Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
Pennsylvania business law (15 Pa.C.S. §8825) requires every domestic and foreign entity to appoint a registered agent at the time of formation and to keep that designation current. An acceptable registered agent in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations and become part of the public business record.
In practice, the registered agent designation sits within a wider compliance cycle: a $125 formation filing with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, an annual report at $7 annually by September 30 (new requirement effective 2025), and a $5 Statement of Change whenever the agent changes. Pennsylvania switched from a decennial report to an annual report effective January 2025, with the fee dropped to $7 per filing for LLCs.
| # | 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 |
Pennsylvania-specific option: Pennsylvania Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a Pennsylvania resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in Pennsylvania |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations |
| Statute reference | 15 Pa.C.S. §8825 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $125 | annually by September 30 (new requirement effective 2025) | $7 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $70 | Every 0 years | $70 |
| Registered Agent change | $5 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $7 | annually by September 30 (new requirement effective 2025) | $7 |
Yes — if you are a Pennsylvania resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. Pennsylvania law requires every LLC to maintain a Pennsylvania-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations can administratively dissolve your business after approximately 60 days of non-compliance.
Yes — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations for $5.
$50–$150 per year for commercial services; free if you self-serve.
Yes. The agent's name and address are searchable via the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations 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 Pennsylvania registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.