Unpopular opinion: Registered agent services are mostly a scam for small businesses

I used to pay $150 a year for a registered agent in Dallas because everyone said you need one. Then my accountant showed me I could just use my own address and be my own agent in Texas. I saved $150 and nothing bad happened. Why do people keep pushing these services on solo LLC owners when you can literally just use your home address lol

3 comments

3 Comments

the_john17d ago

The real catch is when you start getting sued or have to accept legal documents in person. If you work a day job and miss a court summons because you weren't home, that's when the $150 starts looking cheap. But for a simple LLC with no employees and no real risk of getting sued, it's just throwing money away. Most of these services are banking on fear and confusion from new business owners who don't know any better. You made the right call dropping it.

the_hayden17d ago

Used to be one of those people who figured if you're not doing anything shady, what's the big deal. Picked a registered agent service for my first LLC just because it seemed like the normal thing to do. Never thought twice about the actual risk of missing something important. Then a buddy of mine got slapped with a default judgment because they couldn't get served at his registered address and he never saw the papers. Dropped my service the next day after hearing that. Your take on it being fear based for simple businesses clicked for me. Makes a lot more sense now.

taylor.brooke17d ago

True that, @the_john, reminds me of a buddy who got served papers at a coffee shop thinking it was free samples.