Every Texas LLC
Needs a Registered Agent
Texas law requires every LLC to continuously maintain a consenting registered agent at a Texas street address. Proposed registered-agent service starts at $99/year — eligibility and written consent are confirmed before any appointment is filed.
Request a Written QuoteWhat Is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent (also called a statutory agent or agent for service of process) is a person or organization designated to receive legal documents on behalf of a business entity. In Texas, this means receiving service of process — lawsuits, subpoenas, and other legal papers — as well as official notices from the Texas Secretary of State.
The registered agent must maintain a physical street address in Texas (the "registered office") and be reliably available at that address during normal business hours. A P.O. box is not acceptable as the registered office.
Texas Legal Requirement
Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.201Under Texas Business Organizations Code Section 5.201, every domestic entity — including every Texas LLC — must continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in Texas. The registered agent must be either a natural person who is a Texas resident, or an entity authorized to do business in Texas that has designated an employee or officer as its agent representative.
This is not an optional or one-time obligation. If circumstances change — if your agent moves, resigns, or the registered office address changes — the LLC must update its registration with the Texas Secretary of State using Form 401 (Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent), which currently carries a $15 state filing fee. Verify the current fee at sos.texas.gov.
Registered-Agent Duties
The registered agent's core duties are:
- Accept service of process (lawsuits, citations, subpoenas) during business hours at the registered office
- Accept official correspondence from the Texas Secretary of State, including franchise-tax and Public Information Report notices
- Forward received documents to the LLC's principal contact in a timely manner
- Maintain current registration information with the state
What a registered agent does not do: provide legal advice, represent the LLC in litigation, manage the business, handle general mail (unless separately contracted), or guarantee that every legal notice the LLC receives will be forwarded — follow-up on forwarded documents is the LLC's responsibility.
Consequences of Letting Your Registered Agent Lapse
Operating a Texas LLC without a current registered agent or registered office can result in missed service of process, state delinquency notices, franchise-tax forfeiture, and loss of the LLC's right to transact business in Texas. A court can serve the Texas Secretary of State as a substitute agent — and the LLC may never know a lawsuit was filed until a default judgment is entered.
Specifically, letting registered-agent coverage lapse may cause:
- Missed legal notices that result in default judgments the LLC cannot easily appeal
- Missed Secretary of State correspondence about franchise-tax or Public Information Report deadlines
- The LLC's right to transact business in Texas being forfeited by the state
- Increased cost and complexity to restore the LLC to good standing
Maintaining a reliable registered agent is among the simplest ongoing compliance requirements for a Texas LLC — and among the most consequential to let slide.
How Our Quote-First Service Works
Registered-agent service is proposed starting at $99/year. "Proposed" means this is a published starting price, not a checkout. Here is what the process looks like after you submit an inquiry:
- Eligibility review: We review whether a registered-agent appointment is appropriate given your LLC's situation, jurisdiction, and the service scope you described.
- Written quote: We send a written scope identifying the proposed price, the registered office that would be listed, the handling terms for received process, renewal rate, change-of-agent fee if applicable, and what the service does and does not include.
- Written consent: We provide our written consent to act as registered agent — this consent is required by Texas law and does not exist merely because a form was submitted.
- Filing: We prepare the required state filing (in the Certificate of Formation for new LLCs, or Form 401 for existing LLCs switching agents). The LLC owner reviews and approves the filing before submission.
- Appointment effective after filing: The appointment is not effective until the filing is accepted by the Texas Secretary of State. We provide written confirmation once the appointment is effective.
Submitting the inquiry form on this site does not create a registered-agent appointment, designate a registered office, or create any legal obligation. Written consent and a completed state filing are both required before any appointment is effective. Never represent an unconfirmed appointment to a bank, agency, or court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas require an LLC to have a registered agent?
Yes. Under Texas Business Organizations Code Section 5.201, every domestic LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in Texas. The registered office must be a physical street address — a P.O. box is not acceptable.
Does submitting the form appoint you as my registered agent?
No. The quote request form does not appoint anyone as registered agent. A registered-agent appointment is only effective after eligibility review, written consent from us, written confirmation to you, and filing with the Texas Secretary of State. Never represent an unconfirmed appointment to a court, bank, or government agency.
What happens if my LLC has no registered agent?
A Texas LLC without a current registered agent or registered office risks state delinquency, potential forfeiture of its right to transact business, and missed service of process. Courts can serve the Texas Secretary of State as a substitute — creating litigation risk the LLC may not discover until a default judgment is entered. Maintaining a current registered agent is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time task. See the FAQ for more.
Can I be my own registered agent in Texas?
Yes, a Texas LLC member or manager who is a Texas resident with a physical Texas street address may serve as its own registered agent. The tradeoff is that your name and home or office address become part of the public record, and you must be available at that address during business hours. Many business owners prefer a third-party agent for privacy and reliable coverage.
How much does it cost to change registered agents in Texas?
The Texas Secretary of State charges $15 to file a Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent (Form 401) for an LLC. This is a separate government fee paid directly to the state, not included in the proposed service price. Verify the current fee at sos.texas.gov.
What is included in the proposed $99/year registered-agent service?
The written quote identifies exactly what is included — typically: a Texas registered office address for state filings, receipt of service of process and official state notices during business hours, forwarding of received documents to your designated contact, and annual renewal. Optional reminders and compliance notices are only included if the written scope says they are. Postage and any state change-of-agent fee are separate.
Don't Risk a Lapse.
Request a written quote for Texas registered-agent service — eligibility, consent, and written confirmation before any filing.