Registered agent for a Michigan LLC
Data last updated: Apr 22, 2026The quick read on Michigan registered agents
Every Michigan LLC is legally required to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The role is to receive service of process (lawsuit papers), state tax notices, and other official government mail on the LLC's behalf. You can serve as your own agent if you live in Michigan and meet the requirements, or hire a commercial service for typically $99 to $299 per year.
Michigan-specific rules matter. The statute is MCL 450.4207. The registered agent's address goes on the public state record, so most owners who want privacy use a paid service to keep their home address off the record. Owners who live in the state and don't mind the public listing often save $100 to $250 per year by serving as their own agent.
Who can serve as a registered agent in Michigan
Michigan allows an individual Michigan resident (at least 18), a Michigan domestic corporation or LLC, or a foreign entity authorized to do business in Michigan to serve as resident agent. The registered office must be a physical Michigan street address, and PO boxes are not accepted. Business-hours availability to accept service of process is required.
Michigan does not operate a separate commercial resident agent registry. National services (Northwest, CT Corporation, Bizee) serve Michigan LLCs through their existing Michigan foreign entity registrations, not through a dedicated commercial-agent filing. The LLC's own member or manager can serve as resident agent provided they meet the residency and availability rules, and this is the default for Michigan-based single-member LLCs.
What Michigan requires of a registered agent
- Physical street address in Michigan
Not a PO box, not a mail-drop. The address becomes part of the public record visible on the Secretary of State's business entity search.
- Available during business hours
Typically 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The agent has to be physically present (or have staff present) to accept service, not just reachable by phone or email.
- At least 18 years old and a resident or registered entity
Individual agents must be 18+ and reside in Michigan. Entity agents must be registered to transact business in Michigan.
- Written consent on file
Michigan requires the registered agent to consent in writing to serve. Formation services handle this automatically when you sign up. For an individual agent, a simple signed consent letter suffices.
Michigan statute and change-of-agent rules
| Statute | MCL 450.4207 |
| Change of registered agent form | Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent (Form CSCL/CD-520) |
| Change filing fee | $5 |
| Online filing | Accepted |
| Processing time | 7 business days |
| Commercial agents must register separately | No |
Choosing the right registered agent in Michigan
Michigan is a cheap state to maintain (the $25 annual statement is among the lowest in the country), which makes the RA decision more about privacy than cost. For Michigan residents who operate from a stable address and don't mind it appearing on the public MiBusiness Registry record, self-serving is legitimate and saves $100 to $250 per year. The registered agent's name and address are displayed prominently on the LARA entity search, so the exposure is real if you use a home address.
For paid services, Northwest at $125 per year is the usual pick for Michigan and handles the $5 resident agent change filing at no cost when you switch. Bizee at $119 is marginally cheaper. ZenBusiness runs $99 per year. Detroit- and Ann Arbor-area law firms sometimes offer resident agent service at $100 to $200 per year as part of broader business-services engagements. Check the Michigan formation page for the full LARA filing walkthrough.
Registered agent services that operate in Michigan
National commercial registered agent services operate in all 50 states plus DC, so every provider below accepts Michigan LLCs. Sorted by annual renewal cost. Click the service name for the full review.
| Service | Annual renewal | Trustpilot | Review count |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $99/yr | 4.8 | 28,984 |
| Bizee fka Incfile | $119/yr | 4.7 | 25,227 |
| MyCorporation | $120/yr | 3.7 | 279 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/yr | 3.8 | 217 |
| CorpNet | $149/yr | 4.9 | 1,205 |
| doola | $197/yr | 4.6 | 2,005 |
| Tailor Brands | $199/yr | 4.7 | 14,203 |
| BizFilings | $220/yr | 4.5 | 170 |
| Inc Authority | $249/yr | 4.9 | 46,831 |
| LegalZoom | $249/yr | 4.6 | 30,014 |
| Rocket Lawyer | $250/yr | 4.5 | 9,717 |
| Firstbase | $299/yr | 4.8 | 1,045 |
If you let your Michigan registered agent lapse
Under MCL 450.4909, LARA can administratively dissolve an LLC that fails to maintain a resident agent or misses two consecutive $25 annual statements. LARA issues notice and gives roughly 60 days to cure before dissolution takes effect. Reinstatement requires a Certificate of Restoration of Good Standing at $50, payment of all missed $25 annual statements, and a $50 per-year late penalty on each. A two-year Michigan lapse costs around $200 to unwind, which is among the lowest reinstatement bills in the country. LARA processes restoration filings in 2 to 3 weeks through the MiBusiness Registry portal.
