The cheapest registered agent — and what 'cheap' really costs you
The lowest price isn't always the best deal. Here's the genuinely cheapest way to get a registered agent, the lowest-renewal paid services, and when paying a little more is the smarter move.
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"Cheapest registered agent" has two honest answers: the absolute cheapest is being your own agent for $0 — but it costs you privacy and availability. Among paid services, the cheapest are the ones with the lowest renewal price (not just a free first year). Here's the real picture.
Absolute cheapest: be your own registered agent ($0) — if you have an in-state address and don't mind it being public. Cheapest service by renewal: Bizee (~$119/yr) and Northwest (~$125/yr) are nearly tied, and both include the first year free. Best value: Northwest — for ~$6/year more than the cheapest, you also get address privacy and no upsell pressure.
The genuinely cheapest option: $0 (be your own agent)
Every state lets you act as your own registered agent if you have a physical address there and are available during business hours. Cost: nothing. The catch is real, though — your address goes on the public record (scraped by data brokers and marketers), and if you miss a delivery you can miss a lawsuit. For many home-based founders, that privacy loss is worth more than the ~$120/year a service costs. See can I be my own registered agent?
Cheapest paid services, by renewal price
| Service | First year | Renewal / year |
|---|---|---|
| Bizee | Free (with $0 formation) | ~$119 |
| Northwest | Free (with $39 formation) | ~$125 |
| ZenBusiness | $99 standalone (free on Pro/Premium) | $199 |
| LegalZoom | $249 | $249 |
Two things stand out. First, the "free first year" offers (Northwest, Bizee) are genuinely the cheapest entry. Second, the renewal is what you actually pay long-term — and there Bizee and Northwest (~$119–$125) are far below ZenBusiness ($199) and LegalZoom ($249). Always check the renewal, not the headline. Confirm current prices on each site.
Cheapest vs best value
Bizee edges out Northwest on pure price by a few dollars a year. But Northwest adds address privacy (their address on your public filings instead of yours) and a checkout without upsell pressure. For most people, paying about $6 more a year to keep your home address off public databases is the better deal — which is why we rate Northwest the best value, and Bizee the best for absolute lowest upfront cost.
Want the rock-bottom upfront option instead? Bizee forms your LLC for $0 plus the state fee with a free first-year agent — just decline the add-ons at checkout.
How to keep your total cost down
- Choose a service by its renewal price, not the free first year alone.
- Get your EIN free directly from the IRS — don't pay a service for it.
- Use a free operating-agreement template for a simple single-member LLC.
- Decline expedited filing unless you truly need the speed.
- If you switch from an expensive provider, the savings often pay for themselves in year one — see changing your registered agent.
FAQ
Is there a truly free registered agent?
Free as in $0 forever only applies to being your own agent. Services that advertise "free registered agent" mean the first year is free when you form with them; it renews at an annual rate (around $119–$125 for the cheapest) after that.
Why is LegalZoom so much more expensive?
LegalZoom charges $249/year for registered agent — the highest among major services — largely because it's a broad legal marketplace rather than a registered-agent specialist. For registered agent alone, it's poor value versus Northwest or Bizee.