Step by step · New York
3 Best LLC Services in New York (2026) for Owners
Summary
- What the state charges to file
- $200, one time
- What recurs
- $9 on a two-year cycle
- Agent for service of process
- Handled differently here
- Our recommendations
- NY Registered Agent.org, New York Registered Agent.ai then Mainstay Filing
Who we recommend in New York
Best first. See how we pick for the reasoning.1. NY Registered Agent.org: best for a lean start
$199 plus the state fee, followed by $99 a year
NY Registered Agent.org comes out on top: you pay $199 at the start with the first agent year included and $99 annually after that.
A lower three-year total than Mainstay Filing gives it the lead for a company that stays put.
You need to set aside time for the biennial statement, because it is not included.
Includes
- Your New York formation filing
- A first year of agent service
Points in its favor
- The agent is free for the first year
- The agent renews at $99
- $199, with the state fee on top
Where it falls short
- You file the biennial statement on your own
- An EIN application is $99 more
2. New York Registered Agent.ai: best for a low agent renewal
$199 plus the state fee, followed by $99 a year
New York Registered Agent.ai takes the second slot: you pay $199 at the start with the first agent year included and $99 annually after that.
You need to set aside time for the biennial statement, because it is not included.
Price for price, it matches NY Registered Agent.org.
Includes
- Your New York formation filing
- A first year of agent service
Points in its favor
- The agent renews at $99
- The agent is free for the first year
- $199, with the state fee on top
Where it falls short
- You file the biennial statement on your own
- An EIN application is $99 more
3. Mainstay Filing: best for knowing the yearly bill in advance
$199 a year, renewing at $199
Our third recommendation, Mainstay Filing, earns it since one yearly price of $199 handles the filing, serves as the agent for service of process and files the biennial statement, and it renews at $199.
Across three years it is $200 pricier than NY Registered Agent.org.
You skip the biennial statement yourself. New York still bills $9, which is charged at cost.
Includes
- Your LLC filed with the state
- Registered agent all year long
- Biennial statement filed by Mainstay
- EIN request submitted for you
- State fees without a markup
Points in its favor
- $199 a year, all included
- Takes care of the EIN application
- Renewal is $199
Where it falls short
- NY Registered Agent.org renews for $100 less each year
The picks compared
| # | Pick | Opening price | Each year after | Over three years | Covers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NY Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your New York formation filing; A first year of agent service | Open NY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | New York Registered Agent.ai | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your New York formation filing; A first year of agent service | Open New York Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Your LLC filed with the state; registered agent all year long; Biennial statement filed by Mainstay | Open Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Questions explained
What is the full cost to form one?
Expect $200 in state fees plus $199 for a service.
Add the state's three years of fees, from filing onward, and you reach $209. (dos.ny.gov, October 2026)
- Publication: within 120 days, a notice runs for six weeks in two county newspapers (the papers set their own charges), then a Certificate of Publication is filed for $50.
- Tax Department LLC fee (Form IT-204-LL): $25 a year for a single-member LLC with New York-source income; partnership LLCs pay more.
What exactly do I submit?
The LLC comes into being when the New York Secretary of State approves the Articles of Organization (Form DOS-1336-f).
Statute: NY Limited Liability Company Law § 203. (dos.ny.gov, October 2026)
Does the LLC need an agent for service of process?
The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC; naming a registered agent is optional.
If one is designated: a person who lives in New York or has a business address there, an LLC formed or authorized in New York, or a corporation formed or authorized in New York.
(nysenate.gov, October 2026)
What is due in later years?
What recurs is the biennial statement: biennial, $9. In the state's words it falls due during the calendar month in which the Articles of Organization were filed, every 2 years, so keep an eye on it.
(dos.ny.gov, October 2026)
Is it possible to file it myself?
It is allowed. A do-it-yourself filer pays $209 in state fees across three years.
Hiring one adds $397 to $597 across three years.
Why is the first pick first?
The deciding factor is what three years cost (34% of the weight), where NY Registered Agent.org is strongest.
Most of the score, 62%, comes from what three years cost and how much work the price handles.
NY Registered Agent.org comes to $397 across three years, $200 less than Mainstay Filing.
What New York requires
| Item | Detail | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of filing | $200 | (dos.ny.gov, October 2026) |
| Agent for service of process | Handled differently here | (nysenate.gov, October 2026) |
| Biennial statement | $9 every two years | (dos.ny.gov, October 2026) |
| Paid to the state in three years | $209 | Our total of the rows above |
Other things people ask
Will they apply for my EIN?
It is part of the Mainstay Filing price, while NY Registered Agent.org bills $99 and New York Registered Agent.ai bills $99.
How do the picks compare over three years?
NY Registered Agent.org comes to $397; New York Registered Agent.ai comes to $397; Mainstay Filing comes to $597, and state fees come extra.
What are the figures based on?
The state side uses New York's own publications. The service side uses published company prices.
Does the law require a service?
It is optional, and the state charges the same either way.
What repeats annually?
What recurs is the biennial statement: biennial, $9. In the state's words it falls due during the calendar month in which the Articles of Organization were filed, every 2 years, so keep an eye on it.
Who would you hire first in New York?
NY Registered Agent.org is on top because three years add up to $397 with the $99 renewal; New York Registered Agent.ai and Mainstay Filing follow.
Sources used on this page
- New York Department of State, found at dos.ny.gov, confirmed August 2026
- New York Department of State, found at filing.dos.ny.gov, confirmed August 2026
- New York report due date, found at nysenate.gov, confirmed August 2026
- NY Limited Liability Company Law, found at nysenate.gov, confirmed August 2026
- New York formation fee: Filing, found at dos.ny.gov, confirmed October 2026
- New York registered agent statute, found at nysenate.gov, confirmed October 2026
- New York other cost: Publication, found at nysenate.gov, confirmed October 2026
- New York other cost: Certificate, found at dos.ny.gov, confirmed October 2026
- New York other cost: Tax, found at tax.ny.gov, confirmed October 2026
- pricing page from NY Registered Agent.org, prices as of November 13, 2026
- pricing page from New York Registered Agent.ai, prices as of November 13, 2026
- New York service page from Mainstay Filing, prices as of November 13, 2026