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<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in Mississippi in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest

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<v Dan>Registered Agent, Registered Agent MS.org, Bizee, and

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<v Dan>Mississippi Registered Agent.co.

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<v Maya>Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Mississippi. What stands out?

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<v Dan>The change fee is only $10, and the yearly report is free.

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<v Dan>So here the price of the agent is nearly the whole cost of staying compliant.

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<v Maya>What does the law say about agents?

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<v Dan>Since 2013, Mississippi's Registered Agents Act sets the rules.

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<v Dan>It splits agents into commercial ones that list with the Secretary of State and

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<v Dan>noncommercial ones that don't.

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<v Maya>Who can be one?

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<v Dan>The state's page says any individual, corporation or LLC can act as agent for a

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<v Dan>Mississippi company, as long as the agent has a physical address in Mississippi.

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<v Maya>Is there an age or residency rule?

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<v Dan>Not in the Act. The street address does the work.

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<v Maya>And a commercial agent?

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<v Dan>One that registers with the Secretary of State and holds itself out as an agent for

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<v Dan>hire. There's a $100 listing fee for the agent, not for you.

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<v Maya>Is the street address enough?

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<v Dan>A filing needs an actual street address in the state, plus a mailing address in the

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<v Dan>state if it's different.

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<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

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<v Dan>Thanks, Maya. Now the five.

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<v Maya>Number one?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, the same $149 at renewal.

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<v Maya>What does it include?

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<v Dan>Its Mississippi address on the record instead of yours.

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<v Dan>Anything served on your company is scanned and uploaded the same business day at no

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<v Dan>fee, and the first three government mailings each year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>And switching?

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<v Dan>Mainstay files the statement of change.

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<v Dan>The $10 state fee passes through at cost.

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<v Maya>The honest catch?

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<v Dan>It's not the lowest flat price.

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<v Dan>Two agents below it are $99.

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<v Maya>Second?

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year.

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<v Dan>Its page says the price is unchanged in 20 years, and it scans up to 10 pieces of

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<v Dan>regular mail a year free.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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<v Dan>You're automatically enrolled in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state

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<v Dan>fees per filing, until you cancel.

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<v Maya>But Mississippi's report is free.

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<v Dan>Right, so that would be $100 for a filing that costs nothing from the state.

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<v Dan>Cancel it unless you want it.

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<v Maya>Third?

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<v Dan>Registered Agent MS.org, $99 a year, and it stays $99.

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<v Dan>The address used on your filings, same-day scanning of legal mail, and compliance

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<v Dan>reminders.

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<v Maya>Switching?

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<v Dan>Just the $10 state fee. Annual report filing is a separate service.

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<v Maya>Versus Mainstay?

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<v Dan>$50 a year less, or $150 over three years.

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<v Maya>Four?

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<v Dan>Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with a formation package, then $149 a

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<v Dan>year.

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<v Maya>Fine print?

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<v Dan>The free year needs a formation order, and the $149 renewal is automatic.

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<v Maya>And if I formed another way?

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<v Dan>You start at $149. Two years is $298.

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<v Maya>And five?

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<v Dan>Mississippi Registered Agent.co, a flat $99.

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<v Dan>A registered address on file, same-day scanning of legal documents, and reminders

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<v Dan>for state deadlines.

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<v Maya>How's that different from number three?

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<v Dan>On the listings, it isn't. Same price, same catch, annual report filing sold

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<v Dan>separately.

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<v Maya>Does my agent have to agree?

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<v Dan>Naming an agent is your affirmation that you told them, gave them a forwarding

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<v Dan>address, and that they consented to serve.

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<v Maya>What if I name someone who doesn't want it?

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<v Dan>A commercial agent that doesn't want the job has to file a Statement of

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<v Dan>Non-acceptance within 14 days of selection.

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<v Maya>And a noncommercial one?

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<v Dan>The state's page says you must get their permission before listing them, and that

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<v Dan>they will not be notified of their selection.

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<v Maya>So a friend could end up named without knowing?

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<v Dan>Only if you skip the step. That's why people choose a company that's built for it.

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<v Maya>Where does the agent go when I form the LLC?

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<v Dan>In the Certificate of Formation, filed online for $50.

