The 5 Best Registered Agents in Vermont (2026)

Full transcript

0:00 The short answer

Dan The 5 best registered agents in Vermont in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, VT Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and Vermont Registered Agent.co.

Maya This is The Business Formation Podcast. Today we're in Vermont. What's the headline?

Dan A Vermont statement of change costs $35. So it pays to pick the right agent once, rather than switching later.

0:30 What Vermont requires

Maya Does Vermont want an agent for every LLC?

Dan Yes, and it wants two things. A designated office for notification, and an agent for service of process.

Maya Why two?

Dan The designated office is where Vermont sends notices. It doesn't have to be a place of business, or even in the state. The agent is who gets served with lawsuits.

Maya Who can be the agent?

Dan An individual who lives in Vermont, or a business that has a place of business here and is authorized to operate here. The Secretary of State puts it simply: the only qualification is a street and mailing address in Vermont.

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

Dan Thanks, Maya. Now, the five.

1:18 Mainstay Filing

Maya First pick?

Dan Mainstay Filing, $149 a year. When it renews, it's $149 again.

Maya What do I get for that?

Dan Its Vermont address goes on the public record in place of yours. Papers served on your company are scanned and uploaded the same business day, with no fee. And three government mailings a year are scanned free.

Maya What if I already have an agent?

Dan Mainstay files the statement of change. The state fee of $35 is passed through at cost.

Maya What's the catch?

Dan Two of the services below it charge $99. Mainstay costs $50 a year more than them.

1:55 Northwest Registered Agent

Maya Second?

Dan Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. It says it hasn't raised its price in 20 years. Up to 10 business mail scans a year are free.

Maya And what's the catch?

Dan Signing up automatically enrolls you in its annual report filing service. That's $100 plus state fees each time you file, until you cancel.

Maya What would that do to a Vermont owner?

Dan Vermont's own annual report is $45 online. So the service would put $100 on top of it.

2:29 VT Registered Agent.org

Maya Third?

Dan VT Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. It lists the registered office address, scans legal documents the same day, and sends state-deadline alerts.

Maya Cost to move?

Dan The $35 state fee, nothing from them.

Maya Downside?

Dan Annual report filing costs extra.

Maya How far under number one is that?

Dan $50 a year, so $150 over three years.

2:55 Bizee

Maya And four?

Dan Bizee, formerly Incfile. Your first year is free if you buy a formation package, then it's $149 a year.

Maya Anything to look out for?

Dan The free year requires a formation order, and the $149 renewal is automatic.

Maya And if the LLC is already formed?

Dan Then you pay $149 from the start. Two years is $298.

3:24 Vermont Registered Agent.co

Maya Five?

Dan Vermont Registered Agent.co. A flat $99 a year. You get the office address on your filings, same-day scanning of legal mail, and reminders for state deadlines.

Maya Is the catch the same as number three?

Dan It is. Annual report filing is a separate service.

3:44 Naming the agent

Maya Where does Vermont ask for the agent?

Dan In the Articles of Organization, which list the name and street address of the initial agent for service. That filing is $155.

Maya Does the agent have to agree?

Dan When you designate someone, you attest that the agent consents to the appointment. There's nothing for the agent to sign.

Maya Can the LLC be its own agent?

Dan No. The Secretary of State says the agent can be an individual or another registered business, but not the represented business itself. It also can't be an assumed business name.

Maya What does the agent have to share about itself?

Dan Name, email, and address. Vermont wants the agent's email on file.

4:28 Changing the agent

Maya How do I change it?

Dan A statement of change. It can update the agent, the agent's address, or the email.

Maya How much?

Dan $35. The fee schedule lists it right there under the statute for statements of change.

Maya How long does it take?

Dan Online filing normally takes less than one business day, and online costs nothing extra. By mail, allow 7 to 10 business days.

Maya What does the change update on the record?

Dan The registered agent, the physical address of the registered office, the mailing address, and the email.

5:02 What the agent does and doesn't do

Maya What is the agent responsible for?

Dan Receiving service of any process, notice, or demand that the law says can be served on the LLC.

Maya Is the agent responsible for my business?

Dan No. The Secretary of State says appointment as registered agent neither gives the agent authority to sign documents nor creates liability for the business.

Maya So it's a narrow job.

Dan It is, which is why the address and the forwarding matter more than anything else.

5:32 If the agent resigns

Maya What if my agent quits?

Dan It files a statement of resignation and gives your company a copy. It costs nothing to file. The fee schedule shows $0.

Maya When does it take effect?

Dan The statute says the earlier of 30 days after the Secretary files it, or the day a new agent's change takes effect. The Secretary of State's page describes it as the 31st day.

Maya And if there's no new agent by then?

Dan Your business loses good standing and is marked Terminated until a new agent is appointed.

Maya Can the agent just say it never agreed?

Dan If the agent attests that it did not consent to the appointment, the resignation fee is waived.

6:10 When nobody can be served

Maya What if no agent can be found?

Dan Then the Secretary of State becomes the agent. The papers are left with the Secretary, who forwards a copy by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.

Maya Where does it go?

Dan To your company's principal office or last known address.

Maya When is service complete?

Dan At the earliest of when it's received, the date on the return receipt, or five days after it's deposited.

Maya So a lawsuit can still reach me.

Dan It can, and you'd find out late.

6:42 The annual report

Maya What does Vermont ask each year?

Dan An annual report, $45 online. It's due within three months after your fiscal year ends, which means March 31 for a calendar year.

Maya Does it list the agent?

Dan Yes, the agent's name, email, and address.

Maya What if I skip it?

Dan Not filing leads to termination of the articles. That's worse than a late fee.

7:06 Being your own agent

Maya Can I do this myself in Vermont?

Dan If you're a Vermont resident, yes, as an individual. You need a street and mailing address in the state and an email.

Maya The downside?

Dan Your address is on a public filing, and you have to be there when papers arrive.

Maya What does that mean in practice?

Dan Being reachable, and passing everything along right away.

7:27 Choosing

Maya How would a Burlington or Montpelier owner decide?

Dan Three questions. Is the renewal price flat, is the address a real Vermont street address, and who handles the $35 change.

Maya What's the three-year gap?

Dan Mainstay is $447, a $99 service is $297. That's $150 apart, for the free scanned government mail and the change filed for you.

Maya And your pick?

Dan Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Vermont, at $149 a year.

8:01 The five in a row

Maya Give me all five one more time.

Dan One, Mainstay Filing: $149, the same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, VT Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, Vermont Registered Agent.co: $99 flat.

Maya The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.