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State Biz Facts

Charts of what each state charges an LLC.

Nationwide

3 Best Foreign Registration Services (2026)

Mainstay Filing ($199), MA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Idaho Registered Agent.co ($199): our nationwide ranking of foreign registration services for 2026. Mainstay Filing opens the ranking, as a $199 service charge wherever you register, plus a free first agent year.
Charted by the State Biz Facts team

Who we would hire

The method sets the order. Each state provider is the pick for businesses in its own state.

Our national pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies anywhere on the map

$199 to start, $149 per year later

Top of the national chart is Mainstay Filing: a $199 service charge wherever you register, plus a free first agent year.

Three years cost $100 more than MA Registered Agent.org, and you are not tied to Massachusetts.

Price covers

  • Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
  • Active in every state on the map

Upside

  • $199 wherever you file
  • $149 yearly after that

Downside

  • Not the smallest bill in one state
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Massachusetts pick

2. MA Registered Agent.org: best for Massachusetts businesses

$199 to start, $99 per year later

MA Registered Agent.org holds the second spot: Massachusetts registration for $199 plus state fees.

Designed around Massachusetts; any other state needs another provider.

Price covers

  • The Massachusetts filing that registers the LLC
  • Year-one agent duty for Massachusetts

Upside

  • Renews below Mainstay Filing, at $99
  • $99 yearly after that

Downside

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

Idaho pick

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

$199 to start, $99 per year later

Idaho Registered Agent.co ranks third: Idaho registration for $199 plus state fees.

Designed around Idaho; any other state needs another provider.

Price covers

  • The Idaho filing that registers the LLC
  • Year-one agent duty for Idaho

Upside

  • Renews below Mainstay Filing, at $99
  • $99 yearly after that

Downside

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

3 providers compared

OrderProviderYear 1Year 2 and onProvider charges, 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2MA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit MA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Idaho Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Idaho Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
From each company's site, seen November 12, 2026. Add your state's own fee to every row.

Fees every provider passes along

Three-year state fees for a foreign LLC range from $70 at the low end to $2,490 at the high end. Whoever files, the state fee is unchanged; compare all fifty.

Why Mainstay Filing leads

Three-year provider charges count 36% and filings covered 24%; renewal, state fit and fee labeling split the rest. Across the country, fifty-state coverage counts for more than a smaller local price. For companies in Massachusetts or Idaho, MA Registered Agent.org and Idaho Registered Agent.co are the cheaper route.

Find your state

State maps carry the official fee data and a ranking for that state. Foreign LLC fees by state.

Foreign Registration Services: questions

What are the best foreign registration services in 2026?

Mainstay Filing, MA Registered Agent.org and Idaho Registered Agent.co, from first to last.

How much does a foreign registration service cost?

Plan on $199 to $199 plus the state fee.

How much do state fees vary?

Three-year state fees for a foreign LLC range from $70 at the low end to $2,490 at the high end.

Can one service cover every state?

Yes, Mainstay Filing does, at the same price everywhere. The others cover one state each.

Why are single-state services on a national list?

A company that stays in one state can pay less to a local provider. MA Registered Agent.org is our pick for Massachusetts businesses; Idaho Registered Agent.co for Idaho businesses.

How did you choose the order?

Five criteria, described on the method page.

Related

Where each number comes from

  1. Figure on Montana Secretary of State, register a business: help.sosmt.gov (seen October 2026).
  2. Figure on Montana Secretary of State, business fees: sosmt.gov (seen October 2026).
  3. Figure on MCA 35-8-1001, transacting business: mca.legmt.gov (seen October 2026).
  4. Figure on MCA 35-8-1002, consequences: mca.legmt.gov (seen October 2026).
  5. Figure on MCA 35-8-1003, application contents: mca.legmt.gov (seen October 2026).
  6. Figure on California Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms: sos.ca.gov (seen October 2026).
  7. Figure on Form LLC-5: bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov (seen October 2026).
  8. Figure on Corporations Code section 17708.03: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (seen October 2026).
  9. Figure on Revenue and Taxation Code section 19135: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (seen October 2026).
  10. Figure on Franchise Tax Board, LLC filing requirements: ftb.ca.gov (seen October 2026).
  11. Figure on California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and: ftb.ca.gov (seen October 2026).
  12. Pricing page from Mainstay Filing (company page, November 12, 2026)
  13. Pricing page from MA Registered Agent.org (company page, November 12, 2026)
  14. Pricing page from Idaho Registered Agent.co (company page, November 12, 2026)