WEBVTT 00:00:00.218 --> 00:00:06.378 The 5 best registered agents in Michigan in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, 00:00:06.530 --> 00:00:12.218 Northwest Registered Agent, MI Registered Agent.org, 00:00:12.738 --> 00:00:17.738 Bizee, and Michigan Registered Agent.co. 00:00:17.738 --> 00:00:19.978 Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. 00:00:20.067 --> 00:00:22.778 Michigan has its own wording for this, I think? 00:00:22.778 --> 00:00:28.458 It does. Michigan says resident agent, and it pairs the agent with a registered 00:00:28.549 --> 00:00:34.298 office. Changing the agent is Form 520, and the fee is $5. 00:00:36.991 --> 00:00:38.618 Is that two things or one? 00:00:38.618 --> 00:00:45.098 Two. A Michigan LLC has to keep both a registered office and a resident agent. 00:00:45.158 --> 00:00:49.258 The office may be the same as your place of business, but it doesn't have to be. 00:00:49.258 --> 00:00:51.578 What does the agent actually do? 00:00:51.578 --> 00:00:56.618 Receives documents, notices or demands served on the company. 00:00:56.698 --> 00:01:01.098 And the Corporations Division puts the agent's name on the public record. 00:01:01.098 --> 00:01:02.218 Who qualifies? 00:01:02.218 --> 00:01:09.098 A Michigan resident, a Michigan corporation or LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC 00:01:09.171 --> 00:01:11.578 authorized to do business in Michigan. 00:01:11.685 --> 00:01:13.898 There's no age rule that we found. 00:01:14.118 --> 00:01:19.178 One firm limit: a business can't be its own resident agent. 00:01:19.178 --> 00:01:22.378 And the address, can that be a post office box? 00:01:22.378 --> 00:01:24.538 Not for the registered office. 00:01:24.682 --> 00:01:30.698 Form 520 says a P.O. box may not be designated, though a separate mailing address on 00:01:30.718 --> 00:01:36.458 the articles can be one. I didn't find a business-hours rule in the statute or on 00:01:36.478 --> 00:01:37.498 the state's pages. 00:01:37.498 --> 00:01:40.378 I should say, I'm Maya, and this is Dan. 00:01:40.378 --> 00:01:42.938 And we'll go through the five now. 00:01:43.671 --> 00:01:44.711 First on the list? 00:01:44.711 --> 00:01:51.431 Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and the renewal is $149 as well. 00:01:51.431 --> 00:01:52.551 What's in it? 00:01:52.551 --> 00:01:56.311 Its Michigan address goes on the public record instead of yours. 00:01:56.391 --> 00:02:01.031 Anything served on your company is scanned and uploaded the same business day, with 00:02:01.084 --> 00:02:06.151 no fee. Your first three government mailings each year are scanned for free. 00:02:06.151 --> 00:02:07.911 If I already have an agent? 00:02:07.911 --> 00:02:10.391 Mainstay files the change for you. 00:02:10.531 --> 00:02:13.750 The $5 state fee is passed through at cost. 00:02:14.471 --> 00:02:16.071 And the catch? 00:02:16.071 --> 00:02:22.231 Price, mostly. There are two $99 options below it, so if the number on the sticker 00:02:22.281 --> 00:02:24.791 decides everything, Mainstay won't win. 00:02:25.591 --> 00:02:26.631 Number two. 00:02:26.631 --> 00:02:30.791 Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. 00:02:30.931 --> 00:02:35.831 Its page says the price hasn't moved in 20 years, and it scans up to 10 pieces of 00:02:35.881 --> 00:02:38.631 regular business mail annually at no charge. 00:02:38.631 --> 00:02:40.231 What's the catch there? 00:02:40.231 --> 00:02:46.071 Enrollment in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees for each 00:02:46.151 --> 00:02:51.111 filing, unless you cancel. Its page says you may add or cancel any time. 00:02:51.111 --> 00:02:54.311 Michigan's own statement is $25, right? 