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Charts of what each state charges an LLC.

Foreign LLC guide · Kentucky

Kentucky Foreign LLC Fees (2026) and the 3 Best Registration Services

Mainstay Filing ($199), Kentucky Registered Agent.co ($199) and KY Registered Agent.org ($199) is the ranking we give for a foreign LLC registration in Kentucky in 2026, best first. Entering Kentucky as a foreign LLC costs $90 up front and $15 for each report afterward; three-year state fees place it 38th of 50.
Charted by the State Biz Facts team

Kentucky state charges, charted

38th

of 50 when registration and reports are added up

The closer to 1, the smaller the bill. The full 50-state chart

  • Charge to register

    $90

    Per apps.legislature.ky.gov, October 2026

  • Recurring report

    $15

    Annual report

  • Tax owed each year

    $175

    Per revenue.ky.gov, October 2026

  • State total, years 1 to 3

    $645

    Register once, then two report years, and the yearly minimum tax on top

Kentucky top picks

Criteria and weights behind this order are on the method page.

First stop

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a business spreading across state lines

$199 plus $90 to the state; $149/yr later

Mainstay Filing leads the chart because registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the registered agent is free during year one.

Set against Kentucky Registered Agent.co, the three-year provider bill is $100 larger, with more filings done for you.

After the free first year the agent is $149 per year in any state.

Price covers

  • Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
  • First-year registered agent service carries no fee
  • Active in every state on the map

Upside

  • The same price in any state
  • $199 plus the state fee
  • The first year of agent service is free

Downside

  • Renewal $50 higher than Kentucky Registered Agent.co's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Home-state option

2. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for adding only Kentucky

$199 plus $90 to the state; $99/yr later

Kentucky Registered Agent.co takes spot 2: a $199 service charge and a $99 agent renewal.

Price covers

  • Registration written up and sent in
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • $199 over the state fee
  • Year-one agent duty is included
  • A $99 renewal

Downside

  • Kentucky and nothing else
Visit Kentucky Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Home-state option

3. KY Registered Agent.org: best for a smaller agent renewal

$199 plus $90 to the state; $99/yr later

KY Registered Agent.org takes spot 3: a $199 service charge and a $99 agent renewal.

It ties with Kentucky Registered Agent.co on price.

Price covers

  • Registration written up and sent in
  • A year of agent service

Upside

  • $199 over the state fee
  • A $99 renewal
  • Year-one agent duty is included

Downside

  • Kentucky and nothing else
Visit KY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Kentucky providers on one chart

OrderProviderYear 1Year 2 and onProvider charges, 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Kentucky Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Kentucky Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3KY Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit KY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
All prices here are as the companies showed them on November 12, 2026. The state's $90 is not counted in this table.

Foreign LLC budget

The registration fee is $90, with the $15 report from year two; each provider's prices go on top.
Total for 3 years using Mainstay Filing: $1,142, split into $645 state fees and $497 provider fees.

Kentucky and the states beside it on the chart

SpotStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
35thMaine$550
37thArkansas$570
38thKentucky$645
39thNorth Carolina$650
40thMaryland$700
To see other states, open Foreign LLC fees by state.

Kentucky foreign LLC registration fee and form (official)

The Kentucky Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings takes the Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (Form FBE) together with $90 from outside LLCs.

After registering, the company files the annual report ($15), between January 1 and June 30 each year. On the tax side: Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.

What to bring

  • The LLC's legal name plus the day it was formed.
  • A named registered agent at a local street address.
  • Funds to cover the $90 registration fee.

The price of not registering

Until it registers, the LLC cannot start a lawsuit in the state's courts (KRS 14A.9-020(1)). The daily rate is $2 may be assessed.

Reasoning for the ranking

Requirements handled settled first place in Kentucky; it carries 24% of the score, and the other criteria are service cost across three years, renewal behavior, state-specific fit, pass-through of state fees.

A foreign LLC lives in two states, and coverage settled the order.

Common questions

What does Kentucky charge a foreign LLC to register?

$90 as the official fee. Our picks add $199.

