The first question is whether your LLC will keep operating. A switch needs a new agent or another arrangement your state allows. Closing the business has a different cancellation path, so do not buy a replacement service just to cancel the old one.
For an operating LLC, arrange the change before ending the old service. Missing required coverage puts the business at risk; missing LegalZoom's proof deadline can mean another charge.
If your LLC will keep operating
- Arrange your replacement agent first. You may be able to serve yourself; check your state's rules.
- File the change-of-agent form with your Secretary of State and wait for confirmation.
- Then cancel with LegalZoom: call the subscriptions line at (888) 310-0151, or upload proof of the change and cancel in My Account.
- Do not reverse those steps. There is no prorated refund, and a coverage gap can cost you your good standing.
Use the right phone number
Call (888) 310-0151, the subscription line listed in LegalZoom's cancellation terms. Say that you want to cancel registered agent service and explain whether you are switching agents or closing the business.
You can also use My Account. Open Account, then Manage Payments, and select the registered agent subscription. Keep a copy of the proof you submit and ask for written confirmation that cancellation is complete.
What counts as proof
For an agent switch, LegalZoom lists three forms of proof: a copy of the filed change-of-agent document, a copy of an annual report that lists the new agent, or a screenshot of your registered agent details on your state's business search page. The screenshot is usually the easiest, since it reflects what the state itself is showing once the change posts.
Closing the business? Section 8(c)(ii) of LegalZoom's terms also allows satisfactory written proof of dissolution or inactive status when you stop operating. That can end billing even if LegalZoom remains on the state record. An inactive listing does not settle taxes, debts or state closure requirements.
The renewal clock you are working against
LegalZoom registered agent is billed as a standalone annual subscription at $249/year. Unlike some formation companies, LegalZoom does not fold a free first year of registered agent into its formation plans, so there is no bundle discount hiding the real cost. You pay the annual rate from the start, and it renews automatically.
Two clauses in LegalZoom's own terms decide your timing.
Refunds are limited. LegalZoom's current guarantee gives subscription customers 30 days from the initial purchase to request a refund, subject to its conditions. It does not promise a refund of unused months when you cancel later.
Price increases apply by default. LegalZoom can raise the fee for a new service term by giving you at least 30 days notice before the term begins. If you do not cancel before that term starts, the terms treat you as having accepted the new price for that term and the ones after it. A renewal notice showing a higher number is not a mistake, and ignoring it is agreement.
The initial-purchase refund window does not restart at renewal. Plan the switch before your next charge. Our LegalZoom renewal cost breakdown lays out the year-by-year math.
Start at least three to four weeks before your renewal date. State processing on a change-of-agent filing usually runs one to four weeks (Maryland quotes four to six weeks for a standard paper filing, so start earlier there), and LegalZoom wants the change confirmed before it will close the service.
What switching costs and saves
Standalone registered agent pricing, excluding formation bundles. State filing fees vary and some states charge nothing. Verified 2026.
| Provider | First year | Renewal | Three-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| LegalZoom | $249 | $249/year | $747 |
| Northwest | $125 | $125/year | $375 |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 | $159/year | $417 |
Over three years that is $372 less with Northwest, and the gap widens every year after because Northwest does not raise its rate at renewal. Add the one-time state filing fee, which runs $0 to $100 depending on your state, and most owners come out ahead inside the first year.
How to switch agents, step by step
If you are in Maryland, read this first
Maryland's Articles of Cancellation require a resident agent to sign and agree to serve for one year after the LLC ends. Arrange that full year of coverage before ending your current service. The agent can be an eligible individual or business; it does not have to be a paid provider. Acceptance of the cancellation filing alone does not end this requirement.
Canceling registered agent does not close your LLC
Canceling a subscription does not change your state record or close your LLC. Follow the state's closure process separately, including any final reports and taxes. Check whether an agent must remain available afterward, as in Maryland.
Simply stopping payment is not a closure plan. LegalZoom may resign, and losing an agent your state requires can put your LLC's standing at risk.
Common questions
Can I cancel LegalZoom registered agent online? Yes, through My Account. Submit the proof for your situation described above and keep written confirmation.
What is the cancellation phone number? Use (888) 310-0151, listed in section 8(b) of the registered agent terms.
Will I get a refund for the unused part of my year? Do not count on one. The subscription guarantee allows a request within 30 days of the initial purchase, subject to its conditions. It does not cover a later renewal. Request any eligible refund promptly and complete the cancellation requirements separately.
Do I always need a replacement? No. A business that is closing can use the dissolution or inactive-status path above. If you keep operating, meet your state's agent or office requirement before ending coverage. LegalZoom's cancellation terms and your state obligations are separate.
LegalZoom raised my renewal price. Do I have to pay it? If you do not cancel before the new term starts, their terms treat you as having accepted the increase. They are required to give 30 days notice. Treat that notice as a deadline, not an announcement.
Do I need to tell my state I switched, or does LegalZoom handle it? You do, or your new agent does it for you. LegalZoom canceling the subscription does not update your state record. Use a filing method your state accepts to record the change before ending the old service.
I have LegalZoom as agent in several states. Can I cancel all at once? For an operating business switching agents, record the change in each state and provide the required proof. There is no combined state filing. If you are running agents across multiple states, our multi-state registered agent guide covers which providers make that manageable.
Bottom line
If you are switching, confirm the state change before ending service. If you are closing, use the closure-proof path and check any remaining state obligations. Either way, send the required proof before your next bill and keep the cancellation confirmation.
For a switch, start early enough for state processing. Check your other LegalZoom subscriptions too: canceling the agent service does not cancel them.
Keeping your LLC and switching to a paid agent?
$125/year flat with the same current first-year and renewal rate, all 50 states, and they prepare the change-of-agent filing for you in most states. That is $372 less than LegalZoom over three years, and the gap grows after that.
Get Northwest Registered Agent ↗Need the form and fee for your state?
Change-of-agent form name, fee, and filing method for all 50 states.
Comparing providers before you commit?
What each major registered agent charges, first year and at renewal.
Sources, research & corrections
Sources: LegalZoom Supplemental Terms of Service for Registered Agent Service, LegalZoom Contact Us and cancellation help documentation, and state change-of-agent procedures covered in our 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico filing guides. Details verified 2026.
This guide reflects LegalZoom published terms and help documentation as of 2026. Policies, prices, and phone numbers change. Confirm current terms with LegalZoom before acting, and verify your state's change-of-agent requirements with your Secretary of State. Some links on this page are affiliate links.