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Founder Mentor Guide

National list

3 Best LLC Services (2026)

The LLC services we would send a first-time owner to in 2026 are Mainstay Filing ($199), New York Registered Agent.ai ($199) and SD Registered Agent.org ($199), in scored order. Mainstay Filing is first: $199 a year in any state pays for the filing, the registered agent and the yearly state report where one exists.

Advice from the Founder Mentor Guide mentors

The services we recommend

Order follows five criteria; read how we score for details.

Our call

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies that might expand

Our top pick$199 to start, $199 per year

Wherever you live, begin with Mainstay Filing: $199 a year in any state pays for the filing, the registered agent and the yearly state report where one exists.

Over three years it costs $200 more than New York Registered Agent.ai, which is the going rate for one provider in every state.

What you get

  • The formation is filed for you
  • A registered agent for twelve months
  • The state report is filed in any state that asks for one
  • The EIN application is included

What works

  • $199 in all fifty states
  • Renewal does not change
  • Files the yearly report for you

What to watch

  • A yearly price above the state picks
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Our call

2. New York Registered Agent.ai: best for New York businesses

New York pick$199 to start, $99 per year

Second on the list is New York Registered Agent.ai: $199 beyond the state fee to form in New York, first agent year included.

It concentrates on New York alone, so it suits an owner who will never file elsewhere.

What you get

  • The New York formation, filed for you
  • First-year agent service in New York

What works

  • Cheaper from year two
  • Renews for $99 a year

What to watch

  • New York only
  • It will not file your report
Visit New York Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Our call

3. SD Registered Agent.org: best for South Dakota businesses

South Dakota pick$199 to start, $99 per year

Third on the list is SD Registered Agent.org: $199 beyond the state fee to form in South Dakota, first agent year included.

It concentrates on South Dakota alone, so it suits an owner who will never file elsewhere.

What you get

  • The South Dakota formation, filed for you
  • First-year agent service in South Dakota

What works

  • Cheaper from year two
  • Renews for $99 a year

What to watch

  • South Dakota only
  • It will not file your report
Visit SD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Compare the services

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2New York Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397Visit New York Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3SD Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit SD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's price on November 13, 2026, with no state fee in it.

How to choose

Look at the price for years two and three, not just year one, and at which state jobs the price takes off your list. A company that might work in several states one day should weigh coverage across states too.

Behind the ranking

The scores reward a low three-year cost and a price that does more of the work, then renewal terms, state fit and plain pricing. Since a reader could live in any state, one price everywhere is worth more than a lower price in a single state. Places two and three go to New York Registered Agent.ai and SD Registered Agent.org, which cost less if your company is based in New York or South Dakota.

Walkthroughs for all 50 states

Each state walkthrough covers starting an LLC stage by stage, with that state's official fees and our picks there. Starting an LLC: all 50 states.

Questions, answered

What are the best LLC services in 2026?

Mainstay Filing, New York Registered Agent.ai and SD Registered Agent.org, in that order.

What does a LLC service cost?

$199 to $199 before state fees on this list.

Can one service cover every state?

Exactly one of the three can: Mainstay Filing, priced the same everywhere.

Why are one-state services on a national list?

A company with one state to worry about pays less with a local plan. New York Registered Agent.ai is our pick for New York businesses; SD Registered Agent.org for South Dakota businesses.

How did you grade them?

By five weighted criteria: three-year cost, work taken off your desk, year-two price, state fit and honest pricing.

Where do I learn the steps for my state?

Open your state's walkthrough from the overview page.

Where we got the facts

  1. Mainstay Filing: pricing page, opened November 13, 2026
  2. New York Registered Agent.ai: pricing page, opened November 13, 2026
  3. SD Registered Agent.org: pricing page, opened November 13, 2026