RA Service vs Being Your Own Agent | Cornerstone Licensing

Feature	Professional registered agent service	Being your own registered agent
Physical presence needed	The service maintains the address in each state	You must have a physical address and be present during business hours
Privacy	The service's address appears on the public record	Your own address generally appears on the public record
Availability	Staffed during business hours	Depends on you being available at the listed address
Multi-state coverage	Coverage in all 50 states and DC	Generally limited to states where you have a physical presence
Cost	A recurring per-state fee	Typically no direct fee, but your own time and availability
Missed-document risk	Same-day scanning and forwarding reduces the risk	Higher if you travel, move, or are away during business hours

Feature

Professional registered agent service

Being your own registered agent

Physical presence needed

The service maintains the address in each state

You must have a physical address and be present during business hours

Privacy

The service's address appears on the public record

Your own address generally appears on the public record

Availability

Staffed during business hours

Depends on you being available at the listed address

Multi-state coverage

Coverage in all 50 states and DC

Generally limited to states where you have a physical presence

Cost

A recurring per-state fee

Typically no direct fee, but your own time and availability

Missed-document risk

Same-day scanning and forwarding reduces the risk

Higher if you travel, move, or are away during business hours

Being your own agent is a legitimate choice

For a single-state owner who has a physical address in that state and is reliably present during business hours, acting as your own registered agent is a perfectly legitimate option and is allowed in most states. There is generally no direct fee, and you receive documents directly. The tradeoffs are privacy, since your address usually appears on the public record, and availability, since service of process has to reach you during business hours at that address. We walk through the full decision in can I be my own registered agent.

When a professional service fits better

A professional service typically makes sense when any of these are true: you operate in more than one state, you work from home and would rather not list a home address publicly, you travel or are frequently away during business hours, or you simply want the reliability of a staffed address. Cornerstone maintains coverage in all 50 states and DC with same-day document scanning and forwarding, plus annual report reminders and good standing monitoring; you can review the full scope on the registered agent services page.

What is at stake either way

Whichever path you choose, the point of a registered agent is to reliably receive legal documents. Missing service of process can lead to serious consequences, which we cover in what happens without a registered agent. If you decide a service fits, you can set one up through online self-checkout.

Frequently asked

Is it legal to be my own registered agent?

In most states, yes, provided you have a physical address in the state and are available during business hours. Rules vary by state, so confirm the requirement where your business is registered. This is general information, not legal advice.

What is the main downside of being my own agent?

The two most common downsides are privacy, since your address generally appears on the public record, and availability, since you have to be present to receive service of process during business hours.

Registered Agent Service vs Being Your Own Agent