LLC Register vs. Harbor Compliance: Registered Agent Service Comparison
LLC Register's registered agent service is $99 a year and renews at the same $99, with LLC formation included in year one and annual report filing included every year. Harbor Compliance's registered agent service is $99 for the first year for new customers, renewing at $159 a year. Compare the renewal price of each, since that is the number you pay most years, and check whether annual report filing is included or billed separately.
By LLC Register · Last reviewed October 5, 2026
Comprehensive Guide
What Harbor Compliance Charges for Registered Agent Service
Harbor Compliance's registered agent service is $99 for the first year for new customers, renewing at $159 a year, as published on its website in October 2026. Harbor Compliance states this renewal number directly on its own registered-agent page: "$99 first year for new customers. Renews at $159 annually."
What LLC Register Charges for Registered Agent Service
LLC Register's registered agent service is $99 a year, and that price does not change at renewal. LLC formation is included in year one, annual report filing is included every year, and the state's own filing fee is passed through at cost rather than marked up.
Why the Renewal Price Matters More Than Year One
A free or discounted first year is only a good deal if the price that follows it is still reasonable, since the renewal price is what you pay in most years you keep the LLC active. Harbor Compliance's first-year offer is $99 for the first year for new customers; its published renewal price is $159 a year.
Annual Report Filing
A registered agent subscription and an annual report filing service are not always the same thing, and a provider's price should make clear whether the two are bundled. LLC Register includes annual report filing every year as part of its $99 price. Harbor Compliance's annual report filing is $199 per state plus filing fees for its managed annual report service; an older price list on the same site showed $175, so confirm the live rate before you pay.
What a Registered Agent Actually Does
A registered agent is a person or company available at a physical address during business hours to receive legal and state notices on the LLC's behalf, including service of process if the LLC is ever sued and routine state correspondence like annual report reminders. Every state requires one, and the requirement does not go away once year one of a promotional price ends, which is why the renewal price is the more important number to compare. Using your own home address instead of a registered agent service is allowed in most states, but it puts that address on the public record and requires you to be available there during business hours.
How LLC Register compares
LLC Register's registered agent service is $99 a year, the same price at renewal. LLC formation is included in year one and annual report filing is included every year, 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.
Why a Steady Renewal Price Is Worth More Than It Looks
A registered agent is not a one-time purchase; it is a service you need every year the LLC exists. A provider that raises its price at renewal is charging that higher rate for as long as you keep the business active, so a $20 or $50 gap in the renewal price compounds year after year in a way a one-time formation fee does not.
What to Confirm Before You Choose
Before paying for either provider's registered agent service, confirm three numbers directly on its current page: the first-year price, the renewal price starting in year two, and whether annual report filing is bundled into that renewal price or billed as a separate charge. Prices change, and a provider's own site is the only place to confirm the current number before you pay. Where a note above says to confirm at checkout, that reflects conflicting figures published on the provider's own pages, not a guess. Reading the order summary at checkout, rather than relying on an advertised headline price alone, is the most reliable way to see all three before you commit.
Practical Considerations
Check the Renewal Price, Not Just the First-Year Offer
Harbor Compliance states this renewal number directly on its own registered-agent page: "$99 first year for new customers. Renews at $159 annually."
State Registered Agent Requirements Do Not Change
every state charges its own LLC filing fee, and a registered agent is a separate, ongoing requirement in every state no matter which service files the paperwork, from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts.
Confirm the Live Price Before You Pay
Prices change, and a provider's own site is the only place to confirm the current number before you pay. Where a note above says to confirm at checkout, that reflects conflicting figures published on the provider's own pages, not a guess.
Add Up Several Years, Not Just One
Multiply each provider's renewal price by the number of years you expect to keep the LLC active, rather than comparing only a single year's price, to see how a small gap in the renewal rate adds up over time.
Compare What Each Price Includes, Not Just the Number
A registered agent price can look similar between two providers while covering different things. Check whether annual report filing, compliance-deadline alerts, and mail scanning are part of the subscription or sold separately, since a lower headline price with more add-ons billed separately can end up costing more in a given year than a slightly higher all-in price.
This Is Not Legal or Tax Advice
Which service costs less for your specific LLC depends on your state's own filing fee and how long you plan to keep the business running. Talk to a tax professional before deciding how to structure ongoing compliance costs, especially for a multi-state business.
Sources
The official sources used for this article.
IRS: Apply for an EIN online | irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online |
|---|---|
Montana Secretary of State: Business filing fees | sosmt.gov/business/fees |
Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: Corporations Division fee schedule | sec.state.ma.us/divisions/corporations/download/Fee_Schedule.pdf |
FTC: The Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule, Questions and Answers | ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/consumer-reviews-testimonials-rule-questions-answers |
Created by: LLC RegisterLast reviewed October 5, 2026
Updated: October 5, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Harbor Compliance's registered agent service cost in the first year?
Harbor Compliance's registered agent service is $99 for the first year for new customers, as published on its website in October 2026.
What does Harbor Compliance's registered agent service renew for after year one?
Harbor Compliance's registered agent service renews at $159 a year. Harbor Compliance states this renewal number directly on its own registered-agent page: "$99 first year for new customers. Renews at $159 annually."
Does LLC Register's registered agent price increase after the first year the way Harbor Compliance's does?
No. LLC Register's registered agent service is $99 a year and renews at that same $99, with no higher published renewal rate.
Does Harbor Compliance's registered agent price include annual report filing?
Harbor Compliance's annual report filing is $199 per state plus filing fees for its managed annual report service; an older price list on the same site showed $175, so confirm the live rate before you pay. LLC Register's $99-a-year registered agent price includes annual report filing every year.
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.
