How to Find a Registered Agent in Wyoming (Step-by-Step Guide)
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Wyoming registered agent requirements
When selecting a registered agent (also known as a statutory agent or a resident agent) for your Wyoming LLC or corporation, make sure that your chosen agent meets the required guidelines. These are as follows, depending on whether you plan to be your own registered agent or hire a registered agent service.
Being your own registered agent
If you plan to be your own registered agent, you’ll need to follow the guidelines in place for individual registered agents. You will need to:
- Be at least 18 years old or older
- Be a resident of the State of Wyoming
- Be in possession of a physical in-state address (no P.O. box addresses allowed)
- Be present at this Wyoming address during normal business hours, which are generally considered to be from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday
- Accept the role of registered agent and be listed as your registered agent on your Articles of Incorporation (consent to appointment)
Hiring a Wyoming registered agent service
Hiring a Wyoming registered agent service comes with guidelines as well. Business entities who act as registered agents must:
- Be registered to conduct business in the State of Wyoming
- Be in possession of a physical in-state address (no P.O. box addresses allowed)
- Be present at this Wyoming address during normal business hours, which are generally considered to be from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday
- Accept the role of registered agent and be listed as your registered agent on your Articles of Incorporation (consent to appointment)
Why use a registered agent service
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Time
To begin with, you’ll have much more time on your hands if you allocate this position to professionals. Registered agent companies take on this role full-time for a long list of clients. They excel at providing registered agent services and understand the position fully. If you take on the role yourself, there’s a large learning curve, and you don’t want to be held liable for a mistake when it comes to accepting important business documents.
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Focus
Another reason is that, because you won’t have to fulfill the role yourself, you can put more of your focus on running your business. Let the professionals take care of your registered agent services for you.
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Grow
With more time on your hands, you’ll also be able to make your business grow, which may give rise to the need for finding registered agents in other states. When you work with a registered agent company, they will generally do business in all 50 states. Therefore, the same company can simply act as your registered agent no matter where you are selling your products or services.
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Privacy
Lastly, registered agent services allow business owners in Wyoming to keep their private lives private.
When you choose to be your own registered agent, you have to use your own street address and phone number as your business’s point of contact information. All registered agents’ addresses are listed on the public record.
This, of course, means that your name and street address would be publicly accessible and easy to find. It would simply be a matter of looking up your business’s name.
When you choose to work with a service, you will naturally use their registered office address, and your own address can remain hidden.
Wyoming registered agent costs
The only payment you’ll need to make to a registered agent will go directly to your registered agent service if you’re using one. The state does not charge for registered agent services. If you are acting as your own registered agent, you won’t have to pay anything.
The majority of LLCs and corporations in Wyoming pay between $50 and $300 per year for a professional registered agent service. Especially if you’re just starting out, you can choose the most basic plan and pay a relatively low price.
If you have not yet incorporated your business, consider working with a registered agent company that will throw in registered agent services for free for the first year when you choose them as an LLC formation service.
How to change a registered agent in Wyoming
At some point, you may decide to change your Wyoming registered agent. If you are planning to do business with a registered agent company, ask them if they’ll fill out the change of agent form for you so that you don’t have to do anything.
For the Wyoming company that may be choosing a new individual registered agent or that simply wants to perform the change of agent filing themselves, follow these steps:
- Obtain a Change of an Entity’s Registered Agent and Office form. You can get this from the Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division in Cheyenne.
- Decide who your new registered agent will be.
- Tell your current registered agent that you are switching to a new Wyoming agent.
- Fill out the Change of an Entity’s Registered Agent and Office form, adding your new registered agent information.
- Submit the documents to the Wyoming Secretary of State. There is no filing fee for changing your registered agent in Wyoming.
Why you need a registered agent
According to Wyoming State law, all businesses — including LLCs (limited liability companies) and corporations — must have a registered agent upon formation. Choosing your registered agent is a critical part of filling out your formation documents.
If you’ve never heard of a registered agent, you’re not alone. Essentially, the role is related to mail forwarding. Your registered agent is also your business’s main point of contact.
A registered agent is either a single person or a business. They are responsible for accepting important documents and legal notices for your business and forwarding them on to you. Smaller businesses and startups tend to have individuals act as their registered agents. Larger businesses usually hire a company for the job.
The reason LLCs and corporations in Wyoming need registered agents is so that the state can know for sure they will receive important state-related correspondence. For example, a company will need to know right away if someone is suing them or if they are being subpoenaed. The way they will find out is through their registered agent receiving service of process on their behalf.
Other notifications and important documents will go through your registered agent as well.
When you need a registered agent
You cannot start a legitimate business in Wyoming without a registered agent. When incorporating your business with the state, you’ll need to select your business’s registered agent and put their information on your Articles of Incorporation. Otherwise, the state will not accept your formation documents.
In addition to selecting a registered agent for your business, you’ll need to choose a business name. This step usually comes before choosing your registered agent.
All states, including Wyoming, have strict guidelines in place for the business name selection process. For instance, you’ll need to conduct a name search before reserving your chosen business name. This is so that you can be sure no other LLC or corporation has already selected the business name you’ve chosen for your enterprise.
Additional steps are required after choosing your registered agent. You’ll need to select a Board of Directors and hold your first board meeting. It is also required that you obtain an employer identification number (EIN), and it’s a good idea to open at least one business bank account for business-related expenses. Finally, you’ll need to pay the required state fees for the incorporation process.
Useful links
Here are several links to government websites and forms that may be helpful as you register your business in Wyoming.
FAQs
Who needs a registered agent in Wyoming?
All limited liability companies and corporations in Wyoming need to have a registered agent listed on their formation documents when incorporating their business.
Should you be your own registered agent for an LLC in Wyoming?
This depends on your personal preferences. If you feel you have the time to devote to this role and you will be available consistently during regular business hours, you may decide to be your own registered agent. Many company owners want to focus on their business and will, therefore, hire out the service.
What is the difference between a registered agent and an owner?
The owner of a business is in charge of the business and daily operations. It is possible to be your business’s own registered agent, but this isn’t always true. Some business owners choose to hire a commercial registered agent company to act as a registered agent. A registered agent’s job is to accept important documents on behalf of a business.
What’s the difference between a statutory agent and a registered agent?
There is no difference. Both refer to a role that must be filled by all businesses as they are incorporated in the state as LLCs or corporations. The role of a statutory agent or registered agent is to receive service of process and other legal documents on behalf of a business. Different states use different names for this position.
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