How, Why, and When to Get a Registered Agent in Nevada

Can I be my own registered agent in Nevada?

Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent in Nevada, provided you meet the legal requirements. However, this decision comes with important trade-offs to consider.

Advantages of serving as your own agent

• Cost savings: You avoid paying annual fees to a professional registered agent service (typically $100–$300 per year).
• Direct control: You receive legal documents immediately without waiting for a service to forward them.
• Simplicity: There’s no need to coordinate with a third-party service or worry about their reliability.

Tradeoffs and risks

• Privacy concerns: Your name and physical address become part of the public record with the Nevada Secretary of State, making your personal information accessible to anyone who searches business records.
• Availability requirements: You must be available at your Nevada address during normal business hours every weekday. If you're traveling, working from home, or operating outside standard hours, you might miss important legal documents.
• Professional image: You may be served legal notices at your place of business, possibly in front of employees or customers.
• Risk of missed deadlines: Legal documents often come with strict response deadlines. If you don’t receive these documents (because you aren’t available) or you don’t stay on top of reading them, you may face legal repercussions.
• Address changes: If you move, you must file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Nevada Secretary of State and pay the associated fee.

Beyond the risks of serving as your own agent there are other benefits to hiring a professional registered agent service. Specifically, an agent service can provide additional services beyond just service of process, which may provide benefit to your company. Examples of extra services sometimes offered by registered agents include:

• Document scanning with secured cloud storage
• Mail forwarding services
• Compliance calendars with time-sensitive alerts
• Junk mail filtering

How to appoint a registered agent in Nevada

The process of appointing a registered agent in Nevada involves several steps that must be completed when forming your business entity.

1. Choose your agent. You’ll need to include your agent’s information when filing your initial format initial formation documents, so you’ll need to know who your registered agent will be before you file.
2. Obtain written consent. Under Nevada law, registered agents must provide written consent to serve in their role. Your registered agent can provide written consent with filing your formation documents, or by providing a separate Statement of Acceptance form.
3. File your documents. Complete your initial filing documents and file with the Secretary of State. New entity filings that are completed online are typically processed the same day.

Nevada registered agent costs and fees

Unless you’re using a professional registered agent service, the only costs associated with your initial agent will be the fee you pay to file your articles of organization or incorporation ($75). If you need to change your agent, you will have to pay a $60 fee with the paperwork notifying the state of the change. These costs are for standard processing—expedited processing will incur additional fees.

If you plan to use a commercial registered agent or registered agent company, your costs will likely fluctuate depending on the scope of the services offered. Expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $500 per year. 

LegalZoom offers registered agent services for $249 per year at our fully-staffed Las Vegas office. Our services also include unlimited cloud storage, document scanning, alerts when you receive correspondence, and a compliance calendar with reminders of upcoming deadlines.

FAQs about Nevada registered agents

Can I use a Las Vegas address for my registered agent?

Yes, your registered agent can be located anywhere in Nevada, and does not need to be near you geographically.

Can I use a P.O. box for my registered agent address?

No, Nevada law requires a physical street address. P.O. boxes, private mailboxes, and commercial mail receiving agencies are not sufficient.

What's the difference between a registered agent and resident agent in Nevada?

There is no difference. Nevada uses both terms interchangeably to refer to the same legal concept—the person or entity that receives legal documents for your business.

What happens if I don't have a registered agent?

Nevada law requires all business entities to maintain a registered agent. Operating without one can result in your business falling out of good standing, administrative dissolution, and loss of liability protection.

Can a registered agent be located outside Nevada?

No, your registered agent must maintain a physical address within Nevada and be available during normal business hours at that address. Foreign entities registered in Nevada must obtain a Nevada registered agent. If your business is formed in Nevada and registered as a foreign entity in another state, you will need to meet that state’s registered agent requirements as well.

What documents does a registered agent receive?

Registered agents receive service of process (notices of legal action, such as lawsuits or subpoenas), official state correspondence, tax notices, regulatory notifications, and other legal documents directed to your business.

Fabrienne Bottero and Edward Hartman contributed to this article.