For an LLC, Can i be my own registered agent in pennsylvania?

Business Growth, Strategy & Startups

When you fill out the paperwork to start your LLC, there is a section asking for a “Registered Office” or “Registered Agent.” This is just the person or company who agrees to accept legal papers (like a lawsuit) if you ever get sued.

You will see a lot of companies offering to do this for you for a fee, usually around $50 to $100 a year.

The question is: Can you just do it yourself and save the money?

The short answer is yes. You absolutely can be your own Registered Agent in Pennsylvania.

However, before you write your own name down, you need to understand what you are actually signing up for.

The “Free” Option (Being your own agent)

The cost: $0.
How to do it:
You just list your physical street address on the certificate of organization.
The requirement:
In Pennsylvania, if you don’t specify a structure, the law automatically assumes you are Member-Managed.
Best for: 
You must have a physical address in PA (no P.O. Boxes allowed) and you generally need to be available during normal business hours to sign for documents.

The Downsides (Why people pay for a service)

There are three main reasons why business owners choose to pay a service instead of doing it themselves:

Privacy:
Once you list your home address as the Registered Office, it becomes public record. Anyone with an internet connection can look up your LLC and see exactly where you live.
The “sheriff” factor:
If your business gets sued, a process server or sheriff will physically come to the address listed to hand you the papers. If you listed your home, they come to your door. If you listed your shop, they walk in right in front of your customers.
The “moving” headache:
If you live in an apartment and move, you must update the state immediately.

The cost: 
It costs $5 to file a “change of registered office” form.

The risk:
 If you forget to update your address and you get sued, the court will send the papers to your old apartment. When you don’t answer (because you didn’t get them), you automatically lose the lawsuit (Default Judgment).

If you are bootstrapping and every dollar counts, be your own Registered Agent. It is perfectly legal. But if you value your privacy, or if you move apartments a lot and might forget to file the $5 form, paying the $50-$100 a year for a commercial service is usually worth it.