[0:00] The short answer Dan: The 5 best registered agents in Kansas in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, KS Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and InCorp. Maya: This is The Business Formation Podcast. Kansas today, where the job has a different name. What should people know? Dan: Kansas calls it a resident agent, not a registered agent. And a Kansas change of agent costs $30 online, which is quick, because the state processes it within minutes. [0:31] What Kansas calls it Maya: A different name? Does that change anything? Dan: Not the job. Kansas law says any mention of a registered agent means the resident agent. It's the same person or company that takes your legal papers. Maya: And what does the agent do? Dan: Two things. It accepts service of process and other communications for your company and forwards them. And it forwards anything the Secretary of State sends. Maya: So it's a mail desk with a legal job. Dan: With a deadline attached, yes. Maya: I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. Dan: Good to be here, Maya. Let's rank them. [1:05] Mainstay Filing Maya: Who's number one? Dan: Mainstay Filing. $149 a year for the agent, and $149 again at renewal. Maya: What do I get for that? Dan: Its Kansas address on the public record in place of your own. Anything served on your company is scanned and uploaded the same business day, at no charge. And your first three government mailings each year are scanned free. Maya: What if I already have an agent? Dan: Mainstay files the change for you. You pay the $30 online state fee at cost. Maya: Where does it fall short? Dan: On the sticker price. Northwest at $125 and the Kansas-branded service at $99 both cost less. [1:50] Northwest Registered Agent Maya: And two? Dan: Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. Its page says the price hasn't been raised in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of business mail a year are scanned free. Maya: The catch? Dan: Signing up enrolls you in its annual report filing service automatically. That's $100 plus state fees for each filing, until you cancel it. Maya: Does Kansas even have an annual report? Dan: Kansas has an information report every two years. It costs $90 online, so the service would be more than double the state's fee. [2:22] KS Registered Agent.org Maya: Third? Dan: KS Registered Agent.org. $99 a year, and it stays $99 at renewal. You get the registered office, same-day scanning of court papers, and reminders before state deadlines. Maya: What about switching to it? Dan: Just the $30 state fee, which is the same $30 you'd pay anywhere. Maya: And the catch? Dan: Information reports aren't in the plan. That's a separate service. Maya: So it's $50 under Mainstay. Dan: Every year, yes. [2:52] Bizee Maya: Number four? Dan: Bizee, which used to be called Incfile. The agent is free for the first year with any formation package. Maya: What happens after? Dan: $149 a year, the same as Mainstay. It renews on its own, and Bizee's policy says automatic renewal fees can't be reversed once they're charged. Maya: And if I only want an agent for my existing LLC? Dan: Then there's no free year. You start at $149. [3:20] InCorp Maya: Last one? Dan: InCorp. A flat $129 a year in every state. Its page says that rate has gone up exactly once since 1998. Maya: Any way to pay less? Dan: Prepay five years and it's $87 a year. That's $435 in total, paid up front. Maya: All at once? Dan: That's the catch. The lowest rate is for people who are comfortable committing for five years. [3:51] Who can be your agent Maya: Back to Kansas law. Who's allowed to serve? Dan: More people than you might expect. The company itself, an individual who lives in Kansas, a Kansas corporation or LLC, or a foreign company authorized to do business in Kansas. Maya: So the LLC can be its own agent here. Dan: In Kansas, yes. The law lists it first. Maya: Does the agent need to be around? Dan: A domestic company serving as agent keeps a business office at the registered office that's generally open. An individual has to be generally present at a set Kansas location often enough to accept papers. Maya: What counts as an address? Dan: A street, a rural route, or a highway. The form says plainly that a P O box is unacceptable. [4:38] Naming and changing the agent Maya: Where does the agent first go? Dan: On the Articles of Organization, Form DL. Item 2 is the resident agent and item 3 is the registered office. Maya: Cost? Dan: $85 online, or $90 on paper. And everything the Secretary of State files is public record. Maya: How do I swap agents later? Dan: With Form ROA, a Certificate of Amendment for a change of resident agent or registered office. It's $30 online, or $35 on paper. Maya: Who signs? Dan: An authorized person for the business. And the name has to match what the state has on record. [5:22] If the agent quits, moves, or dies Maya: What if my agent resigns? Dan: The agent files Form RAN, a $35 fee that the agent pays. It also has to give you written notice at least 30 days before it files. Maya: When does the resignation take effect? Dan: 30 days after the filing. Maya: And then I have to find someone. Dan: You do. You have 60 days from the filing to name a new agent. If you don't, the Secretary of State forfeits the company's organizing documents. Maya: And after a forfeiture? Dan: Legal papers can be served on the Secretary of State, which means you may not hear about a lawsuit. Maya: What about an agent who dies or moves? Dan: Then you have 30 days to designate another one. [6:05] The information report Maya: Does Kansas have an annual report? Dan: Not annual. An information report every two years, due April 15. Companies formed in even years file in even years, and odd with odd. Maya: What's the fee? Dan: $90 online, or $110 on paper. Maya: And if I miss it? Dan: Kansas can forfeit the company if the report isn't filed within 90 days of the due date. Maya: Does the agent file it? Dan: Not in these plans. Mainstay doesn't file it, and neither does the $99 service. [6:35] Serving as your own agent Maya: Should I do it myself, then? Dan: It's allowed. And it's free. Maya: The tradeoff? Dan: Your name and address go on the public record. And you have to be at that address often enough to take papers. Maya: So a home business gets visitors. Dan: Process servers, yes. Most people would rather not. [6:54] Picking one Maya: How do I decide? Dan: Ask whether the price changes after year one, whether the address is a real Kansas office, and who files Form ROA when you switch. Maya: What's the three-year picture? Dan: Mainstay is $447. The $99 service is $297. That's $150 apart, and the difference pays for the free scanned government mail and the change filed for you. Maya: Your pick? Dan: Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Kansas, at $149 a year. [7:31] The five again Maya: All five, quickly. Dan: One, Mainstay Filing: $149, the same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, KS Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, InCorp: $129 flat, or $87 if you prepay five years. Maya: The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.