Explained · Delaware
3 Best Registered Agents in Delaware (2026), Explained
The essentials
- Is one required?
- Must be named
- Title used by the law
- Registered agent
- What services charge
- $99 to $149 yearly
- Where we would start
- DE Registered Agent.org, Mainstay Filing then Delaware Registered Agent.ai
Our Delaware recommendations
The order comes from our method: three-year cost first, then how much work the price covers.1. DE Registered Agent.org: best for a modest yearly fee
Annual price $99, with a renewal price of $99
Why DE Registered Agent.org? Its agent service is $99 a year and includes a street address on file.
Cost settles it: three years here total less than with Mainstay Filing.
Includes
- An in-state office address
- Scanned copies of legal papers online
Points in its favor
- A fixed $99 each year
- Wins on yearly price against Mainstay Filing
Where it falls short
- Moving to a second state means a second agent
- The Annual LLC Tax remains your task
2. Mainstay Filing: best for companies in more than one state
Annual price $149, with a renewal price of $149
Mainstay Filing ranks second. In short, the price is $149 a year wherever the LLC is registered.
It costs $150 more than DE Registered Agent.org across three years, and cost weighs the most in our ranking.
Includes
- Registered office in the state
- Up to three government mailings a year scanned for free
- Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits
Points in its favor
- $149 per year with no increase
- Covers every state you might add
Where it falls short
- $50 more a year than DE Registered Agent.org
- You still file the yearly report
3. Delaware Registered Agent.ai: best for local support
Annual price $99, with a renewal price of $99
Our third recommendation, Delaware Registered Agent.ai, earns it since its agent service is $99 a year and includes a street address on file.
The prices match DE Registered Agent.org, so pick the one you prefer.
Includes
- An in-state office address
- Scanned copies of legal papers online
Points in its favor
- A fixed $99 each year
- Wins on yearly price against Mainstay Filing
Where it falls short
- Moving to a second state means a second agent
- The Annual LLC Tax remains your task
How they stack up
| # | Pick | Year one | Renewal price | Three-year total | Included in the price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DE Registered Agent.org | $99 | $99/yr | $297 | An in-state office address; scanned copies of legal papers online | Learn more at DE Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $149 | $149/yr | $447 | registered office in the state; up to three government mailings a year scanned for free; Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits | Learn more at Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Delaware Registered Agent.ai | $99 | $99/yr | $297 | An in-state office address; scanned copies of legal papers online | Learn more at Delaware Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Explanations
Does the law insist on a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Authority: 6 Del. C. § 18-104. delcode.delaware.gov · verified October 2026
Who is allowed to be the agent?
The LLC itself, a Delaware resident, or a business entity formed in Delaware or authorized to do business there.
Meeting the state's rule lets you act as your own agent at no cost.
What is the price of agent service?
The recommended services charge $99 to $149 annually, or $297 to $447 across three years.
Choosing a different agent does not change any state fee.
What does an agent do for the LLC?
It stands in for the LLC in Delaware when legal papers or state mail show up.
If papers arrive and nobody takes them, a case could proceed without you. Learn about service of process
What does the LLC owe the state every year?
What recurs is the Annual LLC Tax: annual, $400. In the state's words it falls due annual alternative-entity tax due on or before June 1, so keep an eye on it.
legis.delaware.gov · verified October 2026
What put number one on top?
The deciding factor is what three years cost (34% of the weight), where DE Registered Agent.org is strongest.
Our weighting leans on what three years cost first and how much work the price handles second, then three smaller factors.
Picking DE Registered Agent.org leaves $150 in your pocket after three years compared with Mainstay Filing.
Delaware requirements checklist
| What it covers | What the state says | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $110 | delcode.delaware.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Registered agent | Must be named | delcode.delaware.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Annual LLC Tax | $400 every year | legis.delaware.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Three-year state total | $910 | Added up from the rows above |
More explanations
Can I name myself?
Yes, if you satisfy the rules on who qualifies and the address on this page, you can do it yourself.
Where must the agent be?
The address has to be a registered office in Delaware. An entity agent keeps a business office there that is generally open; an individual agent has to be generally present there. A virtual office or mail-forwarding service alone does not qualify.
How do the picks compare over three years?
DE Registered Agent.org comes to $297; Mainstay Filing comes to $447; Delaware Registered Agent.ai comes to $297
What are your sources?
Delaware's official documents supply the state fees, and the companies' price pages supply the service fees.
Could I skip the service?
No. The state takes filings from owners directly; a service just saves time and covers the agent role.
What is the best registered agent for Delaware?
DE Registered Agent.org is on top because three years total $297 for a company that never leaves Delaware; Mainstay Filing and Delaware Registered Agent.ai follow.
Official sources and price pages
- 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)
- pricing page from DE Registered Agent.org, prices as of November 13, 2026
- Delaware service page from Mainstay Filing, prices as of November 13, 2026
- pricing page from Delaware Registered Agent.ai, prices as of November 13, 2026