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Lesson 3 · New York

How to Register a Foreign LLC in New York (2026): 5 Steps and the 3 Best Services

Here is the 2026 answer for registering a foreign LLC in New York: Mainstay Filing ($199), New York Registered Agent.ai ($199) and NY Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked in that order. The 5 steps below start with whether you need to register at all. State fee: $250.

The Founder Classroom teaching team ·

The short version

Registration fee
$250As listed on ny.gov in October 2026
Certificate needed
365 daysMaximum age at filing
Annual filing
$9Biennial statement
Three years of state fees
$259Registration plus reports
Number of steps
5One at a time

You will learn

  • Who has to register
  • The filing, its fee and its office
  • What it costs to stay registered
  • Who we would hire to file

Teacher's pick

If you want help with the filing

Ranked by our grading rubric, which puts steps handled and three-year cost first.
Best overall

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies adding a state

$199 + the $250 state fee, then $149 a year

Our pick for New York is Mainstay Filing: registration for $199 plus state fees and a free first year as an agent for service of process.

New York Registered Agent.ai is $100 less across three years; covering more lesson steps outweighs the gap on our rubric.

After the free first year the agent is $149 a year in any state.

What you get

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • Agent for service of process free for year one
  • Any state at one price

What we like

  • First agent year included
  • $199 to register
  • Ready for your next state

Watch out for

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 over New York Registered Agent.ai
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
One-state plan

2. New York Registered Agent.ai: best for one extra state

$199 + the $250 state fee, then $99 a year

New York Registered Agent.ai is a solid second choice: $199 over the state fee to register, $99 yearly after.

What you get

  • Filing with the state
  • A year of agent service

What we like

  • A year of agent service included
  • $99 a year for the agent after that
  • $199 + state fee

Watch out for

  • Serves New York alone
Visit New York Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
One-state plan

3. NY Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer

$199 + the $250 state fee, then $99 a year

NY Registered Agent.org is a solid third choice: $199 over the state fee to register, $99 yearly after.

On price it ties with New York Registered Agent.ai.

What you get

  • Filing with the state
  • A year of agent service

What we like

  • $99 a year for the agent after that
  • $199 + state fee
  • A year of agent service included

Watch out for

  • Serves New York alone
Visit NY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Our New York picks compared

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2New York Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397Visit New York Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3NY Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit NY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Published prices, read November 12, 2026. The $250 state fee is extra in every row.

The New York registration, in order

  1. Step 1: Confirm you need to register

    A foreign LLC is one formed in another state. Before it transacts business in New York, it registers there.

    Official source: As listed on dos.ny.gov in October 2026

  2. Step 2: Request proof of good standing at home

    The filing needs certificate of Existence (also called a Certificate of Good Standing), issued within 365 days.

    TipDo this step just before filing.

  3. Step 3: Line up a New York 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. New York has no registered-office requirement. The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC and mails a copy of any papers served to the address the company has on file. A designated registered agent's street address goes on the filing.

    TipThe services in our picks provide this.

    Official source: As listed on nysenate.gov in October 2026

  4. Step 4: Complete the Application for Authority of a Foreign Limited Liability Company

    The New York Department of State, Division of Corporations takes the Application for Authority of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form DOS-1361-f-a) and the $250 fee.

    Official source: As listed on ny.gov in October 2026

  5. Step 5: Plan for the yearly filing

    After registering, file the biennial statement for $9, every two years, in the month the application was filed.

The cost of this lesson

Cost itemPaid toAmount
Foreign registrationThe state$250
Biennial statementThe state$9
Help from a serviceThe service$199 to start
Three years of state feesThe state$259
Official state fees, cited under References. Three-year state total = filing + reports in years two and three + any minimum tax.

Behind the ranking

Lesson note: first place in New York came down to lesson steps handled, worth 35% of the grade.

Registering here means two states at least; one provider for both beat New York Registered Agent.ai.

Questions students ask

What does it cost to register a foreign LLC in New York?

$250 in state fees. A service adds $199.

Which form do I file to register?

The registration form is the Application for Authority of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form DOS-1361-f-a) (submitted to the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations).

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of Existence (also called a Certificate of Good Standing), issued within 365 days of filing.

What is due after registering?

Your next filing is the biennial statement at $9.

Which services are in this lesson?

This lesson grades Mainstay Filing ($199), New York Registered Agent.ai ($199) and NY Registered Agent.org ($199).

Which service should handle the registration?

We'd go with Mainstay Filing, because $199 on top of the state fee, with the agent for service of process free for year one and $149 a year after. Then New York Registered Agent.ai and NY Registered Agent.org.

Next up

Official references

  1. New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, published at dos.ny.gov, as of August 2026
  2. New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, published at filing.dos.ny.gov, as of August 2026
  3. New York report due date, published at nysenate.gov, as of August 2026
  4. NY Limited Liability Company Law § 203, published at nysenate.gov, as of August 2026
  5. New York formation fee: Filing fee, official source, published at dos.ny.gov, as of October 2026
  6. New York registered agent statute, published at nysenate.gov, as of October 2026
  7. Department of State, Application for Authority, published at dos.ny.gov, as of October 2026
  8. LLC Law § 802, application for authority, published at nysenate.gov, as of October 2026
  9. LLC Law § 808, consequences of doing business, published at nysenate.gov, as of October 2026
  10. Department of State, Certificate of Publication, published at dos.ny.gov, as of October 2026
  11. November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, New York service page
  12. November 12, 2026: New York Registered Agent.ai, pricing page
  13. November 12, 2026: NY Registered Agent.org, pricing page