Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against Alabama Secretary of State
Alabama business law (Ala. Code §10A-1-5.31) requires every domestic and foreign entity to appoint a registered agent at the time of formation and to keep that designation current. The agent must have a physical street address in Alabama — P.O. boxes and commercial mailbox addresses without a registered street component are not acceptable — and must be available during normal business hours to accept service of process. The agent’s name and street address are filed with the Alabama Secretary of State and become part of the public business record.
Beyond appointing an agent, Alabama LLCs file Articles of Organization with the Alabama Secretary of State at a cost of $200, with ongoing maintenance handled through an annual report of $10 due annually with Business Privilege Tax return by April 15. Alabama eliminated its separate LLC annual report in 2024, but the Business Privilege Tax filing (minimum $50) still requires up-to-date registered agent information.
| # | Service | Price/yr | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | privacy-focused customers |
| 2 | ZenBusiness | $199 | new businesses bundling formation |
| 3 | LegalZoom | $249 | customers wanting brand-name support |
| 4 | Mainstay Filing | $99 | balanced value |
Alabama-specific option: Alabama Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Alabama and specializes in same-state filings. Best for businesses that want a state-focused provider with local-only operations.
| Physical address required | Yes — must be a street address in Alabama |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a Alabama resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in Alabama |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via Alabama Secretary of State |
| Statute reference | Ala. Code §10A-1-5.31 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $200 | annually with Business Privilege Tax return by April 15 | $10 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $30 | Every 5 years | $30 |
| Registered Agent change | $25 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $10 | annually with Business Privilege Tax return by April 15 | $10 |
Yes — if you are a Alabama resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. Alabama law requires every LLC to maintain a Alabama-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The Alabama Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your business after approximately 60 days of non-compliance.
Yes — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Alabama Secretary of State for $25.
$50–$150 per year for commercial services; free if you self-serve.
Yes. The agent's name and address are searchable via the Alabama Secretary of State business records.
Same-day with most commercial services; same-business-day filing if submitted online before the daily cutoff.
This page provides general information about Alabama registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the Alabama Secretary of State before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.