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Q&A · Kentucky

3 Best LLC Services in Kentucky (2026) for You

For LLC formation services in Kentucky, our 2026 reply is Mainstay Filing ($199), Kentucky Registered Agent.co ($199) and KY Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Budget $40 for the state plus $397 to $597 in service fees over three years.
By the LLC Answered editorial team

In brief

Short reply
Fee at the state
$40, a single time
Upkeep
$15 each twelve months + $175 minimum tax owed yearly
Registered agent
Must be named
Who to hire
Mainstay Filing, Kentucky Registered Agent.co then KY Registered Agent.org

Our Kentucky picks, best first

Ranked best first by the tests on our process page.

#1 Number 1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for handing off the annual report

$199 a year, plus the $40 state fee

Hire Mainstay Filing in Kentucky: the annual report is part of the $199 annual price, next to formation and the registered agent.

The $200 gap to Kentucky Registered Agent.co over three years pays for jobs you would otherwise do.

It files the annual report for you and bills the state's $15 at cost.

What is bundled

  • Formation filed with the state
  • Registered agent for a full year
  • Annual report prepared and filed
  • EIN request, handled
  • No markup on state fees

Pluses

  • Year two costs $199
  • $199 a year covers filing and agent and report
  • EIN handled

Downsides

  • A $100 yearly premium over Kentucky Registered Agent.co
#2 In-state option

2. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for a small first-year bill

Year one $199, later years $99

In second spot, Kentucky Registered Agent.co, as a three-year total of $397 results from its $99 renewal.

Set aside time for the annual report; it is not included.

What is bundled

  • LLC filed for you
  • Year-one agent service

Pluses

  • Forms the LLC for $199
  • Agent renews at $99
  • A free agent year at the start

Downsides

  • You will be filing the annual report yourself
  • Charges $99 for the EIN application
#3 In-state option

3. KY Registered Agent.org: best for a low agent renewal

Year one $199, later years $99

In third spot, KY Registered Agent.org, as a three-year total of $397 results from its $99 renewal.

Set aside time for the annual report; it is not included.

Kentucky Registered Agent.co charges the same, which makes this a near tie.

What is bundled

  • LLC filed for you
  • Year-one agent service

Pluses

  • Forms the LLC for $199
  • Agent renews at $99
  • A free agent year at the start

Downsides

  • You will be filing the annual report yourself
  • Charges $99 for the EIN application

The table

#CompanyStart priceRenewalCost over 3 yearsWhat is covered
1 Mainstay Filing $199$199/yr$597formation filed with the state; registered agent for a full year; annual report prepared and filed Go to Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Kentucky Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397LLC filed for you; Year-one agent service Go to Kentucky Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 KY Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397LLC filed for you; Year-one agent service Go to KY Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices as of November 13, 2026. The state's own fees are in the checklist below.

Your questions, answered

How much should I put aside?

$40 to the state; with a service in year one, add $199.

After three years, the state has charged $595 in total. sos.ky.gov, last confirmed October 2026, official site

  • Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.

What do I send, and to whom?

One document does it: the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (Form KLC), filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State.

sos.ky.gov, last confirmed October 2026, official site

Can the LLC go without a registered agent?

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

A Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance.

apps.legislature.ky.gov, last confirmed October 2026, official site

What does upkeep cost?

Chiefly the annual report, once annually. The fee is $15. The state's deadline reads: on or before June 30, so note it early. A yearly minimum tax comes on top.

sos.ky.gov, last confirmed August 2026, official site

Can the owner handle the filing?

You can do it yourself, and the three-year cost is then $595 in state fees.

Services bill $397 to $597 across three years, which buys the paperwork and the agent role.

How did you rank them?

It comes down to paperwork covered, where Mainstay Filing does best.

We weigh three-year price first and paperwork covered second, then three smaller tests.

Kentucky Registered Agent.co has the lower bill, yet the annual report remains your job there.

How we decide

Kentucky checklist with sources

QuestionReplyCited at
Fee at filing $40sos.ky.gov, last confirmed October 2026, official site
Registered agent Must be namedapps.legislature.ky.gov, last confirmed October 2026, official site
Annual report $15 every yearsos.ky.gov, last confirmed August 2026, official site
State minimum tax $175 a yearrevenue.ky.gov, last confirmed October 2026, official site
State total, years 1 to 3 $595Sum of the rows above

The final row is a sum, not a state figure: filing fee, then years two and three of reports, then minimum tax where it applies.

Other questions

What does the EIN cost?

Mainstay Filing: nothing extra. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: $99; KY Registered Agent.org: $99.

After three years, what has each cost?

Mainstay Filing $597; Kentucky Registered Agent.co $397; KY Registered Agent.org $397, and state fees are separate.

What are your sources?

Kentucky publications for the state's fees, company price pages for the rest, with dates shown on this page.

Do I need outside help?

No. What you pay a service covers the labor and the agent role, not anything the state demands.

What yearly state charges apply?

Chiefly the annual report, once annually. The fee is $15. The state's deadline reads: on or before June 30, so note it early. A yearly minimum tax comes on top.

Which one do you pick in Kentucky?

Mainstay Filing leads because $199 a year pays for forming the LLC, serving as its registered agent and filing the annual report, and it renews at $199; Kentucky Registered Agent.co and KY Registered Agent.org come next.

More to read

Where each fact comes from

  1. sos.ky.gov | Kentucky Secretary of State | August 2026
  2. sos.ky.gov | Kentucky Secretary of State | August 2026
  3. apps.legislature.ky.gov | Kentucky report due date | August 2026
  4. apps.legislature.ky.gov | KRS 275.025 | August 2026
  5. sos.ky.gov | Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee | October 2026
  6. apps.legislature.ky.gov | Kentucky registered agent statute | October 2026
  7. revenue.ky.gov | Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability | October 2026
  8. Kentucky service page at Mainstay Filing, looked at November 13, 2026
  9. pricing page at Kentucky Registered Agent.co, looked at November 13, 2026
  10. pricing page at KY Registered Agent.org, looked at November 13, 2026