What it means · Michigan
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Michigan (2026), Explained
In brief
- State charge to register
- $50
- Home-state proof needed?
- Yes, attach one (30 days at the most)
- Follow-up
- $25, annual statement
- Services we suggest
- Mainstay Filing, MI Registered Agent.org then Michigan Registered Agent.co
The Michigan shortlist
Prices come from each company's own pricing page. The ranking is explained on how we pick.1. Mainstay Filing: best for a second, third or fourth state
$199 plus the state fee, then $149 yearly
Our first recommendation is Mainstay Filing, because registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the resident agent is free the first year.
Three years cost $100 more than MI Registered Agent.org, and the extra pays for a provider that works in every state.
Once the first year ends, expect $149 a year for the resident agent.
Includes
- Registration paperwork done for you
- Same service fee wherever you register
Points in its favor
- Service fee of $199
- Identical fee in every state
Where it falls short
- MI Registered Agent.org charges $50 less to renew the agent
2. MI Registered Agent.org: best for a lean registration
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 yearly
MI Registered Agent.org takes the second slot: registering costs $199 and includes a first year of agent service, then $99 annually.
Includes
- Your Michigan registration filing
- Agent included for the first year
Points in its favor
- $99 each year from year two
- $199 plus the state fee
- Year-one agent service is included
Where it falls short
- A one-state service
3. Michigan Registered Agent.co: best for adding one more state
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 yearly
Michigan Registered Agent.co takes the third slot: registering costs $199 and includes a first year of agent service, then $99 annually.
With the same prices as MI Registered Agent.org, this is a near tie.
Includes
- Your Michigan registration filing
- Agent included for the first year
Points in its favor
- $99 each year from year two
- Year-one agent service is included
- $199 plus the state fee
Where it falls short
- A one-state service
How they stack up
| # | Company | First-year price | Each year after | Three-year total | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | registration paperwork done for you; same service fee wherever you register | Learn more at Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | MI Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Michigan registration filing; agent included for the first year | Learn more at MI Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Michigan Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Michigan registration filing; agent included for the first year | Learn more at Michigan Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
What owners want to know
Does my LLC from another state have to register?
Before any business in Michigan, an out-of-state LLC has to register.
The price of not registering includes it is blocked from filing its own lawsuits (MCL 450.5007(1)).
michigan.gov · verified October 2026
How much does registration cost?
Set aside $50 for the state and $199 for a service.
Total state fees across three years: $100. legislature.mi.gov · verified October 2026
Which document registers the LLC?
Once the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division accepts the Application for Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in Michigan (for foreign limited liability companies) (Form CSCL/CD 760), the LLC is registered.
Include with it certificate of good standing no more than 30 days.
What is due once the LLC is registered?
Expect a annual statement at $25.
Mark your calendar for February 15.
What put number one on top?
The deciding factor is how much work the price handles (28% of the weight), where Mainstay Filing is strongest.
Our weighting leans on what three years cost first and how much work the price handles second, then three smaller factors.
One provider for two states is why it comes first.
Official Michigan requirements
| Item | Detail | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| State registration fee | $50 | legislature.mi.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Certificate from home state | Yes, attach one, 30 days | michigan.gov · verified October 2026 |
| Annual statement | $25 | michigan.gov · verified October 2026 |
| What the state collects in three years | $100 | Computed from the lines above |
Additional questions
Does my home state still require an agent?
Yes, each state has its own requirement. A one-state service covers only the state it is in.
What does each pick cost across three years?
Over three years: Mainstay Filing ($497), MI Registered Agent.org ($397), Michigan Registered Agent.co ($397), and state fees come extra.
Are the figures official?
The state side uses Michigan's own publications. The service side uses published company prices.
Does the law require a service?
No law demands one. A service is a convenience.
Will a service file the registration for me?
Each of them does, and the state fee does not change.
Which one should I choose in Michigan?
Mainstay Filing, because it charges $199 plus the state fee and includes the resident agent for the first year, then $149 a year. Then MI Registered Agent.org and Michigan Registered Agent.co.
Official sources and price pages
- michigan.gov: Michigan Department of Licensing and (confirmed August 2026)
- michigan.gov: Michigan Department of Licensing and (confirmed August 2026)
- michigan.gov: Michigan report due date (confirmed August 2026)
- legislature.mi.gov: MCL 450.4202 (confirmed August 2026)
- michigan.gov: Michigan formation fee: Filing fee (confirmed September 2026)
- legislature.mi.gov: Michigan formation fee: Filing fee (confirmed September 2026)
- legislature.mi.gov: Michigan registered agent statute (confirmed October 2026)
- michigan.gov: LARA limited liability company forms (confirmed October 2026)
- legislature.mi.gov: MCL 450.5002, certificate of authority (confirmed October 2026)
- legislature.mi.gov: MCL 450.5008, activities that are (confirmed October 2026)
- legislature.mi.gov: MCL 450.5007, consequences of transacting (confirmed October 2026)
- Mainstay Filing Michigan service page, read November 13, 2026
- MI Registered Agent.org pricing page, read November 13, 2026
- Michigan Registered Agent.co pricing page, read November 13, 2026