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Formation Facts

What the state wants, and what it costs.

Foreign LLC guide · Alabama

Alabama Foreign LLC Registration (2026): What the State Charges and the 3 Best Services

Short version for Alabama in 2026: Alabama Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and AL Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked best first, if you are bringing an out-of-state LLC into the state. You will pay $150 to get in and nothing more to the state. That ranks Alabama 13th of 50 for foreign LLCs.
Briefing by the Formation Facts team

Alabama: the quick briefing

13th

on the 50-state list for foreign LLCs

States are ranked from lowest to highest (tied). Open the full comparison

  • Fee the state takes at registration

    $150

    Confirmed in October 2026: sos.alabama.gov

  • Report you must file again

    None

    Business privilege tax return

  • What the state collects in 3 years

    $150

    Registering, then two more years of reports

Alabama: the services we would choose

In order of weight: three-year fees, coverage, renewal terms, fit with Alabama, a clear state fee (method).

Our #1

1. Alabama Registered Agent.co: best for an easy Alabama registration

$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $99 a year from year 2

We start with Alabama Registered Agent.co, and the reason is simple: their fee is $199, and the agent renews at $99.

It costs less than Mainstay Filing over three years, and cost counts for 33% of the score.

What your money gets you

  • Handles the foreign registration filing for you
  • A year of agent service

What works

  • The first agent year is free
  • $99 a year for the agent afterward
  • $199 to register

What to weigh

  • Your home state needs a separate agent
Visit Alabama Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Biggest reach

2. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $149 a year from year 2

In second place we put Mainstay Filing. Its fee is $199 in any state, and the first year of agent service costs you nothing.

Alabama Registered Agent.co costs $100 less over three years, and that explains the order.

After year 1 the agent is $149 a year wherever you register.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares your registration and files it
  • Your registered agent for the first year is free
  • The same price in any state

What works

  • The same price in every state
  • $199 on top of Alabama's fee
  • The first agent year is paid for

What to weigh

  • A renewal $50 above Alabama Registered Agent.co's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Alabama specialist

3. AL Registered Agent.org: best for a smaller agent renewal

$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $99 a year from year 2

AL Registered Agent.org takes third place because their fee is $199, and the agent renews at $99.

Alabama Registered Agent.co and this provider charge the same.

What your money gets you

  • Handles the foreign registration filing for you
  • A year of agent service

What works

  • The first agent year is free
  • $99 a year for the agent afterward
  • $199 to register

What to weigh

  • Your home state needs a separate agent
Visit AL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The 3 picks compared

RankWhoYou pay in year 1Then per yearTheir fees across 3 years
1Alabama Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Alabama Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3AL Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit AL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
All prices come from the companies' own pages, as they stood on November 13, 2026. The $150 state fee is not part of any row.

Foreign LLC cost calculator

The registration fee is $150, and provider fees are added on top.
With Alabama Registered Agent.co, 3 years will cost you $547: $150 to the state and $397 to the provider.

How Alabama compares with the states near it in the ranking

RankStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
11thIowa$130
12thIndiana$137
13thAlabama$150
13thArizona$150
13thColorado$150
You will find all fifty rows at Foreign LLC fees by state.

How to register an LLC from another state in Alabama

You register by sending the Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) Application for Registration and $150 to the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entities Division.

From year 2 you will file the business privilege tax return, same date as the federal return.

Your checklist

  • The registered name and formation date in your home state.
  • A registered agent located in the state, an item included with each pick.
  • Money set aside for the $150 filing fee.

If your LLC never registers

If your LLC could ever need to sue there, register first (Ala. Code 10A-1-7.21(a)). Your LLC's contracts continue to hold (Ala. Code 10A-1-7.21(b)).

Our reasoning

Alabama Registered Agent.co pulled ahead of Mainstay Filing on price over three years, which is weighted 33%.

Cost puts it ahead, at $397 over three years, which is $100 lower than Mainstay Filing.

Your Alabama questions answered

How much will it cost to register my out-of-state LLC with Alabama?

