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Registered agent guide · New York

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.
State Filing Data research desk

New York fee data

of 50 on yearly state fees

Rank 1 is the least expensive state. Compare states

Agent for service of process required

See rules

per nysenate.gov, October 2026

Biennial statement

$9 / 2 yrs

Due date: during the calendar month in which the Articles of Organization were filed, every 2 years. per dos.ny.gov, October 2026

Yearly state fees

$4.50

Per year once formed

Services we'd use in New York

The methodology sets the order. Service fees over three years count most, then what the price covers.

We would start here

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

$99 a year · renews at $99

NY Registered Agent.org is where we'd go first: a New York-only plan at $99 a year that renews at $99.

Its three-year service fees come in under Mainstay Filing's, and service fees are our heaviest criterion at 35%.

What you pay for

  • Physical New York address
  • Served legal papers scanned to your online account

For

  • Lower yearly cost than Mainstay Filing
  • Flat $99/yr

Against

  • Single-state service
  • You file the biennial statement
Widest coverage

2. Mainstay Filing: best for multi-state companies

$149 a year · renews at $149

In second place, Mainstay Filing: the same $149 agent price in every state, so a growing company keeps one provider.

It costs $150 more than NY Registered Agent.org across three years, and cost is our heaviest criterion.

What you pay for

  • A physical in-state address
  • 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

  • $149 yearly, no renewal increase
  • Same price in all fifty states

Against

  • Costs $50 more each year than NY Registered Agent.org
  • The agent-only plan does not file reports
Local option

3. New York Registered Agent.ai: best for New York-only companies

$99 a year · renews at $99

In third place, New York Registered Agent.ai: a New York-only plan at $99 a year that renews at $99.

NY Registered Agent.org and this service publish identical prices.

What you pay for

  • Physical New York address
  • Served legal papers scanned to your online account

For

  • Flat $99/yr
  • Lower yearly cost than Mainstay Filing

Against

  • Single-state service
  • You file the biennial statement

Compared

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

Service prices from each company's own pages, read November 12, 2026. The state bills you the same either way.

Agent cost calculator

Choose years and an agent. State fees count the biennial statement; the formation fee is not included.

3 years with NY Registered Agent.org: $9 state + $297 service = $306.

New York and its neighbors in the rank

RankStateYearly state fees
1st South Carolina$0
1st Texas$0
11th New York$4.50
12th Pennsylvania$7
13th Hawaii$12.50

See the 50-state table for every rank.

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.

Keep going

Citations

  1. dos.ny.gov: New York Department of State, Division of Corporations (checked August 2026)
  2. filing.dos.ny.gov: New York Department of State, Division of Corporations (checked August 2026)
  3. nysenate.gov: New York report due date (checked August 2026)
  4. nysenate.gov: NY Limited Liability Company Law § 203 (checked August 2026)
  5. dos.ny.gov: New York formation fee: Filing fee, official source (checked October 2026)
  6. nysenate.gov: New York registered agent statute (checked October 2026)
  7. dor.sc.gov: South Carolina Secretary of State for formation (checked August 2026)
  8. dor.sc.gov: South Carolina Secretary of State for formation (checked August 2026)
  9. dor.sc.gov: South Carolina yearly filing: Annual report, official source (checked October 2026)
  10. comptroller.texas.gov: Texas yearly filing: Annual report, official source (checked October 2026)
  11. pa.gov: Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and (checked August 2026)
  12. pa.gov: Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and (checked August 2026)
  13. cca.hawaii.gov: Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July (checked October 2026)
  14. files.hawaii.gov: Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source (checked October 2026)
  15. NY Registered Agent.org: pricing page as published on November 12, 2026
  16. Mainstay Filing: New York service page as published on November 12, 2026
  17. New York Registered Agent.ai: pricing page as published on November 12, 2026