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Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Nationwide

3 Best Registered Agents (2026), Plainly Answered

For 2026, our nationwide registered agent picks are Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), MD Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and North Carolina Registered Agent.co ($99 a year), best first. Mainstay Filing comes first because one flat $149 a year works across all fifty states.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

The short answer

First pick, any state
Mainstay Filing
Maryland businesses
MD Registered Agent.org
North Carolina businesses
North Carolina Registered Agent.co

Best across the US

Our stated criteria set the order.
1Our first pick

1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners in several states

$149 per year (renewal $149)

Our top pick across the US is Mainstay Filing: one flat $149 a year works across all fifty states.

Three years cost $150 more than MD Registered Agent.org; that buys one provider in every state.

The price covers

  • Street address in any state
  • Three government mailings a year scanned free
  • Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits

Upsides

  • One $149 price anywhere
  • Same price in year two

What to weigh

  • Costs more than the state picks
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Maryland pick

2. MD Registered Agent.org: best for Maryland businesses

$99 per year (renewal $99)

Next is MD Registered Agent.org, because a Maryland agent costs $99 a year here.

Right for a company whose only home is Maryland.

The price covers

  • Maryland office address
  • Legal papers scanned online

Upsides

  • $99 a year, below Mainstay Filing
  • Same price in year two

What to weigh

  • Single-state (Maryland)
  • You file the yearly report
Visit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3North Carolina pick

3. North Carolina Registered Agent.co: best for North Carolina businesses

$99 per year (renewal $99)

North Carolina Registered Agent.co ranks third. Put simply, a North Carolina agent costs $99 a year here.

Right for a company whose only home is North Carolina.

The price covers

  • North Carolina office address
  • Legal papers scanned online

Upsides

  • $99 a year, below Mainstay Filing
  • Same price in year two

What to weigh

  • Single-state (North Carolina)
  • You file the yearly report
Visit North Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices next to each other

#ServiceFirst yearRenewalThree yearsWhere it works
1Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447Every stateVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2MD Registered Agent.org$99$99/yr$297MarylandVisit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3North Carolina Registered Agent.co$99$99/yr$297North CarolinaVisit North Carolina Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company prices as of November 12, 2026, before state fees.

What you need to know

One provider for all fifty states?

Mainstay Filing can. Picks two and three each serve a single state.

Coverage starts to count when the company outgrows its first state.

Why are local services on a national list?

A company that only files in one state can save with them. MD Registered Agent.org fits Maryland businesses; North Carolina Registered Agent.co for North Carolina businesses.

Why this order?

A national list measures nationwide reach, and only one pick has it.

Three-year cost first, coverage second, then three smaller criteria. How we choose

Also asked

What are the best registered agents in 2026?

In order: Mainstay Filing, MD Registered Agent.org and North Carolina Registered Agent.co.

How much is a registered agent?

$99 at the low end, $149 at the high end, yearly.

Over three years, what does each cost?

Mainstay Filing $447, MD Registered Agent.org $297 and North Carolina Registered Agent.co $297.

What about my own state?

Pick your state from the index for its official requirements and picks.

Are these the real prices?

The prices each company lists, as of November 12, 2026.

Where these answers come from

  1. Prices from the Mainstay Filing pricing page on November 12, 2026
  2. Prices from the MD Registered Agent.org pricing page on November 12, 2026
  3. Prices from the North Carolina Registered Agent.co pricing page on November 12, 2026