How Much Does a Texas Registered Agent Cost? $0 to $300/Year Explained
A Texas registered agent costs $0 if you serve as your own agent, or roughly $50–$300 per year if you hire a commercial service. Every Texas LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical Texas address at all times, and the Secretary of State charges no fee just to list one. Miss lawsuit papers because you have no active agent and a court can enter a default judgment against your business.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Rules and dates change — always verify current requirements directly with the relevant agency before acting.
The two ways to pay: $0 vs. $50–$300 a year
There is no single price tag for a Texas registered agent because the cost depends entirely on who fills the role. The Texas Secretary of State does not charge a recurring fee for having a registered agent — the "cost" is really the cost of the person or company doing the job.
You have two realistic options:
- Serve as your own agent — $0. If you are a Texas resident (or your business itself has a Texas office), you can name yourself, a co-owner, or an employee as the registered agent for free.
- Hire a commercial registered agent service — about $50 to $300 per year. These companies exist solely to accept legal documents on your behalf and forward them to you.
Both options satisfy the same legal requirement. Neither is inherently "better" — the right choice depends on how much you value privacy, availability, and convenience. For the full legal standard your agent must meet, see our guide to Texas registered agent requirements.
Common mistake: Many new owners assume the state bills them separately for a registered agent. It does not. The registered agent is named on your Certificate of Formation at no extra charge — any recurring cost comes from a private service you choose to hire, not from Texas.
Option 1: Be your own registered agent (free)
Serving as your own registered agent is the cheapest path and is completely legal in Texas. To qualify, you must:
- Be a Texas resident age 18 or older (or the entity itself must have a Texas office).
- Have a physical street address in Texas — a "registered office." P.O. boxes and mail drops are not allowed.
- Be available at that address during normal business hours to accept hand-delivered legal documents (called "service of process").
- Consent to the appointment.
The upside is obvious: it costs nothing. The trade-offs are just as real:
- Your address becomes public. The registered office address is published in the Secretary of State's records and on your Public Information Report. If you run your LLC from home, your home address is exposed.
- You must actually be there. If you are out meeting clients, traveling, or working from a job site when a process server or state notice arrives, you can miss a critical legal document.
- Being served in front of others. A lawsuit can be delivered to you at your listed address — sometimes in front of customers, family, or neighbors.
Being your own agent tends to work best for single-owner LLCs run from a fixed Texas location with predictable hours. To decide whether it fits your situation, read can I be my own registered agent in Texas? and our practical walkthrough on how to be your own registered agent in Texas.
Option 2: Hire a commercial registered agent (~$50–$300/year)
A commercial registered agent is a company whose business is accepting legal and state mail for other entities. In Texas, expect to pay roughly $50 to $300 per year, with most mainstream national providers landing in the $100–$150 range and premium or bundled plans reaching the higher end.
What you're actually paying for
The fee is not for a state filing — it is for a service. Here is what that money typically buys:
- A physical Texas address you can use as your registered office, keeping your home or personal address off the public record.
- Reliable, staffed availability during business hours, so legal documents are never missed because you stepped out.
- Same-day scanning and digital delivery of documents to your online dashboard or email.
- Compliance reminders for recurring deadlines — many services flag the annual May 15 franchise tax report and Public Information Report so you do not forget.
- A stable address if you move. Change your office or move out of state and your registered agent address stays put, so you do not have to refile every time.
Common mistake: Assuming a higher price always means a better service. The core legal function — accepting service of process — is identical across providers. Compare what is actually included (mail scanning, number of documents, compliance alerts) rather than price alone, and watch for low first-year "teaser" rates that renew at a much higher figure.
A commercial service tends to make sense if you work from home and want privacy, travel or keep irregular hours, operate in multiple states, or simply want a professional buffer between you and legal mail. Whether the peace of mind is worth $50–$300 a year is a business judgment only you can make.
Cost comparison: self-serve vs. commercial service
| Factor | Be your own agent | Commercial service |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | ~$50–$300 / year |
| Physical TX address | Yours (must be a street address) | Provided by the service |
| Privacy of home address | None — becomes public record | Kept off public record |
| Availability during business hours | You must be present | Staffed for you |
| Compliance reminders | You track deadlines yourself | Usually included |
| Mail scanning / online access | No | Usually included |
| Address if you move | Must refile to update | Stays the same |
| Best for | Fixed TX location, steady hours | Home-based, traveling, or multi-state owners |
How to change your registered agent (Form 401)
Whether you are switching from yourself to a commercial service, moving to a new provider, or your current agent resigned, you change your Texas registered agent by filing Form 401 — Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office with the Secretary of State.
