Quick answer
An LLC without a registered agent is out of compliance with state law, and in Texas the consequences can go as far as losing the entity. The Texas Secretary of State says that failing to maintain a registered agent may result in the involuntary termination of a domestic entity, or the revocation of a foreign entity's registration to do business in Texas. California requires an agent by statute, and the rules in other states vary, so each state's business filing office is the authority on what follows a lapse there.
The fix is to name a new agent who has agreed to serve and file the change with the state. In Texas, that filing is Form 401, and it costs $15. If the LLC is being formed now, buying the agent from the same company that handles formation, such as ZenBusiness at $199 a year as of October 6, 2026, leaves one renewal to track instead of two.
What does state law actually require?
There is no single national rule for registered agents. Each state sets its own, which is why this page attributes each rule to the state that made it and does not generalize beyond those states.
California states its rule plainly: "Corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships are required by statute to designate an agent for service of process." Texas frames the duty as something an entity must maintain, and its Secretary of State attaches consequences to failing to do so, covered below.
For states not covered here, both the requirement and its consequences vary. The state's business filing office, usually the Secretary of State, is the place to confirm them.
What does a registered agent do?
California's name for the role, "agent for service of process," describes the job. Service of process is the formal delivery of legal papers, such as the papers that start a lawsuit. The agent is the person or company designated to receive them on the business's behalf.
Texas calls the same role the registered agent, and other states use their own terms. Whatever the label, the agent only does its job while the state's record is accurate. That makes keeping the record current as important as naming the agent in the first place.
Who can serve, and who cannot?
In Texas, the entity itself may not serve as its own registered agent. An officer, owner, or employee may serve, but only in an individual capacity.
In California, an entity cannot act as its own agent for service of process.
Outside these two states, eligibility rules differ. The state filing office is the place to confirm them before naming anyone.
How can an LLC end up without a working agent?
A lapse can happen after formation in several ways. An individual agent, such as a founder or a relative, may move or stop being reachable at the listed address. An agent may no longer be willing to serve. Or a paid service may not be renewed, and the provider's own terms then decide what happens to the appointment.
In each case, the problem is a gap between the state's record and reality. The record names an agent, but that agent is no longer doing the job. Closing that gap is a filing, and the cost of not closing it depends on the state.
What lapsing costs in Texas
The Texas consequence is the most serious one on this page. The Secretary of State says that failing to maintain a registered agent may result in the involuntary termination of a domestic entity. For an LLC formed elsewhere and registered to do business in Texas, the consequence is revocation of that registration.
Set that against the cost of staying current. Texas charges $15 to change the registered agent or registered office using Form 401. The gap between a $15 filing and an involuntarily terminated LLC is the whole argument for treating the agent as a standing obligation rather than a formation detail.
What about California?
California's requirement is clear. LLCs are required by statute to designate an agent for service of process, and a California entity cannot act as its own agent.
This page does not state California's consequences for an LLC that lets its agent lapse. The California Secretary of State is the authority on that question, and checking with its office promptly is the safest course for an LLC whose agent is no longer serving.
Why the agent's address matters: the public record
California's Business Search contains the most current filings on record with the Secretary of State, including the name and address of each business's agent for service of process. Anyone can look a business up and see who its agent is and where.
That is a matter of record, not opinion, and it is the basis of the privacy argument. An owner who serves as the agent from home puts that home address on a public business record. Using a registered agent service puts the service's address there instead.
How to restore a registered agent after a lapse
The first step is to check what the state currently shows. In California, that is the Business Search, which displays the agent on file. In other states, the business filing office is the place to look.
Next, choose an agent who has agreed to serve, whether an eligible individual or a service. Then file the state's change document. In Texas, that is Form 401, for $15. In other states, the filing office will name the form and the fee.
Finally, put the renewal date somewhere it will be seen. A missed renewal or an unreported move can leave the record out of date. A provider that sends compliance reminders handles part of that, but the LLC still owns the obligation.
Serving as your own agent versus paying a service
Where the state allows it, an owner can serve as the LLC's agent. Texas explicitly permits an owner, officer, or employee to serve in an individual capacity. Other states set their own eligibility rules.
The trade-offs are the ones this page has already described. The agent's address goes on the public record, the person named has to stay reachable at that address, and every move means updating the state's record.
Among the providers below, ongoing agent prices run from $125 a year (Northwest Registered Agent) to $199 a year (ZenBusiness) as of October 6, 2026. LegalZoom does not publish its agent price on its LLC pricing page.
