[0:00] The short answer Dan: The 5 best registered agents in Kentucky in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, KY Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and Kentucky Registered Agent.co. Maya: Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. Kentucky. Can my LLC just name itself? Dan: No. The state's change form says the company seeking formation shall not act as its own registered agent. And a change of agent is $10. [0:30] What Kentucky requires Maya: Give me the rule. Dan: KRS 14A.4-010 says every entity must continuously maintain a registered office, which can be the same as one of its places of business, and a registered agent. Maya: Who can be the agent? Dan: An individual who resides in Kentucky, or an entity or foreign entity qualified to transact business here. Either way the agent's business address must be identical to the registered office. Maya: What about the address itself? Dan: A street address only. The articles form says no post office box numbers, and the change form calls a P.O. box insufficient. A highway, rural route or building location can do. Maya: Hours? Dan: We checked the official pages and found no business-hours rule. Maya: I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. Dan: Thanks, Maya. Now the five. [1:26] Mainstay Filing Maya: Number one? Dan: Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, the same $149 at renewal. Maya: What's covered? Dan: Its Kentucky address on the public record instead of yours. Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day at no fee, and your first three government mailings a year are scanned free. Maya: Changing from another agent? Dan: Mainstay files the change. The $10 state fee passes through at cost. Maya: Honest downside? Dan: Two agents below it are $99, so it isn't the lowest flat price. [2:03] Northwest Registered Agent Maya: Second place? Dan: Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. Its page says the price hasn't gone up in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of regular mail a year are scanned free. Maya: Catch? Dan: Auto-enrollment in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees per filing, until you cancel. Maya: Kentucky's report is $15. Dan: So with that service on, it's $100 plus $15, which is $115 for a report that takes minutes. Cancel it if you don't want it. [2:39] KY Registered Agent.org Maya: Third? Dan: KY Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, same at renewal. The address on your filings, same-day scans of state correspondence and service of process, plus deadline reminders. Maya: What does it take to switch? Dan: Just the $10 state fee. Annual report filing is a separate service. Maya: Compared with Mainstay? Dan: $50 a year less, $150 over three years. [3:06] Bizee Maya: Four? Dan: Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with any formation package, then $149 a year, renewed automatically. Maya: And if I didn't buy a formation package? Dan: There's no free year. It's $149 straight away. Maya: Two-year totals? Dan: Free then $149 with a package. Without one, $149 and $149, $298. [3:33] Kentucky Registered Agent.co Maya: And five? Dan: Kentucky Registered Agent.co, a flat $99. The address used on filings, same-day legal mail scanning and compliance reminders. Maya: Any difference from number three? Dan: Not on the listings. Same price, same catch. [3:49] Consent and the communications contact Maya: Does the agent have to agree in writing? Dan: Unless the agent signs the document making the appointment, the appointment isn't effective until the agent delivers a written acceptance to the Secretary of State. Maya: Is there a form for that? Dan: Form CRA, the Statement of Consent of Registered Agent. There is no filing fee. But the articles form and the change form both carry the agent's consent signature already. Maya: What's the communications contact? Dan: Your company must give the agent a natural person's name, business address and phone number, someone authorized to receive communications from the agent. If it doesn't, the agent may resign. [4:33] What the agent does Maya: What does a Kentucky agent have to do? Dan: Forward to the company any service of process, notice or demand it receives, and keep the communications contact information. Maya: Where does the state's own mail go? Dan: To the principal office. The forms say that's where all correspondence from the Secretary of State will be mailed. Maya: So the agent isn't who gets my annual report notice. Dan: Right. That's why keeping the principal office current is a separate job. [4:59] Naming and changing the agent Maya: Where is the agent named at formation? Dan: Article II of the Articles of Organization, Form KLC, which also carries the agent's consent. It's $40, and a copy goes to the county clerk where the registered office is. Maya: And a change? Dan: Form RAC, the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and Registered Office. The fee is $10, and it can be filed online or by mail. Maya: Who signs? Dan: The new agent signs that it consents to serve. Maya: How fast? Dan: It's effective when the Secretary of State files it. The state says it's usually processed the same day, but can take up to three business days. Maya: Can I do it on my annual report? Dan: No. The postcard says changes to the principal and registered office or agent must be made by a statement of change. [5:48] If the agent resigns Maya: What if my agent resigns? Dan: Form SRA, the Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent. There is no filing fee, and the agent signs it. Maya: Who hears about it? Dan: The Secretary of State mails one copy to the registered office and one to the company's principal office. Maya: When does it take effect? Dan: On the earlier of a successor being appointed or the 31st day after filing. [6:12] When there's no agent Maya: What if there's no agent at all? Dan: Under section 14A.4-040, process can be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the company at its principal office. Maya: And the danger to the LLC? Dan: Being without a registered office or agent for 60 days or more is a ground for administrative dissolution. So is failing to tell the state within 60 days that the agent resigned. Maya: Is there a warning? Dan: Yes. After notice, the company has 60 days to correct. [6:46] The annual report Maya: What does Kentucky want every year? Dan: The annual report, $15, filed between January 1 and June 30, starting the year after formation. It confirms the principal office and the registered agent and office. Maya: Total yearly spend? Dan: With Mainstay, $149 plus $15 is $164. With a $99 agent, $114. Maya: And formation? Dan: $40 for the articles. So the first year with Mainstay, assuming you form it yourself, comes to $189 plus the report next year. [7:27] Doing it yourself Maya: Can I be my own agent? Dan: If you're a Kentucky resident whose business address is the registered office, yes. Maya: What's the tradeoff? Dan: That address goes on the public record, and you're the one who has to be reachable to receive papers. Maya: And for owners who travel? Dan: A service scanning the same business day means a served lawsuit doesn't sit in an unattended office. [7:50] Picking one Maya: How should a Louisville or Lexington owner pick? Dan: Three things. Does the price hold, is the address a real Kentucky street address, and who files the $10 change. Maya: And your answer? Dan: Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Kentucky, at $149 a year. [8:10] The five in a row Maya: All five, once more? Dan: One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, KY Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, Kentucky Registered Agent.co: $99 flat. Maya: The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.