Corporate secretarial in the US

There is no company secretary role in the UK sense for most US companies, but the work behind it still exists: a registered agent, annual reports, minutes and resolutions, share or membership records and amendments when ownership changes. State law sets the detail, for example Delaware requires every business entity to have and maintain a registered agent in the state. A company that operates in another state may also have to qualify as a foreign entity there.

Ask a firm which states it can serve as registered agent, how it forwards legal papers and mail to an owner abroad, whether annual reports and franchise or similar state filings are in the fee, how it reminds you of due dates and how it handles a change of owner. Compare formation and agent services separately, because they are often bundled, and check what happens to the agent service if you leave. The US country guide gives the structure, and the company formation page the provider criteria.

58 firms offer corporate secretarial services: 35 accounting firms and 22 corporate services providers and 1 law firms. Small practices lead (41 small, 10 medium and 7 large network). Spanish is offered by 22 firms. State-focused pages: Wilmington, Sheridan and Cheyenne. City pages: Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas.

Firms offering corporate secretarial services in the US

H&CO LLP

Accounting firm · International network

Miami, Florida

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +4 more

Languages: English · Spanish · Portuguese

View profile of H&CO LLP

Office Edge

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Miami, Florida

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Corporate secretarial
  • +1 more

Languages: English · Spanish

View profile of Office Edge

Prodezk

Corporate services provider · Boutique firm

Miami, Florida

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: English · Spanish

View profile of Prodezk

UR Global

Corporate services provider · International network

Miami, Florida

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: English · Spanish · Portuguese · French …

View profile of UR Global

34 more firms offering corporate secretarial services in the US

Frequently asked questions

What does a registered agent do?

A registered agent receives legal papers and official mail for the company at an address in the state. Delaware law requires every business entity to maintain one. Ask how the agent forwards mail to an owner who lives abroad.

Do I need to file annual reports?

Most states require some periodic filing, whose name, fee and date differ. Ask your firm for the calendar of every state where the company is registered, and what happens if a report is late.

What if I operate in several states?

A company that does business in another state may have to register as a foreign entity there. Ask the firm whether it handles this qualification and the continuing filings in each state.

Other services in the US

Accountants by city in the US

Setting up a company in the US: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.