Ever hear the saying “don’t sweat the small stuff?” Sure, sweating every detail is not healthy and could lead to big problems. That said, some “small stuff” (i.e., details) are important to sweat over. The services we provide are not complex, but we understand “consequences” — yes, small mistakes can lead to severe consequences.
When we work with a client, we understand that the smallest mistake can lead to dire consequences to our clients. In 2009, a major US company was slapped with a default judgment for over $1 billion (yes, billion) because it did not show up to court in a lawsuit in which it was named as a defendant.
Why did it not show up to defend itself? Easy answer — it did not know it was being sued because its registered agent failed to provide the legal documents about the lawsuit.
These are the things we ensure do not happen with our clients. Small mistakes result in BIG consequences, and we take our duties very seriously.
As your business grows and expands to additional states, it will likely be necessary to qualify your company to transact business as a foreign corporation or LLC in the additional states. As you expand to additional states, is important to consider using a commercial service for your registered agent needs. While there are many companies or individuals providing registered agent services, consider the importance of working with a national service to protect your business. The consequences of choosing the wrong registered agent can be devastating to your business if you are sued and your registered agent does not follow through properly in performing its duties. Filings Made Easy provides national services and can help with your filing needs, all while keeping billing simple and ensuring that you are protected where you transact business.
We know the importance of the services we provide — we sweat the small stuff and ensure that we do all that is possible to protect your business when it comes to registered agent services. We charge $125 per year — orders can be placed at www.FilingsMadeEasy.com/registered-agent-service or 888-237-3410. Also, do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Of course. At Filings Made Easy, purchasing registered (resident) agent services online is fast and easy. At www.FilingsMadeEasy.com/registered-agent-service.com, you can purchase registered agent services in all 50 states, plus Washington, DC. The three step process will only take you a few minutes to complete, and then you can expand your business into a new state, into three states, or throughout the entire country. It takes the same amount of time to purchase registered agent services for a single state as it does in multiple states.
Many registered agents exist in each state. Many are competent. Not all can grow with your business. Choose a national registered agent service for your business, and as you expand your operations to additional states (whether it is a new office or a salesperson in an adjacent state or on the opposite coast), you can quickly and easily get established in additional states and have your registered agent services consolidated with a single provider. This will eliminate annoying bills from multiple service providers and will help you keep track of your filing needs.
Filings Made Easy (through its owner, Corporate Filing Solutions, LLC) serves as registered agent (often referred to in certain states as a “resident agent” or “statutory agent”) for many corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and other business types throughout the United States. Since January 2009, hundreds of companies have changed their registered agent to Filings Made Easy/Corporate Filing Solutions, LLC from national companies that provide registered agent services. In addition, many newly formed corporations and LLCs have named Filings Made Easy as their registered agent at the time of formation.
The reasons are simple
- Filings Made Easy provides nationwide registered agent services;
- Filings Made Easy’s annual fee is substantially less than the fees of larger registered agents, and will match others’ rates;
- Filings Made Easy makes billing easy. While some registered agents flood customers with mail each year, Filings Made Easy sends simple invoices to its customers, and if a customer has multiple entities or qualifications in multiple states, Filings Made Easy ensures that its invoices are consolidated so that the customer is not overwhelmed with multiple invoices.
- Filings Made Easy reacts immediately when it receives important correspondence for a customer. This includes immediately sending documents to customers by email, Federal Express, fax and/or personal delivery. Filings Made Easy also will call customers if an important document is received, such as a complaint in a new lawsuit, ensuring that the customer immediately focuses on this matter.
- Filings Made Easy is proactive about notifying customers when an annual report or franchise tax is due to be filed and/or paid, and will assist the customer, if the customer wants Filings Made Easy to help.
- Filings Made Easy helps customers comply with state filing and other requirements, to ensure that customers remain in good standing in the state of incorporation or formation and any other state where the company is qualified to do business.
Filings Made Easy/Corporate Filing Solutions, LLC qualifies as a “commercial registered agent” in those states that recognize such classifications, and also qualifies as a Commercial Registered Office Provider (often called a CROP) in Pennsylvania.
Filings Made Easy will also assist any company with the necessary documents if it wishes to change registered agents to Filings Made Easy. Please contact Filings Made Easy at customerservice@FilingsMadeEasy.com or 888-237-3410 if you wish to discuss changing your registered agent or otherwise naming Filings Made Easy (or an affiliated entity) as your registered agent in any state or states.
What is a Registered Agent (Resident Agent)?
A Registered Agent, or Resident Agent or Statutory Agent, is an agent that is designated by a company to receive legal documents, such as service of process, when the company becomes a party to, or is otherwise involved in, a lawsuit or other legal matter.
The Registered Agent for a business may be an individual or a third party, such as the company’s lawyer or a service company (such as Filings Made Easy, through its owner, Corporate Filing Solutions, LLC).
The purpose of a Registered Agent is to provide a physical legal address within that state where individuals are available during normal business hours to receive legal documents. The Registered Agent receives these documents on behalf of the company and then is required to promptly provide them to the company. In addition to documents relating to litigation, the Registered Agent also receives documents relating to tax and annual franchise or other annual corporate filings.
Do you need a Registered Agent for your company?
Yes. Every legal entity is required to have a Registered Agent in the state of its incorporation or formation and in each other state in which the company operates.
Should your company utilize a commercial Registered Agent?
Filings Made Easy thinks so. Here is why:
- Confidentiality. A commercial Registered Agent will handle litigation filings in a confidential and professional manner. If legal documents are delivered to a company’s normal place of business, employees may learn of this before even the CEO, which could lead to rumors and other unintended consequences.
- Expertise. Employees of a company may not understand the importance of certain legal documents. A commercial Registered Agent provides important legal documents directly to the company’s CEO or other senior officer who has been designated to receive correspondence from the Registered Agent. This ensures that important documents are immediately attended to, and not misplaced or misunderstood.
- Flexibility. A commercial Registered Agent provides a company with the flexibility to change its address without the burden of notifying the Secretary or State. This avoids the unfortunate consequences that could arise if a business owner forgets to change its address with the Secretary of State, such as a default judgment in a law suit involving the company.
- Availability. A commercial Registered Agent is always available during normal business hours. This availability provides the business owner with the ability to travel and to staff his offices as needed, without worrying about having someone available at all times in those offices. This avoids the unfortunate consequences that could arise if legal documents are served when the offices are unattended.
- Monitoring. A commercial Registered Agent keeps track of filing requirements of their clients’ businesses. This service allows these clients to focus on their businesses, rather than the hassle of monitoring filing requirements and deadlines. This can also potentially save businesses thousands of dollars in penalties for late filings.
- Responsiveness. Some commercial Registered Agents (such as Filings Made Easy, through its affiliate Corporate Filing Solutions) provide real-time notice of litigation, and forward all official documents directly to the companies they represent (often by email, fax and/or nationally recognized overnight courier service).
- Value. The cost per year of a commercial Registered Agent is nominal, relative to the risks that a company may face if a default judgment is entered against a company.
Filings Made Easy/Corporate Filing Solutions, LLC qualifies as a “commercial registered agent” in those states that recognize such status, and also qualifies as a Commercial Registered Office Provider (often called a CROP) in Pennsylvania.
Filings Made Easy will also assist any company with the necessary documents if it wishes to change registered agents to Filings Made Easy. Please contact Filings Made Easy at customerservice@FilingsMadeEasy.com or 888-237-3410 if you wish to discuss changing your registered agent or otherwise naming Filings Made Easy (or an affiliated entity) as your registered agent in any state or states.
