3 Best Registered Agents in New York (2026), Plainly Answered
We'd pick Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), NY Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and New York Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year) in New York for 2026, in that order. You will pay $99 to $149 for year one and $297 to $447 by year three.
By the Plain Charter editorial team ·
Answer in brief
Mandatory?
See the answer below
Legal term
Agent for service of process
Agent price
$99 to $149 yearly
Who we'd use
Mainstay Filing, NY Registered Agent.org then New York Registered Agent.ai
Who to use in New York
Prices come from each company's own pricing. How we choose.
1First choice
1. Mainstay Filing: best for LLCs in more than one state
First year $149, then $149 a year
First choice: Mainstay Filing. The reason is simple: its $149 yearly price does not change from state to state.
Yes, NY Registered Agent.org is $150 less across three years. We still put the pick that covers every state first.
The price covers
An address in the state
Three government mailings a year scanned free
Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
Read from company pricing on November 12, 2026; three years means the first year plus two renewals.
The plain answers
Does the law require an agent for service of process?
The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC; naming a registered agent is optional.
The law behind it: N.Y. LLC Law §§ 301 and 302. nysenate.gov (October 2026)
Who may act as agent?
If one is designated: a person who lives in New York or has a business address there, an LLC formed or authorized in New York, or a corporation formed or authorized in New York.
You can be your own agent if you qualify; the state charges nothing extra.
How much is agent service?
From $99 to $149 a year, $297 to $447 across three years.
State fees stay the same whichever agent you name.
Why does the state want one?
Its job is to receive legal documents and official notices for the company in New York.
One recurring filing: the biennial statement ($9, biennial). It falls due during the calendar month in which the Articles of Organization were filed, every 2 years.
Filing fee, the reports in years two and three, then any minimum tax: that is the three-year line.
FAQ
Do I have to pay someone?
The state does not insist on an agent here; if you name one, you can name yourself when you fit the rule.
Which address counts?
New York has no registered-office requirement. The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC and mails a copy of any papers served to the address the company has on file. A designated registered agent's street address goes on the filing.
Over three years, what does each charge?
Mainstay Filing $447, NY Registered Agent.org $297 and New York Registered Agent.ai $297
Where do these figures come from?
Each state fee links its official source; each service price comes from the company's site.
Must I hire anyone?
It is optional; the state charges the same either way.
Who is your first choice in New York?
Mainstay Filing, because it costs $149 a year, $149 at renewal, and one account covers any state. Then NY Registered Agent.org and New York Registered Agent.ai.
Sources for this page
dos.ny.gov · New York Department of State · August 2026