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The Startup JudgeRankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Ruling updated November 12, 2026

Rulings on the best LLC services and registered agents, state by state

The Startup Judge rules on registered agents, LLC formation services and foreign registration services in all 50 states. Each ruling weighs charge over three years, work taken off the founder, renewal conduct, fit with local rules and pricing in plain sight.

Rulings by service

1

Best registered agents

Which agent should hold your legal papers in each state, weighed on yearly charge, renewal and what the plan includes.

Registered Agent rankings
2

Best LLC services

Which service should file your formation documents in each state, weighed on three-year cost and the yearly paperwork the charge covers.

LLC Service rankings
3

Best foreign registration

Which service should register an existing company in a new state, weighed on its charge, the agent required there and renewal terms.

Foreign Registration rankings

National rulings

1Registered AgentsNationwideRuling
Mainstay Filing2LLC ServicesNationwideRuling
Mainstay Filing3Foreign Registration ServicesNationwideRuling
Mainstay Filing

Standards of review

What each ruling is based on

  1. Charge over three years (31%): The first-year price plus two renewals, taken from each company's own pricing pages.
  2. Work taken off the founder (31%): Whether the price includes the registered agent, the yearly report filing, the EIN application and service in more than one state.
  3. Renewal conduct (14%): Whether the price stays put at renewal and how easily a customer can renew or walk away.
  4. Fit with local rules (14%): How the offer lines up with the state's report deadlines, penalties and agent address requirements.
  5. Pricing in plain sight (10%): Whether the total is stated before checkout and state charges are itemized at cost.
Read the standards in full

The ruling in your state

AlaskaAlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyoming