--- title: "Best Registered Agent Services in Connecticut" canonical: https://startupowl.com/start/registered-agents-connecticut last_updated: "September 29, 2026" --- # Best Registered Agent Services in Connecticut Northwest is our pick. The state charges $50 to switch agents later, so watch the renewal price, not year one. - Services Compared: 8 - States Compared: 50 Northwest Registered Agent is our pick for most Connecticut LLCs, at $125 a year with no increase in year two. That matters here. Leaving a Connecticut registered agent costs $50. The state charges that Change of Agent fee every time you switch. Another $50 changes an agent's address, and another $50 records a resignation. Staying is free. So the number to watch is the renewal price, not the first year. From year two on, the services below cost $125 to $596 a year. The first year can cost less. Bizee and Inc Authority include it free when they form your LLC. ZenBusiness opens at $99 and Harbor Compliance at $99. Your agent's name and street address also sit in public records. Name yourself and your home address goes on file. ## Connecticut Law Requires a Registered Agent Section 34-243n of the Connecticut General Statutes sets the rule. Every LLC must name and keep a registered agent. The agent is a Connecticut resident or a business entitled to operate here, and subsection (e) requires every agent to have a place of business in this state. The filing carries a street address. PO boxes do not count. Typical annual cost: $125–$596/yr [Connecticut Secretary of the State](https://business.ct.gov/business-services) ## Connecticut Registered Agent Services at a Glance | Service | Annual Price | Rating | | --- | --- | --- | | [Northwest Registered Agent](https://startupowl.com/go/northwest-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) | $125/yr. Same price in year two. $100 per state per year at five or more states | 4.8 | | [ZenBusiness](https://startupowl.com/go/zenbusiness-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) | $99 first year. Renews at $199/yr after that. The banner ties the $99 to forming an LLC there. Their FAQ sets no condition. | 4.5 | | [Harbor Compliance](https://startupowl.com/go/harbor-compliance-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) | $99 first year. Renews at $159/yr after that | 3.4 | | [Rocket Lawyer](https://startupowl.com/go/rocket-lawyer-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) | $374/yr. Same price in year two. $125 for the agent plus the $249 Plus membership it requires, the cheapest tier that qualifies | 3.3 | | [LegalZoom](https://startupowl.com/go/legalzoom-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) | $249/yr. Same price in year two | 3.0 | | [Bizee](https://startupowl.com/go/bizee-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) | $149/yr. Same price in year two. Free the first year if Bizee forms your LLC | 3.0 | | [Swyft Filings](https://startupowl.com/go/swyft-filings-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) | $596/yr. Same price in year two. Billed $149 every quarter, per state and per entity, so $596 a year | 2.9 | | [Inc Authority](https://startupowl.com/go/inc-authority-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) | $249/yr. Same price in year two. Sold as a one year term. Free for the first year if Inc Authority forms your LLC. | 2.6 | ## Full Reviews of the Best Registered Agents in Connecticut ### Northwest Registered Agent [Northwest Registered Agent](https://startupowl.com/go/northwest-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) Best Privacy | $125/yr. Same price in year two. $100 per state per year at five or more states | 4.8 Northwest delivers top-tier privacy protection and unmatched human support for a flat $125 annual fee. Northwest Registered Agent is our top recommendation for privacy-minded founders. They shield your home address on public records and process legal mail the same day it arrives. The stable $125 renewal rate saves you money long-term. We highly recommend them if you want reliable compliance without the endless upsell pitches. **Best For:** Founders valuing privacy, consistent pricing, and human support over rock-bottom initial costs. **Pros** - Same-day document scanning - Privacy by Default shields your address - Knowledgeable US-based Corporate Guides - Flat $125 annual fee with no surprise hikes - Includes 10 free mail scans a year, $15 per extra piece **Cons** - Requires a $39 fee if bundling with LLC formation - Optional compliance add-on uses negative-option renewal - Customer support is only available during business hours ### ZenBusiness [ZenBusiness](https://startupowl.com/go/zenbusiness-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) Best Platform | $99 first year. Renews at $199/yr after that. The banner ties the $99 to forming an LLC there. Their FAQ sets no condition. | 4.5 A slick, intuitive platform with excellent weekend support, making it perfect for first-time founders who value ease of use. ZenBusiness delivers a premium registered agent experience tailored perfectly for first-time founders. We love the modern dashboard and the rare inclusion of weekend customer support. The main drawback is the $199 annual renewal fee, which is pricier than some budget competitors. We highly recommend ZenBusiness if you value an easy-to-use digital portal and fast document delivery over securing the absolute lowest long-term price. **Best For:** First-time founders wanting a stress-free, all-in-one compliance dashboard **Pros** - Immediate document scanning and upload to your dashboard - Clean, modern, and highly intuitive digital dashboard - Customer support available on weekends - Shields