00:02:54.311 --> 00:02:57.591 It is, and you file it yourself online. 00:02:57.724 --> 00:03:04.391 So with the service on, you'd pay $100 on top of the state's $25 in a given year. 00:03:04.482 --> 00:03:09.031 Cancel it, and you're at $125 for the agent alone. 00:03:09.776 --> 00:03:10.496 And three? 00:03:10.496 --> 00:03:15.616 MI Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, unchanged at renewal. 00:03:15.829 --> 00:03:20.256 It covers the registered office address, same-day scanning of legal documents and 00:03:20.313 --> 00:03:22.016 alerts before state deadlines. 00:03:22.016 --> 00:03:22.976 To switch? 00:03:22.976 --> 00:03:28.977 Only the $5 state fee. The thing to know: annual report filing isn't in the plan. 00:03:29.785 --> 00:03:31.136 Compared with Mainstay? 00:03:31.136 --> 00:03:38.016 $99 against $149 is $50 a year, which makes $150 over 00:03:38.043 --> 00:03:38.816 three years. 00:03:40.016 --> 00:03:40.976 Number four. 00:03:40.976 --> 00:03:44.336 Bizee, which used to be called Incfile. 00:03:44.536 --> 00:03:51.216 Its agent is free in year one with a formation package, and $149 a year after that, 00:03:51.269 --> 00:03:52.496 renewing automatically. 00:03:52.496 --> 00:03:55.456 So after year one, it matches Mainstay. 00:03:55.456 --> 00:04:02.176 Yes. Over three years, free plus two years at $149 is 00:04:02.216 --> 00:04:08.016 $298. Just remember that the free year is tied to forming with Bizee. 00:04:08.794 --> 00:04:10.874 And the last one? 00:04:10.874 --> 00:04:15.274 Michigan Registered Agent.co, at $99 flat. 00:04:15.474 --> 00:04:20.314 The registered office, same-day scanning of court papers and reminders before state 00:04:20.370 --> 00:04:21.834 deadlines. 00:04:21.834 --> 00:04:23.914 Anything to tell it apart from number three? 00:04:23.914 --> 00:04:26.634 Not from what the listings say. 00:04:26.794 --> 00:04:31.754 The same catch applies: the annual statement is something you file separately. 00:04:32.514 --> 00:04:35.874 Let's stay on that. When is Michigan's yearly filing due? 00:04:35.874 --> 00:04:39.794 February 15, and it costs $25. 00:04:39.874 --> 00:04:44.274 It's filed online only, through the state's MiBusiness Registry Portal. 00:04:44.274 --> 00:04:45.634 Does it mention the agent? 00:04:45.634 --> 00:04:50.274 It does. The annual statement contains the name of the resident agent and the 00:04:50.334 --> 00:04:52.114 address of the registered office. 00:04:52.174 --> 00:04:55.714 The state sends email reminders about 90 days before the due date. 00:04:55.714 --> 00:04:58.514 So the agent on file matters every year. 00:04:58.514 --> 00:05:03.474 It does, so make sure what the statement shows matches what you've filed. 00:05:03.474 --> 00:05:05.633 What did formation cost? 00:05:05.633 --> 00:05:11.234 The Articles of Organization, Form 700, are $50, with the agent and office in 00:05:11.274 --> 00:05:18.194 Article IV. So with Mainstay, the first year is the $50 filing plus the $149 00:05:18.274 --> 00:05:25.234 agent. After that, each year is the $25 statement plus the $149 agent, which is 00:05:25.294 --> 00:05:26.995 $174. 00:05:26.995 --> 00:05:30.113 And with one of the $99 agents? 00:05:30.113 --> 00:05:36.914 $25 plus $99 is $124 a year, as long as you file the statement yourself. 00:05:37.626 --> 00:05:39.306 Walk me through Form 520. 00:05:39.306 --> 00:05:44.266 The Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Change of Resident Agent. 