Short answer
Generally a true sole proprietor does not need a registered agent, because the registered agent requirement attaches to registered entities like LLCs and corporations, not to an individual doing business under their own name. If a sole proprietor forms an LLC or corporation, the agent requirement then applies. Some sole proprietors still choose an agent-like service for privacy. State rules and local registrations can vary.
A sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity, so there is usually no state entity record that would require a registered agent. The person and the business are the same in the eyes of the law, and the agent requirement is built around formally registered entities that need a designated contact for Service of process. That is why the requirement typically does not reach a plain sole proprietor.
The picture changes the moment the owner forms a LLC or a Corporation, which many sole proprietors eventually do for liability protection. At that point the new entity needs a registered agent like any other. Even before then, some sole proprietors who file a trade name or want to keep a home address private explore agent or mail-handling services, so it is worth confirming your state's rules and any local registration requirements for your situation.
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