To identify the top-rated registered agent services, we examined an assortment of providers and narrowed it down to the 10 best. We evaluated these across six essential categories, using a total of 17 different metrics. The criteria were weighted to emphasize features that are crucial to small businesses.
Here are the metrics we used to review the top registered agent services:
Pricing
We considered both the startup and renewal fees for registered agent services, as well as whether or not there are any additional or unforeseen fees, such as unexpected add-ons. We also factored in any guarantees and extra inclusions. Pricing accounts for 20% of the final score.
General Features
Thirty percent of our review methodology focused on how providers manage documents, inform the arrival of additional correspondence and whether they alert you to important registration renewal deadlines and urgent documents.
Mobile App
With business happening in various locations, many owners rely on mobile technology to keep everything operating efficiently. We factored in the availability of a mobile app in our assessment, but this aspect only makes up 5% of the score since it doesn’t contribute to the essential services offered by the agent.
Service and Support
We concluded that, unlike mobile features, having the ability to access live help at any time is a vital element of a superior service. We evaluated the customer support options of each provider, assessing them on the number of contact methods, the availability of 24/7 support and the presence of a self-help knowledge base. These criteria represent 15% of a provider’s total score.
Ratings and Reviews
To gain insight into user perceptions of each provider, we reviewed third-party user reviews and ratings. We evaluated the average rating for each provider and the count of reviews they received. These ratings make up 10% of the total score.
Expert Score
Using our own firsthand experience, we included a range of metrics including ease of use, the quality of features and popularity to ascertain the best services. This expert evaluation comprises the last 20% of the overall rating.
