

How can I change my registered agent in Nevada?

Changing your registered agent requires filing paperwork to change your business information.[3] You can do it by filing the Change of Registered Agent by Represented Entity form and paying a $60 state fee.

How can I find a registered agent in Nevada?

The easiest way to find registered agent listings in Nevada is to access the Nevada Secretary of State online database.[4] However, that information isn’t always up to date. Thus, using Google Searches, personal recommendations, and other research may be necessary to find the best registered agent for your Nevada LLC.

What is a Nevada registered office?

A registered office means the same thing in Nevada as in other states. It’s the official and actual business address of a registered agent. It’s the agent’s address listed in the public record where they receive paperwork for clients during regular business hours. It can’t be a P.O. Box or mail service.

What’s the difference between a registered agent and a resident agent or statutory agent?

There’s no difference between a registered agent, resident agent, process server, or statutory agent in Nevada. These are interchangeable terms referring to the same role. It’s a person or company elected to receive, process, and forward service of notice documents on behalf of their clients.

What is a registered agent service?

A registered agent service is a third party that fulfills the registered agent requirements on behalf of the business. We offer a reliable registered agent service that maintains your privacy, provides immediate access to vital documents, and gives you more time to focus on your business.

Bibliography

1. Nevada Legislature. “Registered Agent and Registered Office.” Accessed on December 19, 2022.

2. Nevada Secretary of State. “Registered Agents.” Accessed on December 19, 2022.

3. SilverFlume. “How Do I Change My Resident Agent?.” Accessed on December 19, 2022.

4. Nevada Secretary of State. “Registered Agent Listing.” Accessed on December 19, 2022.