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Best Michigan Registered Agent Services

Advertiser Disclosure Updated: Mar 31, 2024, 1:50pm

Best Michigan Registered Agent Services Of 2024

Jeff WhiteContributor

Jeff is a writer, founder, and small business expert that focuses on educating founders on the ins and outs of running their business. From answering your legal questions to providing the right software for your unique situation, he brings his knowledge and diverse background to help answer the questions you have about small business operations.

Kelly MainStaff Reviewer

Kelly Main is a Marketing Editor and Writer specializing in digital marketing, online advertising and web design and development. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she is a Columnist at Inc. Magazine.

Jeff White,

Jeff WhiteContributor

Kelly Main

Kelly MainStaff Reviewer

Contributor, Staff Reviewer

Brette Sember, J.D.contributor

Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that include estates, probate, finance, business, bankruptcy and more. Her website is www.BretteSember.com.

Reviewed

Brette Sember, J.D.

Brette Sember, J.D.contributor

contributor

Reviewed

Updated: Mar 31, 2024, 1:50pm

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

All active limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations need a registered agent to receive official communications about the company. There are several choices that you have when it comes to naming your registered agent, including yourself or another owner. A registered agent service company provides these services and can help you maintain good standing with the state of Michigan. These registered agents can be the fastest and best way to receive legal communications when your business is served. Forbes Advisor has completed a full list of the best registered agent services available in the state of Michigan by analyzing dozens of data points and options.

Best Of

Show Summary

Featured Partners

ZenBusiness

$0 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

ZenBusiness

On ZenBusiness' Website

LegalZoom

$0 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

LegalZoom

On LegalZoom's Website

Northwest Registered Agent

$39 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

Northwest Registered Agent

On Northwest Registered Agent's Website

Best Michigan Registered Agents of 2024

Northwest Registered Agent: Best overall
ZenBusiness: Best for ease of use
BetterLegal: Best for full-service needs
Inc Authority: Best for affordability
Harbor Compliance: Best for multistate businesses
Bizee: Best for mail forwarding
Rocket Lawyer: Best for additional legal services

Best Overall

Northwest Registered Agent

Starting price

$125

per state per year

Same-day document delivery

Yes

Standout features

Free mail forwarding of up to five items yearly, lifetime support, same price yearly

On Northwest Registered Agent's Website

$125

per state per year

Yes

Free mail forwarding of up to five items yearly, lifetime support, same price yearly

Editor's Take

Northwest Registered Agent is our top pick, edging out other registered agent service providers that serve the state of Michigan. While the price can be a bit high if you’re looking to register in a lot of different states, and there is no monthly plan, the company has the best collection of features and support available today. You get to talk to a live support person every time you call, regardless of what you need. Plus, the company doesn’t try to upsell you to other services. It’s a great option that is reliable with same-day document delivery.

Learn more: Read our Northwest Registered Agent review.

Who should use it:

Anyone who needs someone else to complete everything and hold their hand through the entire process. It makes it easier and more hands-off for business owners than any other option in the state of Michigan.

Pros & Cons

Can talk to a live support person every time you call
Fast-responding customer service
No upselling promise

Can be a bit pricey
Cancellation adheres to yearly contract

Best for Ease of Use

ZenBusiness

Starting price

$199

per state per year

Same-day document delivery

Standout features

Additional service options, after-hours communication, easy to set up

On ZenBusiness's Website

$199

per state per year

Additional service options, after-hours communication, easy to set up

Editor's Take

ZenBusiness is one of the best options out there because it is easy to use and can be affordable compared to other options. Customers have high reviews for the service as it is easy to set up and the company handles requests quickly and allows you to contact your registered agent after hours.

Learn more: Read our ZenBusiness review.

Who should use it:

Those who are looking for LLC features in addition to hiring a registered agent. Also, those who find setting up business services difficult can find ZenBusiness to be an easy-to-use option.

