WEBVTT 00:00:00.208 --> 00:00:06.688 The 5 best registered agents in Connecticut in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest 00:00:06.732 --> 00:00:11.968 Registered Agent, CT Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and 00:00:12.035 --> 00:00:14.608 Connecticut Registered Agent.co. 00:00:14.608 --> 00:00:17.728 Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. 00:00:17.801 --> 00:00:20.928 Connecticut. Does it have its own wrinkle for agents? 00:00:20.928 --> 00:00:27.168 A big one. Your LLC can't be its own registered agent there, and a change of agent 00:00:27.235 --> 00:00:30.688 costs $50, so most owners end up hiring one. 00:00:31.621 --> 00:00:33.029 Walk me through the rule. 00:00:33.029 --> 00:00:38.229 Every Connecticut LLC has to designate and maintain a registered agent in the state. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:42.389 Designating one is the company's statement that the agent has agreed to serve. 00:00:42.389 --> 00:00:44.149 Who qualifies? 00:00:44.149 --> 00:00:48.869 A natural person who lives in Connecticut, a Connecticut corporation, an authorized 00:00:48.919 --> 00:00:55.669 foreign corporation, a Connecticut or registered foreign LLC, or an LLP or statutory 00:00:55.736 --> 00:00:59.749 trust. And the agent must have a place of business in the state. 00:00:59.749 --> 00:01:01.509 So can I be my own? 00:01:01.509 --> 00:01:05.669 As an individual resident, yes, including a principal of the business. 00:01:05.789 --> 00:01:08.709 The entity itself cannot appoint itself. 00:01:08.709 --> 00:01:10.789 Does the agent have to sign? 00:01:10.789 --> 00:01:15.589 Yes. The filing carries a signature accepting the appointment, unlike some of the 00:01:15.635 --> 00:01:16.709 states we've covered. 00:01:16.709 --> 00:01:19.189 I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. 00:01:19.189 --> 00:01:21.509 Thanks, Maya. Let's meet the five. 00:01:22.237 --> 00:01:23.117 Number one? 00:01:23.117 --> 00:01:30.077 Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and $149 again at renewal. 00:01:30.077 --> 00:01:31.277 What does that cover? 00:01:31.277 --> 00:01:35.037 Its Connecticut address on the public record in place of your own. 00:01:35.317 --> 00:01:40.397 Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day at no fee, and your 00:01:40.450 --> 00:01:43.597 first three government mailings each year are scanned free. 00:01:43.597 --> 00:01:44.957 What about changing over? 00:01:44.957 --> 00:01:48.397 Mainstay files the Connecticut change of agent for you. 00:01:48.517 --> 00:01:51.597 The fifty-dollar state fee passes through at cost. 00:01:52.257 --> 00:01:54.396 And the honest catch? 00:01:54.396 --> 00:02:00.557 Two of the services below it charge $99, so Mainstay doesn't win a pure price 00:02:00.647 --> 00:02:01.277 contest. 00:02:02.557 --> 00:02:03.597 Second? 00:02:03.597 --> 00:02:07.717 Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. 00:02:07.787 --> 00:02:13.037 Its page says the price hasn't moved in twenty years, and up to ten regular mail 00:02:13.104 --> 00:02:14.797 scans a year are free. 00:02:14.797 --> 00:02:15.357 Catch? 00:02:15.357 --> 00:02:21.757 The automatic enrollment in its annual report filing service, which is $100 plus 00:02:21.810 --> 00:02:24.717 state fees per filing, until you cancel it. 00:02:24.717 --> 00:02:27.197 Connecticut's report is $80. 00:02:27.197 --> 00:02:33.997 Which means with that service switched on, it's $100 plus the $80 state fee, 00:02:34.057 --> 00:02:38.797 $180 for a filing the state lets you do online yourself. 00:02:39.555 --> 00:02:41.155 Three? 00:02:41.155 --> 00:02:46.035 CT Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. 