The LLC Class comparison guide
The Best Registered Agent for Your LLC in 2026
The best choice depends on what you need: an agent for an existing LLC, help forming a new one, or support while you live abroad.
Our perspective: LLC Class sells formation packages. This guide compares selected providers. “Best for” is our editorial judgment based on the features shown. Provider prices and terms can change; government fees are separate.
Look beyond the first-year price.
A registered-agent subscription, company formation and government filing fees pay for different things. Compare the offer you qualify for today with what you will pay to keep it.
DIY can mean $0 in agent service fees. It does not mean a free LLC. Formation fees, state reports, taxes and any change-of-agent filing fees remain separate. A discounted first year also does not establish the renewal price.
Compare the service you actually need.
Already have an LLC? Start with agent-only costs. Forming a company? Compare the total bundle and its exclusions. Read “not confirmed” as something to ask about before paying.
Scroll sideways for all 9 columns. Keyboard: focus the table area and use ← or →.
| Provider | First year | Renewal | Formation | EIN | International-owner support | Annual report | Best for | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered AgentStandalone agent | $125Per year, for one state | $125/yearCurrent published annual rate; confirm renewal terms | Separate service | Not included in this offer | Confirm country and identity requirements | Filing service not confirmed included | A straightforward standalone annual price | Official offer ↗ |
| ZenBusinessAgent service / conditional offer | $99 offerWhen you form an LLC with ZenBusiness; regular standalone listing is $199/year | $199/yearRenewal stated on the offer page | Separate purchase | Not included in agent-only service | Confirm country and identity requirements | Separate compliance service | Eligible formation buyers comparing the first-year offer | Official offer ↗ |
| Registered Agents IncAgent + report filing service | $200Per year | $200/yearCurrent annual rate; no separate renewal discount stated | Separate service | Separate service | Confirm country and identity requirements | Annual/biennial report filing service included; state fee coverage not stated | Owners who also want state report filing handled | Official offer ↗ |
| doola StarterFormation bundle | $297Per year, plus state fees | $297/yearCurrent annual subscription rate; confirm checkout terms | Included | Included | Advertises support without US residency or SSN; eligibility checks still apply | Not included in Starter | Non-US owners seeking formation and EIN in one plan | Official offer ↗ |
| Be your own agentSelf-service | $0Agent service fee only; must meet state requirements | $0 service feeState filings and other obligations still apply | File yourself | Apply separately | Living abroad does not replace the required in-state presence | File yourself when required | Eligible owners available at an in-state physical address | State rules ↗ |
A selected comparison, not a ranking of the whole market. Annual rates are published offers, not a price lock. Confirm the terms for your entity, state and package before purchase.
Can you be your own registered agent?
Often, yes—if you personally meet the state’s rules. Saving the service fee also means taking responsibility for receiving and acting on legal notices.
- Have a qualifying physical street address in the state.
- Be available there during required business hours.
- Meet individual-agent eligibility and consent requirements.
- Keep contact details current and pass notices to the right person.
Weigh availability and privacy.
Your registered-office address is generally part of the public filing. A PO box or ordinary virtual mailbox does not automatically qualify.
A paid service can provide its address for the agent role. It cannot promise to remove your home address from every filing, historic record or other disclosure.
Example: Wyoming’s address and eligibility rules ↗A legal requirement. A separate buying decision.
A registered agent receives service of process—such as a lawsuit—and official notices for your LLC. State law determines the agent or registered-office arrangement your business must maintain.
That does not automatically mean you must buy a commercial service. An eligible individual may serve. Rules also differ: New York requires an LLC to designate the Secretary of State as its agent for service of process.
New York’s official formation instructions ↗Know where the service ends.
Receiving a notice is different from filing a report, paying taxes, responding to a lawsuit or giving legal advice. Keep those tasks assigned, even when you hire an agent.
Review the rules in each state where your LLC is required to register.
Example: Texas agent requirements ↗Living abroad? Separate the four decisions.
An LLC owner can live outside the US. The designated agent still needs the qualifying in-state presence required by the state. Your overseas home address alone cannot fulfill that role.
- Agent appointment: confirm the provider accepts your country, entity type and documents.
- EIN and identity: an EIN is a separate federal tax-ID process. Buying agent service does not automatically include it.
- Address use: confirm permission for legal service, ordinary mail and other filings separately.
- Banking: banks conduct their own identity and business checks. Agent purchase does not guarantee approval.
Continue in your language.
