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Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
Launchwise Review

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Launch guide · Delaware · foreign registration

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Delaware (2026)

Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
For a 2026 launch in Delaware, Launchwise Review grades foreign registration services this way: Mainstay Filing ($199), DE Registered Agent.org ($199) and Delaware Registered Agent.ai ($199). Mainstay Filing earns the top grade here: the Delaware registration costs $199, the first registered agent year is free, and later years are $149.
1
Number one here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for founders working in several states

Pay $199 plus the state fee ($399 in total at checkout), then $149 a year for the agent

Our mark 9.6 out of 10

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: $199 beyond the state's fee in whichever state you enter, with year-one registered agent service free.

Your first year as agent is free; each year after that is $149, wherever you register.

It runs $100 above DE Registered Agent.org across three years; the extra paperwork it handles is worth that to us.

In the price

  • The registration filing, done for you
  • The first registered agent year at no charge
  • Anything served on the company scanned the same business day at no fee

Pros

  • Registered agent service is free the first year
  • One price in every state
  • Papers served on the company are scanned the same business day, free
  • $199 for the service, with the state fee added

Less good

  • The agent costs $149 a year after year one, $50 above DE Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing launch review
2
Best local option

2. DE Registered Agent.org: best for companies adding only Delaware

Pay $199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year for the agent

Our mark 9.2 out of 10

Next up is DE Registered Agent.org: $199 plus the state fee, year-one registered agent service included, then $99 a year for the agent.

You get an in-state street address for the registered office, and any papers served on the company are scanned into your online account.

In the price

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • One year of registered agent service to begin with

Pros

  • Registers the company for $199, state fee extra
  • Year-one registered agent duty is covered
  • Then $99 a year to keep the agent

Less good

  • Delaware only; the home state needs its own agent
  • EIN application costs extra ($99)
Visit DE Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the DE Registered Agent.org launch review
3
Best local option

3. Delaware Registered Agent.ai: best for Delaware registrations only

Service $199, state fee extra; the agent then costs $99 each year

Our mark 9.1 out of 10

Rounding out the list is Delaware Registered Agent.ai: $199 plus the state fee, year-one registered agent service included, then $99 a year for the agent.

You get an in-state street address for the registered office, and any papers served on the company are scanned into your online account.

Delaware Registered Agent.ai copies DE Registered Agent.org on price and features, so the pair is close to level.

In the price

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • One year of registered agent service to begin with

Pros

  • $199 covers the registration work, fees extra
  • Keeps your agent for $99 yearly
  • Covers the first year of registered agent service

Less good

  • Delaware only; the home state needs its own agent
  • EIN application costs extra ($99)
Visit Delaware Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Delaware Registered Agent.ai launch review

The 3 grades at a glance

Place Company Launch grade Service price Second year Best fit Go
1 Mainstay Filing 9.6 $199 $149/yr Founders opening a second state Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 DE Registered Agent.org 9.2 $199 $99/yr The lowest agent renewal on this page Visit DE Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Delaware Registered Agent.ai 9.1 $199 $99/yr The lowest agent renewal on this page Visit Delaware Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
The 10-point grades are editorial, built from the criteria on How we rank. They are not customer ratings.

Delaware foreign registration service cost in 2026: first year, renewals, three-year total

Company Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Three years, total Agent covered, year one
Mainstay Filing $199 $149 $149 $497 Free
DE Registered Agent.org $199 $99 $99 $397 Included
Delaware Registered Agent.ai $199 $99 $99 $397 Included
Prices were copied from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. Add Delaware's $200 registration fee to any row; it is not in the totals.

How we graded this list

What made the call in Delaware was launch paperwork handled. The grading method sets cost to launch and stay at 26%, launch paperwork handled at 26% and renewal behavior, state match and price transparency at 48% combined.

Adding a second state means dealing with two states, and one provider at one price in both earned the stronger coverage grade, ahead of DE Registered Agent.org.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

Opening in Delaware as a foreign LLC: fee, form and office

Your registration goes to the Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations, on the Certificate of Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company. Budget $200 for the state. Have certificate of existence from the jurisdiction of formation in hand too, dated within 180 days of filing; Delaware asks for it.

Calendar item for later: the Annual LLC tax at $400, due June 1.

Before you file, get these together

  • Certificate of existence from the jurisdiction of formation, issued within 180 days of your filing date.
  • Your company's exact legal name and the date it was formed at home.
  • A registered agent with a street address in the state; every company graded on this page can serve.
  • The $200 state fee, ready to pay with the filing.
  • A calendar reminder for the Annual LLC tax and its $400 fee.

What skipping Delaware registration can cost you

Without registration, an outside LLC cannot bring a lawsuit in Delaware courts (6 Del. C. 18-907(a)). Contracts it signs remain valid (6 Del. C. 18-907(b)).

Quick answers about Delaware foreign registration services

When does an LLC from elsewhere have to register in Delaware?

Once it does business there. Until then it cannot bring a lawsuit in the state's courts.

What should I budget to bring an existing LLC into Delaware?

The state fee is $200; add a service fee of $199.

Do I need a document from my home state first?

Yes, order certificate of existence from the jurisdiction of formation and file within 180 days of its date.

Does the foreign LLC still need a registered agent?

Yes. Keep a registered agent with a street address in the state for as long as the company is registered there.

Which foreign registration services are graded on this page?

Mainstay Filing ($199), DE Registered Agent.org ($199) and Delaware Registered Agent.ai ($199), top grade first.

Which service is the best way to register a foreign LLC in Delaware?

Mainstay Filing, because $199 on top of the state fee, a free first year as registered agent and the same price in any state.

Read next

Sources and dates

  1. Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source, dated October 2026
  2. Delaware yearly filing: Recurring obligation, official source, dated October 2026
  3. Delaware yearly filing: HB 400, official source, dated October 2026
  4. Delaware report due date, dated August 2026
  5. 6 Del. C. § 18-201, dated August 2026
  6. Delaware registered agent statute, dated October 2026
  7. Foreign LLC registration form, dated October 2026
  8. Delaware Code Title 6, chapter 18, subchapter IX, dated October 2026
  9. Division of Corporations fee schedule, August 2026, dated October 2026
  10. From Mainstay Filing: Delaware service page, copied November 12, 2026
  11. From DE Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026
  12. From Delaware Registered Agent.ai: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026