Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division
Every Washington LLC and corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent under R.C.W. §25.15.021. Washington requires that the agent’s address be a physical location within the state and that someone be available during ordinary business hours; a P.O. box alone does not qualify. The agent’s name and street address are filed with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division and become part of the public business record.
Formation of a Washington LLC involves filing the Articles of Organization with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division for $200, after which the entity must keep its registered agent information current and file an annual report ($60) annually by the end of formation anniversary month. Washington is unusual in charging more for online filings ($200) than paper filings ($180) — a holdover from the state’s fee structure overhaul.
| # | 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 |
Washington-specific option: Washington Registered Agent operates exclusively in Washington 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 Washington |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a Washington resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in Washington |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division |
| Statute reference | R.C.W. §25.15.021 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $200 online / $180 paper | annually by the end of formation anniversary month | $60 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $5 | Every 5 years | $5 |
| Registered Agent change | $20 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $60 | annually by the end of formation anniversary month | $60 |
Yes — if you are a Washington resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. Washington law requires every LLC to maintain a Washington-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division can administratively dissolve your business after approximately 60 days of non-compliance.
Yes — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division for $20.
$50–$150 per year for commercial services; free if you self-serve.
Yes. The agent's name and address are searchable via the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division 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 Washington registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.