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Biz Formation Academy

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

Chapter 3 · Texas

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

In 2026 the services this chapter recommends for registering an LLC formed elsewhere in Texas are Mainstay Filing ($199), Texas Registered Agent.ai ($199) and TX Registered Agent.org ($199), best first. Registration is covered in 4 sections. The state fee is $750.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Key points

Fee at the filing office $750 Source text at sos.state.tx.us, October 2026
Maintenance filing None Public Information Report
State cost, years 1 to 3 $750 State charges only
Sections in this chapter 4 In sequence

Learning objectives

  • When an LLC from elsewhere must register in Texas
  • The filing, its fee and its office
  • What follows registration
  • The recommendations and their reasons

Texas: the ranked services

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

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a second state and later ones

Highest ranked
$199 plus fees; renewal $149 annually

Mainstay Filing is ranked first in Texas: a charge of $199 plus Texas's fee covers the filing and the first year of the registered agent.

Over three years it costs $100 above Texas Registered Agent.ai, in exchange for more of the work done.

Beyond year one the agent is billed at $149 a year, whichever state applies.

Price covers

  • Registration paperwork completed
  • The registered agent carries no charge in year one
  • Covers all fifty states

Advantages

  • One price anywhere
  • The first agent year is included
  • $199 over Texas's fee

Limitations

  • Texas Registered Agent.ai charges $50 less for the agent
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Texas Registered Agent.ai: best for adding only Texas

Local option
$199 plus fees; renewal $99 annually

The second recommendation, Texas Registered Agent.ai: $199 beyond the state fee to register, then $99 each year.

Price covers

  • The filing is made for you
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $99 yearly from year two
  • $199 to register
  • First-year agent service at no added cost

Limitations

  • A separate agent is required at home
Visit Texas Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. TX Registered Agent.org: best for Texas-only registrations

Local option
$199 plus fees; renewal $99 annually

The third recommendation, TX Registered Agent.org: $199 beyond the state fee to register, then $99 each year.

It publishes the same prices as Texas Registered Agent.ai.

Price covers

  • The filing is made for you
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $99 yearly from year two
  • $199 to register
  • First-year agent service at no added cost

Limitations

  • A separate agent is required at home
Visit TX Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The Texas rankings compared

#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 Texas Registered Agent.ai $199$99/yr$397 Visit Texas Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 TX Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit TX Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Listed prices, consulted November 13, 2026. Add the $750 state fee to every row.

The Texas registration, in sequence

  1. Section 1

    When Texas requires registration

    A foreign LLC, meaning one formed elsewhere, registers with Texas before it transacts business in the state. An LLC that operates unregistered faces: an unregistered LLC may not act as plaintiff before Texas's courts (BOC 9.051(b)) its contracts can still be enforced (BOC 9.051(c))

    Reference: Source text at comptroller.texas.gov, October 2026

  2. Section 2

    Select the Texas registered agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a street address where papers can be handed to the agent during normal business hours. A mailbox service or answering service alone does not qualify.

    The services listed above supply one.

    Reference: Source text at sos.texas.gov, October 2026

  3. Section 3

    Your paperwork here is the Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company

    Filing is the act of registering, and the state charges $750.

    Reference: Source text at sos.state.tx.us, October 2026

  4. Section 4

    Remain registered

    Note the Public Information Report (May 15).

What each section costs in Texas

ItemRecipientPrice
Section on registration Filing office$750
Optional service The service$199 in the first year
State fees for the first three years Filing office$750

Rows for the state rely on Texas's published fee schedules (listed in the bibliography below), and each service row uses that company's own price. For three years the state row adds the filing, the report in year two, the report in year three and any minimum tax.

Why the list is in this order

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.

Short answers

Which fees does Texas collect from a foreign LLC?

$750 to the state. The recommended services add $199.

Which form do I file to register?

The Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 304) is the form needed, and it goes to the Texas Secretary of State.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

an unregistered LLC may not act as plaintiff before Texas's courts (BOC 9.051(b)) its contracts can still be enforced (BOC 9.051(c))

What is due after registering?

Next is the Public Information Report.

Which services are in this lesson?

Mainstay Filing, Texas Registered Agent.ai and TX Registered Agent.org; prices appear in the table above.

Which service should handle the registration?

Choose Mainstay Filing: the first-year agent is included, so the Texas registration costs $199 beyond the state fee. Next are Texas Registered Agent.ai and TX Registered Agent.org.

Next chapter

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Footnote for Texas yearly filing: Annual report, official source: see comptroller.texas.gov (October 2026).
  2. Footnote for Texas report due date: see statutes.capitol.texas.gov (August 2026).
  3. Footnote for Tex: see sos.texas.gov (August 2026).
  4. Footnote for Texas registered agent statute: see sos.texas.gov (October 2026).
  5. Footnote for Texas Secretary of State, foreign entities FAQ: see sos.state.tx.us (October 2026).
  6. Footnote for Form 304 instructions: see sos.state.tx.us (October 2026).
  7. Footnote for Business Organizations Code, Chapter 9: see statutes.capitol.texas.gov (October 2026).
  8. Footnote for Texas Comptroller, franchise tax: see comptroller.texas.gov (October 2026).
  9. Footnote for Texas Business Organizations Code, Chapter 9: see tcss.legis.texas.gov (November 2026).
  10. November 13, 2026: Mainstay Filing's Texas service page was consulted for the price tables
  11. November 13, 2026: Texas Registered Agent.ai's pricing page was consulted for the price tables
  12. November 13, 2026: TX Registered Agent.org's pricing page was consulted for the price tables