Best LLC formation services in Texas for 2026: Texas Registered Agent.ai ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and TX Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked in that order. Costs in brief: $300 to the state, $397 to $597 to a service across three years.
LLC Q and A editorial team ·
At a glance
Fee to the state
$300, one time
Then
Report has no fee
Registered agent
Yes, by statute
Our pick
Texas Registered Agent.ai, Mainstay Filing then TX Registered Agent.org
Best in Texas, in order
Order set by our five criteria, three-year cost first.
1Top pick
1. Texas Registered Agent.ai: best for staying local
Form for $199; renew at $99 a year
#1 in Texas: Texas Registered Agent.ai, because it opens at $199 including the first agent year and renews at $99.
On three-year cost it beats Mainstay Filing, and cost counts most.
You still handle the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report yourself.
Price covers
Texas formation filing
Agent for year one
For
$199 plus state fee to form
Agent renews at $99
Year-one agent included
Against
Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report not included
Service fees only, from company price pages read November 13, 2026. State fees are identical for every pick.
Questions and replies
How much to start an LLC in this state?
State fee $300; add $199 for first-year service.
State fees across three years, filing included: $300. sos.texas.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
What starts the LLC?
Your filing is the Certificate of Formation (Form 205), and it is sent to the Texas Secretary of State.
Law: Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 3.005. sos.texas.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
A registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A Texas resident, including an owner, officer or employee, or an organization registered or authorized in Texas with a business office at the registered office. The company cannot be its own agent, and the agent has to consent.
sos.texas.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Later-year obligations?
One recurring filing, the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report, comes once a year at no cost. On the state's calendar it comes May 15, and we suggest filing early.
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
EIN application included?
Mainstay Filing includes it. Others charge: Texas Registered Agent.ai $99; TX Registered Agent.org $99.
Late fee for the report?
$50.
What do the picks cost over three years?
Totals over three years: Texas Registered Agent.ai at $397, Mainstay Filing at $597, TX Registered Agent.org at $397, services only.
Are the fees official?
Official Texas sources for the state side, published prices for the service side.
Do I have to hire one?
No law requires a service; it is a paid convenience.
Who ranks first in Texas?
Texas Registered Agent.ai: three years total $397 with its $99 renewal. Behind it: Mainstay Filing and TX Registered Agent.org.
Sources
Reference line for Texas yearly filing: Annual report, drawn from comptroller.texas.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
Reference line for Texas report due date, drawn from statutes.capitol.texas.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
Reference line for Tex, drawn from sos.texas.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
Reference line for Texas registered agent statute, drawn from sos.texas.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
Texas Registered Agent.ai pricing page, read November 13, 2026
Mainstay Filing Texas service page, read November 13, 2026
TX Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026