00:02:46.175 --> 00:02:50.675 The office address, scanning of legal correspondence and reminders for state 00:02:50.745 --> 00:02:51.315 filings. 00:02:51.315 --> 00:02:52.035 Switching? 00:02:52.035 --> 00:02:57.955 Costs just the $50 state fee. Annual report filing is a separate service. 00:02:57.955 --> 00:02:58.995 Against Mainstay? 00:02:58.995 --> 00:03:04.115 $50 a year less. Over three years that's $150. 00:03:06.115 --> 00:03:07.555 Four? 00:03:07.555 --> 00:03:13.235 Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with any formation package, then 00:03:13.275 --> 00:03:16.595 $149 a year on automatic renewal. 00:03:16.595 --> 00:03:18.915 And if I formed elsewhere? 00:03:18.915 --> 00:03:22.835 Then you skip the free year and start at $149. 00:03:22.835 --> 00:03:24.675 A two-year total? 00:03:24.675 --> 00:03:28.515 Free then $149 with a formation order. 00:03:28.565 --> 00:03:34.995 Without it, $149 then $149 is $298. 00:03:36.374 --> 00:03:37.174 And five? 00:03:37.174 --> 00:03:41.494 Connecticut Registered Agent.co, a flat $99. 00:03:41.614 --> 00:03:45.894 The address on your filings, same-day scans of state correspondence and deadline 00:03:45.958 --> 00:03:46.734 reminders. 00:03:46.734 --> 00:03:48.454 Anything different from number three? 00:03:48.454 --> 00:03:54.374 Not on the listings. Same price, same catch, and report filing costs extra. 00:03:55.174 --> 00:03:57.254 What addresses does the form ask for? 00:03:57.254 --> 00:04:03.814 Form BUS-009 asks for the agent's business address, with no post office box, 00:04:03.994 --> 00:04:09.614 and a Connecticut residence address, again no post office box. 00:04:09.824 --> 00:04:14.854 LLCs also give a Connecticut mailing address for the agent, where a post office box 00:04:14.961 --> 00:04:15.814 is acceptable. 00:04:15.814 --> 00:04:17.174 And for a business agent? 00:04:17.174 --> 00:04:20.534 A Connecticut business address, no post office box. 00:04:20.534 --> 00:04:22.854 Any rule on office hours? 00:04:22.854 --> 00:04:24.694 We didn't find one. 00:04:25.643 --> 00:04:29.814 So an individual agent gives a home address on the public record? 00:04:29.814 --> 00:04:33.974 The statute says an individual's business and residence addresses. 00:04:34.118 --> 00:04:36.694 That's one reason people choose a service. 00:04:39.654 --> 00:04:40.934 How do I change it? 00:04:40.934 --> 00:04:44.454 Form BUS-009, the Change of Agent. 00:04:44.514 --> 00:04:49.414 The fee is $50, set in the statute for a change of agent or a change of the agent's 00:04:49.474 --> 00:04:50.214 address. 00:04:50.214 --> 00:04:51.014 Online? 00:04:51.014 --> 00:04:55.254 Yes, at the state's business site, or on paper to the Secretary of the State in 00:04:55.307 --> 00:04:56.054 Hartford. 00:04:56.054 --> 00:04:57.574 Do my members have to vote? 00:04:57.574 --> 00:05:00.534 No. The members or managers need not approve it. 00:05:00.634 --> 00:05:04.374 But the certificate must be signed by the newly appointed agent. 00:05:04.374 --> 00:05:07.414 Same fee for just a new address for the same agent? 00:05:07.414 --> 00:05:09.254 Fifty dollars online, yes. 00:05:09.998 --> 00:05:11.518 What if my agent quits? 00:05:11.518 --> 00:05:14.718 A certificate of resignation, another $50. 00:05:14.798 --> 00:05:18.638 It can only be filed by the agent, and it doesn't appoint a new one. 00:05:18.718 --> 00:05:20.638 That takes an additional filing. 00:05:20.638 --> 00:05:22.158 When does it take effect? 00:05:22.158 --> 00:05:27.118 On the earlier of the 31st day after it's filed or the date a new agent is 00:05:27.183 --> 00:05:31.918 designated. The agent has to immediately tell the company the date it was filed. 00:05:31.918 --> 00:05:34.158 And if I never replace them? 00:05:34.158 --> 00:05:38.238 Papers can be mailed to the company at its principal office, as shown on the most 00:05:38.284 --> 00:05:39.758 recent annual report. 