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Registered agent guide · Massachusetts

Massachusetts Registered Agent Guide (2026): Rules, Fees and the 3 Best Agents

In 2026 we'd hire MA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), Massachusetts Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) for registered agent service in Massachusetts, in that order. A resident agent is mandatory in Massachusetts; the state's own yearly charges are $500 (49th of 50).
State Filing Data research desk

Massachusetts: the figures

of 50 states, yearly state fees

Counted from the least expensive. The 50-state table

Resident agent required

Yes

per sec.state.ma.us, October 2026

Limited Liability Company Annual Report

$500 / yr

Deadline: on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization. per malegislature.gov, August 2026

Yearly state fees

$500

Recurring, per year

Services we'd use in Massachusetts

Weights: 35% three-year service fees, 30% filings covered, 30% the rest (methodology).

Our first choice

1. MA Registered Agent.org: best for a one-state company

$99/yr, same at renewal

MA Registered Agent.org is where we'd go first: $99 yearly for a Massachusetts agent with an in-state office address.

On service fees over three years it undercuts Mainstay Filing, and that criterion weighs 35%.

What you pay for

  • In-state registered office address
  • Served documents scanned for you

For

  • Smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
  • $99 yearly

Against

  • No coverage outside this state
  • Limited Liability Company Annual Report is on you
Massachusetts specialist

2. Massachusetts Registered Agent.co: best for a Massachusetts specialist

$99/yr, same at renewal

Massachusetts Registered Agent.co slots in second. What it offers: $99 yearly for a Massachusetts agent with an in-state office address.

It publishes the same prices as MA Registered Agent.org, so the two are close.

What you pay for

  • In-state registered office address
  • Served documents scanned for you

For

  • Smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
  • $99 yearly

Against

  • No coverage outside this state
  • Limited Liability Company Annual Report is on you
Most covered

3. Mainstay Filing: best for one agent in every state

$149/yr, same at renewal

Third on our list, Mainstay Filing: a $149 yearly agent plan that you can keep if the company registers in more states.

MA Registered Agent.org undercuts it by $150 over three years, which is why it sits lower here.

What you pay for

  • Street address for the registered office
  • Service of process scanned the same business day, no fee
  • First three government mailings a year scanned free
  • Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits

For

  • Works in every state
  • $149 a year

Against

  • MA Registered Agent.org is $50 a year less
  • Reports are not part of the agent plan

Price comparison

#ServiceAnnual priceRenewal priceThree-year service fees
1 MA Registered Agent.org $99$99/yr$297
Visit MA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Massachusetts Registered Agent.co $99$99/yr$297
Visit Massachusetts Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Mainstay Filing $149$149/yr$447
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Each company's published price, read November 12, 2026. The state bills you the same either way.

Massachusetts agent and upkeep calculator

Years and agent in, total out. Recurring state fees only, no formation fee.

MA Registered Agent.org, 3 years: $1,297 ($1,000 to the state, $297 to the service).

Massachusetts and its neighbors in the rank

RankStateYearly state fees
46th Nevada$350
47th Delaware$400
48th Rhode Island$450
49th Massachusetts$500
50th California$810

Registered agent rules by state has all fifty rows.

Massachusetts resident agent requirements (official, Secretary of State)

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a street address in Massachusetts. A post office address is not sufficient.

Who can serve: A Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts. Statute: M.G.L. c. 156C, § 5.

The recurring state side

$500 every year for the Limited Liability Company Annual Report, due on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization; the state writes about it to your resident agent's address.

Why this order

The split between MA Registered Agent.org and Massachusetts Registered Agent.co sits in service fees over three years, which carries 35%.

MA Registered Agent.org totals $297 over three years, $150 less than Mainstay Filing.

FAQ

Does Massachusetts require a resident agent?

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

Who can serve as the resident agent?

A Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts.

How much does a registered agent cost in Massachusetts?

From $99 to $149 a year on this page.

What does the LLC pay the state each year?

$500 a year on our measure: the Limited Liability Company Annual Report ($500 every year).

Which registered agents are on this page?

MA Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), Massachusetts Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), as ranked.

Which registered agent would you pick?

MA Registered Agent.org, Massachusetts Registered Agent.co and Mainstay Filing, in that order.

Keep going

Where each figure comes from

  1. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth at sec.state.ma.us, confirmed August 2026
  2. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth at malegislature.gov, confirmed August 2026
  3. M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12 at sec.state.ma.us, confirmed August 2026
  4. Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source at sec.state.ma.us, confirmed October 2026
  5. Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee, official source at sec.state.ma.us, confirmed October 2026
  6. Massachusetts registered agent statute at sec.state.ma.us, confirmed October 2026
  7. Nevada yearly filing: Annual list + license: fees at nvsos.gov, confirmed October 2026
  8. Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source at corp.delaware.gov, confirmed October 2026
  9. Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source at corp.delaware.gov, confirmed October 2026
  10. Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source at legis.delaware.gov, confirmed October 2026
  11. Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division at docs.sos.ri.gov, confirmed August 2026
  12. Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division at sos.ri.gov, confirmed August 2026
  13. Rhode Island other cost at tax.ri.gov, confirmed October 2026
  14. California Secretary of State at sos.ca.gov, confirmed August 2026
  15. California Secretary of State at bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, confirmed August 2026
  16. California yearly filing: Statement of Information, official source at sos.ca.gov, confirmed October 2026
  17. California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and at ftb.ca.gov, confirmed October 2026
  18. California other cost: Annual LLC tax: amount and at ftb.ca.gov, confirmed October 2026
  19. Read November 12, 2026 from MA Registered Agent.org's pricing page
  20. Read November 12, 2026 from Massachusetts Registered Agent.co's pricing page
  21. Read November 12, 2026 from Mainstay Filing's Massachusetts service page