Learn the basics · Delaware
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Delaware (2026) and Why
Summary
- State registration fee
- $200
- Good standing paper from home?
- Required (180 days old, no more)
- Follow-up
- $400, Annual LLC tax
- Who we recommend
- Delaware Registered Agent.ai, Mainstay Filing then DE Registered Agent.org
Delaware: the ranked picks
Order and weights are explained on how we pick.1. Delaware Registered Agent.ai: best for registering in this state only
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
Our first recommendation is Delaware Registered Agent.ai, because it charges $199 plus the state fee, with the agent included in year one, then $99 a year.
Its three-year cost is lower than Mainstay Filing's, which is the factor we weigh most.
Includes
- Application prepared and submitted
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- $99 a year for the agent afterward
- $199 plus the state fee
- First-year agent in the price
Where it falls short
- Nothing outside this state
2. Mainstay Filing: best for a fee that stays the same everywhere
$199 up front, $149 annually after that
Our second recommendation, Mainstay Filing, earns it since the registration is $199 and there is no charge for the registered agent until year two.
It costs $100 more than Delaware Registered Agent.ai across three years, and cost weighs the most in our ranking.
The registered agent costs $149 annually from year two onward, in every state.
Includes
- Application prepared and filed
- Registered agent, no charge in the first year
- One price across the country
Points in its favor
- $199 plus Delaware's fee
- The price does not change by state
- Agent service is free for year one
Where it falls short
- Agent costs $50 more each year
3. DE Registered Agent.org: best for a second local choice
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
Our third recommendation, DE Registered Agent.org, earns it since it charges $199 plus the state fee, with the agent included in year one, then $99 a year.
With the same prices as Delaware Registered Agent.ai, this is a near tie.
Includes
- Application prepared and submitted
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- First-year agent in the price
- $99 a year for the agent afterward
- $199 plus the state fee
Where it falls short
- Nothing outside this state
Numbers side by side
| # | Provider | First-year price | Renewal price | Total, 3 years | Included in the price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware Registered Agent.ai | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | application prepared and submitted; agent service during year one | See Delaware Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | application prepared and filed; registered agent, no charge in the first year; one price across the country | See Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | DE Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | application prepared and submitted; agent service during year one | See DE Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The questions, one by one
Who needs to register in this state?
An LLC from elsewhere that plans to do business in Delaware must register first.
The price of not registering includes it has no access to the state's courts as a plaintiff (6 Del. C. 18-907(a)).
corp.delaware.gov · verified October 2026
How much does registration cost?
$200 in state fees, plus $199 for a service.
State fees over three years, registration included: $1,000. delcode.delaware.gov · verified October 2026
What do I file, and where does it go?
You file the Certificate of Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company with the Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations, and that is all.
Send certificate of existence from the jurisdiction of formation not older than 180 days.
Are there ongoing fees?
Expect a Annual LLC tax at $400.
The schedule reads June 1.
Why is the order what it is?
Delaware Registered Agent.ai leads on what three years cost, a criterion that carries 34% of the weight.
Five criteria set the order: what three years cost (34%), how much work the price handles (28%), prices spelled out (16%), renewal terms (12%) and reach beyond one state (10%).
At $397 for three years, Delaware Registered Agent.ai undercuts Mainstay Filing by $100.
Delaware: rules and fees at a glance
| Requirement | Fee or rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Fee to register | $200 | delcode.delaware.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Certificate of existence | Required, 180 days | corp.delaware.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Annual LLC tax | $400 | corp.delaware.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Three-year state total | $1,000 | Computed from the lines above |
Further questions
Does the home state need its own agent?
Each state sets its own rules. Mainstay Filing works in both; a one-state service works in one.
What does each pick cost across three years?
Over three years: Delaware Registered Agent.ai ($397), Mainstay Filing ($497), DE Registered Agent.org ($397), not counting state fees.
How do you know these fees?
State fees come from Delaware's official sources, cited by each figure. Service prices come from each company's own pricing page.
Is hiring anyone mandatory?
Not required. Services charge to do the paperwork for you.
Can someone else submit the registration?
The picks on this page all file it; state fees are identical.
Which one should I choose in Delaware?
Delaware Registered Agent.ai, because the filing is $199, and the agent renews each year at $99. Then Mainstay Filing and DE Registered Agent.org.
Documents and pricing pages behind this page
- corp.delaware.gov: Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation (confirmed October 2026)
- corp.delaware.gov: Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation (confirmed October 2026)
- legis.delaware.gov: Delaware yearly filing: HB 400 (confirmed October 2026)
- delcode.delaware.gov: Delaware report due date (confirmed August 2026)
- delcode.delaware.gov: 6 Del (confirmed August 2026)
- delcode.delaware.gov: Delaware registered agent statute (confirmed October 2026)
- corpfiles.delaware.gov: Foreign LLC registration form (confirmed October 2026)
- delcode.delaware.gov: Delaware Code Title 6, chapter (confirmed October 2026)
- corpfiles.delaware.gov: Division of Corporations fee schedule (confirmed October 2026)
- Delaware Registered Agent.ai pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing Delaware service page, read November 13, 2026
- DE Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026