Pros & Cons

Easy to set up and use
Wide range of legal services for businesses
High customer reviews

On the expensive side
Online bot support

Best for Full-Service Needs

BetterLegal

Starting price

$10 per month or $90 per year per state

Same-day document delivery

Yes

Standout features

Legal services, flexible pricing, fast turnaround

On BetterLegal's Website

$10 per month or $90 per year per state

Yes

Legal services, flexible pricing, fast turnaround

Editor's Take

BetterLegal is a great option, especially if you need more advanced features or services in addition to serving as a registered agent. The company offers additional services such as business formation and overall compliance. BetterLegal is also an affordable option on the list, offering services at $90 per year. You can also elect to pay $10 per month if you’re looking for a short-term solution or want the flexibility to change service providers in less than a year.

Learn more: Read our full BetterLegal review.

Who should use it:

BetterLegal is a good option if you need additional services beyond a registered agent. For example, BetterLegal can also provide users with a certificate of good standing or can help you add additional shareholders or help you initially register your business.

Pros & Cons

Clear pricing
Monthly and annual billing available
Easy setup
No upselling

Additional service add-ons can get expensive
State compliance services are an additional cost

Best for Affordability

Inc Authority

Starting price

Free for your first year,

then $99 per year per state

Same-day document delivery

Standout features

Free LLC formation services, free year of registered agent service

On Inc Authority's Website

Free for your first year,

then $99 per year per state

Free LLC formation services, free year of registered agent service

Editor's Take

Inc Authority is a good alternative option for those needing a registered agent. While the customer reviews are good, they aren’t as good as others on the list. Inc Authority is known to upsell other services quite a bit but its LLC registration services are offered for free. You can also qualify for a free year of registered agent services, so this might be the most affordable option on our list.

Learn more: Read our Inc Authority review.

Who should use it:

Those who have not yet registered their LLC, as Inc Authority will help you do this for free.

Pros & Cons

Free first year of registered agent services
Free LLC formation services
Free business name check
U.S.-based support

Can be difficult to get set up or get support
Could face frequent upselling
Can be expensive after one year

Best for Multistate Businesses

Harbor Compliance

Starting price

$89 or $99 per state per year

Same-day document delivery

Yes

Standout features

Compliance service, affordable

On Harbor Compliance's Website

$89 or $99 per state per year

Yes

Compliance service, affordable

Editor's Take

Harbor Compliance makes it easy to manage your business if you are in multiple states, but each state does cost an additional fee. The service provider can take care of compliance and licensing with each state and then monitor everything to make sure your business stays compliant at all times. It’s simple to add on additional states and the team does offer same-day document delivery. This makes it one of the safest and most reliable options out there on the market today that larger or scaling businesses may find to be a great option.

Learn more: Read our full Harbor Compliance review.

Who should use it:

Businesses that have a complex or multistate compliance situation, or anyone who is thinking about expanding to a number of states in the near future.

Pros & Cons

Transparent pricing
Secure client portal
Same-day document access
Multiyear discount

Registered agent service is separate from other features
Isn’t the most user-friendly option

Best for Mail Forwarding

Bizee

Starting price

$119 per state per year

Same-day document delivery

Yes, one business day

Standout features

Automatic mail forwarding, document dashboard

On Bizee's Website

$119 per state per year

Yes, one business day

Automatic mail forwarding, document dashboard

Editor's Take

Incfile offers one of the best solutions for document delivery and mail forwarding. You’re able to receive all documents within one business day and all legal documents and communications will be automatically forwarded to you immediately upon receiving them. This is its best feature. It should be noted that customers of the business have reported slow customer service and potential issues meeting deadlines. You can get the first year for free if you use it for LLC formation, and then you’ll pay $119 per year.

Learn more: Read our Incfile review.

Who should use it:

Businesses looking for a simple and quick turnaround process to receive all legal documents and communications directly.

