Skip to content
LLC PlainlyThe LLC stuff, in words you actually use.

Straight talk · New York

3 Best Registered Agents in New York (2026), Simply Ranked

In New York for 2026, we like New York Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and NY Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), ranked from first to last. Budget $99 to $149 for the first year and $297 to $447 for three.
From the LLC Plainly editorial team

The short version

Must you name one?
Not the usual rule
Legal name
Agent for service of process
Service price
$99 to $149 a year
Who to use
New York Registered Agent.ai, Mainstay Filing then NY Registered Agent.org

Our New York picks

The scoring is spelled out on this page.
Best overall

1. New York Registered Agent.ai: best for keeping three-year cost low

$99 a year, $99 when you renew

New York Registered Agent.ai is our favorite here, because it's $99 a year, $99 once you renew, for an LLC that stays in New York.

The tiebreaker is cost, and three years here come in under Mainstay Filing.

Your money buys

  • An in-state street address
  • Legal papers scanned and posted online

The good

  • Cheaper each year than Mainstay Filing
  • Just $99 a year

Trade-offs

  • A second state means a second agent
  • The biennial statement remains a job for you
Goes where you go

2. Mainstay Filing: best for LLCs that might expand

$149 a year, $149 when you renew

Mainstay Filing takes second, because it's $149 a year in all fifty states.

The three-year gap to New York Registered Agent.ai is $150, and that's why it ranks lower.

Your money buys

  • An in-state address of record
  • Free scans of three government mailings a year
  • Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits too

The good

  • Locked at $149 a year
  • The same price in all fifty states

Trade-offs

  • $50 per year above the local pick
  • It's the agent role only, with no report filing
Local to New York

3. NY Registered Agent.org: best for another local choice

$99 a year, $99 when you renew

NY Registered Agent.org takes third, because it's $99 a year, $99 once you renew, for an LLC that stays in New York.

It charges what New York Registered Agent.ai charges, so the order between them is close.

Your money buys

  • An in-state street address
  • Legal papers scanned and posted online

The good

  • Cheaper each year than Mainstay Filing
  • Just $99 a year

Trade-offs

  • A second state means a second agent
  • The biennial statement remains a job for you

At a glance

#WhoYear oneAfter year oneOver three yearsWhat you get
1New York Registered Agent.ai$99$99/yr$297An in-state street address; legal papers scanned and posted onlineVisit the New York Registered Agent.ai sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$149$149/yr$447An in-state address of record; free scans of three government mailings a year; Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits tooVisit the Mainstay Filing sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3NY Registered Agent.org$99$99/yr$297An in-state street address; legal papers scanned and posted onlineVisit the NY Registered Agent.org sitePartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
These are service fees only, from each company's prices on November 13, 2026. The state's fees are the same whoever you pick.

Straight answers

Do I have to name an agent for service of process?

The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC; naming a registered agent is optional.

The rule comes from N.Y. LLC Law §§ 301 and 302. check it at nysenate.gov, October 2026

Can anyone do it?

If one is designated: a person who lives in New York or has a business address there, an LLC formed or authorized in New York, or a corporation formed or authorized in New York.

If you qualify, you can do it yourself at no cost.

What should I budget for an agent?

Our picks charge $99 to $149 a year, and three years cost $297 to $447.

Whoever you name, state fees stay the same.

Why does the state want an agent?

When a lawsuit or state letter reaches your LLC in New York, the agent is who receives it.

That's why the address has to be staffed during business hours. Service of process in plain words

What else will the state bill each year?

Plan for the biennial statement ($9, biennial). It's due during the calendar month in which the Articles of Organization were filed, every 2 years, so add the date to your calendar.

check it at dos.ny.gov, October 2026

How did you decide the order?

New York Registered Agent.ai is strongest on cost across three years, which counts for 33% of our score.

Five checks set the order: cost across three years (33%), work taken off your hands (31%), prices stated clearly (14%), renewal price (12%) and where it works (10%).

You'd pay $297 over three years at New York Registered Agent.ai, which is $150 less than at Mainstay Filing.

Read the method

New York requirements, with sources

ItemDetailsOfficial source
Cost to form the LLC$200check it at dos.ny.gov, October 2026
Agent for service of processNot the usual rulecheck it at nysenate.gov, October 2026
Biennial statement$9 every two yearscheck it at dos.ny.gov, October 2026
Paid to the state by year three$209Added from the rows
Each figure above links to the state's official page. The final line is our addition of the filing, two reports and any minimum tax, and it leaves out variable costs.

Other things people ask

Do I have to pay for an agent?

No agent is mandatory here, so yes, you can name yourself if you fit the rule.

What address does the agent need?

New York has no registered-office requirement. The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC and mails a copy of any papers served to the address the company has on file. A designated registered agent's street address goes on the filing.

What's each pick's bill across three years?

Three-year totals are New York Registered Agent.ai, $297; Mainstay Filing, $447; NY Registered Agent.org, $297

Where did you get these numbers?

The state fees come from New York's own documents, and the service prices come from the companies' sites. We put dates on both.

Can I just do this myself?

It's your call. You can file on your own if you meet the rules on this page.

Who tops the list in New York?

New York Registered Agent.ai, because $99 a year gets you an agent right in the state. After that, Mainstay Filing and NY Registered Agent.org.

Sources, with dates

  1. dos.ny.gov: the page for New York Department of State, seen August 2026
  2. filing.dos.ny.gov: the page for New York Department of State, seen August 2026
  3. nysenate.gov: the page for New York report due date, seen August 2026
  4. nysenate.gov: the page for NY Limited Liability Company Law, seen August 2026
  5. dos.ny.gov: the page for New York formation fee: Filing, seen October 2026
  6. nysenate.gov: the page for New York registered agent statute, seen October 2026
  7. pricing page from New York Registered Agent.ai, November 13, 2026
  8. New York service page from Mainstay Filing, November 13, 2026
  9. pricing page from NY Registered Agent.org, November 13, 2026