Learn the basics · Kentucky
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Kentucky (2026), Compared
Summary
- Registration fee at the state
- $90
- Do you attach a home-state certificate?
- Not part of the filing
- Later filings
- $15, annual report
- Who we recommend
- Mainstay Filing, Kentucky Registered Agent.co then KY Registered Agent.org
Who we recommend in Kentucky
The order comes from our method: three-year cost first, then how much work the price covers.1. Mainstay Filing: best for a second, third or fourth state
$199 up front, $149 annually after that
Mainstay Filing comes out on top: registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the registered agent is free the first year.
Over three years this is $100 more than Kentucky Registered Agent.co, a difference that reach across states justifies.
Year one has no registered agent charge. From year two it is $149 a year.
Includes
- Your foreign registration, filed
- Registered agent, covered for the first year
- Same service fee wherever you register
Points in its favor
- The price does not change by state
- The first year of agent service is included
- $199 on top of the state fee
Where it falls short
- A higher agent renewal of $149
2. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for a lean registration
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
In second place is Kentucky Registered Agent.co, because you pay $199 above the state fee, and $99 every year after.
Includes
- State registration done for you
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- $99 each year from year two
- The agent is free for the first year
- $199 on top of the state fee
Where it falls short
- Works in Kentucky alone, which leaves your home state needing its own agent
3. KY Registered Agent.org: best for another in-state filer
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
In third place is KY Registered Agent.org, because you pay $199 above the state fee, and $99 every year after.
It charges exactly what Kentucky Registered Agent.co charges; either would serve you well.
Includes
- State registration done for you
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- $99 each year from year two
- The agent is free for the first year
- $199 on top of the state fee
Where it falls short
- Works in Kentucky alone, which leaves your home state needing its own agent
How they stack up
| # | Pick | First-year price | Renewal price | Three-year total | Included in the price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | your foreign registration, filed; registered agent, covered for the first year; same service fee wherever you register | Go to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Kentucky Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | state registration done for you; no agent charge in year one | Go to Kentucky Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | KY Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | state registration done for you; no agent charge in year one | Go to KY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Key questions
Who needs to register in this state?
Before any business in Kentucky, an out-of-state LLC has to register.
Not registering can lead to it has no access to the state's courts as a plaintiff (KRS 14A.9-020(1)); a per-day charge of $2.
(sos.ky.gov, October 2026)
What will registering set me back?
Filing on your own costs $90; with a service, add $199.
By the end of year three the state has collected $645. (apps.legislature.ky.gov, October 2026)
What gets submitted?
Submit the Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (Form FBE) to the Kentucky Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings.
The filing does not ask for proof from the home state.
Is there a recurring filing?
You keep filing the annual report, at $15.
Mark your calendar for Between January 1 and June 30 each year.
How did you order the services?
It is how much work the price handles, weighted at 28%, that puts Mainstay Filing first.
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%).
Kentucky Registered Agent.co covers Kentucky only, so the home state would need a different provider.
Official Kentucky requirements
| Item | Detail | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fee to register | $90 | (apps.legislature.ky.gov, October 2026) |
| Proof of good standing | Not part of the filing | (sos.ky.gov, October 2026) |
| Annual report | $15 | (sos.ky.gov, October 2026) |
| Tax owed yearly | $175 a year | (revenue.ky.gov, October 2026) |
| Years one to three, state fees | $645 | The rows above, added |
Additional questions
Do I need an agent in each state?
Generally yes. A nationwide provider can serve both states, while a local one cannot.
What does each pick cost across three years?
Mainstay Filing at $497, Kentucky Registered Agent.co at $397, KY Registered Agent.org at $397, with state fees on top.
Where do the numbers come from?
State fees come from Kentucky's official sources, cited by each figure. Service prices come from each company's own pricing page.
Could I skip the service?
No, you may file on your own if you meet the rules on this page.
Do the recommended companies file it?
Each of them does, and the state fee does not change.
Which one should I choose in Kentucky?
Mainstay Filing comes first: it charges $199 plus the state fee and includes the registered agent for the first year, then $149 a year. After it come Kentucky Registered Agent.co and KY Registered Agent.org.
Sources used on this page
- Reference: Kentucky Secretary of State at sos.ky.gov, checked in August 2026
- Reference: Kentucky Secretary of State at sos.ky.gov, checked in August 2026
- Reference: Kentucky report due date at apps.legislature.ky.gov, checked in August 2026
- Reference: KRS 275.025 at apps.legislature.ky.gov, checked in August 2026
- Reference: Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee at sos.ky.gov, checked in October 2026
- Reference: Kentucky registered agent statute at apps.legislature.ky.gov, checked in October 2026
- Reference: Kentucky Secretary of State, business at sos.ky.gov, checked in October 2026
- Reference: Form FBE, Certificate of Authority at web.sos.ky.gov, checked in October 2026
- Reference: KRS 14A.9-020, consequences of transacting at apps.legislature.ky.gov, checked in October 2026
- Reference: KRS 14A.9-010, authority to transact at apps.legislature.ky.gov, checked in October 2026
- Reference: Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability at revenue.ky.gov, checked in October 2026
- Mainstay Filing Kentucky service page, read November 13, 2026
- Kentucky Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- KY Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026