Michigan filing agency
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division
- Website
- www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps
- Phone
- (517) 241-6470
- CorpsMail@michigan.gov
- Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau, Corporations Division, P.O. Box 30054, Lansing, MI 48909
- Office
- 2501 Woodlake Circle, Okemos, MI 48864
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern, Monday to Friday
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can be a resident agent for a Michigan LLC?
An individual Michigan resident at least 18 years old with a Michigan street address, a Michigan corporation or LLC, or a foreign entity authorized to do business in Michigan. PO boxes don't satisfy the registered office requirement. The LLC's own owner or manager can serve if they qualify.
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How much does a Michigan resident agent service cost?
National services run $99 to $249 per year, with ZenBusiness at $99, Bizee at $119, and Northwest at $125 as the standard mid-tier options. Michigan's low baseline compliance cost ($25 annual statement) makes the RA service fee the bulk of the annual state-level expense.
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Can I be my own resident agent in Michigan?
Yes, if you're a Michigan resident at least 18 with a physical Michigan street address and are available during business hours. Your name and address display on the public MiBusiness Registry entity record and are searchable by anyone. Self-serving is viable if you don't mind that exposure.
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What does it cost to change my Michigan resident agent?
$5 for the Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent (Form CSCL/CD-520), filed with LARA. Filing is available online through the MiBusiness Registry portal launched in June 2025, or by mail. Processing runs about 7 to 10 business days.
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What happens if my Michigan LLC's resident agent resigns?
You have roughly 60 days to designate a replacement before LARA can initiate administrative dissolution under MCL 450.4909. Reinstatement costs $50 for the Certificate of Restoration plus all missed $25 annual statements and a $50 per-year late penalty. Michigan's reinstatement math is among the cheapest nationally.
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Does Michigan operate a commercial resident agent registry?
No. Michigan has no separate commercial RA registry. Any qualifying individual or entity can serve as resident agent. National services like Northwest and Bizee act via their standard Michigan foreign entity registrations rather than through a dedicated commercial-agent filing.
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Do I need to update my resident agent on the annual statement?
The annual statement (Form CSCL/CD-2700) confirms your current resident agent and registered office. If you change agents mid-year, file the $5 Certificate of Change (Form CSCL/CD-520) separately; don't wait until the February 15 annual statement deadline. The MiBusiness Registry portal supports both filings.
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Do I need a registered agent for a Michigan LLC?
Yes. Michigan law requires every LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Michigan and availability during business hours. There is no exception for inactive or small LLCs. If the LLC loses its registered agent and doesn't designate a replacement within the state's grace period, Michigan begins administrative dissolution of the entity.
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Can I be my own registered agent in Michigan?
Yes, if you meet Michigan's requirements: you live in Michigan, you have a physical non-PO-box address in the state, you're at least 18 years old, and you're available during normal business hours to accept service of process. The tradeoff is that your home address becomes part of the public state business record for anyone to search.
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How much does a registered agent service cost in Michigan?
National services range from $99 per year (ZenBusiness) to $299 per year (Firstbase). The $190 average is close to the market median. Michigan-based local registered agent services also operate in the state, typically pricing between $50 and $150 per year.
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How do I change my registered agent in Michigan?
File Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent (Form CSCL/CD-520) with Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. The fee is $5. Online filing is accepted. Processing takes about 7 business days. Most formation services handle this paperwork for free when you sign up.
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Is the registered agent fee tax deductible?
Yes. Registered agent fees are an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible on the LLC's federal tax return (Schedule C, Form 1065, or 1120/1120-S depending on tax treatment). Michigan state tax treatment follows federal on this deduction. Keep the invoices with your tax records.
Related
Sources
- Statute: www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-450-4207 · verified April 22, 2026
MCL 450.4207 (Resident agent; registered office; duty of resident agent) of the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act requires every LLC to continuously maintain a resident agent and registered office in Michigan. - Change of agent: www.michigan.gov/lara/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/cscl/NonImages_new… · verified April 22, 2026
LARA Form CSCL/CD-520 Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent. Filing fee is $5 under the LARA Corporations Division fee schedule. May be filed online through the MiBusiness Registry Portal or by mail. Online processing typically 7 to 10 business days. - Penalty: www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-450-4909 · verified April 22, 2026
MCL 450.4909 governs automatic dissolution and reinstatement. Two consecutive missed annual statements or failure to maintain a resident agent triggers administrative dissolution. Restoration of Good Standing fee is $50 plus $25 per missed annual statement and a $50 per-year late penalty.