Skip to content
LLC Straight Talk What it costs, what you have to file, who's worth paying.

No matter where you file

3 Best Registered Agents (2026): Who's Worth Paying Anywhere

If you want a registered agent that works anywhere in 2026, here's our order: Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Maryland Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and North Dakota Registered Agent.co ($99 a year). Mainstay Filing gets the top spot because the price doesn't move by state: $149 a year, then $149.
Straight from the LLC Straight Talk editorial team

Bottom line

The short of it
Use anywhere
Mainstay Filing
Stuck in Maryland?
Maryland Registered Agent.co
North Dakota only?
North Dakota Registered Agent.co
Another state?
Look up your state

Our picks

The order comes from our five tests. A state pick is the better call if you only work in that state.

#1 Our top pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who work in several states

$149 a year, then $149

Why Mainstay Filing on top: the price doesn't move by state: $149 a year, then $149.

Here's the catch: Maryland Registered Agent.co costs $150 less over three years, but it only works in Maryland.

What you get

  • Street address in any state
  • Three government mailings a year scanned free
  • Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits

Pluses

  • The same $149 everywhere
  • Renewal's the same as year one

What's not

  • Local outfits can undercut it at home
Check Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
#2 Maryland pick

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

$99 a year, then $99

Maryland Registered Agent.co comes second because it charges $99 a year if your LLC stays in Maryland.

It covers Maryland. That's it.

What you get

  • Maryland office address
  • Legal papers scanned online

Pluses

  • Costs less than Mainstay Filing in year one
  • Renewal's the same as year one

What's not

  • Doesn't work outside Maryland
  • No report filing
Check Maryland Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
#3 North Dakota pick

3. North Dakota Registered Agent.co: best for North Dakota businesses

$99 a year, then $99

North Dakota Registered Agent.co comes third because it charges $99 a year if your LLC stays in North Dakota.

It covers North Dakota. That's it.

What you get

  • North Dakota office address
  • Legal papers scanned online

Pluses

  • Costs less than Mainstay Filing in year one
  • Renewal's the same as year one

What's not

  • Doesn't work outside North Dakota
  • No report filing
Check North Dakota Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

How they stack up

#WhoFirst yearThen3 yearsWhere it works
1 Mainstay Filing $149$149/yr$447All 50 Check Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Maryland Registered Agent.co $99$99/yr$297Maryland Check Maryland Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 North Dakota Registered Agent.co $99$99/yr$297North Dakota Check North Dakota Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Service fees only, read November 13, 2026. Your state's fees come on top.

What people ask

Can one company handle all fifty states?

Just one. Mainstay Filing charges the same everywhere, and the other two stay in their own state.

That matters the day your LLC opens in a second state.

Who are the state picks for?

A business that stays home can often get a better price from a local outfit. Maryland Registered Agent.co is for Maryland businesses; North Dakota Registered Agent.co for North Dakota businesses.

How'd you set the order?

A national list rewards coverage, and only one pick has it.

Money out the door in three years counts 35% and jobs the price actually covers counts 30%. Three smaller tests make up the rest. How we judge

More straight answers

Who's the best registered agent in 2026?

Mainstay Filing, Maryland Registered Agent.co and North Dakota Registered Agent.co, in that order.

What's a registered agent going to cost me?

$99 to $149 a year.

What's the three-year damage?

Over three years you're looking at $447 at Mainstay Filing, $297 at Maryland Registered Agent.co, $297 at North Dakota Registered Agent.co.

Is there a page for my state?

In the state list. Every state has its own page with the official fees and rules.

Where do these prices come from?

From each company's own price page, read November 13, 2026.

What's next

Sources, so you can check

  1. The Mainstay Filing pricing page as of November 13, 2026
  2. The Maryland Registered Agent.co pricing page as of November 13, 2026
  3. The North Dakota Registered Agent.co pricing page as of November 13, 2026