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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

All 50 states

3 Best Registered Agents (2026)

The registered agents we would point a first-time owner to in 2026 are Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Rhode Island Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and Maryland Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), in ranked order. Mainstay Filing is first: $149 a year across all fifty states, so a growing company keeps one agent.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Our nationwide recommendations

The criteria set the order.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for first-timers everywhere

Best overall
$149 yearly, renewing at $149

A first-time owner anywhere should begin with Mainstay Filing: $149 a year across all fifty states, so a growing company keeps one agent.

Three years cost $150 more than Rhode Island Registered Agent.co; that is the price of one provider in every state.

Price covers

  • A street address in the state of your choice
  • Three government letters a year, scanned at no charge
  • Works for nonprofits, corporations, LPs and LLPs as well

Advantages

  • $149 across the country
  • The price holds at renewal

Limitations

  • Costs more than a single-state plan
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: best for Rhode Island businesses

Rhode Island pick
$99 yearly, renewing at $99

Second on the list is Rhode Island Registered Agent.co: $99 a year, flat, for companies that stay in Rhode Island.

Owners rooted in Rhode Island get a better price here.

Price covers

  • A registered office address in Rhode Island
  • Served papers scanned into an account

Advantages

  • Less up front than the national option
  • The price holds at renewal

Limitations

  • Rhode Island only
  • Report filing is left to the owner
Visit Rhode Island Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

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

Maryland pick
$99 yearly, renewing at $99

Third on the list is Maryland Registered Agent.co: $99 a year, flat, for companies that stay in Maryland.

Owners rooted in Maryland get a better price here.

Price covers

  • A registered office address in Maryland
  • Served papers scanned into an account

Advantages

  • Less up front than the national option
  • The price holds at renewal

Limitations

  • Maryland only
  • Report filing is left to the owner
Visit Maryland Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Compare the services

#ServiceAnnual priceRenewal priceThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $149$149/yr$447 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Rhode Island Registered Agent.co $99$99/yr$297 Visit Rhode Island Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Maryland Registered Agent.co $99$99/yr$297 Visit Maryland Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Company prices on November 13, 2026, before any state fee.

What counts most

Look at the price for years two and three, not only year one, and at which state tasks the price removes from your list. Plans to grow point to a provider that works everywhere.

The reasoning

The grades reward a low three-year cost and a price that does more of the work, then renewal terms, state fit and clear pricing. This page must serve an owner wherever they live, so reach across all fifty states settles first place. Places two and three go to Rhode Island Registered Agent.co and Maryland Registered Agent.co, which cost less if the company is based in Rhode Island or Maryland.

Choose your state

Each state gets a separate chapter on appointing a registered agent, containing the official fees and a short ranked list. Registered agents: all 50 states.

Questions, answered

What are the best registered agents in 2026?

Mainstay Filing, Rhode Island Registered Agent.co and Maryland Registered Agent.co, in that order.

What does a registered agent cost?

The recommended services charge $99 to $149 a year.

Can one service cover every state?

Mainstay Filing is the only one with fifty-state coverage on this list.

Why are one-state services on a national list?

Saving money is possible when the company never files in a second state. Rhode Island Registered Agent.co is our pick for Rhode Island businesses; Maryland Registered Agent.co for Maryland businesses.

How did you grade them?

Three-year cost and paperwork completed count most, then second-year price, state fit and price clarity.

Where do I learn the steps for my state?

Every state has its own chapter with the official form and fee.

Further reading

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. pricing page (Mainstay Filing), as it stood on November 13, 2026
  2. pricing page (Rhode Island Registered Agent.co), as it stood on November 13, 2026
  3. pricing page (Maryland Registered Agent.co), as it stood on November 13, 2026