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State Filing Data LLC fees by state, read from the source.

Foreign LLC guide · Alabama

Alabama Foreign LLC Registration (2026): Fees and the 3 Best Services

Our Alabama answer for 2026 is Mainstay Filing ($199), AL Registered Agent.org ($199) and Alabama Registered Agent.co ($199), ranked in that order. Alabama charges $150 to register a foreign LLC, which ranks 13th of 50.
State Filing Data research desk

Alabama at a glance

among 50 states, foreign LLC fees

Low rank, low state fees, shared rank. The 50-state table

Registration fee

$150

sos.alabama.gov, checked October 2026

Yearly report

None

Business privilege tax return

Three-year state fees

$150

Registration, then two report years

Our Alabama shortlist

Scored on five weighted criteria (methodology). Biggest weights: three-year service fees and filings covered.

We would start here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for one price in any state

Service fee $199, renewal $149 a year

Mainstay Filing leads here. The case for it: $199 plus the state fee, with the registered agent free for the first year and $149 a year after.

You would pay $100 more over three years than with AL Registered Agent.org, for more of the state's paperwork handled.

After the free first year the agent runs $149 a year in any state.

What you pay for

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, free for the first year
  • One price in any state

For

  • Covers all fifty states
  • Agent included for the first year
  • $199 over the state fee

Against

  • Higher agent renewal ($149)
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Single state

2. AL Registered Agent.org: best for Alabama registration on a budget

Service fee $199, renewal $99 a year

In second place, AL Registered Agent.org: $199 plus the state fee, the first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

What you pay for

  • Foreign registration filing
  • A year of agent service

For

  • Free first agent year
  • Then $99 a year
  • $199 + state fee

Against

  • Alabama only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit AL Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Single state

3. Alabama Registered Agent.co: best for Alabama registrations

Service fee $199, renewal $99 a year

In third place, Alabama Registered Agent.co: $199 plus the state fee, the first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

Same published prices as AL Registered Agent.org.

What you pay for

  • Foreign registration filing
  • A year of agent service

For

  • $199 + state fee
  • Free first agent year
  • Then $99 a year

Against

  • Alabama only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit Alabama Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The picks in numbers

#ServiceYear oneFrom year twoThree-year service fees
1 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 AL Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397
Visit AL Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Alabama Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397
Visit Alabama Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Each company's published price, read November 12, 2026. Alabama's $150 registration fee comes on top.

Foreign LLC calculator

Registration fee $150, plus the service's prices.

State fees $150 plus Mainstay Filing at $497: $647 over 3 years.

Alabama and its neighbors in the rank

RankStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
11th Iowa$130
12th Indiana$137
13th Alabama$150
13th Arizona$150
13th Colorado$150

Full ranking: Foreign LLC fees by state. 1st is the least expensive.

Alabama foreign LLC registration fee and form (official)

An LLC formed elsewhere files the Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) Application for Registration with the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entities Division and pays $150.

Each cycle it files the business privilege tax return, same date as the federal return.

What to have ready

  • The exact legal name from the home state and the formation date.
  • A registered agent in the state (included with each pick).
  • Funds for the $150 state fee.

What happens without registering

First consequence: no access to the courts as a plaintiff until it registers (Ala. Code 10A-1-7.21(a)). Existing contracts stay enforceable (Ala. Code 10A-1-7.21(b)).

Why Mainstay Filing is first

Mainstay Filing over AL Registered Agent.org came down to state filings covered, a 30% criterion.

A foreign LLC already exists in another state, so a provider that covers both states scored best on coverage.

Alabama: questions

How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC in Alabama?

$150 as the official fee. Our picks add $199.

Which form registers a foreign LLC in Alabama?

File Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC) Application for Registration with the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entities Division.

What does a foreign LLC file after registering?

The business privilege tax return.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

First consequence: no access to the courts as a plaintiff until it registers (Ala. Code 10A-1-7.21(a)). Existing contracts stay enforceable (Ala. Code 10A-1-7.21(b)).

Is a registered agent needed there?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Who should file the registration?

Mainstay Filing, then AL Registered Agent.org and Alabama Registered Agent.co. Mainstay Filing leads on state filings covered.

More for this state

Citations

  1. Alabama formation fee: Filing fee, official source, alison.legislature.state.al.us, last checked October 2026
  2. Alabama formation fee: Filing fee, official source, sos.alabama.gov, last checked October 2026
  3. Alabama formation fee: Name reservation, official source, sos.alabama.gov, last checked October 2026
  4. Alabama formation fee: Name reservation, official source, alison.legislature.state.al.us, last checked October 2026
  5. Alabama registered agent statute, alisondb.legislature.state.al.us, last checked October 2026
  6. Alabama Secretary of State, LLC filings, sos.alabama.gov, last checked October 2026
  7. Foreign LLC Application for Registration, sos.alabama.gov, last checked October 2026
  8. Secretary of State Online Services, alabamainteractive.org, last checked October 2026
  9. Code of Alabama, section 10A-1-7.01, alison.legislature.state.al.us, last checked October 2026
  10. Department of Revenue, business privilege tax notice, revenue.alabama.gov, last checked October 2026
  11. Code of Alabama, section 10A-1-7.21, alison.legislature.state.al.us, last checked November 2026
  12. Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and, sos.iowa.gov, last checked October 2026
  13. LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010, sos.iowa.gov, last checked October 2026
  14. Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement, legis.iowa.gov, last checked October 2026
  15. Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count, legis.iowa.gov, last checked October 2026
  16. Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report, legis.iowa.gov, last checked October 2026
  17. Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence, sos.iowa.gov, last checked October 2026
  18. Indiana Secretary of State business forms, in.gov, last checked October 2026
  19. Indiana Code 23-0.5-5, registration of foreign entities, iga.in.gov, last checked October 2026
  20. Indiana Code 23-0.5-9, fees, iga.in.gov, last checked October 2026
  21. Indiana Code 23-0.5-4, registered agents, iga.in.gov, last checked October 2026
  22. INBiz Business Entity Report, inbiz.in.gov, last checked October 2026
  23. Arizona Corporation Commission, LLC forms, azcc.gov, last checked October 2026
  24. Form L025 instructions, azcc.gov, last checked October 2026
  25. Commission LLC fee schedule, azcc.gov, last checked October 2026
  26. A.R.S. 29-3903, registration of foreign LLC, azleg.gov, last checked October 2026
  27. A.R.S. 29-3905, activities that are not doing business, azleg.gov, last checked October 2026
  28. Arizona Corporation Commission FAQs, azcc.gov, last checked October 2026
  29. Colorado Secretary of State, foreign entity FAQ, coloradosos.gov, last checked October 2026
  30. Sample Statement of Foreign Entity Authority, coloradosos.gov, last checked October 2026
  31. Secretary of State business fee schedule, coloradosos.gov, last checked October 2026
  32. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 7, content.leg.colorado.gov, last checked October 2026
  33. Registered agent requirements effective July 1, 2025, coloradosos.gov, last checked October 2026
  34. Periodic report FAQ, coloradosos.gov, last checked October 2026
  35. Read November 12, 2026 from Mainstay Filing's Alabama service page
  36. Read November 12, 2026 from AL Registered Agent.org's pricing page
  37. Read November 12, 2026 from Alabama Registered Agent.co's pricing page