Which form does a foreign LLC file with Kentucky?

The form is the Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (Form FBE), and it goes to the Kentucky Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings.

Does a foreign LLC have a yearly obligation?

A yearly filing applies, namely the annual report, which costs $15.

What happens if the LLC does business there without registering?

Until it registers, the LLC cannot start a lawsuit in the state's courts (KRS 14A.9-020(1)). The daily rate is $2 may be assessed.

Must a foreign LLC name a registered agent for Kentucky?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which provider should register my foreign LLC?

Mainstay Filing, because $199 beyond the state fee, the registered agent free for year one, then $149 per year. Next on the chart: Kentucky Registered Agent.co and KY Registered Agent.org.

Nearby pages

Where each number comes from

  1. Check sos.ky.gov for Kentucky Secretary of State; last seen August 2026.
  2. Check sos.ky.gov for Kentucky Secretary of State; last seen August 2026.
  3. Check apps.legislature.ky.gov for Kentucky report due date; last seen August 2026.
  4. Check apps.legislature.ky.gov for KRS 275.025; last seen August 2026.
  5. Check sos.ky.gov for Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source; last seen October 2026.
  6. Check apps.legislature.ky.gov for Kentucky registered agent statute; last seen October 2026.
  7. Check sos.ky.gov for Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings; last seen October 2026.
  8. Check web.sos.ky.gov for Form FBE, Certificate of Authority; last seen October 2026.
  9. Check apps.legislature.ky.gov for KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority; last seen October 2026.
  10. Check apps.legislature.ky.gov for KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required; last seen October 2026.
  11. Check revenue.ky.gov for Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official; last seen October 2026.
  12. Check maine.gov for Maine Secretary of State, foreign entities; last seen October 2026.
  13. Check maine.gov for Form MLLC-12; last seen October 2026.
  14. Check legislature.maine.gov for 31 MRSA § 1622, foreign qualification; last seen October 2026.
  15. Check legislature.maine.gov for 31 MRSA § 1623, activities that do not; last seen October 2026.
  16. Check legislature.maine.gov for 31 MRSA § 1629, consequences of not qualifying; last seen October 2026.
  17. Check legislature.maine.gov for 31 MRSA § 1680, fees; last seen October 2026.
  18. Check sos.arkansas.gov for Arkansas Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms and; last seen October 2026.
  19. Check sos.arkansas.gov for Form FL-01; last seen October 2026.
  20. Check arkleg.state.ar.us for Act 1041 of 2021, Uniform LLC Act; last seen October 2026.
  21. Check sos.arkansas.gov for 2026 LLC franchise tax report and instructions; last seen October 2026.
  22. Check sos.arkansas.gov for Form FL-04, application for cancellation; last seen October 2026.
  23. Check sosnc.gov for North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration; last seen October 2026.
  24. Check sosnc.gov for Form L-09, Application for Certificate of Authority; last seen October 2026.
  25. Check sosnc.gov for Secretary of State guide to registering a foreign; last seen October 2026.
  26. Check ncleg.gov for G.S; last seen October 2026.
  27. Check sosnc.gov for Annual report due dates; last seen October 2026.
  28. Check egov.maryland.gov for Maryland Business Express; last seen October 2026.
  29. Check egov.maryland.gov for Business Express fee schedule; last seen October 2026.
  30. Check mgaleg.maryland.gov for Corporations and Associations § 4A-1002, registration; last seen October 2026.
  31. Check mgaleg.maryland.gov for Corporations and Associations § 4A-1009, activities that are; last seen October 2026.
  32. Check mgaleg.maryland.gov for Corporations and Associations § 4A-1007, effect of not; last seen October 2026.
  33. Check mgaleg.maryland.gov for Tax-Property § 11-101, annual report; last seen October 2026.
  34. Kentucky service page from Mainstay Filing (company page, November 12, 2026)
  35. Pricing page from Kentucky Registered Agent.co (company page, November 12, 2026)
  36. Pricing page from KY Registered Agent.org (company page, November 12, 2026)