Who should you hire in Washington for LLC formation services in 2026: we say WA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Mainstay Filing ($199), ranked best first. The state's fee is $200 whoever files, and the services total $397 to $597 across three years.
1. WA Registered Agent.org: best for holding down three-year cost
$199 plus the state fee; then $99 a year
WA Registered Agent.org comes first, as the opening cost is $199, first agent year included, followed by $99 annually.
It beats Mainstay Filing on three-year cost, the test we weigh most.
The annual report is not in the price, so you file it.
What is bundled
LLC filed for you
A first year of agent service
Pluses
$199 over the state fee
A free agent year at the start
$99 a year from year two
Downsides
Filing the annual report stays on your to-do list
EIN not included ($99)
#2Any state you add
2. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want upkeep done for them
$199 a year and $200 to the state
Second place: Mainstay Filing, where $199 a year pays for forming the LLC, serving as its registered agent and filing the annual report, and it renews at $199.
Over three years it costs $200 more than WA Registered Agent.org, and cost carries the most weight.
The annual report is part of the service, and only the state's $70 is added.
What is bundled
Your LLC, filed
Registered agent all year
Annual report handled each time
EIN filed for you
No markup on state fees
Pluses
No increase ($199)
One price, $199 a year
No charge for the EIN application
Downsides
$100 a year more than WA Registered Agent.org from year two
Service fees only, from each company's prices on November 13, 2026. State fees are identical whichever you pick.
Straight replies
What is the all-in cost to start one?
$200 to the state; with a service in year one, add $199.
When the recurring report are counted, state fees reach $340 across three years. sos.wa.gov, current in October 2026 per the state
What do I send, and to whom?
The Washington Secretary of State accepts the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company; its approval is what forms the company.
Where the law says so: RCW 25.15.071. sos.wa.gov, current in October 2026 per the state
Can the LLC go without a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, a noncommercial agent (any person or business with a Washington address), or the holder of a named position in the company. The agent consents in advance.
The bottom line adds up the filing fee, the reports for years two and three and the minimum tax if there is one. A cost with no set price, like a newspaper notice, is left out of the sum.
A few more
What does the EIN cost?
Mainstay Filing includes the EIN application. For the others the extra charge is: WA Registered Agent.org $99.
Will I owe more if I am late?
The late charge is $25.
After three years, what has each cost?
$397 for WA Registered Agent.org, $597 for Mainstay Filing, not counting state fees.
What is behind the figures?
State side: Washington's published fee schedules and forms. Service side: the prices each company lists.
Must I hire a service?
Nothing requires it. Think of a service as paid convenience.
Which one do you pick in Washington?
WA Registered Agent.org is first on three-year price, with Mainstay Filing behind it.