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<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in Kansas in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest

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<v Dan>Registered Agent, KS Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and InCorp.

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<v Maya>This is The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Kansas today, where the job has a different name.

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<v Maya>What should people know?

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<v Dan>Kansas calls it a resident agent, not a registered agent.

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<v Dan>And a Kansas change of agent costs $30 online, which is quick, because the state

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<v Dan>processes it within minutes.

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<v Maya>A different name? Does that change anything?

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<v Dan>Not the job. Kansas law says any mention of a registered agent means the resident

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<v Dan>agent. It's the same person or company that takes your legal papers.

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<v Maya>And what does the agent do?

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<v Dan>Two things. It accepts service of process and other communications for your company

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<v Dan>and forwards them. And it forwards anything the Secretary of State sends.

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<v Maya>So it's a mail desk with a legal job.

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<v Dan>With a deadline attached, yes.

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<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

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<v Dan>Good to be here, Maya. Let's rank them.

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<v Maya>Who's number one?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing. $149 a year for the agent, and $149 again at

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<v Dan>renewal.

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<v Maya>What do I get for that?

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<v Dan>Its Kansas address on the public record in place of your own.

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<v Dan>Anything served on your company is scanned and uploaded the same business day, at no

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<v Dan>charge. And your first three government mailings each year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>What if I already have an agent?

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<v Dan>Mainstay files the change for you.

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<v Dan>You pay the $30 online state fee at cost.

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<v Maya>Where does it fall short?

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<v Dan>On the sticker price. Northwest at $125 and the Kansas-branded service at

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<v Dan>$99 both cost less.

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<v Maya>And two?

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year.

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<v Dan>Its page says the price hasn't been raised in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of

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<v Dan>business mail a year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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<v Dan>Signing up enrolls you in its annual report filing service automatically.

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<v Dan>That's $100 plus state fees for each filing, until you cancel it.

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<v Maya>Does Kansas even have an annual report?

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<v Dan>Kansas has an information report every two years.

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<v Dan>It costs $90 online, so the service would be more than double the state's fee.

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<v Maya>Third?

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<v Dan>KS Registered Agent.org. $99 a year, and it stays $99 at renewal.

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<v Dan>You get the registered office, same-day scanning of court papers, and reminders

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<v Dan>before state deadlines.

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<v Maya>What about switching to it?

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<v Dan>Just the $30 state fee, which is the same $30 you'd pay anywhere.

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<v Maya>And the catch?

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<v Dan>Information reports aren't in the plan.

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<v Dan>That's a separate service.

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<v Maya>So it's $50 under Mainstay.

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<v Dan>Every year, yes.

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<v Maya>Number four?

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<v Dan>Bizee, which used to be called Incfile.

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<v Dan>The agent is free for the first year with any formation package.

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<v Maya>What happens after?

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<v Dan>$149 a year, the same as Mainstay.

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<v Dan>It renews on its own, and Bizee's policy says automatic renewal fees can't be

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<v Dan>reversed once they're charged.

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<v Maya>And if I only want an agent for my existing LLC?

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<v Dan>Then there's no free year. You start at $149.

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<v Maya>Last one?

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<v Dan>InCorp. A flat $129 a year in every state.

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<v Dan>Its page says that rate has gone up exactly once since 1998.

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<v Maya>Any way to pay less?

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<v Dan>Prepay five years and it's $87 a year.

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<v Dan>That's $435 in total, paid up front.

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<v Maya>All at once?

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<v Dan>That's the catch. The lowest rate is for people who are comfortable committing for

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<v Dan>five years.

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<v Maya>Back to Kansas law. Who's allowed to serve?

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<v Dan>More people than you might expect.

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<v Dan>The company itself, an individual who lives in Kansas, a Kansas corporation or LLC,

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<v Dan>or a foreign company authorized to do business in Kansas.

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<v Maya>So the LLC can be its own agent here.

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<v Dan>In Kansas, yes. The law lists it first.

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<v Maya>Does the agent need to be around?

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<v Dan>A domestic company serving as agent keeps a business office at the registered office

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<v Dan>that's generally open. An individual has to be generally present at a set Kansas

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<v Dan>location often enough to accept papers.

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<v Maya>What counts as an address?

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<v Dan>A street, a rural route, or a highway.

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<v Dan>The form says plainly that a P O box is unacceptable.

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<v Maya>Where does the agent first go?

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<v Dan>On the Articles of Organization, Form DL.

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<v Dan>Item 2 is the resident agent and item 3 is the registered office.

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<v Maya>Cost?

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<v Dan>$85 online, or $90 on paper. And everything the Secretary of State files

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<v Dan>is public record.

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<v Maya>How do I swap agents later?

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<v Dan>With Form ROA, a Certificate of Amendment for a change of resident agent or

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<v Dan>registered office. It's $30 online, or $35 on paper.

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<v Maya>Who signs?

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<v Dan>An authorized person for the business.

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<v Dan>And the name has to match what the state has on record.

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<v Maya>What if my agent resigns?

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<v Dan>The agent files Form RAN, a $35 fee that the agent pays.

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<v Dan>It also has to give you written notice at least 30 days before it files.

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<v Maya>When does the resignation take effect?

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<v Dan>30 days after the filing.

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<v Maya>And then I have to find someone.

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<v Dan>You do. You have 60 days from the filing to name a new agent.

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<v Dan>If you don't, the Secretary of State forfeits the company's organizing documents.

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<v Maya>And after a forfeiture?

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<v Dan>Legal papers can be served on the Secretary of State, which means you may not hear

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<v Dan>about a lawsuit.

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<v Maya>What about an agent who dies or moves?

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<v Dan>Then you have 30 days to designate another one.

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<v Maya>Does Kansas have an annual report?

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<v Dan>Not annual. An information report every two years, due April 15.

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<v Dan>Companies formed in even years file in even years, and odd with odd.

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<v Maya>What's the fee?

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<v Dan>$90 online, or $110 on paper.

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<v Maya>And if I miss it?

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<v Dan>Kansas can forfeit the company if the report isn't filed within 90 days of the due

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<v Dan>date.

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<v Maya>Does the agent file it?

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<v Dan>Not in these plans. Mainstay doesn't file it, and neither does the $99 service.

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<v Maya>Should I do it myself, then?

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<v Dan>It's allowed. And it's free.

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<v Maya>The tradeoff?

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<v Dan>Your name and address go on the public record.

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<v Dan>And you have to be at that address often enough to take papers.

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<v Maya>So a home business gets visitors.

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<v Dan>Process servers, yes. Most people would rather not.

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<v Maya>How do I decide?

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<v Dan>Ask whether the price changes after year one, whether the address is a real Kansas

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<v Dan>office, and who files Form ROA when you switch.

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<v Maya>What's the three-year picture?

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<v Dan>Mainstay is $447. The $99 service is

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<v Dan>$297. That's $150 apart, and the difference pays for the free scanned

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<v Dan>government mail and the change filed for you.

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<v Maya>Your pick?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Kansas, at $149 a year.

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<v Maya>All five, quickly.

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<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, the same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel.

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<v Dan>Three, KS Registered Agent.org: $99 flat.

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<v Dan>Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149.

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<v Dan>Five, InCorp: $129 flat, or $87 if you prepay

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<v Dan>five years.

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<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.