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Formation Facts

What the state wants, and what it costs.

National list

3 Best Registered Agents (2026)

Wherever you live in the US in 2026, we rank registered agents Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Maine Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and WA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year). First place goes to Mainstay Filing, where $149 a year in every state, with no increase at renewal.
Briefing by the Formation Facts team

Our nationwide picks

The method sets the order, and a state provider is the right choice for companies located in that state.

Best nationwide

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one price in every state

$149 for the first year, and the same after that

The best nationwide choice is Mainstay Filing, since $149 a year in every state, with no increase at renewal.

Over three years you pay $150 more than at Maine Registered Agent.co, and you are not tied to Maine.

What your money gets you

  • Supplies an office address in the state you pick
  • Scans your first three government letters each year at no cost
  • Also works for nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs

What works

  • $149 wherever you file
  • The price holds when you renew

What to weigh

  • A higher yearly price than the state picks
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Maine pick

2. Maine Registered Agent.co: best for Maine businesses

$99 for the first year, and the same after that

Maine Registered Agent.co takes second place: $99 a year, flat, for a company that stays in Maine.

It serves Maine only, which is enough if your company is based there.

What your money gets you

  • A registered office address in Maine
  • Puts scans of served papers in your online account

What works

  • A smaller bill in year 1
  • The price holds when you renew

What to weigh

  • No coverage beyond Maine
  • The yearly report is not filed for you
Visit Maine Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Washington pick

3. WA Registered Agent.org: best for Washington businesses

$99 for the first year, and the same after that

In third place, WA Registered Agent.org: $99 a year, flat, for a company that stays in Washington.

It serves Washington only, which is enough if your company is based there.

What your money gets you

  • A registered office address in Washington
  • Puts scans of served papers in your online account

What works

  • A smaller bill in year 1
  • The price holds when you renew

What to weigh

  • No coverage beyond Washington
  • The yearly report is not filed for you
Visit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The 3 picks side by side

RankWhoYou pay per yearRenewal priceTheir fees across 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Maine Registered Agent.co$99$99/yr$297Visit Maine Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3WA Registered Agent.org$99$99/yr$297Visit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
The two state providers sell only in their own state, and every price here is the one shown on November 13, 2026; add your state's fee to each row.

State fees come on top

The spread is wide: yearly state fees for an LLC are $0 in 10 states and $810 at the top end. Each provider on this list adds those fees at cost, so they do not change the order. See your state's figure.

What decided the order

Three-year fees count for 33% and filings covered for 26%; renewal, state fit and a clear state fee share the rest. On a national list, coverage decides: only one pick works in every state for a single price. Maine Registered Agent.co (Maine) and WA Registered Agent.org (Washington) win on price in their own states.

Look up a state

The state briefings carry official fee data and a ranking for that state. Registered agent rules by state.

Quick answers

What are the best registered agents in 2026?

For 2026 we rank Mainstay Filing, Maine Registered Agent.co and WA Registered Agent.org.

How much does a registered agent cost?

Our three picks charge $99 to $149 a year.

How much do state fees vary?

The spread is wide: yearly state fees for an LLC are $0 in 10 states and $810 at the top end.

Can one service cover every state?

Only Mainstay Filing serves every state.

Why are single-state services on a national list?

In their home states, they come in under the national pick. Maine Registered Agent.co is our pick for Maine businesses; WA Registered Agent.org for Washington businesses.

How did you choose the order?

Through a published method that starts with three-year cost and coverage.

Keep reading

Where this briefing comes from

  1. Our figures on Alabama Department of Revenue, 2024 business privilege tax come from revenue.alabama.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  2. Our figures on California Secretary of State come from sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
  3. Our figures on California Secretary of State come from bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was August 2026.
  4. Our figures on California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source come from sos.ca.gov. The last time we confirmed that page was October 2026.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. You can see pricing page for Mainstay Filing on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
  8. You can see pricing page for Maine Registered Agent.co on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
  9. You can see pricing page for WA Registered Agent.org on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026