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Biz Formation Academy

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

Unit 3 · New York

Foreign LLC Registration Chapter, New York (2026): 5 Sections and the 3 Best Services

For registering an LLC formed elsewhere in New York in 2026, this chapter recommends New York Registered Agent.ai ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and NY Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked from first to last. A foreign LLC pays New York $250 to register; the 5 sections show how.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Essential facts

State filing fee $250 ny.gov (edition of October 2026)
Certificate to attach 365 days How recent it must be
Maintenance filing $9 Biennial statement
State fees across three years $259 State charges only
Chapter sections 5 Each one explained

After this chapter you will understand

  • When an LLC from elsewhere must register in New York
  • How the filing is made
  • The recurring filing
  • The services ranked highest

New York: the ranked services

The editorial board's five criteria are explained on how we grade and determine the order.

1. New York Registered Agent.ai: best for a low yearly agent fee

Best overall
$199 plus fees; renewal $99 annually

New York Registered Agent.ai comes first. The registration charge is $199 plus state fees, and the first agent year is already paid.

Mainstay Filing costs more across three years, so this service takes first place.

Price covers

  • The New York registration, prepared and submitted
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 to register
  • Agent covered in year one
  • A modest $99 renewal

Limitations

  • Serves New York alone
Visit New York Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Mainstay Filing: best for one provider for both states

Handles the most paperwork
$199 plus fees; renewal $149 annually

Second place is held by Mainstay Filing, since a charge of $199 plus New York's fee covers the filing and the first year of the agent for service of process.

Three years cost $100 above New York Registered Agent.ai, and cost counts for 34% of the ranking.

The agent line on the second invoice reads $149, and stays there in each state.

Price covers

  • Registration filing
  • The agent for service of process carries no charge in year one
  • Any state at one price

Advantages

  • A service charge of $199
  • All fifty states covered
  • No agent fee in year one

Limitations

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above New York Registered Agent.ai
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. NY Registered Agent.org: best for New York-only registrations

In-state service
$199 plus fees; renewal $99 annually

Third place is held by NY Registered Agent.org, since the registration charge is $199 plus state fees, and the first agent year is already paid.

On price, it matches New York Registered Agent.ai.

Price covers

  • The New York registration, prepared and submitted
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 to register
  • Agent covered in year one
  • A modest $99 renewal

Limitations

  • Serves New York alone
Visit NY Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The New York rankings compared

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

Each company's posted price on November 13, 2026. The $250 state fee is omitted from these figures.

How registration works in New York

  1. Section 1

    Does the registration rule apply?

    A foreign LLC, meaning one formed elsewhere, registers with New York before it transacts business in the state.

    Reference: dos.ny.gov (edition of October 2026)

  2. Section 2

    Get proof of good standing from the state of formation

    Obtain certificate of Existence (also called a Certificate of Good Standing), dated within 365 days.

    Order this last so the certificate is current when you file.

  3. Section 3

    Appoint an agent for service of process for New York

    The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC; naming a registered agent is optional. New York has no registered-office requirement. The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC and mails a copy of any papers served to the address the company has on file. A designated registered agent's street address goes on the filing.

    The services listed above supply one.

    Reference: nysenate.gov (edition of October 2026)

  4. Section 4

    Section four is the Application for Authority of a Foreign Limited Liability Company

    Filing is the act of registering, and the state charges $250.

    Reference: ny.gov (edition of October 2026)

  5. Section 5

    Prepare for the recurring filing

    After registration, a foreign LLC files the biennial statement ($9), every two years, in the month the application was filed.

The cost of this chapter

PurposeWho is paidAmount
Registering the LLC The state$250
Biennial statement The state$9
Filing service (optional) Your chosen service$199 in the first year
State total over three years The state$259

Anything paid to New York is an official fee that can be verified in the bibliography. The three-year row combines the filing, two later reports and a minimum tax where one exists; service prices are not part of it.

The reasoning behind the ranking

finished ahead of on tuition over three years, which counts for 34%.

New York Registered Agent.ai leads the cost criterion at $397 across three years, with Mainstay Filing $100 behind.

What readers ask

What does New York charge a foreign LLC to register?

$250 in state fees. The services here charge $199 more.

Which form do I file to register?

Out-of-state LLCs hand this form to The New York Department of State, Division of Corporations.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of Existence (also called a Certificate of Good Standing), issued within 365 days of filing.

What is due after registering?

Section 5 covers it: the biennial statement for $9.

Which services are in this lesson?

Three are recommended: New York Registered Agent.ai ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and NY Registered Agent.org ($199).

Which service should handle the registration?

New York Registered Agent.ai, because $199 over the state fee, with year one of the agent covered, then $99 a year. After it come Mainstay Filing and NY Registered Agent.org.

See also

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Cited for New York Department of State, Division of Corporations: dos.ny.gov, edition of August 2026.
  2. Cited for New York Department of State, Division of Corporations: filing.dos.ny.gov, edition of August 2026.
  3. Cited for New York report due date: nysenate.gov, edition of August 2026.
  4. Cited for NY Limited Liability Company Law § 203: nysenate.gov, edition of August 2026.
  5. Cited for New York formation fee: Filing fee, official source: dos.ny.gov, edition of October 2026.
  6. Cited for New York registered agent statute: nysenate.gov, edition of October 2026.
  7. Cited for Department of State, Application for Authority: dos.ny.gov, edition of October 2026.
  8. Cited for LLC Law § 802, application for authority: nysenate.gov, edition of October 2026.
  9. Cited for LLC Law § 808, consequences of doing business: nysenate.gov, edition of October 2026.
  10. Cited for Department of State, Certificate of Publication: dos.ny.gov, edition of October 2026.
  11. November 13, 2026: New York Registered Agent.ai's pricing page was consulted for the price tables
  12. November 13, 2026: Mainstay Filing's New York service page was consulted for the price tables
  13. November 13, 2026: NY Registered Agent.org's pricing page was consulted for the price tables