New York Registered Agent Guide (2026): Rules, Fees and the 3 Best Agents
Short answer for New York in 2026: NY Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and New York Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), in that order. Agent rules work differently here, as the official text below explains. Yearly state fees run $4.50, which ranks 11th of 50.
What New York requires of 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. 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.
Who can serve: 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. N.Y. LLC Law §§ 301 and 302 sets this out.
Recurring New York fees
Recurring filing: the biennial statement, $9 every two years, deadline during the calendar month in which the Articles of Organization were filed, every 2 years.
Why NY Registered Agent.org is first
The split between NY Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing sits in service fees over three years, which carries 35%.
At $297 over three years, $150 below Mainstay Filing, NY Registered Agent.org leads on cost.
FAQ
Does New York require 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.
Who can serve as the agent for service of process?
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.
How much does a registered agent cost in New York?
$99 to $149 a year among our picks.
What does the LLC pay the state each year?
$4.50 a year on our measure: the biennial statement ($9 every two years).
Which registered agents are on this page?
NY Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), Mainstay Filing ($149 a year) and New York Registered Agent.ai ($99 a year), as ranked.
Which registered agent would you pick?
NY Registered Agent.org, then Mainstay Filing and New York Registered Agent.ai. NY Registered Agent.org leads on service fees over three years.