Pros & Cons

Affordable, including a free first year
Strong document features
Turnaround time of one business day

Bad customer reviews pointing to the company missing important deadlines
Customer support can be slow

Best for Additional Legal Services

Rocket Lawyer

Starting price

$249.99 per state per year

Same-day document delivery

Standout features

Simple interface, online document storage

On Rocket Lawyer's Website

$249.99 per state per year

Simple interface, online document storage

Editor's Take

Rocket Lawyer is an excellent choice for those who need more legal services on top of a registered agent. It can be an expensive option for someone just needing a registered agent, though. Rocket Lawyer has a good reputation with its customers, having strong reviews across the internet. The company doesn’t offer the best customer service options, though, as the service isn’t offered on the weekends. The features include online document storage and instant e-signature.

Learn more: Read our Rocket Lawyer review.

Who should use it:

Businesses that need additional legal services on top of registering their business or serving as a registered agent.

Pros & Cons

Easy-to-use interface
Quick response and document turnaround times
Free 7-day trial

Expensive compared to other options
Customer service isn’t available on the weekend

Forbes Advisor Ratings

Company	Forbes Advisor Rating	Starting price	Same-day document delivery	Standout features	Learn More CTA text	Learn more CTA below text
Northwest Registered Agent	4.7	$125 per state per year	Yes	Free mail forwarding of up to five items yearly, lifetime support, same price yearly	Learn More	On Northwest Registered Agent's Website
ZenBusiness	4.6	$199 per state per year	No	Additional service options, after-hours communication, easy to set up	Learn More	On ZenBusiness' Website
BetterLegal	4.6	$10 per month or $90 per year per state	No	Legal services, flexible pricing, fast turnaround	Learn More	On BetterLegal's Website
Inc Authority	4.3	Free for your first year, then $99 per year per state	No	Free LLC formation services, free year of registered agent service	Learn More	On Inc Authority's Website
Harbor Compliance	3.6	$89 or $99 per state per year	Yes	Compliance service, affordable	Learn More	On Harbor Compliance's Website
Bizee	3.4	$119 per state per year	Yes, one business day	Automatic mail forwarding, document dashboard	Learn More	Read Forbes' Review
Rocket Lawyer	3.4	$249.99 per state per year	No	Simple interface, online document storage	Learn More	On Rocket Lawyer's Website

How To Choose the Best Michigan Registered Agent Service

There is not a lot of variety in the types of services that are offered by a registered agent service provider. All of them do pretty much the same thing, but it’s important to analyze factors such as the full-service options, overall cost, speed of service and communication forwarding options. Some of the most important features you can consider that could be a game changer include:

Same-day document delivery: This is important for organizations that receive a lot of legal communications all the time.
Pricing: The overall costs are a big factor since it’s one of the biggest ways that service providers can differentiate.
Multistate support: If you do business in multiple states, then make sure that your registered agent can work in all the states you do business in. If not, you may need to find multiple registered agent service providers.

Methodology

To find the best registered agent services in the state of Michigan, we analyzed dozens of companies across hundreds of data points and the history of each service provider. Some of the features we considered to be the most important were reputation, multistate support, same-day document delivery, costs and the overall user experience. We assigned weighted scores to each of the most important factors, and the top-scoring service providers that serve the state of Michigan are the ones that made our list.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a registered agent do?

A registered agent is someone you designate to receive specific types of documents—typically legal, state, regulatory and tax-related—on your behalf. Then, your agent shares those documents with you by scanning and uploading them to an online portal or forwarding them to your address. A registered agent may call you or send you a text message if they receive an urgent message, such as a court document or upcoming deadline notice.

How much does a registered agent cost in Michigan?

The cost of a registered agent is going to depend on a number of factors including how many states they operate in, what services they offer and what your specific needs are. You can expect to pay from $50 to $250 per year for a registered agent in Michigan.

Can I be my own registered agent in Michigan?

An owner of the business can also serve as the registered agent of the business. It’s often a good idea to hire an outside agent although, because if you fall behind in reviewing official documents or communications, then you could find yourself in trouble with a potential lawsuit or with the state of Michigan.

Do I need a registered agent in Michigan?

A specific registered agent is required when you submit your articles of incorporation or articles of organization when you register your business with the state of Michigan. It can be a specific person or a corporation if it is a for-profit registered agent business. You can always change your registered agent later.

Next Up In Business

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Jeff White

Contributor

Kelly Main

Staff Reviewer

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