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Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Short answers · Texas

3 Best LLC Services in Texas (2026), Plainly Answered

Asked who to hire in Texas in 2026, we'd say TX Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Texas Registered Agent.ai ($199), in that order. The state's filing fee is $300 no matter who files. Service fees over three years: $397 to $597.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

Plainly put

Cost to file
$300, once, up front
Ongoing state fees
Report only, no fee
Registered agent
Required
Our picks, in order
TX Registered Agent.org, Mainstay Filing then Texas Registered Agent.ai

Who we'd hire in Texas

Prices come from each company's own pricing. How we choose.
1Best overall

1. TX Registered Agent.org: best for budget formations

Formation $199, agent renewal $99

We put TX Registered Agent.org at the top because it costs $199 up front with the first agent year, then $99 each year after.

Lower three-year cost than Mainstay Filing puts it first for a company staying in Texas.

Its price does not cover the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report.

The price covers

  • Formation, done for you
  • Agent included, year one

Upsides

  • $199 to form
  • $99 a year from year two
  • Agent service, year one

What to weigh

  • Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report: your job
  • Charges $99 for the EIN application
Visit TX Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Works in any state

2. Mainstay Filing: best for a predictable yearly bill

Annual price $199, renewal price $199, state fee extra

Mainstay Filing is next: the Public Information Report is part of its $199 yearly price, along with formation and the registered agent.

Over three years it is $200 dearer than TX Registered Agent.org.

The no-fee Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report is filed for you.

The price covers

  • State filing handled
  • Registered agent year-round
  • Public Information Report handled each time
  • EIN application
  • State fees at cost

Upsides

  • $199 yearly, all in
  • Renewal stays $199
  • No extra charge for the EIN application

What to weigh

  • A $100 yearly premium over TX Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Texas only

3. Texas Registered Agent.ai: best for a second in-state filer

Formation $199, agent renewal $99

Texas Registered Agent.ai is next: it costs $199 up front with the first agent year, then $99 each year after.

Its price does not cover the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report.

Same published prices as TX Registered Agent.org; pick whichever you prefer.

The price covers

  • Formation, done for you
  • Agent included, year one

Upsides

  • Agent service, year one
  • $99 a year from year two
  • $199 to form

What to weigh

  • Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report: your job
  • Charges $99 for the EIN application
Visit Texas Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Compare at a glance

#ProviderYear 1Year two onBy year threeWhat it covers
1TX Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Formation, done for you; agent included, year oneVisit TX Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597state filing handled; Registered agent year-round; Public Information Report handled each timeVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Texas Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397Formation, done for you; agent included, year oneVisit Texas Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company prices on November 12, 2026, before state fees.

Questions, answered plainly

How much should I budget to form it?

Budget $300 for the state and $199 for a service.

By year three you will have paid the state $300. source: sos.texas.gov, October 2026

What do I file, and where?

What you file: the Certificate of Formation (Form 205). Where: the Texas Secretary of State.

Legal basis: Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 3.005. source: sos.texas.gov, October 2026

Do I need a registered agent?

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.

source: sos.texas.gov, October 2026

What comes due after the LLC exists?

The Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report, once a year, with no fee. It is due May 15.

Late filers pay $50.

source: comptroller.texas.gov, October 2026

Can I do it without a service?

Yes, and then the cost is the state's $300 over three years.

Hiring one adds $397 to $597 over three years.

How was the order decided?

It comes down to three-year cost, where TX Registered Agent.org is strongest.

Three-year cost counts for 35% and what the price takes off your plate for 30%; the other three criteria are smaller.

$397 over three years for TX Registered Agent.org, which is $200 under Mainstay Filing.

Read our criteria

Texas requirements checklist

RequirementAnswerFrom
Formation fee$300source: sos.texas.gov, October 2026
Registered agentRequiredsource: sos.texas.gov, October 2026
Recurring reportNo feesource: comptroller.texas.gov, October 2026
State cost over 3 years$300Computed from the rows
Filing fee, the reports in years two and three, then any minimum tax: that is the three-year line.

Other quick questions

Does the price cover the EIN?

Only Mainstay Filing includes it. Elsewhere: $99 at TX Registered Agent.org, $99 at Texas Registered Agent.ai.

What happens if I miss the report?

$50 on top of the report fee.

How do the three-year costs compare?

TX Registered Agent.org $397, Mainstay Filing $597 and Texas Registered Agent.ai $397, plus state fees.

Where do these figures come from?

State fees from Texas's official sources, cited next to each figure; service prices from each company's own pricing.

Do I have to use a service?

Not required. Services charge for doing the paperwork for you.

Who is your first choice in Texas?

We rank TX Registered Agent.org first on three-year cost, with Mainstay Filing and Texas Registered Agent.ai behind it.

Cited sources

  1. October 2026: Texas yearly filing: Annual report, comptroller.texas.gov
  2. August 2026: Texas report due date, statutes.capitol.texas.gov
  3. August 2026: Tex, sos.texas.gov
  4. October 2026: Texas registered agent statute, sos.texas.gov
  5. Prices from the TX Registered Agent.org pricing page on November 12, 2026
  6. Prices from the Mainstay Filing Texas service page on November 12, 2026
  7. Prices from the Texas Registered Agent.ai pricing page on November 12, 2026