Mainstay Filing takes the top spot because one yearly charge of $199 files the Texas formation, serves as your registered agent and files the Public Information Report; renewal is $199.
Renewal includes Mainstay filing the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report on your behalf. Texas takes no state fee for it, due May 15, with $50 added if it is late, and Mainstay passes that fee through at cost.
Its three-year total is $200 above Texas Registered Agent.ai's, and what the price covers justifies that gap for us.
In the price
- The LLC formation handled for you
- A year as your registered agent
- Your Public Information Report, prepared and filed for you
- EIN application handled
Good
- Texas's fee is added at cost
- EIN application is part of the package
- Renews at $199 with no add-ons
- A single $199 yearly price that covers the Public Information Report
Watch for
- The agent part costs $100 a year more than Texas Registered Agent.ai's after year one
Texas Registered Agent.ai makes the list at number two because a $199 formation price over the state fee, then $99 a year for the agent.
The registered office is an in-state street address supplied by the plan, and any papers served on the company show up as scans in your online account.
Its published prices leave out the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report, so the owner files it with Texas every year.
In the price
- LLC filing done for you
- Your registered agent for the first year
Good
- $99 a year after that for the agent
- A $199 price on top of the filing fee
- The registered agent role is free for the first year
Watch for
- Leaves the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report to the owner
- The EIN application is an extra charge ($99)
TX Registered Agent.org makes the list at number three because a $199 formation price over the state fee, then $99 a year for the agent.
The registered office is an in-state street address supplied by the plan, and any papers served on the company show up as scans in your online account.
Its published prices leave out the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report, so the owner files it with Texas every year.
TX Registered Agent.org matches Texas Registered Agent.ai on price and features, so this pair is a near tie.
In the price
- LLC filing done for you
- Year one as your registered agent
Good
- $99 yearly for the agent in year two
- Files the LLC for $199 and the state fee
- Covers your first year of registered agent service
Watch for
- Leaves the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report to the owner
- The EIN application is an extra charge ($99)
The 3 picks side by side
The 10-point scores come from Filing Shortlist's editors and the criteria on How we rank. They are not customer ratings.
Texas LLC service pricing in 2026: first year, renewals, three-year total
Every price comes from the company's own pages as of November 12, 2026. The $300 Texas filing fee comes on top of each row and is left out of the totals.
How the order came together
What the price covers separated the picks in Texas. The method gives three-year price 28%, gives what the price covers 28% and splits 44% over renewal terms, fit for the state and price clarity.
Texas asks for a report each year, plus $50 when it is late. Mainstay's price covers that filing and Texas Registered Agent.ai's does not, so coverage beat Texas Registered Agent.ai's lower three-year bill.
Every criterion and weight is set out on How we rank.
Forming in Texas: filing fee and form
The Certificate of Formation (Form 205) costs $300 to file with the Texas Secretary of State. Each service here adds that fee at cost to its own price.
Keeping the company in good order in Texas after formation
File the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report every year, by May 15. No state fee applies. A late filing adds $50. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Common questions about Texas LLC services
What is the price of starting an LLC in Texas?
The state filing fee is $300, and service fees run $199.
Which document creates the LLC?
The Certificate of Formation (Form 205), submitted to the Texas Secretary of State.
Must a new company list a registered agent when it forms in Texas?
Yes. Texas wants a registered agent named at formation and kept on file afterwards, with a street address in the state.
What does the company have to file after forming in Texas?
The Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report, every year, due May 15, with no state fee.
Is the EIN application part of the price?
With Mainstay Filing it is, inside the yearly price. For the EIN application, Texas Registered Agent.ai and TX Registered Agent.org bill $99. The IRS issues EINs at no charge if you apply yourself.
Which service tops the Texas LLC shortlist?
Mainstay Filing, because the Texas formation, a registered agent and the Public Information Report share a single $199 price.