Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against Kentucky Secretary of State
The registered agent designation in Kentucky is governed by KRS §14A.4-010, which applies to LLCs, corporations, and most other formal business entities. An acceptable registered agent in Kentucky maintains a physical street address within the state and is available during regular business hours; post office boxes do not satisfy the statute. The agent’s name and street address are filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State and become part of the public business record.
In practice, the registered agent designation sits within a wider compliance cycle: a $40 formation filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State, an annual report at $15 annually between January 1 and June 30, and a $10 Statement of Change whenever the agent changes. Kentucky has one of the lowest combined formation-plus-annual-report cost structures in the country.
| # | 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 |
Kentucky-specific option: Kentucky Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Kentucky 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 Kentucky |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a Kentucky resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in Kentucky |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via Kentucky Secretary of State |
| Statute reference | KRS §14A.4-010 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $40 | annually between January 1 and June 30 | $15 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $20 | Every 5 years | $20 |
| Registered Agent change | $10 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $15 | annually between January 1 and June 30 | $15 |
Yes — if you are a Kentucky resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. Kentucky law requires every LLC to maintain a Kentucky-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The Kentucky 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 Kentucky Secretary of State for $10.
$50–$150 per year for commercial services; free if you self-serve.
Yes. The agent's name and address are searchable via the Kentucky 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 Kentucky registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the Kentucky Secretary of State before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.