How to Get a Registered Agent in Vermont
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Swyft Filings is committed to providing accurate, reliable information to help you make informed decisions for your business. That's why our content is written and edited by professional editors, writers, and subject matter experts. Learn more about how Swyft Filings works, our editorial team and standards, what our customers think of us, and more on our trust page.
Every business registered in Vermont has to comply with the state’s regulations and laws, one of them being appointing a registered agent. In this ultimate guide, we’ll explain what a registered agent is and how they can help your business.
Key Takeaways
A registered agent is an individual or company that serves as a point of contact between the government and the business owner.
A Vermont registered agent must have a physical address in Vermont and be available during normal business hours to receive legal documents.
You can be your own registered agent, but hiring a professional service has numerous benefits.
Protect your privacy, avoid compliance issues, and choose a service trusted by over 300,000 businesses.
What Is a Registered Agent?
A Vermont registered agent is an individual or company that accepts legal documents on behalf of large or small business owners. This role includes monitoring state compliance requirements and sending notifications regarding due dates for annual reports and other important documents. The agent also receives service of process documentation if a company gets sued.
Simply put, a registered agent ensures a Vermont LLC, corporation, or nonprofit is always in good standing and prevents compliance issues with the Vermont Secretary of State.
Registered Agent Responsibilities
A Vermont registered agent has numerous duties and responsibilities. These include:
Receiving mail, such as service of process, corporate filings, and other legal documents
Ensuring compliance with laws and regulations by sending annual report reminders and tax notices
Maintaining a physical business address in the state that is part of the public record
Being available during normal business hours to receive mail
Forwarding important mail to business owners the same day they receive it to ensure timely receipt
Creating copies and keeping a meticulous record of documents so there’s a backup in the case of a natural disaster, loss, or theft
Choosing Your Vermont Registered Agent
When choosing a proper Vermont registered agent, you first need to know the requirements for the role. It's also critical to review the advantages and drawbacks of being your own agent versus hiring a registered agent service.
Vermont Registered Agent Requirements
Every Vermont registered agent must:
Have a physical address, known as a registered office, within the state (P.O. boxes are not acceptable)
Be available to accept legal documents, including service of process, during normal business hours
Be a Vermont resident over the age of 18, if an individual
Be a domestic or foreign company that offers registered agent services
These requirements apply to all registered agents in the state to fulfill the needs of your Vermont business, whether that’s a limited liability company, corporation, or nonprofit. You must include information about your registered agent in your company’s formation documents.
If your registered agent doesn’t meet these requirements, you risk your company’s good standing and may have to pay numerous state fees.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Vermont?
One of the most common questions is whether you can be your own registered agent, and the answer is yes. As long as you meet the requirements listed above, you can be your own agent.
Being your own Vermont registered agent has numerous pros and cons. Let’s summarize the main advantages of being your own registered agent.
Saving money by not paying a third party
Keeping business roles in-house
Avoiding wasted time from training an employee to do the job
However, the role also has drawbacks. For example, it can be overwhelming for those who already have a busy schedule or aren’t the best at organizing their time. This can often lead to easy mistakes that can have severe consequences for you and your business, including ruining your good standing and paying hefty state fees.
It’s also important to emphasize that when you become your own registered agent, your information becomes publicly available. This is because a registered agent's information is listed on the public record. If you use your home or business address, this can affect your privacy.
Finally, a registered agent must be available at their registered office during normal business hours. This means you can’t come and go as you please, work remotely, or enact a flexible schedule.
Benefits of a Third-Party Registered Agent
For many business owners, the bad outweighs the good when it comes to being their own registered agent. That’s why many entrepreneurs turn to third-party registered agents. Here are just some of the benefits of hiring a professional registered agent service.
Compliance
A company needs to conduct business in line with numerous laws and regulations prescribed by the state of Vermont. Since business owners often don’t have the time to check on compliance deadlines and keep track of new rules, they’re better off hiring a third-party registered agent that can help keep a company in good standing.
Third-party registered agents can:
Maintain a compliance calendar
Ensure no deadline is missed
Help you with filing paperwork
Discretion
Registered agents serve as a point of contact for your business and receive important documents, such as summons issued by a process server. Because of this, they have access to sensitive information. Third-party registered agents guarantee privacy and discretion so you can have peace of mind knowing your information won’t end up in the wrong hands.
Flexibility
As mentioned, Vermont registered agents must be available during regular business hours to receive mail. Hiring a Vermont registered agent service means you don’t have to worry about staying at your office. Instead, you have complete flexibility in terms of organizing your schedule.
Thanks to this, you can:
Work from home or another location
Set your working hours as you please
Take vacations whenever you want
Be 100% sure you won’t miss important mail
Security
Third-party Vermont registered agents meticulously record your files and make copies. This gives you more security if you lose your files due to a natural disaster, theft, or other circumstances.
National Coverage
Many third-party Vermont registered agent services offer national coverage, so you can expand your business outside the state whenever you feel ready. You also don’t have to worry about updating the state with any changes because they’ll take care of that for you.
You can enjoy these benefits and many more only if you opt for the best Vermont registered agent service like Swyft Filings. We’ve been in the industry for years and can guarantee high-quality services to help your business thrive.
