What it means · Kentucky
3 Best LLC Services in Kentucky (2026), Compared
In brief
- Formation fee
- $40, a single payment
- Upkeep each year
- $15 once a year + $175 state minimum tax
- Registered agent
- Must be named
- Who we recommend
- Kentucky Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing then KY Registered Agent.org
Kentucky: the ranked picks
Prices come from each company's own pricing page. The ranking is explained on how we pick.1. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for a modest first-year bill
$199 to form, then $99 a year
Why Kentucky Registered Agent.co? You pay $199 at the start with the first agent year included and $99 annually after that.
Cost settles it: three years here total less than with Mainstay Filing.
Its price leaves out the annual report.
Includes
- Your Kentucky formation filing
- Year-one registered agent
Points in its favor
- $99 a year afterward
- First-year agent in the price
- Forms the LLC for $199
Where it falls short
- Annual report is your responsibility
- Charges $99 to apply for the EIN
2. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want the annual report handled
$199 a year, renewing at $199
Our second recommendation, Mainstay Filing, earns it since you pay $199 a year and get the formation, the registered agent and the annual report taken care of.
Kentucky Registered Agent.co is $200 less over three years, which is enough to place it higher.
Filing the annual report is included, and the $15 state fee is passed along as is.
Includes
- The formation filing
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed for you
- Help applying for an EIN
- No markup on the state fee
Points in its favor
- The price holds at $199
- No extra fee for the EIN application
- $199 a year pays for the filing, the agent and the report
Where it falls short
- Carries a $100 annual premium over Kentucky Registered Agent.co
3. KY Registered Agent.org: best for one-state companies
$199 to form, then $99 a year
KY Registered Agent.org ranks third. In short, you pay $199 at the start with the first agent year included and $99 annually after that.
Its price leaves out the annual report.
With the same prices as Kentucky Registered Agent.co, this is a near tie.
Includes
- Your Kentucky formation filing
- Year-one registered agent
Points in its favor
- Forms the LLC for $199
- $99 a year afterward
- First-year agent in the price
Where it falls short
- Annual report is your responsibility
- Charges $99 to apply for the EIN
Comparison table
| # | Provider | First-year price | Each year after | Three-year total | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Kentucky formation filing; Year-one registered agent | Check Kentucky Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | the formation filing; registered agent for twelve months; annual report prepared and filed for you | Check Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | KY Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Kentucky formation filing; Year-one registered agent | Check KY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Key questions
What is the full cost to form one?
Set aside $40 for the state and $199 for a service.
State fees for years one through three: $595. see sos.ky.gov, October 2026
- Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.
What creates the LLC?
The Kentucky Secretary of State receives the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (Form KLC), and that is what creates the LLC.
see sos.ky.gov, October 2026
Must I have a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance.
see apps.legislature.ky.gov, October 2026
Are there costs every year?
What recurs is the annual report: annual, $15. In the state's words it falls due on or before June 30, so keep an eye on it. The yearly minimum tax also applies.
see sos.ky.gov, August 2026
Can I skip the service?
You can. Without a service, you pay the state alone: $595 across three years.
A service adds $397 to $597 over three years to do the filings and, with Mainstay Filing, the reports.
Why is the first pick first?
What three years cost counts for 34%, and Kentucky Registered Agent.co comes out ahead on it.
What three years cost carries 34% and how much work the price handles carries 28%. Three smaller criteria decide close calls.
Over three years Kentucky Registered Agent.co totals $397, which is $200 below Mainstay Filing.
Checklist for Kentucky, with sources
| Requirement | Detail | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $40 | see sos.ky.gov, October 2026 |
| Registered agent | Must be named | see apps.legislature.ky.gov, October 2026 |
| Annual report | $15 every year | see sos.ky.gov, August 2026 |
| State minimum tax | $175 a year | see revenue.ky.gov, October 2026 |
| Years one to three, state fees | $595 | The rows above, added |
More explanations
Is the EIN covered?
Only Mainstay Filing includes it. At the others: $99 at Kentucky Registered Agent.co, $99 at KY Registered Agent.org.
What is the three-year price of each?
Kentucky Registered Agent.co: $397 | Mainstay Filing: $597 | KY Registered Agent.org: $397 in service fees alone.
Where do the numbers come from?
The state side uses Kentucky's own publications. The service side uses published company prices.
Could I skip the service?
Not required. Services charge to do the paperwork for you.
Yearly state charges?
What recurs is the annual report: annual, $15. In the state's words it falls due on or before June 30, so keep an eye on it. The yearly minimum tax also applies.
What is the best LLC service for Kentucky?
Kentucky Registered Agent.co ranks first on what three years cost, ahead of Mainstay Filing and KY Registered Agent.org.
References
- sos.ky.gov: Kentucky Secretary of State (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.ky.gov: Kentucky Secretary of State (confirmed August 2026)
- apps.legislature.ky.gov: Kentucky report due date (confirmed August 2026)
- apps.legislature.ky.gov: KRS 275.025 (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.ky.gov: Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee (confirmed October 2026)
- apps.legislature.ky.gov: Kentucky registered agent statute (confirmed October 2026)
- revenue.ky.gov: Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability (confirmed October 2026)
- pricing page from Kentucky Registered Agent.co, prices as of November 13, 2026
- Kentucky service page from Mainstay Filing, prices as of November 13, 2026
- pricing page from KY Registered Agent.org, prices as of November 13, 2026