There are several steps you have to complete when forming a new LLC in Connecticut, including naming your company and filing your LLC with the state. However, one step that often creates a little bit of confusion is appointing a registered agent for your company.
Many new business owners in Connecticut may not understand what a registered agent does or why it’s necessary to have one. However, appointing a registered agent isn’t just a matter of convenience for LLCs in Connecticut—it’s a legal requirement.
To help navigate this important part of forming an LLC in Connecticut, we’ll go over everything you need about appointing a registered agent, including what they do, the requirements they have to meet, and the process for appointing one.
A registered agent is the official point of contact for a company. They are responsible for receiving and relaying important documents on behalf of your business, including documents such as:
When the government or another entity needs to send one of these documents to your company, they will be mailed to your registered agent. The registered agent then processes them and relays the information to the business owner(s). It’s highly beneficial to have a reliable registered agent since it helps ensure that you don’t miss out on any important communications. As we already mentioned, it is also a legal requirement for LLCs in Connecticut.
You have a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing a registered agent for your Connecticut LLC. However, the state does have a few requirements regarding who can and cannot serve as a registered agent. Here are those requirements:
These requirements allow you to choose almost any adult with a physical address in Connecticut to act as your company’s registered agent. With that said, it’s important to have your own requirements as well and make sure that you choose a trustworthy and reliable registered agent who will be a good steward of your company’s important documents. For this reason, many LLCs in Connecticut choose to work with a registered agent service (such as the one offered by Tailor Brands). We’ll discuss more about what these services offer in a later section. But, for now, just understand that it’s a convenient and dependable option to explore.
Appointing a registered agent for your Connecticut LLC is a pretty straightforward process. However, you need to make sure you don’t make any mistakes along the way if you want to avoid delays and rejections. If you’re ready to get started, here are all the steps you can follow to appoint a registered agent in Connecticut:
If you’re choosing an individual to act as your registered agent, you’ll need to obtain their written consent before appointing them. This also applies if you’re choosing a company to act as your registered agent, though most companies offering registered agent services will include this consent agreement as part of their contract.
Be sure not to skip this step. Not only is it essential if you want the appointment to be approved but it also helps ensure that the person you are appointing is aware of their responsibilities and what’s expected of them.
LLCs in Connecticut are required to appoint a registered agent at the time their company is formed. In other words, appointing a registered agent is inherently part of the process you will complete when filing your LLC with the state. You are also free to change your registered agent at any time, and we’ll go over how to do this in the next section.
To file your Connecticut LLC online (and appoint a registered as part of that process), you can visit Business.CT.gov and create an account. You’ll then be required to complete a Certificate of Organization and provide information about your business. Once this form is submitted, you’ll have to pay a $120 filing fee. If you aren’t sure how to navigate this process on your own, working with an LLC formation service such as Tailor Brands is a great way to make it easier.
All of the documents necessary to file an LLC and appoint a registered agent in Connecticut can also be filed by mail. To file by mail, you’ll still need to create an account on Business.CT.gov and download the Certificate of Organization form. Once you’ve completed this form, you can mail it along with any supporting documents to:
Connecticut Secretary of State
Business Services Division
165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000
Hartford, CT 06106
Processing for filings submitted by mail typically takes 7-10 business days.
You’re required to select a registered agent when you file your LLC, and you won’t be able to complete the process without one. However, you are free to change your registered agent at any point after your company is formed.
If you’ve decided you’d like to use a different registered agent than the one you initially appointed, here are the four different ways to make the change:
To change your registered agent online, log into your Business.CT.gov profile and navigate to your LLC’s information. From there, you’ll have the option to update your registered agent information by completing a Change of Agent form. Along with this form, you’ll also be required to pay a $50 filing fee.
You can also download the Change of Agent form and submit it by mail to this address:
Connecticut Secretary of State
Business Services Division
165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000
Hartford, CT 06106
When submitting by mail, you’ll still be required to pay the $50 filing fee, and this fee can be paid via check or money order that is included along with your form.
If you’d like to change your registered agent in person, you can deliver the Change of Agent form directly to the Business Services Division at the same address listed in the previous section. If you are unable to download the form and complete it ahead of time, you can request the form and complete it in person as well.
To change your registered agent by fax, download and complete the Change of Agent form from the Secretary of State’s website. Fax the completed form to the number provided on the form along with any required payment information. Be sure to confirm receipt with the Secretary of State’s office to ensure the change is processed correctly.
Yes, business owners in Connecticut are allowed to appoint themselves as the registered agent of their company (as long as they meet the requirements). While this may seem like a convenient option, it’s important to keep in mind that acting as your own registered will mean more responsibilities that you are required to attend to. It can also blur the lines between personal and business matters since you will be receiving business documents at your personal address.
Many business owners in Connecticut choose to work with a registered agent service rather than appointing themselves or another individual. There are several key benefits that make this an appealing option, including ones like:
A professional service ensures that critical legal and tax documents are handled promptly. This allows you to focus on growing your business without having to worry about missing an important notice.
Registered agent services are experts at complying with state law, and they’ll be able to ensure that your LLC adheres to all of Connecticut’s legal requirements regarding how legal documents are received and processed. If you’d like to avoid the risk of penalties or administrative actions, working with a service that will ensure strict compliance is a great option to consider.
With a registered agent service, you don’t have to always be available during regular business hours at a single location. This means that you’re free to travel or work remotely without worrying about missing important communications.
Leading registered agent services such as the one offered by Tailor Brands provide online dashboards and document management tools designed to help you keep your important documents organized and accessible. This streamlines record-keeping, and it also helps reduce the risk of costly errors and oversights.
Appointing a registered agent is an essential part of forming an LLC in Connecticut. And while it may be tempting to appoint yourself or the first person who comes to mind just to get this step in the process out of the way, who you choose as the registered agent for your company ultimately matters quite a bit.
If you would like to work with a reliable registered agent service that will ensure that all the important documents your company receives are processed, organized, and relayed to you in a timely manner, Tailor Brands can help!
LLCs in Connecticut are required to have a registered agent. Companies operating without one are at risk of penalties and possible business dissolution—and that’s not to mention the other drawbacks of not having a registered agent, such as missing important notices.
Yes, foreign LLCs must appoint a registered agent with a physical address in Connecticut to operate legally in the state.
Yes, a business entity can serve as your registered agent as long as they are authorized to do business in Connecticut and has a physical address in the state.
Fees for a registered agent service will vary based on the provider you choose and the specific services you purchase. However, it typically costs somewhere in the range of $100-$300 per year.
This portion of our website is for informational or educational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and the information on this website does not constitute legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness. It also does not indicate any affiliation between Tailor Brands and any other brands, services or logos on this page.
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