How to Set Up Your Vermont Registered Agent
Business owners who want to start a Vermont LLC, corporation, or nonprofit often wonder how to set up a Vermont registered agent. On the other side, many existing business owners would like to know how to change their current registered agent. Here, we’ll provide instructions for both.
Electing a Vermont Registered Agent
The process of electing a Vermont registered agent varies depending on whether you’re starting an LLC, corporation, or nonprofit. By filling out our quick questionnaire, we’ll file the paperwork to appoint a registered agent and take care of those small details so you can focus on running your business.
No matter what entity type, keep in mind that the state filing fee is currently $125.
Electing a Vermont Registered Agent for an LLC
If you’re starting a Vermont LLC, you need to:
Complete Form LLC-1(D) - Articles of Organization and enter your registered agent’s information in Article 4
Choose whether you want to file online, by mail, or in person
Those who opt for online filing should go to the Vermont Business Service Center website to set up their online account and form their LLC.[1]
Business owners who want to file by mail or in person need to request a fillable form from the Secretary of State. You can submit the form to the following address:
Vermont Secretary of State
Corporations Division
128 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05633-1104
Electing a Vermont Registered Agent for a Corporation
To elect a Vermont registered agent for a corporation, you need to complete Form CORP-1(G) - Profit Articles of Incorporation and enter their information in Article 4. You can choose to file the form online or submit it by mail or in person.
If you want to complete the process online, go to the Vermont Business Service Center website and create an account to form your corporation.[2]
If you want to file in person or by mail, visit the Vermont Secretary of State’s website and request a fillable form. Then, submit the form to this address:
Vermont Secretary of State
Corporations Division
128 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05633-1104
Electing a Vermont Registered Agent for a Nonprofit
If you want to form a nonprofit and elect a Vermont registered agent, you’ll need to complete Form CORP-1(N) - Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation. State your registered agent’s information in Article 6.
As with electing a Vermont registered agent for an LLC or a corporation, you can submit your paperwork online, via mail, or in person.
If you want to do it online, go to the Vermont Business Service Center website and set up an account. You can then form your nonprofit and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.[3]
If you want to submit the paperwork via mail or in person, visit the Vermont Secretary of State website and submit a request for a fillable form. When you’re ready, fill out the form and send it to:
Vermont Secretary of State
Corporations Division
128 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05633-1104
Changing a Vermont Registered Agent
If you already have a Vermont registered agent but want to change to a new one, you only need to fill out and submit the Registered Agent Changes & Resignations form. We’ll complete the change for you and serve as your new, professional registered agent. You can also submit the form online, in person, or via mail.
Business owners who want to do it online should follow these instructions:
Visit the Vermont Secretary of State website and access their account.
Fill out the information regarding the new registered agent, including the agent’s address, name, and email
Submit the form
Those who wish to do it in person should go to the Vermont Secretary of State website and request a fillable form. After you fill out the information, you can submit the form to the following address:
Vermont Secretary of State
Corporations Division
128 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05633-1104
The filing fee for changing a Vermont registered agent is currently $25. Keep in mind that online filing takes less than a day to process while processing filings received by mail or in person can take up to 10 business days.[4]
Avoid Penalties: Every business is legally required to have a registered agent in any state where it operates.
Prioritize Your Privacy: We go on record with the government so you don’t have to, meaning any legal actions come to us, not your home or office.
Stay Flexible: We are always available at a physical address during business hours, so you’ll never miss an official notice.
FAQs
Who can be a Vermont registered agent?
Any person aged 18 or older and any business entity can be a Vermont registered agent. The chosen registered agent needs to have a physical address in Vermont and be available during normal business hours.
Note that a business can act as a registered agent for another company but can’t be its own registered agent.
How much does a registered agent in Vermont cost?
On average, a Vermont registered agent costs between $100 and $300 per year. You can hire a registered agent for as low as $50 if you only need someone to perform mail forwarding. Reputable registered agent services also ensure you’re compliant and offer other business services, so they cost a bit more.
How can I change my registered agent in Vermont?
If you want to change your Vermont registered agent online, you can fill out and submit the Registered Agent Changes & Resignations form. You can also submit the form in person or via mail by going to the Secretary of State’s website, requesting a fillable form, and submitting it to this address:
Vermont Secretary of State Corporations Division 128 State St. Montpelier, VT 05633-1104
How can I find a registered agent in Vermont?
You can find registered agents in Vermont by conducting a quick internet search. You can also ask other business owners who use their services. It’s a good idea to check online reviews to ensure you’re hiring the best company.
What is a Vermont registered office?
A Vermont registered office is your registered agent’s physical street address. This is the address to which your company’s mail arrives.
What’s the difference between a registered agent and a resident agent or statutory agent?
These three terms have the same meaning in most contexts. Keep in mind that in some cases, a resident agent can also be an individual who can act on behalf of a company even though they aren’t an owner.
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. Swyft Filings offers 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
Vermont Secretary of State. “Limited Liability Company (LLC).” Accessed December 21, 2022.
Vermont Secretary of State “Profit Corporation.” Accessed December 21, 2022.
Vermont Secretary of State. “Nonprofit Corporation.” Accessed December 21, 2022.
Vermont Secretary of State “Registered Agent Changes & Resignations.” Accessed December 21, 2022.
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