Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
The registered agent designation in Massachusetts is governed by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 156C §12, which applies to LLCs, corporations, and most other formal business entities. The agent’s address must be a physical street location inside Massachusetts, staffed during normal business hours. The name and address are entered on the public record maintained by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. The agent’s name and street address are filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth and become part of the public business record.
The registered agent is one component of a broader Massachusetts compliance schedule that also includes the $500 Articles of Organization filing, an annual report of $500 annually on formation anniversary, and a $25 fee whenever the agent of record changes. Massachusetts has the highest combined formation-plus-annual-report cost in the United States, with both LLC fees set at $500.
| # | 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 |
Massachusetts-specific option: Massachusetts Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a Massachusetts resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in Massachusetts |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth |
| Statute reference | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 156C §12 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $500 | annually on formation anniversary | $500 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $65 | Every 4 years | $65 |
| Registered Agent change | $25 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $500 | annually on formation anniversary | $500 |
Yes — if you are a Massachusetts resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. Massachusetts law requires every LLC to maintain a Massachusetts-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth can administratively dissolve your business after approximately 60 days of non-compliance.
Yes — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth 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 Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth 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 Massachusetts registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.