Step by step · Texas
3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Texas (2026) and Why
Summary
- What the state charges
- $750
- Do you attach a home-state certificate?
- No
- Later filings
- Nothing, Public Information Report
- Where we would start
- Mainstay Filing, TX Registered Agent.org then Texas Registered Agent.ai
Who we recommend in Texas
Prices come from each company's own pricing page. The ranking is explained on how we pick.1. Mainstay Filing: best for growing companies
$199 up front, $149 annually after that
Mainstay Filing comes out on top: you pay $199 plus Texas's fee, with the registered agent free in year one and $149 a year after that.
TX Registered Agent.org would save $100 over three years but covers Texas only.
Once the first year ends, expect $149 a year for the registered agent.
Includes
- Your foreign registration, filed
- Registered agent, included in year one
- Works in all fifty states
Points in its favor
- A free year of agent service
- One fee wherever you register
- Service fee of $199
Where it falls short
- Renewal runs $50 over TX Registered Agent.org
2. TX Registered Agent.org: best for a modest agent fee each year
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
Number 2 on the list is TX Registered Agent.org, where the filing is $199, and the agent renews each year at $99.
Includes
- Application prepared and submitted
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- $199 plus the state fee
- The agent renews at $99
- First-year agent in the price
Where it falls short
- Your home state requires a second provider
3. Texas Registered Agent.ai: best for adding one more state
$199 up front, $99 annually after that
Number 3 on the list is Texas Registered Agent.ai, where the filing is $199, and the agent renews each year at $99.
The prices match TX Registered Agent.org, so pick the one you prefer.
Includes
- Application prepared and submitted
- Agent service during year one
Points in its favor
- $199 plus the state fee
- The agent renews at $99
- First-year agent in the price
Where it falls short
- Your home state requires a second provider
Compare prices
| # | Company | First-year price | Each year after | Total, 3 years | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | your foreign registration, filed; registered agent, included in year one; works in all fifty states | Check Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | TX Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | application prepared and submitted; agent service during year one | Check TX Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Texas Registered Agent.ai | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | application prepared and submitted; agent service during year one | Check Texas Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Questions explained
Do I need to register my out-of-state LLC?
Before any business in Texas, an out-of-state LLC has to register.
The price of not registering includes it cannot bring a lawsuit in Texas courts until it registers (BOC 9.051(b)).
(comptroller.texas.gov, October 2026)
What does a foreign registration cost?
$750 goes to the state, plus $199 if a service handles it.
State fees over three years, registration included: $750. (sos.state.tx.us, October 2026)
Which document registers the LLC?
You file the Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 304) with the Texas Secretary of State, and that is all.
The state does not require a home-state certificate.
What is due once the LLC is registered?
Expect a Public Information Report at no cost.
Mark your calendar for May 15.
How did you order the services?
Mainstay Filing leads on how much work the price handles, a criterion that carries 28% of the weight.
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%).
TX Registered Agent.org covers Texas only, so the home state would need a different provider.
What Texas requires
| What it covers | Fee or rule | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to register | $750 | (sos.state.tx.us, October 2026) |
| Document from home state | No | (comptroller.texas.gov, October 2026) |
| Three-year state total | $750 | Computed from the lines above |
Other things people ask
Will one agent cover both states?
Yes. Your home state still requires its own agent, and Mainstay Filing can cover both states under one account.
How do the picks compare over three years?
$497 with Mainstay Filing, $397 with TX Registered Agent.org, $397 with Texas Registered Agent.ai, and state fees come extra.
How do you know these fees?
Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, and every figure carries a date.
Could I skip the service?
No law demands one. A service is a convenience.
Can someone else submit the registration?
Any of them can file it for you, with the state fee unchanged.
Which one should I choose in Texas?
Mainstay Filing comes first: the registration is $199 and there is no charge for the registered agent until year two. After it come TX Registered Agent.org and Texas Registered Agent.ai.
Where the facts come from
- comptroller.texas.gov: Texas yearly filing: Annual report (confirmed October 2026)
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov: Texas report due date (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.texas.gov: Tex (confirmed August 2026)
- sos.texas.gov: Texas registered agent statute (confirmed October 2026)
- sos.state.tx.us: Texas Secretary of State, foreign (confirmed October 2026)
- sos.state.tx.us: Form 304 instructions (confirmed October 2026)
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov: Business Organizations Code, Chapter 9 (confirmed October 2026)
- comptroller.texas.gov: Texas Comptroller, franchise tax (confirmed October 2026)
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: Texas Business Organizations Code, Chapter (confirmed November 2026)
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Mainstay Filing Texas service page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the TX Registered Agent.org pricing page
- Fetched November 13, 2026: the Texas Registered Agent.ai pricing page