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Quick answer · Washington

2 Best Foreign Registration Services in Washington (2026): The Quick Answer

Best foreign registration services in Washington for 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199) and WA Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked in that order. State fee: $180. Services over three years: $397 to $497.

LLC Q and A editorial team ·

Quick answers

State registration fee
$180
Home-state certificate?
Required (60 days max age)
After registering
$70, annual report
Pick
Mainstay Filing then WA Registered Agent.org

Washington: ranked picks

Scoring is explained on the method page.
1Top pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states

$199 plus state fee, then $149/yr

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

The $100 premium over WA Registered Agent.org across three years buys coverage outside Washington.

No registered agent fee in year one; $149 a year from year two.

Price covers

  • Out-of-state registration filed
  • Registered agent, free first year
  • One fee for all fifty states

For

  • Ready for state number three
  • Year-one agent included
  • $199 plus Washington's fee

Against

  • Renewal $50 over WA Registered Agent.org
Mainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Washington only

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

$199 plus state fee, then $99/yr

Why WA Registered Agent.org is second: registration is $199 over the state fee, agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Price covers

  • Foreign filing handled
  • First-year agent included

For

  • Agent renews at $99
  • $199 over the state fee
  • Year-one agent included

Against

  • Washington only; home state needs another agent
WA Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Comparison

#ServiceYear 1RenewalTotal, 3 yearsIncludes
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Out-of-state registration filed; registered agent, free first year; one fee for all fifty statesMainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2WA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397foreign filing handled; First-year agent includedWA Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as of November 13, 2026. State fees are in the checklist below.

Key questions

When must an out-of-state LLC register?

Register with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division first; do business in Washington second.

sos.wa.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

What does registering cost?

$180 to the state, plus $199 for a service.

State fees reach $320 over three years, counting any recurring report. sos.wa.gov (October 2026) is the source of record

Which form, filed where?

Lodge the Foreign Registration Statement at the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division; one filing registers the LLC.

Attach certificate of existence (good standing) or similar document no more than 60 days.

What is due after registering?

Expect the annual report ($70).

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

What decided #1?

Chores removed from your list (26%) goes to Mainstay Filing.

62% of the total is three-year price plus chores removed from your list.

WA Registered Agent.org covers Washington only; the home state needs someone else.

The five criteria

What Washington requires of a foreign LLC

ItemDetailSource
Fee to register$180sos.wa.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Good standing certificateRequired, 60 dayssos.wa.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
Annual report$70sos.wa.gov (October 2026) is the source of record
State fees, 3 years$320Sum of the rows above
The last row adds the filing, two reports and any minimum tax. Variable costs are explained in the text and left out of the sum.

Also asked

Does the home state still need an agent?

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

Three-year cost of each?

Mainstay Filing totals $497 and WA Registered Agent.org totals $397, before state fees.

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 law requires a service; it is a paid convenience.

Does a service file it?

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

Which foreign registration service should I use in Washington?

Mainstay Filing: you pay $199 plus Washington's fee, nothing for the registered agent in year one, then $149 a year. Behind it: WA Registered Agent.org.

Source list

  1. Reference line for Washington Secretary of State, Corporations, drawn from ccfs.sos.wa.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  2. Reference line for Washington Secretary of State, Corporations, drawn from sos.wa.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  3. Reference line for Washington yearly filing: Annual report, drawn from sos.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  4. Reference line for Washington report due date, drawn from app.leg.wa.gov and confirmed August 2026, as noted by our editors
  5. Reference line for Washington formation fee: Filing fee, drawn from sos.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  6. Reference line for Washington formation fee: Filing fee, drawn from sos.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  7. Reference line for Washington registered agent statute, drawn from app.leg.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  8. Reference line for Washington SOS, register a foreign, drawn from sos.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  9. Reference line for Washington SOS, fee schedules and, drawn from sos.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  10. Reference line for RCW 23.95.520, activities that are, drawn from app.leg.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  11. Reference line for RCW 23.95.505, consequences of not, drawn from app.leg.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  12. Reference line for RCW 23.95.510, foreign registration statement, drawn from app.leg.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  13. Reference line for Washington SOS, registered agents, drawn from sos.wa.gov and confirmed October 2026, as noted by our editors
  14. Mainstay Filing Washington service page, read November 13, 2026
  15. WA Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026