Understanding the Importance of an Indiana Registered Agent for Your Business

Starting a business in Indiana can increase your income and help you reach customers. As you make more investments and provide better service, you can become more ambitious and set new goals for your company. However, every business needs people who operate behind the scenes to enable growth and sustainability. An Indiana registered agent is critical for any legal business entity located in the Hoosier State. 

This guide will help you understand what Indiana registered agents do for businesses and why they are vital.

What Is an Indiana Registered Agent?

An Indiana registered agent is a person who receives and reviews legal documents for a company. This person monitors documents for any deadlines or action items and makes sure they get addressed. Indiana registered agents must be available throughout the workday.

What Is a Registered Office in Indiana?

A registered office in Indiana is a location where your business can receive legal documents and official mail. This address cannot be a P.O. box. Some registered agents use their home addresses, but doing so will result in your home address getting published in directories, web pages, and other places. Some registered agents buy or rent buildings and use them as registered offices.

What Are the Legal Duties of an Indiana Registered Agent?

The legal duties of an Indiana registered agent include the following:

• Having a physical address in Indiana
• Receiving documents on behalf of the business
• Going through the mail and finding critical documents that require attention
• Ensuring the business owner receives important documents
• Being available during regular business hours

Why Is a Registered Agent Required in Indiana?

A registered agent is required in Indiana because the state needs an official point of contact for your corporation. This individual receives documents for the business, including time-sensitive lawsuits and tax information.

Does Indiana Require Registered Agent Consents?

Indiana requires the consent of a registered agent. The agent you choose must provide a written document that states they agree to act as the registered agent for your company. If you choose a registered agent service then the contract that you sign with the service provider is considered the consent.

When Do You Need an Indiana Registered Agent?

You need a registered agent as soon as you turn your business into a legal entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC). Registered agents are required in every state to turn your business into a legal entity. 

Who Can Be a Registered Agent in Indiana?

A registered agent in Indiana must be a resident of the state. This individual must have a physical address within the state. P.O. boxes do not count for the address requirement. The Indiana registered agent must also be at least 18 years old.

How to Choose a Registered Agent Service in Indiana?

A registered agent service can protect your privacy since you won’t have to become your own registered agent. However, business owners can choose from several registered agent services. You can use these factors to compare services and determine which one makes the most sense for your company.

Service Cost

A registered agent service is an expense for your business. While some services are more expensive than others, most of them are reasonably priced. You may have to pay $100 to $300 per year for a service. 

Features 

Registered agent services offer various features, such as mail scanning and forwarding, online LLC formation, and online account access. Some services offer more features than others. Comparing services can help you gauge which features you need for your business.

Reputation

You can save money by picking a more affordable registered agent service. However, a registered agent service that does not stay on top of documents and lets you know about lawsuits too late can become costly in the long run. Look for registered agent services that have good reputations and are reliable. 

What Happens if You Don’t Have an Indiana Registered Agent?

If you do not have a registered agent, you may miss important documents, such as time-sensitive lawsuits and important filing documents. You may incur significant costs for missing these deadlines and eventually lose your status as a corporation. Losing corporate status removes all of the benefits of turning your company into a legal entity.

How to Change Registered Agents in Indiana?

Many business owners change their registered agent or decide to work with a new registered agent service. Indiana business owners have to submit a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form with their request. The Secretary of State’s business forms page contains information about submitting this information online. 

You will also have to specify if the agent is a commercial or noncommercial registered agent. A commercial agent is one that is already registered with the state and has their information on record. Noncommercial agents are not registered with Indiana, and you will have to provide their address and contact information in your request. You can ask your agent if they are a commercial or noncommercial agent.

Notifying the state about your new registered agent is important. Unless you notify the state, they will assume your old registered agent is your current agent. That means important business documents will continue to go to the old agent even though you are working with another person or service.

Stay on Top of Your Documents

A registered agent or service helps business owners stay on top of their documents. While a registered agent can help with legal and tax documents, you also have to stay on top of your finances. Doola’s bookkeeping services can eliminate the stress of bookkeeping for founders like you so you have more time for your business operations. You can get started with doola books for as little as $50 per year.

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