What Is a Registered Agent (and Why Your US LLC Needs One)?

Short answer: a registered agent is a person or company with a physical address in your LLC's state that receives official legal and government mail on the company's behalf. Every US LLC is legally required to have one — and for non-US founders it's essential, because you need a reliable US address you don't personally have.

What a registered agent actually does

• Receives legal documents (e.g., lawsuit notices) and state correspondence on behalf of your LLC.
• Provides a physical street address in the state of formation (not a PO box).
• Forwards/scans what they receive so you don't miss anything important.

Why non-US founders especially need one

You can't be your own registered agent without a physical address in the formation state — which most non-residents don't have. A registered-agent service solves that, and keeps your personal address off public records.

What to look for

• Reliability — they must actually forward/scan your mail promptly (missing a legal or state notice is costly).
• Online dashboard with document scanning.
• Reasonable annual fee (this is a recurring cost).
• Bonus: services that also help with formation + compliance reminders.

Where it fits in your setup

A registered agent is step one of running a compliant US LLC, alongside your EIN and annual Form 5472. The agent handles the mail; FounderFi helps you stay on top of the filings and deadlines that follow.

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Educational guidance, not licensed legal advice. Requirements vary by state — confirm with your formation provider or attorney.