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Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Plain English · Washington

2 Best Registered Agents in Washington (2026), Plainly Answered

Asked who to hire in Washington in 2026, we'd say Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and WA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), 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 ·

Quick answer

Mandatory?
Required by law
Called
Registered agent
Agent price
$99 to $149 each year
Our picks, in order
Mainstay Filing then WA Registered Agent.org

The Washington picks

Best first, by our stated criteria.
1Our first pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one price in every state

$149 a year, renews at $149

First choice: Mainstay Filing. The reason is simple: the price is $149 a year wherever the LLC is on file.

It costs $150 more than WA Registered Agent.org over three years; the difference buys one provider in every state.

The price covers

  • Registered office address
  • Three government mailings a year scanned free
  • Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits

Upsides

  • $149 a year
  • Covers every state

What to weigh

  • $50 more per year than the local pick
  • Just the agent role
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2In-state

2. WA Registered Agent.org: best for a low yearly price

$99 a year, renews at $99

WA Registered Agent.org ranks second, because $99 a year buys an in-state agent.

The price covers

  • An office address in the state
  • Legal papers scanned to your account

Upsides

  • $99 a year, no increase
  • Less per year than Mainstay Filing

What to weigh

  • A second state means a second agent
  • You handle the annual report on your own
Visit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Side-by-side prices

#ServiceFirst yearYear two onBy year threeIncludes
1Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447registered office address; three government mailings a year scanned free; Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofitsVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2WA Registered Agent.org$99$99/yr$297an office address in the state; legal papers scanned to your accountVisit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's published prices, November 12, 2026. State fees come on top and do not change by pick.

Questions, answered plainly

Is a registered agent required?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Statute: RCW 23.95.415. app.leg.wa.gov (October 2026)

Who can serve as the agent?

A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, a noncommercial agent (any person or business with a Washington address), or the holder of a named position in the company. The agent consents in advance.

Qualify, and you can fill the role yourself for free.

What do agents charge?

From $99 to $149 a year, $297 to $447 across three years.

Your choice of agent leaves state fees unchanged.

What is the agent for?

It gives the LLC an address in Washington for legal papers and government mail.

What matters most is that you hear about every document quickly. Read: service of process

What else comes due each year?

One recurring filing: the annual report ($70, yearly). It falls due last day of the entity's anniversary month.

sos.wa.gov (October 2026)

Why these three?

Mainstay Filing wins on what the price takes off your plate, our 30% criterion.

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

If the LLC ever adds a state, the same agent and price follow it; WA Registered Agent.org stops at the Washington line.

Read our criteria

Requirements, cited

RuleDetailSource
LLC filing fee$200sos.wa.gov (October 2026)
Registered agentRequired by lawapp.leg.wa.gov (October 2026)
Annual report$70 every yearsos.wa.gov (October 2026)
State total, years 1 to 3$340Our sum of the fees above
Filing fee, the reports in years two and three, then any minimum tax: that is the three-year line.

People also ask

May I name myself?

Yes. Meet the who-qualifies and address rules on this page and you can do it yourself.

What address does the agent need?

The address has to be a physical street address in Washington. P.O. boxes and private mailboxes are not accepted.

What do the picks cost over three years?

Mainstay Filing $447 and WA Registered Agent.org $297

What are the numbers based on?

Official Washington sources for state fees, company price pages for service fees.

Do I have to use a service?

No. The state accepts filings from owners; a service saves time and handles the agent role.

Which registered agent would you pick in Washington?

We rank Mainstay Filing first on what the price takes off your plate, with WA Registered Agent.org behind it.

Sources for this page

  1. Washington Secretary of State, Corporations, August 2026 (ccfs.sos.wa.gov)
  2. Washington Secretary of State, Corporations, August 2026 (sos.wa.gov)
  3. Washington yearly filing: Annual report, October 2026 (sos.wa.gov)
  4. Washington report due date, August 2026 (app.leg.wa.gov)
  5. Washington formation fee: Filing fee, October 2026 (sos.wa.gov)
  6. Washington formation fee: Filing fee, October 2026 (sos.wa.gov)
  7. Washington registered agent statute, October 2026 (app.leg.wa.gov)
  8. Prices from the Mainstay Filing Washington service page on November 12, 2026
  9. Prices from the WA Registered Agent.org pricing page on November 12, 2026