Best Registered Agent Services: Reviewed and Compared
The leading registered agent services differ mainly on published first-year price, renewal price, and what is bundled in, such as LLC formation or annual report filing. As of October 2026, LLC Register publishes the lowest flat renewal price at $99 a year, unchanged every year, while other providers range from $125 to $249 a year at renewal after a lower or free first-year rate. Compare the renewal price and inclusions together, not the headline first-year number alone.
By LLC Register · Last reviewed October 5, 2026
Comprehensive Guide
What a Registered Agent Service Actually Sells
Every state requires an LLC to maintain a registered agent, a person or company at a physical address in the state of registration who is available during business hours to accept legal and state mail. A registered agent service sells exactly that function, typically bundled with varying add-ons: mail forwarding or scanning, compliance reminders, and sometimes LLC formation or annual report filing. Because the underlying legal requirement is identical everywhere, price and inclusions are the two things that actually differentiate providers.
Published Registered Agent Pricing, Side by Side
As published on each company's own site in October 2026:
- LLC Register: $99 a year, the same price in year one and at every renewal. LLC formation in year one and annual report filing are included, and state fees are passed through at cost.
- Northwest Registered Agent: included free for one year with its $39-plus-state-fee formation package, then $125 a year at renewal, which Northwest Registered Agent states is a fixed price that does not increase.
- ZenBusiness: $99 for the first year, renewing at $199 a year; annual report filing is a separate $100-plus-state-fee service.
- Harbor Compliance: $99 for new customers in the first year, renewing at $159 a year; its managed annual report service is listed separately at $199 per state plus filing fees.
- Bizee: free for the first year with any formation package, then $149 a year at renewal; annual report filing is a separate $99-plus-state-fee service.
- LegalZoom: $249 a year, the same rate in year one and at renewal, though LegalZoom notes the renewal rate is subject to change; annual report filing is $99 per filing plus state fee, or $199 a year as a standing subscription.
Reading This Table Correctly
The lowest number on this list is not always the lowest total cost. A provider that bundles a free first year into its formation package, like Northwest Registered Agent or Bizee, is giving you one year at no charge and then billing the regular rate every year after. A provider with a flat rate in both years, like LLC Register or LegalZoom, is not discounting at all, so what you see in year one is what you pay every year. Decide which pattern matches how long you expect to keep the LLC before comparing the headline number.
How LLC Register compares
LLC Register's registered agent service is $99 a year, the same price at renewal. LLC formation in year one and annual report filing are included, while most providers charge $99 to $199 a year extra for annual report filing. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before checkout.
What Else to Compare Beyond Price
Beyond the headline numbers, confirm each provider's mail-handling method (physical forwarding, digital scanning, or both), its support channels, and whether its service covers every state where your LLC is registered or foreign-qualified, since not every registered agent company operates nationwide. These details change more often than annual price and are best confirmed on the provider's own current site rather than a review written months earlier.
A Note on How to Read Reviews of These Companies
Reviews of registered agent companies, including this one, are most useful when they cite a specific, dated, published price rather than a vague superlative. A claim like "cheapest registered agent" only means something when it names the actual number and the date it was published, since prices change. Treat any review that does not cite a specific price with more caution.
Practical Considerations
Renewal Price Is the Number That Repeats
Most LLCs keep their registered agent for years, not months, so the renewal price, not the first-year promotional rate, is what you actually pay most years you own the business. Weigh the renewal figure more heavily than the headline first-year price when comparing providers.
Bundled Inclusions Change the Real Comparison
A $99-a-year price that includes annual report filing is not directly comparable to a $99-a-year price that charges annual report filing separately at $100 or more. Add the full package of fees you would actually pay in a typical year, not just the registered agent line item, before deciding which provider is less expensive overall.
Multi-State Coverage Is Not Universal
If your LLC is registered or foreign-qualified in more than one state, confirm the provider offers registered agent service in every state you need, since not all providers operate in all fifty states under the same pricing.
Prices Change, So Verify Before You Buy
Every figure in this article reflects what each company published on its own site in October 2026. Confirm current pricing directly on the provider's site before signing up, since published rates are revised from time to time.
This Is Not Legal or Tax Advice
Which registered agent features matter most depends on your specific business and states of operation. Talk to a tax professional if you are unsure how registered agent and annual report obligations interact with your particular state requirements.
Sources
The official sources used for this article.
FTC: The Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule, Questions and Answers | ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/consumer-reviews-testimonials-rule-questions-answers |
|---|---|
IRS: Limited Liability Company (LLC) | irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/limited-liability-company-llc |
SBA: Choose a business structure | sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure |
Created by: LLC RegisterLast reviewed October 5, 2026
Updated: October 5, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which registered agent service has the lowest published renewal price?
As published on each company's site in October 2026, LLC Register publishes the lowest flat renewal price at $99 a year, unchanged from year one. Other providers compared here range from $125 to $249 a year at renewal.
Why do some registered agent prices increase after the first year?
Several providers advertise a free or discounted first year bundled with LLC formation, then renew the registered agent subscription at a higher, separately published rate starting in year two. Check the renewal price specifically, not just the first-year offer.
Does a cheaper registered agent service mean lower total yearly cost?
Not necessarily. Some providers' base price excludes annual report filing, which can cost $99 to $199 a year extra elsewhere. Add every recurring fee you would actually pay in a typical year, not just the registered agent line item, before comparing totals.
How often do registered agent companies change their published prices?
There is no fixed schedule; prices can change at any time, and some providers, such as LegalZoom, specifically note that a renewal rate is subject to change. Confirm current pricing directly on the provider's own site before signing up rather than relying on an older review.
Form your business with LLC Register
$99 a year for a registered agent, with LLC formation in year one and annual report filing included. State fees are passed through at cost.