your personal home address from public records - Excellent user reviews across Trustpilot and app stores **Cons** - Annual renewal rate increases to $199 after the first year - Cancellation requires contacting support via phone or chat - Frequent upsells for additional compliance and financial tools ### Harbor Compliance [Harbor Compliance](https://startupowl.com/go/harbor-compliance-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) Best Multi State | $99 first year. Renews at $159/yr after that | 3.4 On this list, Harbor Compliance has the lowest first-year price for an agent bought on its own at $99, with no other purchase needed, and its multi-year plans keep that rate locked. Documents are delivered same day through the Entity Manager portal with unlimited storage, and service of process triggers a phone call, not just an email. The catch is the $159 renewal and a platform that is clearly built for compliance teams first, so solo founders who want something lighter may prefer Northwest's flat $125 with no year-two surprise. **Best For:** Multi-state operators and compliance-heavy businesses that want the lowest locked-in national rate **Pros** - $99 first year with no other purchase, the lowest on this list for an agent bought on its own - Same-day document delivery with a phone call when service of process arrives - Unlimited document storage in their Entity Manager portal - Multi-year plans lock the $99 rate, two years for $198 or three for $297 - Covers all 50 states plus DC and Puerto Rico **Cons** - Renewal jumps to $159 a year after the introductory rate ends - The platform is built for compliance departments, which can feel heavy for a single-state solo founder ### Rocket Lawyer [Rocket Lawyer](https://startupowl.com/go/rocket-lawyer-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) Membership Required | $374/yr. Same price in year two. $125 for the agent plus the $249 Plus membership it requires, the cheapest tier that qualifies | 3.3 Advertised at $125, but the agent needs a Plus membership, so the real floor is $374 a year. Rocket Lawyer advertises its registered agent at $125, and that number is real but incomplete. The condition is not hidden. Its own agent page says the price comes with a Plus or Pro membership, in the line under the heading. Standard at $149 does not qualify. The cheapest route is Plus at $249. So a founder who wants only an agent pays $374 in year one, and the same every year after. Already paying for Plus for the documents and attorney access? Then $125 on top is fair. If not, almost every other agent here costs less. **Best For:** Businesses that already pay for a Rocket Lawyer membership and want the agent bundled in **Pros** - Backed by a large, well reviewed legal platform - Covers all 50 states - Bundles with attorney access and document tools you may already be paying for - The agent fee itself renews at the same $125 **Cons** - The $125 agent price requires a Rocket Lawyer Plus or Pro membership - Standard at $149 does not qualify, so the cheapest real path is Plus at $249, making the true floor $374 a year - The membership that carries the agent is sold as a 7 day free trial, after which the full $249 year is billed ### LegalZoom [LegalZoom](https://startupowl.com/go/legalzoom-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) Industry Giant | $249/yr. Same price in year two | 3.0 A highly recognizable registered agent service with an equally high price tag and difficult cancellation policies. LegalZoom delivers on the core promise of a registered agent by scanning documents promptly and offering a clean, unified dashboard. However, at $249 per year, it is one of the most expensive options on the market. The aggressive upsells and notoriously difficult cancellation process make it hard to recommend for bootstrapping founders. We suggest this service only if you already use LegalZoom for other legal services and prioritize platform consolidation over cost. **Best For:** Founders prioritizing brand name and platform consolidation over price **Pros** - Prompt document scanning with immediate email alerts - Highly trusted, publicly traded brand name - Includes a compliance calendar for state deadlines - Extensive customer support hours including weekends - Unlimited cloud storage for business documents **Cons** - Extremely high annual fee of $249 - Cancellation process requires proof of new agent to stop billing - Constant upsells for bookkeeping and advisory services ### Bizee [Bizee](https://startupowl.com/go/bizee-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) Free First Year | $149/yr. Same price in year two. Free the first year if Bizee forms your LLC | 3.0 Bizee offers an affordable registered agent service with excellent scanning speed, but poor support and difficult cancellations hurt its value. Bizee delivers a fast, modern registered agent dashboard at a competitive $149 per year. Same-day scanning ensures you never miss a critical legal notice. However, we found their customer support lacking and the cancellation process unnecessarily difficult. We only recommend Bizee if you are bundling it with their free LLC formation package. **Best For:** Entrepreneurs seeking the absolute lowest cost to form an LLC ($0 + state fees) **Pros** - Unbeatable $0 LLC formation package includes a free year of registered agent - Clean and intuitive online document dashboard - Same-day document scanning for rapid notification - Physical addresses available in all 50 states - Immediate text and email alerts for legal notices **Cons** - Difficult cancellation process requires a phone call or chat session - F rating with the Better Business Bureau due to unresolved complaints - Aggressive upsells for compliance and virtual address services ### Swyft Filings [Swyft Filings](https://startupowl.com/go/swyft-filings-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) Most Expensive | $596/yr. Same price in year two. Billed $149 every quarter, per state and per entity, so $596 a year | 2.9 Swyft Filings delivers fast document scanning but hides a massive $596 annual fee behind a misleading quarterly pricing structure. We do not recommend Swyft Filings for registered agent services. The company advertises a $149 fee, but this is charged quarterly, resulting in a staggering $596 annual cost. While their dashboard is clean and document scanning is fast, the service is ultimately outsourced to a third-party partner. Better alternatives offer superior in-house service for a fraction of the cost. **Best For:** Business owners prioritizing filing speed over ongoing value **Pros** - Fast same-day document scanning - Clean and intuitive online dashboard - Helpful customer support for initial setup - Standard privacy protection for your home address - Automated compliance reminders included **Cons** - Exorbitant $596 true annual cost - Misleading $149 quarterly billing structure - Difficult cancellation requiring phone calls - Outsourced to a third-party partner ### Inc Authority [Inc Authority](https://startupowl.com/go/inc-authority-ra?src=startupowl.com%2Fstart%2Fregistered-agents-connecticut.md_card) Best Free Start | $249/yr. Same price in year two. Sold as a one year term. Free for the first year if Inc Authority forms your LLC. | 2.6 Inc Authority hands you a registered agent free for the first year with its no cost LLC formation, then $249 a year after that. Inc Authority bundles the registered agent into its free LLC formation, so year one costs nothing if you form with them. Buy the agent on its own and it is $249 for one year, the same as LegalZoom and twice what Northwest charges. The price is real but well hidden. Their registered agent page is a dead link and the only place the service is actually sold is a marketplace item most founders will never find. Choose this one if you want the cheapest possible start and you intend to move before that first renewal lands. **Best For:** Budget-conscious founders who want a $0 setup and will switch agents later. **Pros** - Free registered agent service for the first full year when Inc Authority forms your LLC - Fast digital document scanning and immediate notifications - Online portal included at no extra cost - Covers all 50 states - Decades of industry experience since 1989 **Cons** - At $249 a year once the bundled first year ends, it is among the priciest agents here, twice Northwest's $125, and it renews automatically - The price is published only on a marketplace item page, their own registered agent page returns a 404 - Aggressive upsells during checkout and via phone calls - Cancellation requires a phone call during business hours ## What Makes a Good Registered Agent for Connecticut Businesses **The state lists the name and street address of every Connecticut LLC's agent.** Anyone can run that search, because [every document filed with the Secretary of the State is public record](https://business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/will-it-be-available-to-the-public). Connecticut does not offer anonymous LLC formation. The one exception is narrow. A founder who would be in danger if an address were published can [send a letter explaining why](https://business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/exemption) when registering and ask the office to keep the business address confidential. For everyone else, a commercial agent is the practical fix. Its office address goes on the record in place of yours. **The annual report costs $80.** The window runs January 1 to March 31, and you file it [online with the Secretary of the State](https://business.ct.gov/business-services/file-annual-report). Connecticut does not fine you for a late report. It mails a Notice of Intent to Dissolve instead. From that notice you get [90 days to file every report you owe](https://business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/timeline). Miss that and a Notice of Forfeiture follows. The name goes back on the shelf. **Switching agents later costs $50.** Connecticut charges $50 for a [Change of Agent filing](https://business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/domestic-limited-liability-companies-forms-and-fees). It charges $50 again to change that agent's address, and $50 to record a resignation. Count that fee once, up front. It is why a flat yearly price beats a cheap first year here. ## How to Choose a Registered Agent in Connecticut Forming costs $120, and your agent is named on that same Certificate of Organization. So year one favors a bundle. Bizee and Inc Authority both include the first year of agent service free when they form your LLC. Year two is where you actually choose. Bizee renews at $149 and Inc Authority at $249. ZenBusiness goes from $99 to $199, and Harbor Compliance from $99 to $159. Northwest charges $125 in both years. Run the two year total before you take the free year. Switching instead? Add $50 for the state Change of Agent filing, on top of what the new agent charges. That fee is the whole case for a flat priced agent in a state that charges you to change your mind. The flat rate is the point. Northwest lists $125 a year, and says on the same page that the price has not risen in 20 years. That matters in a state that bills you $50 to switch. Source, northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent, captured 15 August 2026. Connecticut's compliance calendar is short. One