Place1
Our national pickMainstay Filing
1. Mainstay Filing: best for founders in every state
$199 up front plus state fees; $149 a year after, for the registered agent
Our mark9.3out of 10
First place goes to Mainstay Filing: a fixed $199 fee to register in any state, then $149 a year for the agent.
The $100 it costs above MA Registered Agent.org over three years pays for one account in every state.
What you get
- Registration prepared and filed
- Service of process scanned the same business day, no fee
Why pick it
- Works in all fifty states at $199
- $149 a year after the first
- Same-day scanning of legal papers, no fee
Less good
- Higher yearly price than the state picks
Place2
Best for MassachusettsMA Registered Agent.org
2. MA Registered Agent.org: best for Massachusetts businesses
$199 up front plus state fees; $99 a year after, for the registered agent
Our mark8.9out of 10
MA Registered Agent.org ranks second: it registers out-of-state companies in Massachusetts for $199 over the state fee.
A good fit when Massachusetts is the only state your company works in.
What you get
- Massachusetts registration prepared and filed
- A year of registered agent service in Massachusetts
Why pick it
- Smaller yearly bill after year one
- $99 a year after the first
- Legal documents served on the company scanned and sent to you online
Less good
- No coverage outside Massachusetts
- Report filing is on you
Place3
Best for North CarolinaNC Registered Agent.org
3. NC Registered Agent.org: best for North Carolina businesses
$199 up front plus state fees; $99 a year after, for the registered agent
Our mark8.6out of 10
At number 3, NC Registered Agent.org: it registers out-of-state companies in North Carolina for $199 over the state fee.
A good fit when North Carolina is the only state your company works in.
What you get
- North Carolina registration prepared and filed
- A year of registered agent service in North Carolina
Why pick it
- Smaller yearly bill after year one
- $99 a year after the first
- Legal documents served on the company scanned and sent to you online
Less good
- No coverage outside North Carolina
- Report filing is on you
The 3 picks side by side
| Rank | Service | Our score | Service fee | Year two | Best for | Link |
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| 1 | Mainstay Filing | 9.3 | $199 | $149/yr | Best for founders in every state | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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| 2 | MA Registered Agent.org | 8.9 | $199 | $99/yr | Best for Massachusetts businesses | Visit MA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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| 3 | NC Registered Agent.org | 8.6 | $199 | $99/yr | Best for North Carolina businesses | Visit NC Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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Each score is our editorial judgment out of 10 (see How we rank), not an average of customer ratings.
Three-year total cost, 2026 prices
| Service | Year one | Year two | Year three | Three-year total |
|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149 | $149 | $497 |
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| MA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 |
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| NC Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 |
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Read from each provider's site on November 12, 2026. Add the state's own filing fee to every column; the state services price their own state only.
Why this order
Cost over three years and the scope of one price each count for 30%; the remaining 40% goes to renewal terms, state fit and clarity. A nationwide reader needs a service that works wherever they file, which is why the fifty-state option leads. MA Registered Agent.org (Massachusetts) and NC Registered Agent.org (North Carolina) win on price in their states and fill places two and three.
Do you need an agent in every state?
Forming or registering in a state means naming an agent in that state. Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia handle the requirement differently; see their state pages. If you may expand, one provider everywhere is simpler. If you will stay put, a local agent can cost less.
State-by-state rankings
Each state page compares Mainstay Filing with that state's registered agent services, using the state's own fees and deadlines. All 50 state pages.
Questions about foreign registration services
What are the best foreign registration services in 2026?
Our 2026 order: Mainstay Filing, MA Registered Agent.org and NC Registered Agent.org.
How much does a foreign registration service cost?
Our picks range from $199 to $199, with the state fee on top.
Can one service cover every state?
Mainstay Filing does, at the same price in each state; the two state services do not.
Are state fees included in these prices?
No. Each service adds the state filing fee on top, at cost.
Why are single-state services on a nationwide list?
Because a one-state company can save with a local service. MA Registered Agent.org is our pick for Massachusetts businesses; NC Registered Agent.org for North Carolina businesses.
How did you choose the order?
Using our published method: cost over three years and coverage first, then renewal terms, state fit and clarity.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing: pricing and service pages, read November 12, 2026
- MA Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, read November 12, 2026
- NC Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, read November 12, 2026