- Non-US founder guide · 中文 (Chinese) →
- Non-US founder guide · 한국어 (Korean) →
- Firsthand Mercury account guide · 中文 →
The Mercury guide describes one founder’s experience. Its outcome and timing are not promises for another applicant.
Switch without leaving a gap.
Signing up with a new service is only the first step. Keep the old appointment in place until the new one is effective under your state’s rules.
Hire & get consent
Confirm the new agent’s legal name, registered office, consent and start date.
File the state form
Submit the appropriate change form and fee. Confirm who handles the filing.
Confirm the record
Check acceptance, the effective date and the public entity record. Save the filed document.
Cancel the old service
Follow cancellation and refund terms. Confirm billing stops and notices reach the new agent.
No universal same-day switch or guaranteed refund. State processing and contract terms vary. A provider’s “free switch” may cover its service charge without covering the government fee.
Official change-filing examples: Wyoming: $5; Texas LLC: $15. Payment-method charges may apply. These are change fees, separate from a new agent subscription.
LLC formation fees in all 50 states
Initial domestic LLC filing fees are separate from agent subscriptions, change fees, annual reports and taxes. Additional costs are noted where identified. This is not a total first-year cost estimate.
View all 50 states · 46 fees verified · 4 awaiting confirmation
Reviewed 26 Oct 2026. Confirm the current fee and requirements with the state before filing. Scroll sideways on a phone for notes and official sources.
| State & guide | Initial filing fee | Scope & extra costs | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 | Certificate of formation filing only. A name-reservation certificate is required and its fee is additional. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Alaska | $250 | Articles of organization. The initial report has no filing charge; business licensing and later biennial reports are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Arizona | $50 | Regular articles of organization filing; expedited filing is $85. A separate newspaper publication cost may apply depending on county. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Arkansas | $45 online / $50 paper | Certificate of organization (LL-01); recurring franchise taxes and agent subscriptions are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| California | $70 | Articles of organization. An initial Statement of Information is required within 90 days and costs an additional $20; taxes are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Colorado | $50 | Online articles of organization; periodic reports are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Connecticut | $120 | Certificate of organization, including the statutory appointment of agent for service; annual reports are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Delaware | $110 | Certificate of formation. The official form is revised August 2026; annual LLC tax is separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Florida | $125 | Mandatory initial total: $100 articles filing plus $25 registered-agent designation fee. The latter is a state charge, not a commercial agent subscription. Optional certified copy and status certificate are excluded. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Georgia | $110 | Domestic LLC registration: $100 filing fee plus the mandatory $10 service charge for ordinary online or paper submission; optional expedited service is extra. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Hawaii | $50 | Articles of organization plus an additional mandatory $1 State Archives fee, making the ordinary initial total $51. Optional expedited review is extra. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Idaho | $100 | Certificate of organization. The state Commerce guide identifies a $20 additional charge where manual processing is required; agent service and later obligations are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Illinois | $150 | Standard domestic LLC articles of organization (LLC-5.5). Series LLC formation, optional expedited service and payment charges are not included. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Indiana | Pending verification | Current filing fee not independently verified; confirm with the state office. | State source ↗Checked 26 Oct 2026 |
| Iowa | $50 | Certificate of organization for a domestic LLC; biennial reports are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Kansas | $85 online / $90 paper | Domestic articles of organization. Current official form revised February 27, 2026; totals include prescribed service and paper technology charges. Series LLCs are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Kentucky | $40 | Articles of organization for an ordinary profit LLC (KLC); ongoing reports and taxes are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Louisiana | $125 | Articles of organization with the required initial report. The official form is revised October 2026; optional expedited service is extra. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Maine | $175 | Certificate of formation; annual reporting and optional expedited service are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Maryland | $100 | Standard articles of organization. Optional expedited processing costs $150 total; the standard figure excludes later annual reports and taxes. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | Certificate of organization base filing fee; electronic or expedited charges, annual reports and taxes are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Michigan | $50 | Articles of organization (Form 700). Optional expedited service is extra; a conditional veteran waiver is not assumed. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Minnesota | $135 mail / $155 online | Articles of organization. In-person filing also costs $155; subsequent obligations are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Mississippi | $50 | Certificate of formation of a domestic Mississippi LLC; this is distinct from foreign qualification and registered-agent change fees. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Missouri | $50 online / $105 paper | Articles of organization for a domestic LLC. Payment processing charges, if applicable, are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Montana | $35 | Standard LLC; series members have additional fees. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Nebraska | $100 online / $110 paper | Publication and proof-of-publication costs are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Nevada | $75 | Articles only. Initial list and business license are additional; this is not the total formation cost. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| New Hampshire | $100 | Certificate of formation; online processing charges may apply. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| New Jersey | $100 | Current Treasury schedule; certificate of formation. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| New Mexico | Pending verification | Current filing fee not independently verified; confirm with the state office. | State source ↗Checked 26 Oct 2026 |
