To find the highest-rated registered agent services, we performed an in-depth investigation of more than 15 providers in the industry and selected the 10 top options. We examined these services across six core categories, using 17 different metrics in total. The criteria were adjusted to emphasize features that are essential for small businesses.
Here are the metrics we considered to review the leading registered agent services:
Pricing
We assessed both the startup and renewal costs for registered agent services, as well as any extra or unexpected fees, such as surprise add-ons. We also factored in any guarantees and additional benefits. Pricing accounts for 20% of the final score.
General Features
Thirty percent of our review methodology looked at how providers handle document management, communicate the arrival of new mail and if they alert you to critical registration renewal deadlines and urgent documents.
Mobile App
With business happening in various locations, many owners use mobile technology to keep everything functioning efficiently. We considered 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 determined that, unlike mobile accessibility, being able to contact live help at any time is a key aspect of a premium service. We examined the availability of customer support from each provider and rated them based on the range of contact methods available, whether support is accessible 24/7 and the presence of a knowledge base for self-help. These criteria constitute 15% of a provider’s total score.
Ratings and Reviews
To understand user opinions of each provider, we examined third-party user reviews and ratings. We evaluated the average rating for each provider and the count of reviews they received. These ratings contribute to 10% of the total score.
Expert Score
Based on our own firsthand experience, we included a variety of metrics such as ease of use, the quality of features and popularity to determine which of the services truly are the best. This expert review amounts to the last 20% of the overall rating.
