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3 Best LLC Services in Texas (2026): Your Questions Answered

For LLC formation services in Texas, we would ask Texas Registered Agent.ai ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and TX Registered Agent.org ($199) in 2026, in that order. The costs split two ways: $300 to the state for the filing and $397 to $597 to a service across three years.

Answered by the Ask About LLC editorial team ·

The short answers

What does the state charge?
$300, one time
What comes after?
A free report
Registered agent
Yes, name one
Who to ask
Texas Registered Agent.ai, Mainstay Filing then TX Registered Agent.org

Who should you ask in Texas?

Curious why this order? Read how we choose.

1Ask this one first

1. Texas Registered Agent.ai: best for a one-state LLC

$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year

Why Texas Registered Agent.ai at the top? It opens at $199 with the first agent year included and renews at $99.

Put the totals side by side and this one is lower than Mainstay Filing; cost has the heaviest weight in our scoring.

Nobody files the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report for you here.

What the price covers

  • Texas formation filing
  • Agent included in year one

Good news

  • Forms the LLC for $199 plus the state fee
  • A free agent year at the start
  • Then $99 annually

The catch

  • The Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report is yours to prepare and send
  • The EIN application costs $99 more
Ask Texas Registered Agent.ai directlyPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Works in every state

2. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want upkeep handled

Annual price $199, renewal price $199, state fee on top

Mainstay Filing takes second place: $199 a year includes the formation, the registered agent and every Public Information Report.

Why is it not higher? Three years cost $200 more than at Texas Registered Agent.ai, and price is what we weigh most.

It files the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report as part of the service, free at the state.

What the price covers

  • Formation paperwork submitted
  • Registered agent for twelve months
  • Public Information Report filed for you
  • EIN application
  • No markup on state fees

Good news

  • Renewal is $199
  • Formation, agent and report for $199 a year
  • Applies for your EIN as part of the package

The catch

  • From year two you pay $100 more than at Texas Registered Agent.ai
Ask Mainstay Filing directlyPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Texas only

3. TX Registered Agent.org: best for another local choice

$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year

TX Registered Agent.org is the third answer because it opens at $199 with the first agent year included and renews at $99.

Nobody files the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report for you here.

It charges the same as Texas Registered Agent.ai, which makes the order between them a close call.

What the price covers

  • Texas formation filing
  • Agent included in year one

Good news

  • Then $99 annually
  • Forms the LLC for $199 plus the state fee
  • A free agent year at the start

The catch

  • The Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report is yours to prepare and send
  • The EIN application costs $99 more
Ask TX Registered Agent.org directlyPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

How do they compare?

#WhoFirst yearAt renewalThree years in allIncluded
1Texas Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397texas formation filing; agent included in year oneAsk Texas Registered Agent.ai directly
Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597formation paperwork submitted; registered agent for twelve months; Public Information Report filed for youAsk Mainstay Filing directly
Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3TX Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397texas formation filing; agent included in year oneAsk TX Registered Agent.org directly
Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read on November 13, 2026; three years means year one plus two renewals.

What owners want to know

How much money do I need to start?

The state charges $300, and a service that files for you in year one adds $199.

Over three years the state collects $300, filing fee included. sos.texas.gov, read in October 2026 for this answer

What do I actually send the state?

The Texas Secretary of State receives the Certificate of Formation (Form 205), and once it approves, the LLC exists.

The law behind it: Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 3.005. sos.texas.gov, read in October 2026 for this answer

Does this state require a registered agent?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

A Texas resident, including an owner, officer or employee, or an organization registered or authorized in Texas with a business office at the registered office. The company cannot be its own agent, and the agent has to consent.

sos.texas.gov, read in October 2026 for this answer

What happens after the LLC is formed?

The Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report repeats every year, with no fee. Due date, as the state puts it: May 15.

The late fee is $50.

comptroller.texas.gov, read in October 2026 for this answer

Is it okay to skip the service?

Nothing stops you. Without a service your three-year bill is the state's $300.

Paying for help raises the three-year total by $397 to $597, which buys the paperwork and the agent role.

Why is the list in this order?

Texas Registered Agent.ai does best on what you pay over three years, which carries 33% of our score.

62% of the score comes from what you pay over three years and chores the price takes care of.

Pick Texas Registered Agent.ai over Mainstay Filing and keep $200 across three years.

How we choose

What does Texas require to form an LLC?

QuestionThe answerLook it up
LLC filing fee$300sos.texas.gov, read in October 2026 for this answer
Registered agentYes, name onesos.texas.gov, read in October 2026 for this answer
Recurring reportNo feecomptroller.texas.gov, read in October 2026 for this answer
State fees, years one to three$300The rows above, added up
How was the bottom line figured? Add the filing fee, the next two reports and the minimum tax if the state has one. Anything with no fixed price, a newspaper notice for instance, is described above and kept out of the sum.

Still wondering?

Who applies for the EIN?

With Mainstay Filing it costs nothing extra. Texas Registered Agent.ai charges $99, TX Registered Agent.org charges $99.

Is there a late fee?

Expect a $50 late fee.

What do the picks cost over three years?

Texas Registered Agent.ai comes to $397; Mainstay Filing comes to $597; TX Registered Agent.org comes to $397, with state fees on top.

Where do these numbers come from?

State fees come from Texas's official documents, and service fees come from each company's own pricing page. Both carry dates on this page.

Do I have to use a service?

Not at all. The state takes filings from owners directly. A service just saves you time, and it can double as your agent.

What is the best LLC service for Texas?

Texas Registered Agent.ai, because with a $99 renewal, three years total $397. After that, Mainstay Filing and TX Registered Agent.org.

Sources for this answer

  1. Our answer on Texas yearly filing: Annual report rests on comptroller.texas.gov, a page we confirmed October 2026 and still point you to
  2. Our answer on Texas report due date rests on statutes.capitol.texas.gov, a page we confirmed August 2026 and still point you to
  3. Our answer on Tex rests on sos.texas.gov, a page we confirmed August 2026 and still point you to
  4. Our answer on Texas registered agent statute rests on sos.texas.gov, a page we confirmed October 2026 and still point you to
  5. The Texas Registered Agent.ai pricing page, as it stood on November 13, 2026
  6. The Mainstay Filing Texas service page, as it stood on November 13, 2026
  7. The TX Registered Agent.org pricing page, as it stood on November 13, 2026