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Biz Formation Academy

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

Textbook chapter 3 · Kentucky

Foreign LLC Registration Chapter, Kentucky (2026): 4 Sections and the 3 Best Services

Kentucky readers who want help registering an LLC formed elsewhere in 2026 should look at Mainstay Filing ($199), KY Registered Agent.org ($199) and Kentucky Registered Agent.co ($199), in the order given. A foreign LLC pays Kentucky $90 to register; the 4 sections show how.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Key facts for this chapter

Fee at the filing office $90 apps.legislature.ky.gov, as published October 2026
Recurring report $15 Annual report
State fees across three years $645 Registration, reports and any minimum tax
Section count 4 Outlined below

Learning objectives

  • When the rule applies
  • The official form and fee
  • The cost of staying registered
  • Which services are recommended and why

The Kentucky shortlist

Ranked by the grading page: three-year cost (34%), paperwork completed (30%), second-year price, fit with Kentucky rules and clarity of the price list.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies adding a second state

Recommended first
$199 plus the state fee, then $149 a year

Mainstay Filing comes first. The first-year agent is included, so the Kentucky registration costs $199 beyond the state fee.

KY Registered Agent.org costs $100 less over three years; this service still ranks higher because it does more of the work.

Once the included year is used up, expect $149 per year for agent service wherever the LLC registers.

Price covers

  • Filing delivered to the state
  • The registered agent carries no charge in year one
  • Covers all fifty states

Advantages

  • Ready for a later state as well
  • The agent is free for the first year
  • $199 plus the state fee

Limitations

  • $50 more a year for the agent
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. KY Registered Agent.org: best for an economical registration

Local option
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year

KY Registered Agent.org is ranked second: $199 over the state fee, with year one of the agent covered, then $99 a year.

Price covers

  • Registration paperwork completed
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • The agent renews at $99
  • A service charge of $199
  • No agent fee in year one

Limitations

  • Limited to one state
Visit KY Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for another Kentucky choice

Local option
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year

Kentucky Registered Agent.co is ranked third: $199 over the state fee, with year one of the agent covered, then $99 a year.

Its prices equal KY Registered Agent.org's, so either serves.

Price covers

  • Registration paperwork completed
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • The agent renews at $99
  • No agent fee in year one
  • A service charge of $199

Limitations

  • Limited to one state
Visit Kentucky Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

All prices in one table

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 KY Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit KY Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Kentucky Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Kentucky Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Taken from each company's price page on November 13, 2026. No row includes the $90 state fee.

How registration works in Kentucky

  1. Section 1

    Determine whether registration is required

    Key term: foreign LLC. It is an LLC formed in a different state, and Kentucky asks it to register before operating here. Doing business without registering risks: until registered, the LLC cannot bring suit before Kentucky's courts (KRS 14A.9-020(1)) a further penalty each day of $2.

    Reference: sos.ky.gov, as published October 2026

  2. Section 2

    Designate the Kentucky registered agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a physical registered office in Kentucky that matches the agent's business address. A P.O. box is not enough.

    Every recommended service provides the registered agent.

    Reference: apps.legislature.ky.gov, as published October 2026

  3. Section 3

    The filing to prepare is the Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity)

    To register, deliver the Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (Form FBE) to the Kentucky Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings with the $90 fee.

    Reference: apps.legislature.ky.gov, as published October 2026

  4. Section 4

    Handle Kentucky's recurring filing

    To keep the registration in force, file the annual report for $15, between January 1 and June 30 each year. Regarding taxes: Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.

The price list

Line itemGoes toPrice
Fee to register Government$90
Annual report Government$15
Minimum tax Government$175 a year
Service, if hired The provider$199 at the start
Three-year state total Government$645

State fees come from the official pages in the bibliography. Over three years they consist of the filing, two reports and, in a few states, a minimum tax.

Why Mainstay Filing is first

The deciding criterion was chapters the price completes, which carries 30% of the ranking.

The company belongs to one state and operates in a second; one provider for both fits best.

What readers ask

What does Kentucky charge a foreign LLC to register?

$90 for the filing. The services here charge $199 more.

Which form do I file to register?

Out-of-state LLCs hand this form to The Kentucky Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

until registered, the LLC cannot bring suit before Kentucky's courts (KRS 14A.9-020(1)) a further penalty each day of $2.

What is due after registering?

Section 4 covers it: the annual report for $15.

Which services are in this lesson?

The recommendations, in rank order: Mainstay Filing, KY Registered Agent.org and Kentucky Registered Agent.co.

Which service should handle the registration?

Mainstay Filing ranks first and KY Registered Agent.org and Kentucky Registered Agent.co follow; Mainstay Filing leads on chapters the price completes.

Further reading

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Footnote for Kentucky Secretary of State: see sos.ky.gov (August 2026).
  2. Footnote for Kentucky Secretary of State: see sos.ky.gov (August 2026).
  3. Footnote for Kentucky report due date: see apps.legislature.ky.gov (August 2026).
  4. Footnote for KRS 275.025: see apps.legislature.ky.gov (August 2026).
  5. Footnote for Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source: see sos.ky.gov (October 2026).
  6. Footnote for Kentucky registered agent statute: see apps.legislature.ky.gov (October 2026).
  7. Footnote for Kentucky Secretary of State, business filings: see sos.ky.gov (October 2026).
  8. Footnote for Form FBE, Certificate of Authority: see web.sos.ky.gov (October 2026).
  9. Footnote for KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting business without authority: see apps.legislature.ky.gov (October 2026).
  10. Footnote for KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact business required: see apps.legislature.ky.gov (October 2026).
  11. Footnote for Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official: see revenue.ky.gov (October 2026).
  12. Mainstay Filing, Kentucky service page: consulted November 13, 2026
  13. KY Registered Agent.org, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026
  14. Kentucky Registered Agent.co, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026