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LLC Q and AOne question, one reply, one source.

Short reply · New York

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in New York (2026), Ranked

The 2026 order for foreign registration services in New York is New York Registered Agent.ai ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and NY Registered Agent.org ($199). Registering costs $250 at New York, whoever files, plus $397 to $497 to a service over three years.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

At a glance

State registration fee
$250
Home-state certificate?
Yes (365 days max age)
Following
$9, biennial statement
Pick
New York Registered Agent.ai, Mainstay Filing then NY Registered Agent.org

New York: ranked picks

Order set by our five criteria, three-year cost first.
1#1 pick

1. New York Registered Agent.ai: best for one extra state

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

Reason for New York Registered Agent.ai at the top: registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Lower three-year cost than Mainstay Filing, and cost is the heaviest criterion.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Agent renews at $99
  • Year-one agent included
  • Service fee $199

Against

  • Two states, two providers
Go to New York Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2All fifty states

2. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

$199 plus state fee, then $149/yr

Mainstay Filing ranks second since $199 in every state, with the first agent for service of process year included.

Ranked lower because three years cost $100 more than New York Registered Agent.ai, and cost has the biggest weight.

No agent for service of process fee in year one; $149 a year from year two.

Price covers

  • Out-of-state registration filed
  • Agent for service of process, no charge in year one
  • Same price in any state

For

  • $199 to file
  • No agent for service of process fee in year one
  • Same fee in every state

Against

  • Renewal $50 over New York Registered Agent.ai
Go to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3New York only

3. NY Registered Agent.org: best for another local option

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

NY Registered Agent.org ranks third since registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

It charges exactly what New York Registered Agent.ai charges.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Service fee $199
  • Year-one agent included
  • Agent renews at $99

Against

  • Two states, two providers
Go to NY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Side by side

#CompanyYear 1Renewal3-year costIncludes
1New York Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; agent for year oneGo to New York Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Out-of-state registration filed; agent for service of process, no charge in year one; same price in any stateGo to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3NY Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; agent for year oneGo to NY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as of November 13, 2026. State fees are in the checklist below.

Key questions

Must my LLC register here?

Register with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations first; do business in New York second.

dos.ny.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Cost to register?

State fee $250; add $199 if someone files for you.

State fees reach $259 over three years, counting any recurring report. ny.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Which form, filed where?

Registration goes through the Application for Authority of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form DOS-1361-f-a), handled by the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations.

Include certificate of Existence (also called a Certificate of Good Standing) no more than 365 days.

Any recurring filing?

A recurring biennial statement, at $9.

Deadline per the state: every two years, in the month the application was filed.

Why this order?

Three-year price (36%) goes to New York Registered Agent.ai.

Five criteria: three-year price (36%), chores removed from your list (26%), price shown up front (15%), year-two bill (12%) and states served (11%).

Three years at New York Registered Agent.ai cost $397, which is $100 less than Mainstay Filing.

The five criteria

What New York requires of a foreign LLC

ItemRule or amountSource
Registration fee$250ny.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Good standing certificateYes, 365 daysdos.ny.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Biennial statement$9dos.ny.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
State fees, 3 years$259Sum of the rows above
Three-year total = filing + report in year 2 + report in year 3 + minimum tax (if any). Fees without a fixed amount, like newspaper notices, are not summed.

Also asked

Is an agent needed at home too?

Yes. Each state has its own rule. Mainstay Filing serves both from one account.

Three-year cost of each?

New York Registered Agent.ai will run $397, Mainstay Filing will run $497, NY Registered Agent.org will run $397, with state fees on top.

Where do the numbers come from?

State fees come from New York's official documents. Service prices come from each company's price page. Both are dated here.

Is a service required?

No. Owners can file directly. A service saves time and can act as agent.

Can someone register the LLC for me?

Yes, every pick files it, and the state fee is the same for all.

Best foreign registration service in New York?

New York Registered Agent.ai, because $199 files the registration and the agent renews at $99. Then Mainstay Filing and NY Registered Agent.org.

Sources

  1. Q and A source note covering New York Department of State, found at dos.ny.gov and dated August 2026, kept on file
  2. Q and A source note covering New York Department of State, found at filing.dos.ny.gov and dated August 2026, kept on file
  3. Q and A source note covering New York report due date, found at nysenate.gov and dated August 2026, kept on file
  4. Q and A source note covering NY Limited Liability Company Law, found at nysenate.gov and dated August 2026, kept on file
  5. Q and A source note covering New York formation fee: Filing, found at dos.ny.gov and dated October 2026, kept on file
  6. Q and A source note covering New York registered agent statute, found at nysenate.gov and dated October 2026, kept on file
  7. Q and A source note covering Department of State, Application for, found at dos.ny.gov and dated October 2026, kept on file
  8. Q and A source note covering LLC Law § 802, application, found at nysenate.gov and dated October 2026, kept on file
  9. Q and A source note covering LLC Law § 808, consequences, found at nysenate.gov and dated October 2026, kept on file
  10. Q and A source note covering Department of State, Certificate of, found at dos.ny.gov and dated October 2026, kept on file
  11. New York Registered Agent.ai pricing page, read November 13, 2026
  12. Mainstay Filing New York service page, read November 13, 2026
  13. NY Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026