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

State reply · Virginia

2 Best Foreign Registration Services in Virginia (2026), Ranked

In Virginia for 2026, rank foreign registration services Mainstay Filing ($199) and VA Registered Agent.org ($199). State fee: $100. Services over three years: $397 to $497.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

At a glance

Fee to the state
$100
Home-state certificate?
Yes (365 day age limit)
After registering
$50, annual registration fee
Our pick
Mainstay Filing then VA Registered Agent.org

Virginia ranking

Prices come from each company's own page. See the method.
1#1 pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

Service $199 plus $100 to the state; agent renewal $149

#1 in Virginia: Mainstay Filing, because $199 in every state, with the first registered agent year included.

Not the lowest bill: VA Registered Agent.org is $100 less over three years, in Virginia only.

Registered agent: free in year one, $149 a year after, in any state.

Price covers

  • Registration filing
  • Registered agent, no charge in year one
  • One fee for all fifty states

For

  • Same fee in every state
  • Agent free the first year
  • $199 to file

Against

  • Renewal $50 over VA Registered Agent.org
Open Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Virginia only

2. VA Registered Agent.org: best for registering in just this state

Service $199 plus $100 to the state; agent renewal $99

Why VA Registered Agent.org is second: its service fees reach $397 over three years.

Price covers

  • Virginia registration filing
  • Agent for year one

For

  • Service fee $199
  • Year-one agent included
  • Then $99 a year

Against

  • Virginia only; home state needs another agent
Open VA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Comparison

#CompanyYear 1Per year after3-year costIncludes
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497registration filing; registered agent, no charge in year one; one fee for all fifty statesOpen Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2VA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397virginia registration filing; agent for year oneOpen VA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read November 13, 2026; three years = year one + two renewals.

Questions and replies

When must an out-of-state LLC register?

Before it does business in Virginia, with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk.

Penalties for skipping it: Virginia courts will not take its claims (Va. Code 13.1-1057(A)).

law.lis.virginia.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Cost to register?

$100 to the state, plus $199 for a service.

Three-year state total, registration included: $200. scc.virginia.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Which form, filed where?

Registration goes through the Application for Certificate of Registration to Transact Business in Virginia as a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC1052), handled by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk.

Attach certified copy of articles of organization and all amendments issued in the last 365 days.

Any recurring filing?

A recurring annual registration fee, at $50.

Deadline per the state: last day of your registration month.

Why this order?

Winning criterion for Mainstay Filing: chores removed from your list, weighted 26%.

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%).

The home state needs an agent as well, and one account is simpler.

The five criteria

What Virginia requires of a foreign LLC

ItemDetailSource
Registration fee$100scc.virginia.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Good standing certificateYes, 365 dayslaw.lis.virginia.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Annual registration fee$50law.lis.virginia.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Three-year state total$200Sum of the rows above
To verify the total: filing fee, two later reports, minimum tax if one applies. Costs without a set amount are excluded.

More replies

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?

Mainstay Filing totals $497 and VA Registered Agent.org totals $397, with state fees on top.

Are the fees official?

State fees cite their official page; service prices come from the company's own site.

Do I have to hire one?

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

Does a service file it?

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

Who ranks first in Virginia?

Mainstay Filing, because you pay $199 plus Virginia's fee, nothing for the registered agent in year one, then $149 a year. Then VA Registered Agent.org.

Sources

  1. Reference line for Virginia yearly filing: Recurring filing, drawn from law.lis.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  2. Reference line for Virginia yearly filing: Recurring filing, drawn from scc.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  3. Reference line for Va, drawn from law.lis.virginia.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  4. Reference line for Virginia formation fee: Filing fee, drawn from law.lis.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  5. Reference line for Virginia registered agent statute, drawn from law.lis.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  6. Reference line for SCC, foreign limited liability company, drawn from scc.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  7. Reference line for SCC, foreign business entities FAQ, drawn from scc.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  8. Reference line for SCC, foreign registration checklist, drawn from scc.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  9. Reference line for Code of Virginia § 13.1-1052, drawn from law.lis.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  10. Reference line for Code of Virginia § 13.1-1059, drawn from law.lis.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  11. Reference line for Code of Virginia § 13.1-1057, drawn from law.lis.virginia.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  12. Reference line for Code of Virginia 13.1-1051 to, drawn from law.lis.virginia.gov and confirmed November 2026, as noted by our editors
  13. Price page: Mainstay Filing Virginia service page, accessed November 13, 2026
  14. Price page: VA Registered Agent.org pricing page, accessed November 13, 2026