How to Get a Registered Agent in Wyoming

Forming a business in Wyoming means selecting a registered agent to represent that business. This is a legal requirement, and companies that fail to choose a registered agent will face severe penalties from the state.

But what does it mean to elect a registered agent for your Wyoming company? And how do you do it? This guide answers those questions and more.

Key Takeaways

• Failing to elect a registered agent in Wyoming carries harsh penalties, up to and including falling out of good standing with the state and having your business dissolved. 

• A third-party registered agent provides key benefits that don’t come with being your own agent or having an employee serve as one, including more privacy and more options for incorporating in different states.

• Individuals must be Wyoming state residents to be eligible as a registered agent for a Wyoming LLC, corporation, or nonprofit.

What Is a Registered Agent?

A Wyoming registered agent is an individual or entity that receives, processes, and forwards essential documents to your Wyoming LLC or corporation. For example, if somebody sues your business, they’ll send a legal document called a service of process. Your registered agent receives that document and ensures it makes it to you.

Wyoming business owners must have a registered agent to remain in good standing with the state. This requirement applies to companies of all sizes, meaning your small business is as responsible for maintaining a registered agent as a large company.

Registered Agent Responsibilities

A Wyoming registered agent has two core responsibilities.

First, the agent must be available to receive any legal documents or notifications from the Wyoming Secretary of State on your company’s behalf. They’re then responsible for filing and forwarding those documents to your business. 

Second, a registered agent must keep certain information about the company they represent. Such information includes contact details for “key individuals” in the business, like the company’s directors and officers.

Your agent must also keep the contact details of a “communications contact,” which is the person law enforcement speaks to if there’s an issue to resolve.

Beyond these core responsibilities, a Wyoming registered agent must commit to doing the following:

• Maintain a physical street address or business address where they can receive mail

• Consent to placing their address on the public record with the Wyoming Secretary of State

• Maintain regular business hours so that they can receive mail on your company’s behalf

• Receive, process, and forward important business documents to the business they represent

Choosing Your Wyoming Registered Agent

You have several options when electing a Wyoming registered agent. Making the right choice is vital as your agent plays a crucial role in ensuring your company receives notifications and documents promptly.

Wyoming Registered Agent Requirements

According to the state of Wyoming, you may elect an individual or Wyoming business entity to serve as your Wyoming registered agent. A corporate or LLC registered agent must maintain a physical street address.[1] They can’t use a P.O. box, mailing service, UPS store, or drop box as their address.

If an individual wants to serve as a registered agent, they must be at least 18 years old and be a Wyoming resident. Additionally, they must have a physical address and be willing to place it in the public record. They must also consent to act as your company’s registered agent.

If you prefer a registered agent service, you can choose any corporation or limited liability company (LLC) authorized to transact in Wyoming.

That business entity must have a physical address to use as a registered office. Plus, the company must be in good standing with the state.

In either case, you’ll elect your registered agent while filling out your formation documents, which you complete and send with state fees when creating your company. Your agent must also complete the Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent form as part of this filing.

Failing to elect a registered agent comes with harsh penalties, including falling out of good standing with the state. If this happens, the Wyoming Secretary of State may revoke your authorization to do business in Wyoming. In some cases, the state may force the dissolution of your business entity.

Can I Be My Own Wyoming Registered Agent?

Wyoming business owners are allowed to be their own registered agents. They may also elect anybody working for their company as a registered agent.

This decision comes with several pros and cons.

On the plus side, serving as your own registered agent allows you to benefit from the following:

• You maintain complete control over any documents your company receives

• You don’t need to track any extra accounts

Unfortunately, there are some pronounced downsides to working as your own registered agent:

• You must place your home or office address in the public record

• You must maintain regular business hours, which may be inconvenient for your business

• You have no buffer between your business and the legal notices it may receive

• You’re responsible for sifting through junk mail for critical, sometimes legal, documents

Benefits of a Third-Party Registered Agent

Working with a third-party registered agent or a registered agent service provider, such as Swyft Filings, allows you to avoid the downsides of serving as your own registered agent. The following are key benefits when working with a Wyoming registered agent service.

1. More Privacy

Let’s assume you’re welcoming a new client into your office for a big meeting.

After months of tense negotiations, you’re finally ready to sign an agreement. You proceed through the formalities. But just as the client is about to sign, a law enforcement officer arrives at your office.

That official serves you with a service of process document, letting your client know that your company is being sued.

What do you think that situation says to your client?

Unfortunately, this scenario has a real chance of occurring when you serve as your own registered agent. Your address is on the public record, and your company has no privacy.

Using a commercial registered agent means you have a barrier between your company and any legal notices or documents it receives. That extra layer of privacy ensures you don’t face any compromising situations in front of a client.

2. More Time to Focus On Your Business

As a business owner, you’re likely more focused on growing your company than anything else. It can feel like you have dozens of decisions to make every day, and taking on the responsibilities of a registered agent is a distraction to you.

The same goes for your employees.

Anybody taking on the role must split their time between their work and registered agent duties. The result may be lower productivity levels, which slows down business growth.

The best registered agent services take a ton of work off your plate. They handle the duties of a registered agent while serving as your point of contact if you have any questions. You gain access to expertise and can focus your energy on building your organization.

3. Control Over Your Business Hours

A registered agent must maintain regular business hours at a registered office. Failure to do so could lead to the agent missing the delivery of important documents. Worst case, this could mean your company doesn’t file documents essential to staying in good standing with the state.