$150 as the official fee. A provider adds $199.

Which form do I use to register an out-of-state LLC with Alabama?

Use the Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) Application for Registration and send it to the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entities Division.

Will my foreign LLC have to file anything every year?

Yes, you file the business privilege tax return.

What happens if my LLC does business there without registering?

If your LLC could ever need to sue there, register first (Ala. Code 10A-1-7.21(a)). Your LLC's contracts continue to hold (Ala. Code 10A-1-7.21(b)).

Must I appoint a registered agent when registering in Alabama?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which service should I choose to register a foreign LLC?

Go with Alabama Registered Agent.co: $199 above the state fee gets you registered; after that it is $99 a year. After that: Mainstay Filing and AL Registered Agent.org.

Related briefings

Where this briefing comes from

  1. If you want proof of what we say about Alabama formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open alison.legislature.state.al.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  2. If you want proof of what we say about Alabama formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open sos.alabama.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  3. If you want proof of what we say about Alabama formation fee: Name reservation, official source, open sos.alabama.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  4. If you want proof of what we say about Alabama formation fee: Name reservation, official source, open alison.legislature.state.al.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  5. If you want proof of what we say about Alabama registered agent statute, open alisondb.legislature.state.al.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  6. If you want proof of what we say about Alabama Secretary of State, LLC filings, open sos.alabama.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  7. If you want proof of what we say about Foreign LLC Application for Registration, open sos.alabama.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  8. If you want proof of what we say about Secretary of State Online Services, open alabamainteractive.org; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  9. If you want proof of what we say about Code of Alabama, section 10A-1-7.01, open alison.legislature.state.al.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  10. If you want proof of what we say about Department of Revenue, business privilege tax notice, open revenue.alabama.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  11. If you want proof of what we say about Code of Alabama, section 10A-1-7.21, open alison.legislature.state.al.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in November 2026.
  12. If you want proof of what we say about Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and, open sos.iowa.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  13. If you want proof of what we say about LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010, open sos.iowa.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  14. If you want proof of what we say about Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement, open legis.iowa.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  15. If you want proof of what we say about Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count, open legis.iowa.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  16. If you want proof of what we say about Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report, open legis.iowa.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  17. If you want proof of what we say about Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence, open sos.iowa.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  18. If you want proof of what we say about Indiana Secretary of State business forms, open in.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  19. If you want proof of what we say about Indiana Code 23-0.5-5, registration of foreign entities, open iga.in.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  20. If you want proof of what we say about Indiana Code 23-0.5-9, fees, open iga.in.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  21. If you want proof of what we say about Indiana Code 23-0.5-4, registered agents, open iga.in.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  22. If you want proof of what we say about INBiz Business Entity Report, open inbiz.in.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  23. If you want proof of what we say about Arizona Corporation Commission, LLC forms, open azcc.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  24. If you want proof of what we say about Form L025 instructions, open azcc.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  25. If you want proof of what we say about Commission LLC fee schedule, open azcc.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  26. If you want proof of what we say about A.R.S. 29-3903, registration of foreign LLC, open azleg.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  27. If you want proof of what we say about A.R.S. 29-3905, activities that are not doing business, open azleg.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  28. If you want proof of what we say about Arizona Corporation Commission FAQs, open azcc.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  29. If you want proof of what we say about Colorado Secretary of State, foreign entity FAQ, open coloradosos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  30. If you want proof of what we say about Sample Statement of Foreign Entity Authority, open coloradosos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  31. If you want proof of what we say about Secretary of State business fee schedule, open coloradosos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  32. If you want proof of what we say about Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 7, open content.leg.colorado.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  33. If you want proof of what we say about Registered agent requirements effective July 1, 2025, open coloradosos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  34. If you want proof of what we say about Periodic report FAQ, open coloradosos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
  35. Alabama Registered Agent.co states pricing page on its site, and we looked on November 13, 2026
  36. Mainstay Filing states Alabama service page on its site, and we looked on November 13, 2026
  37. AL Registered Agent.org states pricing page on its site, and we looked on November 13, 2026