What to know about Massachusetts
49th
of 50 for one year of state fees
Resident agent required
Yes
Limited Liability Company Annual Report
$500 / yr
Deadline, as the state states it: on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization.
malegislature.gov, as confirmed in August 2026
What the state collects in 1 year
$500
What a typical year costs you
Massachusetts: the services we would choose
We ordered the list with five criteria, and three-year fees and coverage count most (the
method page covers the rest).
Best overall
1. Massachusetts Registered Agent.co: best for owners who run their business from Massachusetts
$99 annually (renewal price $99)
We start with Massachusetts Registered Agent.co, and the reason is simple: $99 a year buys an agent with a registered office inside the state.
It costs less than Mainstay Filing over three years, and cost counts for 33% of the score.
What your money gets you
- A street address for the registered office
- Online copies of whatever is served
What works
- $99 a year, unchanged at renewal
- Less per year than the national pick
What to weigh
- No coverage outside this state
- What you pay for does not include the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
Massachusetts only
2. MA Registered Agent.org: best for another option in Massachusetts
$99 annually (renewal price $99)
MA Registered Agent.org is second for you since $99 a year buys an agent with a registered office inside the state.
Massachusetts Registered Agent.co and this provider charge the same.
What your money gets you
- A street address for the registered office
- Online copies of whatever is served
What works
- $99 a year, unchanged at renewal
- Less per year than the national pick
What to weigh
- No coverage outside this state
- What you pay for does not include the Limited Liability Company Annual Report
Biggest reach
3. Mainstay Filing: best for an agent you can keep in any state
$149 annually (renewal price $149)
Last on the list is Mainstay Filing, because one $149 agent plan that moves with you whenever you add a state.
Its three-year fees are $150 above Massachusetts Registered Agent.co's, and cost is 33% of the score.
What your money gets you
- A street address for your registered office
- Scans anything served on the company the same business day and does not charge for it
- Scans your first three government letters each year at no cost
- Also works for nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs
What works
- $149 annually
- Works in every state
What to weigh
- Costs you $50 more each year than Massachusetts Registered Agent.co
- An agent-only plan, so you file the reports
The 3 picks compared
Prices as shown on November 13, 2026. Massachusetts's own fees stay the same whoever acts as your agent.
Upkeep calculator
This adds agent fees to the state's recurring charges (the Limited Liability Company Annual Report from year 2). Formation fees are not included.
How Massachusetts compares with the states near it in the ranking
What Massachusetts law says you need as a resident agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a street address in Massachusetts. A post office address is not sufficient.
Who you can use: A Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts. (M.G.L. c. 156C, § 5)
What Massachusetts charges your LLC each year
Letters about your Limited Liability Company Annual Report are sent to your resident agent. The cost is $500 every year, and the deadline is on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization.
What decided the order
In Massachusetts, Massachusetts Registered Agent.co beat MA Registered Agent.org on price over three years (33%).
Massachusetts Registered Agent.co charges $297 in fees over three years, which is $150 under Mainstay Filing.
Massachusetts FAQ
Do I have to name a resident agent for my Massachusetts LLC?
Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Who is allowed to be a resident agent for my Massachusetts LLC?
A Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts.
What will registered agent service cost me each year in Massachusetts?
The agents on this page charge $99 to $149 a year.
Which state fees will I pay every year?
You will pay $500 a year on our yearly measure, which is the Limited Liability Company Annual Report ($500 every year).
Which registered agents does this page rank?
Massachusetts Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), MA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), in order, beginning with the first pick.
Which registered agent should I choose?
Start with Massachusetts Registered Agent.co: $99 a year with no jump at renewal, designed for a company that works in a single state. Then look at MA Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing.
Where this briefing comes from
- If you want proof of what we say about Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, open sec.state.ma.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, open malegislature.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12, open sec.state.ma.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open sec.state.ma.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source, open sec.state.ma.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Massachusetts registered agent statute, open sec.state.ma.us; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees, open nvsos.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source, open corp.delaware.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source, open corp.delaware.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source, open legis.delaware.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division, open docs.sos.ri.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division, open sos.ri.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about Rhode Island other cost, open tax.ri.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California Secretary of State, open sos.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California Secretary of State, open bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in August 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source, open sos.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and, open ftb.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- If you want proof of what we say about California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and, open ftb.ca.gov; that is the page we relied on, and we looked at it in October 2026.
- We looked at the Massachusetts Registered Agent.co website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page
- We looked at the MA Registered Agent.org website on November 13, 2026 to confirm pricing page
- We looked at the Mainstay Filing website on November 13, 2026 to confirm Massachusetts service page