Some business owners can find this requirement troublesome.

For example, you may operate a restaurant that opens primarily during the evening. Alternatively, you could regularly travel for work, meaning you’re not always available to receive mail. Serving as your own registered agent means you have to open at specific times, giving you less control over your business.

A third-party agent solves these problems by giving you a registered office that’s open when needed. You can choose your business hours because you can trust your agent to receive documents on your behalf.

4. You Can Incorporate in a Different State

Like many national and multinational firms, you may want to do business in Wyoming without being based in the state. For example, you may have an e-commerce store based in Florida or New York that sells to customers in the entire United States.

Setting up a physical address in Wyoming for your registered office is costly. You’re spending money and taking on an ongoing cost you wouldn’t necessarily have in ideal circumstances.

With a Wyoming registered agent service, you don’t need to worry about having a physical address. Your agent’s address serves as your company’s registered address. As a result, you have the freedom to incorporate wherever you want while still being able to do business in Wyoming.

Our reliable and trusted registered agent service is available in all 50 states. By choosing us as your registered agent, you’ll gain the above benefits and more, giving you more time to focus on what’s important: your business.

How To Set Up Your Wyoming Registered Agent

Entrepreneurs and business owners must know how to elect a registered agent to serve their businesses. You must also know how to choose a new agent if your Wyoming registered agent resigns.

Depending on whether you have a Wyoming LLC, corporation, or nonprofit, there are different processes to follow.

Electing a Wyoming Registered Agent

Electing a Wyoming registered agent involves completing the relevant formation documents for your business entity. Though these documents differ depending on your business type, all documents are delivered to the Wyoming Secretary of State. 

You can provide your documents, along with state fees, to the following address:

Wyoming Secretary of State

Herschler Building East, Suite 101

122 W. 25th Street

Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020

Alternatively, you can file your documents online at the Wyoming Secretary of State website. You don’t need to create an online account on the website to file.

Finally, all registered agents must consent to serve in the role. This consent comes from the Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent form, where your agent enters the following details:

• You’re organization’s name

• The registered agent’s name

• The registered agent’s signature

• A statement that says the agent consents to serve your business

• The date of signing the form

If you want to skip the hassle of the paperwork completely, we’ll fill out the relevant forms, file them with the Oregon Secretary of State, and serve as your registered agent all in one.

Electing a Registered Agent for a Wyoming LLC

A Wyoming LLC elects its registered agent by completing Article 3 of the Articles of Organization - LLC form. As such, the process is a vital part of LLC formation.

Once completed, send the form via mail or online to the Secretary of State, along with filing fees of $100.[2]

Electing a Registered Agent for a Wyoming Corporation

When selecting a Wyoming registered agent for a corporation, you must enter your agent’s contact information into Article 3 of the Articles of Incorporation - Profit Corporation form.

Again, you can send this form online or via mail with a filing fee of $100.[3]

Electing a Registered Agent for a Wyoming Nonprofit

Electing a registered agent as a nonprofit involves completing Article 3 of the Articles of Incorporation - Nonprofit form.

Though you still deliver this form online or by mail, filing fees are lower for nonprofit corporations. Expect to pay fees of $50 when electing your agent.[4]

Changing a Wyoming Registered Agent

You may have to change your Wyoming registered agent if your existing agent withdraws their consent to serve in the role.

Thankfully, this process doesn’t vary regardless of whether you have a Wyoming LLC, corporation, or nonprofit. The new agent must complete the Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent form, just as your previous agent did.

Furthermore, your company must complete the Change of an Entity’s Registered Agent and Office form, which you file with the Wyoming Secretary of State. You can complete the form online or send it to the following address:

Wyoming Secretary of State

Herschler Building East, Suite 101

122 W. 25th Street

Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020

There are no state fees to pay when changing your registered agent. If you choose Swyft Filings as your new agent, we’ll complete this change for you.

FAQs

Who can be a Wyoming registered agent?

Any individual aged 18 or over can serve as a Wyoming registered agent. Business entities can also serve as registered agents if they have a physical address in the state.

How much does a registered agent in Wyoming cost?

The cost of a third-party registered agent service varies. At Swyft Filings, we charge a flat annual fee starting at $149.

How can I change my registered agent in Wyoming?

You can change your registered agent in Wyoming by completing the Change of an Entity’s Registered Agent and Office form. Your elected agent also needs to complete a consent form.

How can I find a registered agent in Wyoming?

Wyoming provides a roster of registered agents on its Secretary of State website. You can choose from this list if you need help finding an agent.

What is a Wyoming registered office?

A Wyoming registered office address is the street address or business address where your registered agent receives mail for your company.

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

Statutory agent and registered agent are synonyms, as both serve the same role. The term “resident agent” can be a synonym for a registered agent, but it may also refer to someone authorized to make decisions on a property they don’t own.

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

1. Wyoming Secretary of State. “How to Find (or Become) a Registered Agent.” Accessed December 15, 2022.

2. Wyoming Secretary of State. “Limited Liability Company Instructions.” Accessed December 15, 2022.

3. Wyoming Secretary of State. “Profit Corporation Instructions.” Accessed December 15, 2022.

4. Wyoming Secretary of State. “Nonprofit Corporation Instructions.” Accessed December 15, 2022.