Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Florida?
Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent if you are a Florida resident individual. Under Fla. Stat. § 605.0113, a registered agent must be either a Florida resident individual or a domestic/foreign entity authorized to do business in Florida. Your registered office address must be a physical street address in Florida—a P.O. Box does not qualify.
Who Qualifies
You may act as your own registered agent if you:
- Are a Florida resident individual
- Maintain a physical business address in Florida
- Provide written consent to serve
Members and managers of LLCs can serve as registered agents for their own business, provided they meet these requirements.
Address Requirements
Your registered office address must be a street address in Florida and must match the business address you provide. This address becomes public record and appears on all filings with the Florida Division of Corporations. Virtual offices and mailboxes do not satisfy this requirement.
Your Responsibilities
As registered agent, you must be available during business hours to receive service of process, lawsuits, and official notices on behalf of your business. You assume personal liability for accepting these documents. Failure to properly receive service can result in default judgments against your company.
How to Designate Yourself
Include your name and Florida address as the registered agent when filing your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations. Written consent is required by statute and is typically documented during the formation process.
Changing Your Registered Agent
If you later hire a professional registered agent or move out of state, file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office with the Florida Division of Corporations. The filing fee is $25.00 (Fla. Stat. § 605.0114).
Next Steps
File your formation documents at https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/. For assistance, contact the Florida Division of Corporations at (850) 245-6052 or visit their office at 2661 Executive Center Circle, Tallahassee, FL 32301.
This is general information, not legal advice.