| New York | $200 | Publication, newspaper charges and the publication certificate are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| North Carolina | $125 | Articles of organization under G.S. 57D-1-22. Annual reports and optional services are separate; payment charges may apply. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| North Dakota | $135 | Articles of organization and certificate of organization under NDCC 10-32.1-92(1). Annual reports are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Ohio | $99 | Standard Articles of Organization; expedited processing is extra. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Oklahoma | $100 | Initial registration filing fee. The official state guide says an additional service fee applies to online registration; the amount is not specified on that page. Annual certificate charges are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Oregon | $100 | Articles of Organization processing fee. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | Certificate of Organization; recurring reports are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Rhode Island | $150 | Initial filing fee; annual reports and the minimum tax are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| South Carolina | $110 | Articles of organization under section 33-44-1204. Online service charges and other filings are separate. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| South Dakota | $150 online / $165 paper | Standard domestic LLC; series filings differ. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Tennessee | Pending verification | Current filing fee not independently verified; confirm with the state office. | State source ↗Checked 26 Oct 2026 |
| Texas | $300 | Certificate of formation; card convenience fees are additional. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Utah | $59 | Domestic LLC certificate under the FY2026 fee schedule. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Vermont | Pending verification | Current filing fee not independently verified; confirm with the state office. | State source ↗Checked 26 Oct 2026 |
| Virginia | $100 | Articles of organization under Virginia Code 13.1-1005. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Washington | $180 | Base certificate fee; an online processing fee is additional. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| West Virginia | $100 | Standard LLC registration; eligibility-based exemptions may apply. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Wisconsin | $130 online / $170 paper | Domestic LLC organization fee. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Wyoming | $100 | Articles of Organization; payment-method charges may apply online. | State source ↗Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
A few questions before you choose.
What is the best registered agent for an LLC?
There is no single best option for every LLC. Compare your state's coverage, renewal price, document delivery, cancellation terms and whether you need formation or annual report filing. This page compares a selected set of published offers, not the entire market.
How much does a registered agent cost?
The standalone offers compared here include $125 and $200 annual rates, plus a conditional $99 first-year ZenBusiness offer that renews at $199. doola Starter is a $297 annual formation bundle plus state fees. An eligible individual acting as their own agent pays no agent service fee.
Can I be my own registered agent?
Often, if you meet the state's rules, have a qualifying physical address in that state and can receive legal papers during business hours. Wyoming also requires an individual agent to be at least 18 and reside in Wyoming. Check your state before appointing yourself.
Can a non-US resident hire a registered agent?
Yes, providers can serve owners living abroad, subject to their country and identity checks. The agent still needs a qualifying presence in the state. A registered agent does not by itself provide a bank account, tax filing or immigration status.
Is a registered agent the same as a virtual mailbox?
No. A registered agent receives service of process and official notices at a qualifying state address. A general virtual mailbox may not meet those rules. Ask separately about ordinary mail, forwarding and permission to use the address for other purposes.
Does a registered agent keep my home address private?
Using an agent's address for the registered office can reduce public exposure of your home address. It does not guarantee that your address disappears from other filings or existing public records. Review each address field and your state's disclosure rules.
Can I change agents before my subscription ends?
You can file a change while the old contract is still active. Arrange the new appointment, file the state change and verify that it is effective before ending old coverage. A state filing does not cancel a subscription or guarantee a refund; check the old provider's terms.
Are state filing fees included in an agent subscription?
Do not assume they are included. Registered-agent service, company formation, state report filing and government fees are separate items. Ask for the exact inclusions and renewal terms of your selected plan before purchasing.
Sources & editorial notes
Provider offers and official instructions reviewed 2026-10-26. We compared public terms, not completed purchases or hands-on service performance. State sources appear in the table above.
- Northwest: registered agent annual price ↗
- ZenBusiness: promotional price and renewal ↗
- ZenBusiness: regular standalone price ↗
- Registered Agents Inc: price and report filing ↗
- doola: current plans and pricing ↗
- doola: plan inclusions ↗
- doola: international owner eligibility statement ↗
- Wyoming: agent qualifications and change fee ↗
- Texas: Form 401 change instructions and fee ↗
- IRS: Form SS-4 instructions ↗
General educational information. Requirements depend on the state, entity and circumstances.