There are several types of registered agents and definitions in the registered ecosystem. Here are the types and their functions.
A statutory agent or resident agent is another name for a registered agent. A statutory or resident agent is an individual or entity appointed by an LLC, S Corporation, C Corporation, or other legal business entity to accept legal documents, correspondence, and compliance paperwork. All states (other than New York) require business entities to officially designate a statutory or resident agent.
A commercial registered agent is an individual or entity that has filed a special listing statement with their state's corporation authority. They are a type of registered agent that is a business's legally designated recipient for service of process. Twelve states distinguish between a commercial registered agent and a noncommercial registered agent.
Commercial registered agents represent hundreds or thousands of companies and can inform the state what companies it represents and file bulk address changes.
Noncommercial agents are individuals or entities that have not filed a listing statement with the Secretary of State. Individuals and many single-state registered agent companies fall under a noncommercial registered agent category and only operate in one or a handful of states.