Any business in New Jersey planning to form an LLC must have a registered agent. In fact, without the RA’s data, an LLC won’t be able to file a Certificate of Formation, which makes it essential to find one right from the start.
Below, we’ll have a look at what is the best RA in New Jersey, what their responsibilities include, and how to get a registered agent number should you be interested in serving either as your own RA or as a professional service provider in the state.
What Is a New Jersey Resident Agent?
A New Jersey resident agent (also known as a statutory agent, registered agent, or simply RA) is a point of contact between an LLC and the government that is responsible for accepting and processing documents associated with the business.
In other words, it’s an official representative of the business that communicates with the state and ensures all reports and applications are filed in a timely manner so there are no fines to pay.
Moreover, without an RA, you wouldn’t have any means of knowing if there’s a lawsuit against your LLC, which goes to prove how important their role for businesses in New Jersey (and not only) is.
What Do Registered Agents in NJ Do?
In addition to what we’ve already mentioned, RAs in New Jersey are responsible for notifying members of a limited liability company of any important documents received and sending reminders when filings are due. Other duties include:
- Maintaining a physical address in the state of New Jersey (please note that it’s not enough to have just a Post Office Box);
- Be available at that address 5 days a week during business hours, which are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Receive and process any other documents related to an LLC;
- Store documents if requested;
- Prepare documents and help with filing them (the latter is often offered as an additional RA service and may add up to the total cost).
Who Can Be an RA in New Jersey?
New Jersey allows any individual or company authorized to transact business in the state to act as a statutory agent if they have a proven street address in New Jersey and the age of an RA is at least 18 years old.
This means any member of an LLC can do this job, and even business owners themselves can serve as their own RAs if they aren’t intimidated by the paperwork and have nothing against their personal data going public.
A professional registered agent company is another alternative popular among LLCs in New Jersey. The advantages of hiring a company to work on the behalf of the business are numerous and include:
- Privacy. Rather than listing their personal name and address, business owners provide the company’s data;
- Flexibility. Another important advantage is that business owners get flexibility in terms of how they can organize their working hours and where they can work;
- National coverage. Lastly, because RA companies usually have representatives in all the states, it’s easier for LLCs to expand their business should they decide to do so.
How to Get a Registered Agent Number in NJ
If you want to become an RA as a New Jersey business entity, the process is quite simple as long as you meet the state’s requirements, which are:
- You must be at least 18 years old;
- You have a registered street address in NJ;
- The LLC you’re going to work with has your name listed on its Certificate of Formation.
As a business entity, you’ll get a registered agent number issued by the State of New Jersey, which then can be used for filing the LLC registration forms.
On the other hand, if you’re acting as an individual, you won’t need any number. Instead, you’ll be required to provide your name and address.