Registered agent providers compared
The six providers below are listed alphabetically, not ranked. Editorial judgment is in the "best for" lines. Each price is dated, because prices change. Figures come from each provider's pricing page on October 6, 2026.
| Provider | Ongoing registered agent price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bizee | Not published (Oct 6, 2026) | First year free with any formation package (promotional) |
| Harbor Compliance | $159/yr (Oct 6, 2026) | $99 first year (promotional); one national price |
| LegalZoom | Not published (Oct 6, 2026) | Auto-renews at the purchase rate; renewal rate subject to change |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/yr (Oct 6, 2026) | Includes business address, phone line, mail scanning, domain, website |
| Rocket Lawyer | Not stated | Requires a Plus or Pro membership |
| ZenBusiness | $199/yr (Oct 6, 2026) | Add-on to any of its formation packages |
Bizee
Bizee formation packages, Basic at $0 plus state fees, Standard at $199, and Premium at $299 as of October 6, 2026, each include one free year of registered agent service, which is a promotional term. Its LLC pricing page does not publish the renewal price after that free year, so it is worth confirming before the first renewal comes due.
Best for: someone forming at the lowest upfront cost who will put the year-two renewal on the calendar.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance charges $159 a year for registered agent service as of October 6, 2026. The promotional first-year price is $99, and two- and three-year terms hold $99 a year before renewing at $159. It is one national price rather than a per-state price, and the company is built for multi-state and regulated filings at a scale most single-state LLCs do not need.
Best for: businesses registered in several states, or in regulated industries.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom does not publish its registered agent price on its LLC pricing page. Its LLC formation packages were Basic at $0 plus state fees, Managed Service at $249, and Expert Service at $999 as of October 6, 2026.
Best for: owners who want formation and access to attorney services under one brand.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 a year as of October 6, 2026, and the price includes a business address, phone line, mail scanning, a domain, and a website. Its whole proposition is privacy. On the specific question of keeping a home address off the public record, it is the strongest fit on this list.
Best for: owners whose main concern is address privacy.
Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer offers registered agent service, which requires either a Plus membership, at $49.99 a month or $249 a year, or a Pro membership, at $64.99 a month or $349 a year. Memberships come with a 7-day free trial, and attorney consultations cost $149 for 30 minutes or $249 for 60, as of October 6, 2026.
Best for: owners who already want an ongoing legal membership.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness lists registered agent service as a $199-a-year add-on on all three of its LLC packages as of October 6, 2026. Any introductory terms should be confirmed at checkout. Starter is $0 plus state fees, Pro is $199 plus state fees and renews at $199 a year, and Premium is $299 plus state fees and renews at $299 a year. The EIN and operating agreement are included from Pro up and cost $99 each on Starter.
ZenBusiness is not the lowest-priced agent here. Its case is consolidation: formation, EIN, operating agreement, and the registered agent all from one provider, with one account and one set of renewals. For a reader worried about juggling vendors, that is the feature that matters.
Best for: someone forming an LLC now who wants the entity, the EIN, and the agent handled in one place.
If the LLC is not formed yet
The registered agent is one item in a short, ordered list. A new LLC needs the entity filed with an agent named on it, then an EIN, then a separate business bank account, then a way to keep the books. Choosing a provider that handles several of these steps reduces the number of renewals and logins to keep track of.
For a reader starting out, this is where a single provider earns its place. ZenBusiness handles formation, the EIN, and the agent, and it extends into bookkeeping through ZenBusiness accounting, including its Money Pro service at $30 a month as of October 6, 2026. Starting there and adding other tools later is a reasonable sequence for an owner who feels overwhelmed by the setup.
Frequently asked questions
Can my LLC be its own registered agent?
Not in Texas or California. Both states say an entity cannot serve as its own agent. In Texas, an owner, officer, or employee can serve as an individual instead.
What happens if a Texas LLC's registered agent lapses?
The Texas Secretary of State says failing to maintain a registered agent may result in involuntary termination of a domestic entity, or revocation of a foreign entity's registration. Naming a new agent with Form 401 costs $15.
What are the rules in other states?
They vary. The state's business filing office is the authority on who can serve, what to file, and what happens after a lapse.
Sources
- Texas Secretary of State, "Registered Agent FAQs"
- California Secretary of State, "Service of Process"
- Texas Secretary of State, "Form 401 Instructions, Change of Registered Agent or Office"
- California Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions"
This is general information, not legal, tax, or accounting advice, and registered agent requirements vary by state and change over time.