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Formation Facts

What the state wants, and what it costs.

The whole country

3 Best Foreign Registration Services (2026)

Wherever you live in the US in 2026, we rank foreign registration services Mainstay Filing ($199), UT Registered Agent.org ($199) and Illinois Registered Agent.co ($199). Mainstay Filing tops the list since $199 is added to each state's own fee, with the agent covered in year 1.
Briefing by the Formation Facts team

Three recommendations

The order follows five weighted criteria (method).

Our national choice

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies in any state

Fee $199, renewing at $149

Anywhere in the country, start with Mainstay Filing. $199 is added to each state's own fee, with the agent covered in year 1.

It costs $100 more than UT Registered Agent.org over three years in Utah, and that difference pays for coverage in every state.

What your money gets you

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

What works

  • $199 wherever you file
  • Then $149 a year

What to weigh

  • Costs more a year than a one-state agent
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Utah pick

2. UT Registered Agent.org: best for Utah businesses

Fee $199, renewing at $99

UT Registered Agent.org is our second pick because $199 plus the state fee to register in Utah, with the agent included in year 1.

Choose it if your company stays in Utah.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares and files your Utah registration
  • Agent for Utah, first year

What works

  • $99 at renewal
  • Then $99 a year

What to weigh

  • Made for Utah alone
  • You file the yearly report yourself
Visit UT Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Illinois pick

3. Illinois Registered Agent.co: best for Illinois businesses

Fee $199, renewing at $99

Last, Illinois Registered Agent.co. $199 plus the state fee to register in Illinois, with the agent included in year 1.

Choose it if your company stays in Illinois.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares and files your Illinois registration
  • Agent for Illinois, first year

What works

  • $99 at renewal
  • Then $99 a year

What to weigh

  • Made for Illinois alone
  • You file the yearly report yourself
Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 services compared

RankWhoYou pay in year 1Then per yearTheir fees across 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2UT Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit UT Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Illinois Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Illinois Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company prices as of November 13, 2026, before the state's fee is added.

How much 50 states differ

Depending on where you file, three-year state fees for a foreign LLC fall anywhere from $70 to $2,490. They come on top of every pick. The full list is at Foreign LLC fees by state.

Why Mainstay Filing is first

There are five criteria behind every ranking here, and three-year fees together with filings covered weigh the most. You could be in any state, so the provider that covers all fifty goes first. Local providers cost less in Utah and Illinois, and that earns them second and third.

Choose a state

Your state's briefing has its fees and the providers we would use there. Foreign LLC fees by state.

Questions and answers

What are the best foreign registration services in 2026?

By rank: Mainstay Filing, UT Registered Agent.org and Illinois Registered Agent.co.

How much does a foreign registration service cost?

At the low end you pay $199 and at the high end $199, with the state fee extra.

How much do state fees vary?

Depending on where you file, three-year state fees for a foreign LLC fall anywhere from $70 to $2,490.

Can one service cover every state?

Just Mainstay Filing, at one price in every state.

Why are single-state services on a national list?

Within its own state, a local provider can be the better buy. UT Registered Agent.org is our pick for Utah businesses; Illinois Registered Agent.co for Illinois businesses.

How did you choose the order?

The method page lists the five criteria and their weights.

Related briefings

Where this briefing comes from

  1. Our figures on Montana Secretary of State, register a business come from help.sosmt.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  2. Our figures on Montana Secretary of State, business fees come from sosmt.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  3. Our figures on MCA 35-8-1001, transacting business come from mca.legmt.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  4. Our figures on MCA 35-8-1002, consequences come from mca.legmt.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  5. Our figures on MCA 35-8-1003, application contents come from mca.legmt.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  6. Our figures on California Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms come from sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  7. Our figures on Form LLC-5 come from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  8. Our figures on Corporations Code section 17708.03 come from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  9. Our figures on Revenue and Taxation Code section 19135 come from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  10. Our figures on Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing requirements come from ftb.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  11. Our figures on California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and come from ftb.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  12. The page we used for Mainstay Filing (pricing page) was open to us on November 13, 2026
  13. The page we used for UT Registered Agent.org (pricing page) was open to us on November 13, 2026
  14. The page we used for Illinois Registered Agent.co (pricing page) was open to us on November 13, 2026