What it means · Washington
2 Best Foreign Registration Services in Washington (2026) for Owners
The essentials
- State charge to register
- $180
- Do you attach a home-state certificate?
- Yes, attach one (60 days or newer)
- Ongoing requirement
- $70, annual report
- Who we recommend
- WA Registered Agent.org then Mainstay Filing
The Washington shortlist
Order and weights are explained on how we pick.1. WA Registered Agent.org: best for adding a single state
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 yearly
Why WA Registered Agent.org? You pay $199 above the state fee, and $99 every year after.
Cost settles it: three years here total less than with Mainstay Filing.
Includes
- Your Washington registration filing
- No agent charge in year one
Points in its favor
- $199 to register
- The agent is free for the first year
- A modest renewal of $99
Where it falls short
- Your home state requires a second provider
2. Mainstay Filing: best for a fee that stays the same everywhere
$199 plus the state fee, then $149 yearly
Mainstay Filing ranks second. In short, the registration is $199 and there is no charge for the registered agent until year two.
Across three years it is $100 pricier than WA Registered Agent.org.
After the free year, the registered agent renews at $149 a year in any state.
Includes
- The registration filing
- Registered agent, covered for the first year
- Same service fee wherever you register
Points in its favor
- Registered agent costs nothing in year one
- $199 on top of the state fee
- Ready for the next state you add
Where it falls short
- Renewal runs $50 over WA Registered Agent.org
Compare prices
| # | Provider | First-year price | Renewal price | Total, 3 years | Included in the price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Your Washington registration filing; no agent charge in year one | Go to WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $149/yr | $497 | the registration filing; 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. |
What owners want to know
Does my LLC from another state have to register?
An LLC formed elsewhere registers with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division before it does business in Washington.
as of October 2026: sos.wa.gov
How much does registration cost?
Set aside $180 for the state and $199 for a service.
The state's three-year fees come to $320. as of October 2026: sos.wa.gov
What gets submitted?
Once the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division accepts the Foreign Registration Statement, the LLC is registered.
The filing needs certificate of existence (good standing) or similar document issued within the last 60 days.
What do I owe after registering?
Expect a annual report at $70.
The schedule reads last day of your registration month.
Why is the first pick first?
What three years cost counts for 34%, and WA Registered Agent.org comes out ahead on it.
Most of the score, 62%, comes from what three years cost and how much work the price handles.
At $397 for three years, WA Registered Agent.org undercuts Mainstay Filing by $100.
What Washington requires
| What it covers | Fee or rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Registration charge | $180 | as of October 2026: sos.wa.gov |
| Document from home state | Yes, attach one, 60 days | as of October 2026: sos.wa.gov |
| Annual report | $70 | as of October 2026: sos.wa.gov |
| Years one to three, state fees | $320 | The rows above, added |
More explanations
Do I need an agent in each state?
Yes, each state has its own requirement. A one-state service covers only the state it is in.
How do the picks compare over three years?
$397 with WA Registered Agent.org, $497 with Mainstay Filing, and state fees come extra.
Where do the numbers come from?
Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, and every figure carries a date.
Is a service required?
No. The state takes filings from owners directly; a service just saves time and covers the agent role.
Do the recommended companies file it?
Each of them does, and the state fee does not change.
Which company ranks first in Washington?
We would start with WA Registered Agent.org, then Mainstay Filing.
Official sources and price pages
- Washington Secretary of State, Corporations via ccfs.sos.wa.gov, as of August 2026
- Washington Secretary of State, Corporations via sos.wa.gov, as of August 2026
- Washington yearly filing: Annual report via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- Washington report due date via app.leg.wa.gov, as of August 2026
- Washington formation fee: Filing fee via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- Washington formation fee: Filing fee via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- Washington registered agent statute via app.leg.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- Washington SOS, register a foreign via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- Washington SOS, fee schedules and via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- RCW 23.95.520, activities that are via app.leg.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- RCW 23.95.505, consequences of not via app.leg.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- RCW 23.95.510, foreign registration statement via app.leg.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- Washington SOS, registered agents via sos.wa.gov, as of October 2026
- WA Registered Agent.org, pricing page, accessed November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing, Washington service page, accessed November 13, 2026