00:05:44.559 --> 00:05:49.786 It's $5. You file it online at the state's corporation portal, or mail it to the 00:05:49.832 --> 00:05:50.826 Bureau in Lansing. 00:05:50.826 --> 00:05:53.386 Anything unusual about who signs? 00:05:53.386 --> 00:05:58.186 The form says the resident agent may sign if only the registered office is changing. 00:05:58.186 --> 00:06:00.186 And if my agent wants out? 00:06:00.186 --> 00:06:04.746 That's Form 521, also $5 for LLCs. 00:06:04.906 --> 00:06:07.706 The notice goes to a member or manager. 00:06:07.826 --> 00:06:12.666 The resignation is effective when a successor is appointed, or 30 days after the 00:06:12.723 --> 00:06:15.066 Bureau receives it, whichever comes first. 00:06:15.493 --> 00:06:19.146 Whichever comes first. So not a long runway. 00:06:19.146 --> 00:06:23.786 Right. The statute says the company shall promptly appoint a successor. 00:06:24.524 --> 00:06:25.884 What if I don't have one at all? 00:06:25.884 --> 00:06:29.644 Michigan lets the other side deliver a summons and complaint to the state 00:06:29.701 --> 00:06:32.684 administrator, by delivery or registered mail. 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:38.204 That applies where you've failed to appoint an agent, or the agent can't be found or 00:06:38.284 --> 00:06:40.684 served with reasonable diligence. 00:06:40.684 --> 00:06:43.084 So it still gets to me eventually. 00:06:43.084 --> 00:06:48.284 Through the state, yes. I didn't find a missing agent listed as a ground for 00:06:48.332 --> 00:06:53.484 administrative dissolution in the LLC sections we read, but having your lawsuit 00:06:53.541 --> 00:06:56.364 routed through the state is still not where you want to be. 00:06:57.644 --> 00:06:59.004 Can all of this be done online? 00:06:59.004 --> 00:07:05.084 Most of it. Form 520 and the resignation form can be filed online, by mail or, for 00:07:05.104 --> 00:07:09.644 the resignation, in person. The annual statement is online only. 00:07:09.644 --> 00:07:13.404 So a founder who dislikes the portal has no paper option for that one. 00:07:13.404 --> 00:07:18.204 Not for the statement, no. That's one more reason some owners pay an agent that 00:07:18.244 --> 00:07:20.204 sends reminders ahead of state deadlines. 00:07:20.204 --> 00:07:22.845 What would I need handy before I start? 00:07:22.845 --> 00:07:28.124 The new agent's name and a Michigan street address for the registered office, plus 00:07:28.164 --> 00:07:31.004 the exact name of your company as it's on file. 00:07:32.201 --> 00:07:36.201 How should a founder in Detroit or Grand Rapids decide? 00:07:36.201 --> 00:07:41.241 Look at three things: whether the price repeats next year, whether the business 00:07:41.291 --> 00:07:47.721 address is a real street address, and whether somebody files Form 520 for you. 00:07:47.721 --> 00:07:48.441 And the answer? 00:07:48.441 --> 00:07:54.201 Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Michigan, at $149 a year. 00:07:55.706 --> 00:07:56.985 Run them one more time. 00:07:56.985 --> 00:08:02.586 One, Mainstay Filing: $149 a year, same at renewal. 00:08:02.806 --> 00:08:09.546 Two, Northwest: $125, and cancel the report service if you won't use 00:08:09.626 --> 00:08:16.266 it. Three, MI Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. 00:08:16.490 --> 00:08:24.266 Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. 00:08:24.346 --> 00:08:29.546 Five, Michigan Registered Agent.co: $99 flat. 00:08:29.546 --> 00:08:31.866 The links are in the show notes. 00:08:31.923 --> 00:08:34.986 Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.