One look at the Texas Business Organizations Code (“BOC”) will inform you that you must hire a registered agent for your LLC or corporation. But what does this agent do, and how does it benefit your business?
Registered Agent Services in Texas
A registered agent is an intermediary between the state and your business. Their role is to receive any correspondence from the state and other official parties to help you remain compliant. This correspondence can include the following:
- Tax notices about your business to help you avoid penalties,
- Service of process to give your business the right to due process, and
- Compliance documents to help you file your records with the state on time.
In addition to receiving these official records, Passportology, a professional registered agent in Texas, offers these perks:
- Organizing your mail in a central place, allowing you to access it whenever you please,
- Notifying you of urgent official deadlines, e.g., upcoming lawsuits, and
- Covering your government fees.
We offer two plans, one of which includes a virtual mail plan, to help you cover all your correspondence needs under one roof.
Benefits of Hiring Professional Texas Registered Agents
The Texas Business Organizations Code (“BOC”) dictates that anyone can be an agent provided they meet the following criteria:
- Individuals should be at least 18 years old. Companies working as registered agents should have incorporation in Texas,
- They should have a physical address in Texas to receive official correspondence. This address is not the same as a P.O. Box,
- They should be available during regular office hours to receive official documents, and
- They should be residents of Texas.
As such, even you can represent your LLC. But there are tons of benefits that come with hiring professionals to serve this role, including:
a. Confidentiality
Being served with service of process in front of your workers and clients is not a good look. Even when the lawsuit has no legal ground, your workers and clients will not know this. And it can spark concerns that can threaten your business.
So, your best bet lies in hiring a registered agent who can receive this mail away from your business premise. They will then forward it to you, and you can deal with it without the glare from onlookers.
b. Privacy
When you run a business from your home or other location you do not want to make public, hiring a registered agent is a good idea. They will use their address, which you can list on your public records. That way, anyone who wants to reach you will need to go through the registered agent to send documents to you. It cements your privacy and allows you to run your business uninterrupted.
c. Efficiency
Handling mail is a crucial business activity but is not the core of your operation. Thus, you can delegate this role to someone or a firm whose core business ensures you get your mail on time. That way, you will not miss any deadlines or official correspondence that could adversely affect your operations.
d. Availability
A key registered agent requirement is being available during business hours. However, this is not always possible, especially when you run a small business or work during irregular hours. A registered agent can fill this gap by ensuring government officials always find someone to receive your documents. And you can avoid the penalties that come with missing important dates or records.
The goal behind having a professional registered agent take up this role is to allow you to enjoy peace of mind and accountability.