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<v Maya>What goes in for a noncommercial agent?

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<v Dan>The name, address and email address.

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<v Dan>For a commercial agent, just its name.

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<v Maya>Why the email?

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<v Dan>A 2021 law added it. And the Secretary of State says notice of any filing is emailed

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<v Dan>to the addresses associated with your company, so you're warned if someone tries to

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<v Dan>file against it.

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<v Maya>How do I change it later?

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<v Dan>There's no separate form anymore.

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<v Dan>The state handles it as an amendment, called a statement of change, and the fee is

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<v Dan>$10.

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<v Maya>How do I file?

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<v Dan>Log in to the Secretary of State's online system, choose to file an amendment on an

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<v Dan>existing business, and enter your Mississippi business ID.

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<v Maya>Does it need member approval?

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<v Dan>No. The owners or governors need not approve the filing, and it takes effect on

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<v Dan>filing.

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<v Maya>How quickly?

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<v Dan>Some online filings are approved right away and others reviewed within 24 hours, the

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<v Dan>state says.

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<v Maya>So switching to Mainstay or a $99 agent costs?

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<v Dan>$10. Plus the agent's price.

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<v Maya>What if my agent quits?

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<v Dan>Mississippi is stricter than most here.

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<v Dan>The agent has to send written notice to your company at least 30 days before filing

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<v Dan>the statement of resignation, and certify that it did.

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<v Maya>Then?

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<v Dan>The resignation takes effect on the 31st day after filing, or sooner if you appoint

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<v Dan>a new agent. The state's fee for it is $0.

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<v Maya>So you could get 60 days of warning?

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<v Dan>In effect, yes. Thirty days of notice, then 31 days after filing.

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<v Dan>Use that time to file a change.

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<v Maya>What if papers need to reach a company with no agent?

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<v Dan>The governors are treated as the agent for service.

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<v Dan>Their names and the principal office address can come from your most recent annual

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<v Dan>report.

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<v Maya>And if they can't be served?

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<v Dan>Service goes to the Secretary of State.

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<v Dan>After that, a copy can be handed to the manager or whoever's in charge of a regular

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<v Dan>place of business.

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<v Maya>Does it affect the company's status?

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<v Dan>Yes. A company without a registered agent for 60 days or more is grounds for

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<v Dan>administrative dissolution, and it's dissolved if it isn't corrected within 60 days

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<v Dan>after notice.

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<v Maya>That's a long way down from a $99 problem.

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<v Dan>It is.

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<v Maya>What does Mississippi want each year?

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<v Dan>An annual report, filed online, between January 1 and April 15.

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<v Dan>It costs $0.

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<v Maya>What's on it?

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<v Dan>The agent's name, email address and street address, so it's how the state keeps its

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<v Dan>record current.

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<v Maya>So the yearly cost is just the agent?

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<v Dan>Yes. $149 with Mainstay, $99 with the others, and nothing

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<v Dan>from the state.

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<v Maya>Does the state send reminders?

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<v Dan>We found no official page saying the reminder goes to the agent, so put April 15 on

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<v Dan>your calendar.

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<v Maya>Can I be my own agent in Mississippi?

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<v Dan>As an individual with a physical Mississippi address, yes.

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<v Dan>The Act doesn't say whether the LLC itself can serve.

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<v Maya>What's the tradeoff?

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<v Dan>A home address that's now on the filing.

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<v Dan>The state says it redacts your FEIN and phone number from forms on its website, but

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<v Dan>the Act requires the agent's address on the filing.

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<v Maya>And the job?

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<v Dan>To forward whatever is served on you to the company at the address it last gave.

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<v Dan>That's the only duty the Act lists.

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<v Maya>How would a Jackson or Gulfport owner decide?

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<v Dan>Three questions. Does the price hold, is there a real Mississippi address, and who

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<v Dan>files the $10 change when you move.

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<v Maya>And your answer?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Mississippi, at $149 a year.

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<v Maya>All five, once more?

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<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel.

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<v Dan>Three, Registered Agent MS.org: $99 flat.

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<v Dan>Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149.

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<v Dan>Five, Mississippi Registered Agent.co: $99 flat.

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<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.