Can I be my own registered agent?
In most states, generally yes, as an individual who has a street address in the state and is there during business hours. Your address then goes on the public record and legal papers arrive at your door. If you would rather not, Mainstay Filing is $149 a year for registered agent service, the same at renewal.
What your state says
| State | Can an individual owner serve? | Can the LLC name itself? | Fee to change agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $100 |
| Alaska | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $25 |
| Arizona | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $5 |
| Arkansas | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | None |
| California | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | None |
| Colorado | Yes, if you meet the rule | Yes | $10 |
| Connecticut | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $50 |
| Delaware | Yes, if you meet the rule | Yes | $50 |
| Florida | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $25 |
| Georgia | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $30 |
| Hawaii | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $25 |
| Idaho | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | None |
| Illinois | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $25 |
| Indiana | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | None |
| Iowa | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | None |
| Kansas | Yes, if you meet the rule | Yes | $30 |
| Kentucky | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $10 |
| Louisiana | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $30 |
| Maine | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $35 |
| Maryland | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $25 |
| Massachusetts | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | None |
| Michigan | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $5 |
| Minnesota | Agent optional; a registered office is required | No | $55 |
| Mississippi | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $10 |
| Missouri | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $10 |
| Montana | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | None |
| Nebraska | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $25 |
| Nevada | Yes, if you meet the rule | Yes | $60 |
| New Hampshire | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $15 |
| New Jersey | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $25 |
| New Mexico | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $20 |
| New York | No agent needed: the state is the agent | Check with the Secretary of State | $30 |
| North Carolina | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $5 |
| North Dakota | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $10 |
| Ohio | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $25 |
| Oklahoma | Yes, if you meet the rule | Yes | $25 |
| Oregon | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | None |
| Pennsylvania | No agent; a registered office is required | Check with the Secretary of State | $5 |
| Rhode Island | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $20 |
| South Carolina | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $10 |
| South Dakota | Yes, if you meet the rule | Yes | $10 |
| Tennessee | Yes, if you meet the rule | Check with the Secretary of State | $20 |
| Texas | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $15 |
| Utah | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $17 |
| Vermont | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $35 |
| Virginia | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | None |
| Washington | Yes, if you meet the rule | Yes | None |
| West Virginia | Agent optional | Check with the Secretary of State | $15 |
| Wisconsin | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $10 |
| Wyoming | Yes, if you meet the rule | No | $5 |
Mainstay Filing
$149 a year, same at renewal
- Service of process is scanned and uploaded the same business day at no fee
- The first three government mailings a year are scanned free; after that a per-piece fee applies
- Tell Mainstay Filing before renewal and it will not renew
Mainstay Filing pricing, FAQ and services pages, read October 25, 2026. The registered agent address is not a business mailing address and cannot stand in for one, for example for bank verification.
Questions
Can I be my own registered agent?
In most states, generally yes: an individual owner can serve if they meet the state’s rule, which in the states that require an agent means a street address in that state where papers can be handed over. 4 states (Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) do not require a named agent in the same way. Confirm with the Secretary of State.
Do I need a registered agent for my LLC?
46 states require one; Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia treat it differently. See the states that do not require an agent.
Should I keep a registered agent service?
If you want your home address off the public record, or you cannot be at the address during business hours, yes. See the trade-offs. Mainstay Filing is $149 a year, the same at renewal.