annual report, filed online between January 1 and March 31. No post formation filings. No franchise tax. You do not need a compliance suite for that. Still choosing a formation service? Read our guide to the [best LLC formation services in Connecticut](https://startupowl.com/start/llc-services-connecticut). ## Hidden RA Costs to Watch For in Connecticut - **Renewal price jumps** - ZenBusiness goes from $99 to $199 after year one, and Harbor Compliance from $99 to $159. Bizee and Inc Authority give the first year away when they form your LLC, then bill $149 and $249 a year. Read the renewal line on each card. - **The $50 change of agent fee** - Connecticut charges $50 for a Change of Agent. Another $50 changes that agent's address. Another $50 records a resignation. A cheap first year that makes you switch later costs you all of it. - **Connecticut only agents price lower** - Agents that serve this state and nowhere else advertise $49 a year. That is the honest answer for a founder certain Connecticut is their only state. Expansion changes it. Anyone who might file elsewhere buys a second agent later, a second renewal date, and the $50 change fee here. - **Document scanning fees** - Some providers charge extra to scan and forward regular mail. Northwest includes same day scanning. - **Cancellation timing** - Most providers do not refund mid year. Name the new agent before you cancel. Otherwise you leave a gap. Connecticut charges $50 to change your registered agent, and the same $50 to change that agent's address or record a resignation. Switching is never free here. Source, Connecticut Secretary of the State fee schedule at business.ct.gov, re-read 29 September 2026. ## Connecticut Business Compliance Overview Connecticut LLC income passes through to the members. The $80 annual report is due online between January 1 and March 31. Your agent receives the state notices, from the Department of Revenue Services and from the Secretary of the State. That is the job. Fast forwarding keeps a reply deadline from passing while mail sits somewhere. ## What to Do After Setting Up Your Registered Agent 1. **Confirm the agent on the state business search.** Look up your LLC after formation. Check that the name and address are right. 2. **Apply for your EIN with the IRS.** It is free. It takes about 10 minutes [online at irs.gov](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number). You need it for a bank account and for taxes. 3. **Open a business bank account.** Connecticut banks ask for the Certificate of Organization, the EIN letter, and an operating agreement. Keep the money separate. That is what protects the liability shield. 4. **Draft an operating agreement.** Connecticut law does not require one. Banks and investors expect it anyway. It settles ownership and profit splits before anyone argues. 5. **Mark March 31 on the calendar.** Your first report is due the year after you form. The fee is $80. An unfiled report starts the dissolution clock. 6. **Set up alerts with your agent.** Most services offer email or text notices. Turn on forwarded documents and report reminders. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Connecticut Registered Agents ### Does Connecticut require a registered agent? Yes, it is required. Section 34-243n of the Connecticut General Statutes says every LLC here must name and keep a registered agent. The agent needs a place of business in Connecticut, and the filing carries a street address. A PO box does not work. Connecticut sets no business hours rule for agents, unlike several states. A server can leave the papers with your agent or at the agent's home. ### Can I be my own registered agent in Connecticut? Yes, and it costs nothing. Any Connecticut resident with a place of business in the state can be their own agent. The catch is the public record. When a person is the agent, section 34-243n(d)(3) requires the filing to list a business address and a home address. Every filing with the Secretary of the State is public, so anyone can look. A server can also leave court papers at your home, on their schedule. Founders working from home usually pay a commercial agent instead. ### How much does a registered agent cost in Connecticut? From year two on, the eight services here cost $125 to $596 a year. The top is Swyft Filings, which bills a quarterly rate four times a year. The first year can cost less. Bizee and Inc Authority include it free when they form your LLC. ZenBusiness opens at $99 and Harbor Compliance at $99. Connecticut also charges $50 to change agents, so a cheap first year can cost more later. Agents serving only Connecticut advertise $49, which holds only while it is your one state. ### What happens if my Connecticut LLC does not have a registered agent? Your LLC falls out of good standing. Connecticut can refuse your filings. You also risk missing service of process, so a lawsuit could move ahead without you knowing. If annual reports go unfiled, the state mails a Notice of Intent to Dissolve and allows 90 days to file everything overdue. After that the LLC is forfeited and the name becomes available. ### Is Northwest Registered Agent better than LegalZoom? For a Connecticut LLC that only needs an agent, we think so, and price is most of the reason. Northwest charges $125 a year and LegalZoom $249, and both keep that price in year two, so the gap repeats every year. LegalZoom makes sense if you already run your company's filings through its account. Northwest is our pick here because a flat, lower price suits a state that charges $50 to switch. Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up for a service through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our rankings.