Here is the general process:
- Choose and confirm your new agent. Make sure the new agent meets the Texas requirements and consents to serve. A commercial service handles this consent for you as part of signing up.
- Complete Form 401. Enter your entity's name and file number, the current agent and office, and the new agent and registered office address.
- Pay the filing fee. The standard fee for Form 401 is $15.
- Submit the form. File by mail or fax to the Secretary of State, or online through the SOSDirect portal at sos.state.tx.us/corp/.
- Keep your confirmation. Retain the filed copy or confirmation for your records.
This filing usually takes only a few minutes to complete once you have the new agent's information. For a detailed step-by-step, see our guide on how to change a registered agent in Texas.
Common mistake: Letting the role sit empty during a switch. Your registered agent obligation is continuous — do not resign as your own agent or cancel a service before the replacement is officially on file. A gap can mean missed legal notices.
What happens if you don't maintain an agent
Texas requires you to keep an active registered agent at all times. If your agent resigns, moves without updating the address, or you simply let a service lapse, the risks are serious:
- Missed service of process. If someone sues your LLC and the papers cannot be delivered, you may never learn about the case until a default judgment is entered against you.
- Missed state notices. Deadline reminders and forfeiture warnings from the state may go undelivered.
- Involuntary termination. The Secretary of State can begin the process to terminate an entity that fails to maintain a registered agent.
Because the consequences can reach your personal exposure and your entity's good standing, treat a lapsed agent as an urgent fix. For nuanced questions about liability or a pending lawsuit, consult a licensed Texas attorney.
Quick reference
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| What | Texas registered agent (person or company that accepts legal documents) |
| Who | All Texas LLCs, corporations, LPs, and LLPs must maintain one |
| When | Ongoing — must be active at all times |
| Where | Texas Secretary of State — sos.state.tx.us/corp/ |
| Cost (self-serve) | $0 |
| Cost (commercial service) | ~$50–$300 per year |
| Change form | Form 401 (fee $15) |
| Requirement | Physical Texas street address; no P.O. boxes; available during business hours |
| Consequence of not maintaining | Missed lawsuit service, default judgment risk, possible involuntary termination |
FAQ
How much does a Texas registered agent cost?
A Texas registered agent costs $0 if you serve as your own agent, because the state charges no separate fee to name yourself on your formation documents. Commercial registered agent services typically charge about $50 to $300 per year. The price you pay reflects the service provider you choose, not a fee from the Secretary of State.
Can I be my own registered agent in Texas for free?
Yes. You can serve as your own Texas registered agent at no cost if you are a Texas resident with a physical street address in the state and are available during normal business hours. P.O. boxes are not permitted. The trade-off is that your address becomes part of the public record and you must be present to accept legal documents.
Why do commercial registered agent services cost money?
Commercial services charge roughly $50 to $300 per year for a physical Texas address that keeps your home address off the public record, staffed acceptance of legal documents, and digital scanning of your mail. Many also send reminders for deadlines like the May 15 franchise tax report. You are paying for privacy and reliability, not for a state requirement.
How do I change my registered agent in Texas?
File Form 401, Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office, with the Texas Secretary of State. The standard filing fee is $15, and you can submit it by mail, fax, or through the SOSDirect online portal. The new agent must consent to the appointment, and you should keep continuous coverage so there is no gap.
What happens if I don't have a registered agent in Texas?
Failing to maintain a registered agent can cause you to miss lawsuit service and official state notices, and the Secretary of State can pursue involuntary termination of your entity. If you are sued and never receive the papers, a court may enter a default judgment against your LLC. Texas requires an active agent at all times.
Not sure what else your Texas LLC owes?
Most business owners are surprised by how many filing obligations they have. Ortholo's free compliance checker shows you everything you owe, when it's due, and what happens if you miss it — personalized to your entity.
Last verified: 2026-08-04
Sources: Texas Secretary of State — Corporations Section | Texas SOS — Form 401, Change of Registered Agent/Office