00:05:40.774 --> 00:05:43.254 Can the state take action over a missing agent? 00:05:43.254 --> 00:05:48.934 Yes. If a delinquent LLC has failed to maintain an agent, the Secretary can email 00:05:48.954 --> 00:05:53.494 the company at the address on record that its rights and powers are prima facie 00:05:53.574 --> 00:05:54.814 forfeited. 00:05:54.814 --> 00:05:56.614 How long does it have? 00:05:56.614 --> 00:05:59.174 Three months from the sending. 00:05:59.307 --> 00:06:04.294 If it files no agent appointment, the Secretary files a certificate of dissolution 00:06:04.374 --> 00:06:05.814 by forfeiture. 00:06:05.814 --> 00:06:07.254 Can it come back? 00:06:07.254 --> 00:06:12.614 Reinstatement is $120, with an agent appointment. 00:06:14.541 --> 00:06:16.141 And the yearly filing? 00:06:16.141 --> 00:06:21.501 The annual report is $80, online only, filed between January first and March 00:06:21.547 --> 00:06:25.101 thirty-first. The first one comes the year after formation. 00:06:25.101 --> 00:06:26.861 Does it show the agent? 00:06:26.861 --> 00:06:32.061 Yes, it lists the agent. The state emails the address you gave about a month before 00:06:32.114 --> 00:06:32.701 it's due. 00:06:32.701 --> 00:06:35.421 So a normal year costs? 00:06:35.421 --> 00:06:41.501 With Mainstay, $149 plus $80 is $229. 00:06:41.613 --> 00:06:47.741 With a $99 agent, $99 plus $80 is $179. 00:06:47.741 --> 00:06:49.101 And formation? 00:06:49.101 --> 00:06:54.541 The Certificate of Organization is $120, which includes appointing the agent. 00:06:55.341 --> 00:06:58.181 Say I live in Connecticut and want to be my own agent. 00:06:58.237 --> 00:06:59.022 What's the trade? 00:06:59.022 --> 00:07:01.821 It's free, and you control the papers. 00:07:01.961 --> 00:07:06.221 But the statute puts an individual agent's business and residence addresses on the 00:07:06.278 --> 00:07:07.501 public record. 00:07:07.501 --> 00:07:09.181 And you need a place of business? 00:07:09.181 --> 00:07:14.141 The agent has to have one in the state, so a home with no business address is 00:07:14.231 --> 00:07:15.101 awkward. 00:07:15.101 --> 00:07:16.381 What about travel? 00:07:16.381 --> 00:07:20.781 If you're often away, a missed served lawsuit is the real risk. 00:07:20.881 --> 00:07:25.821 The agent has a duty to forward anything served, and a service that scans the same 00:07:25.874 --> 00:07:27.741 business day makes that fast. 00:07:27.741 --> 00:07:30.142 And if I'm a one-person company? 00:07:30.142 --> 00:07:33.261 A principal of the business can serve, so it's allowed. 00:07:33.394 --> 00:07:37.901 It just has to be a person, since the LLC can't appoint itself. 00:07:38.657 --> 00:07:40.897 How would a Hartford or Stamford owner choose? 00:07:40.897 --> 00:07:46.017 Three things. Does the price hold, is the address a real Connecticut business 00:07:46.067 --> 00:07:49.777 address, and who files the $50 change. 00:07:49.777 --> 00:07:51.696 And your answer? 00:07:51.696 --> 00:07:58.177 Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Connecticut, at $149 a year. 00:07:59.198 --> 00:08:00.957 Let's hear all five once more. 00:08:00.957 --> 00:08:06.958 One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. 00:08:07.358 --> 00:08:13.838 Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to 00:08:13.907 --> 00:08:20.638 cancel. Three, CT Registered Agent.org: $99 00:08:20.734 --> 00:08:27.678 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then 00:08:27.758 --> 00:08:34.878 $149. Five, Connecticut Registered Agent.co: 00:08:34.992 --> 00:08:36.958 $99 flat. 00:08:36.958 --> 00:08:38.478 The links are in the show notes. 00:08:38.638 --> 00:08:42.078 Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.