Rank1
Top of the national list
1. Mainstay Filing: best for businesses in whichever state
$149 yearly, unchanged
Editor score9.3out of 10
Mainstay Filing is the national top pick because a single $149 yearly plan works in every state and renews at $149, with three government letters a year scanned free.
It costs $150 more over three years than WV Registered Agent.org in West Virginia. The extra buys one account in every state.
In the price
- A street address in the state where you file
- Papers served on the company scanned free on the day they arrive
- Free scans for three government mailings annually
- Compliance reminders
Good
- All fifty states for $149
- No renewal increase
- Same-day scanning of legal papers, no fee
Watch for
- Costlier than a local agent
Rank2
Best for West Virginia
2. WV Registered Agent.org: best for West Virginia businesses
$99 yearly, unchanged
Editor score8.8out of 10
WV Registered Agent.org is second because it charges $99 a year, the same at renewal, for a company that only operates in West Virginia.
West Virginia is home turf, so it fits a company that does business there.
In the price
- The physical in-state address the state asks for
- You read served legal papers online as scans
Good
- A $99 a year entry price that is lower than the national pick
- No renewal increase
- Legal papers served on the company come as online scans
Watch for
- No coverage outside West Virginia
- No annual report filing is included
Rank3
Best for California
3. CA Registered Agent.org: best for California businesses
$99 yearly, unchanged
Editor score8.5out of 10
CA Registered Agent.org is third because it charges $99 a year, the same at renewal, for a company that only operates in California.
California is home turf, so it fits a company that does business there.
In the price
- A registered office with a street address in the state
- Served documents arrive as scans you can open online
Good
- $99 a year, less than the national pick charges
- Holds at $99 on renewal
- Scans of papers served on the company reach you online
Watch for
- Restricted to California
- You take care of the yearly report
The 3 picks side by side
Scores out of 10 are editorial marks from Filing Shortlist, based on the criteria on How we rank. Customers do not rate anything on this site.
Registered Agent: three-year cost with 2026 prices
Service prices come from each company's own pages, read November 12, 2026. State services price only their own state, and each one adds the state's filing fee at cost.
Why this order
Three-year price and what the price covers count for 28% apiece, and renewal terms, fit for the state and price clarity divide the other 44%. On a national list, reach decides it: only one provider here serves every state at a single price. WV Registered Agent.org (West Virginia) and CA Registered Agent.org (California) cost less over three years in their home states, which puts them second and third for companies there.
Do you need an agent in every state?
Registered agents are a state-by-state matter: every state where a company is formed or registered needs an agent on file of its own. Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia handle the requirement another way, so see their state pages. A national provider puts every renewal in one account. A state specialist may cost less, though only in its home state.
State-by-state rankings
The state pages set Mainstay Filing against that state's own agents, using the state's fees, forms and deadlines. Go to the state list.
Common questions about Registered Agents
What are the best registered agents in 2026?
Our 2026 shortlist, top pick first: Mainstay Filing, WV Registered Agent.org and CA Registered Agent.org.
How much does a registered agent charge?
Pricing on this list starts at $99 and tops out at $149 a year.
Is there one service that covers every state?
Mainstay Filing is the only one. It serves all fifty states at one price, while each state service here covers a single state.
Do the prices here include state fees?
No. State filing fees are extra with every company, and they differ from state to state.
Why do single-state services appear on a national list?
A company that never leaves one state may pay less with a local specialist. WV Registered Agent.org is our pick for West Virginia businesses; CA Registered Agent.org for California businesses.
How was the shortlist ordered?
With five weighted criteria described on How we rank: three-year price, what the price covers, renewal terms, fit for the state and price clarity.
Where the figures come from
- Pulled from Mainstay Filing: pricing and service pages, November 12, 2026
- Pulled from WV Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, November 12, 2026
- Pulled from CA Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, November 12, 2026