WEBVTT 00:00:00.222 --> 00:00:06.222 The 5 best registered agents in Texas in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest 00:00:06.273 --> 00:00:11.662 Registered Agent, TX Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and 00:00:11.782 --> 00:00:14.223 Texas Registered Agent.ai. 00:00:14.223 --> 00:00:16.463 This is The Business Formation Podcast. 00:00:16.556 --> 00:00:20.863 Today we're going through all five for Texas, starting with the price, and then what 00:00:20.895 --> 00:00:25.023 that price turns into at renewal, because that's where a lot of these change. 00:00:25.023 --> 00:00:28.463 Right. Every company on this list leads with a number. 00:00:28.563 --> 00:00:32.943 The question is what that number is in year two, and what comes with it. 00:00:34.935 --> 00:00:36.980 Can I be my own agent in Texas? 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:42.500 You can, as long as you're a Texas resident or a business registered in Texas, with 00:00:42.580 --> 00:00:47.140 a Texas street address where papers can be handed over during normal business hours. 00:00:47.340 --> 00:00:52.580 The catch is that your address ends up on the public record, and you have to be 00:00:52.633 --> 00:00:54.380 there when papers arrive. 00:00:54.380 --> 00:00:56.580 I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. 00:00:56.580 --> 00:00:58.820 And I'm Dan. Let's get into it. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:04.260 Back up for anyone just starting out: what does a registered agent actually do? 00:01:04.260 --> 00:01:09.620 Your registered agent is the person or company that receives legal papers and 00:01:09.682 --> 00:01:11.780 official state mail for your business. 00:01:11.980 --> 00:01:17.060 Its address goes on the public record, so it has to be a real street address in the 00:01:17.140 --> 00:01:21.140 state, where papers can be handed over during normal business hours. 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:24.180 And what does it cost to change agents later? 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:30.740 In Texas, changing your agent is Form 401 with the Secretary of State, and the state 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:36.660 fee is $15. Keep that number in mind, because it shows up again in the list. 00:01:37.745 --> 00:01:39.345 So, number one. 00:01:39.345 --> 00:01:46.065 Number one is Mainstay Filing: $149 a year for the registered agent, and it renews 00:01:46.118 --> 00:01:52.945 at the same $149. Year one is $149, year two is 00:01:52.985 --> 00:01:57.985 $149, year three is $149. 00:01:57.985 --> 00:01:59.585 What do you get for that? 00:01:59.585 --> 00:02:03.905 Its Texas address goes on the public record instead of your home address. 00:02:03.994 --> 00:02:08.865 Anything served on your company is scanned and uploaded the same business day, with 00:02:08.998 --> 00:02:13.825 no fee. And your first three government mailings each year are scanned free. 00:02:13.825 --> 00:02:17.106 Same business day matters if it's a lawsuit, right? 00:02:17.106 --> 00:02:19.345 That's the whole point of an agent. 00:02:19.398 --> 00:02:23.905 If someone sues your company, the deadline to respond generally runs from when the 00:02:23.962 --> 00:02:28.305 papers are served on your agent, not from when you finally open the envelope. 00:02:28.305 --> 00:02:31.105 What if my company already has an agent? 00:02:31.238 --> 00:02:32.465 Is switching a hassle? 00:02:32.465 --> 00:02:38.945 Switching is simple. Mainstay files the change of agent for you, with the $15 state 00:02:39.025 --> 00:02:40.146 fee at cost. 00:02:40.146 --> 00:02:41.665 Anything else? 00:02:41.665 --> 00:02:47.905 Mainstay also sends compliance reminders, and it serves LLCs, corporations and 00:02:47.970 --> 00:02:49.104 nonprofits alike. 00:02:49.638 --> 00:02:51.105 Is there a catch? 00:02:51.105 --> 00:02:56.385 The honest one: if all you want is a registered agent at the lowest flat yearly 00:02:56.465 --> 00:03:00.865 price, a couple of names below cost $50 less a year. 00:03:00.977 --> 00:03:07.265 That's $150 over three years. What you get with Mainstay is a price that doesn't 00:03:07.329 --> 00:03:10.385 jump at renewal, and the switch filed for you. 00:03:11.527 --> 00:03:12.327 Number two? 00:03:12.327 --> 00:03:17.847 Number two is Northwest Registered Agent, at $125 a year. 00:03:18.027 --> 00:03:23.367 Its page says that price hasn't changed in 20 years, and it scans up to 10 pieces of 00:03:23.407 --> 00:03:25.367 regular business mail a year for free. 00:03:25.975 --> 00:03:28.967 That sounds hard to beat. What's the catch? 00:03:28.967 --> 00:03:34.407 Signing up automatically enrolls you in its annual report filing service, at $100 00:03:34.455 --> 00:03:37.367 plus state fees per filing, unless you cancel it. 00:03:37.527 --> 00:03:41.847 Its page says you can add or cancel the service at any time, so it's something to 00:03:41.900 --> 00:03:43.367 check right after you sign up. 00:03:43.367 --> 00:03:46.887 So what does a year with Northwest look like if I leave that service on? 00:03:46.887 --> 00:03:53.687 $125 for the agent, plus $100 and the state's fee every time it files your annual 00:03:53.756 --> 00:03:58.487 report. Cancel the service, and it's back to $125 a year. 00:03:58.613 --> 00:04:03.847 Either way, the agent price itself has been steady for a long time, and that counts 00:04:03.867 --> 00:04:04.487 for something. 00:04:05.767 --> 00:04:06.647 Number three. 00:04:06.647 --> 00:04:13.447 Number three is TX Registered Agent.org, at $99 a year, and 00:04:13.527 --> 00:04:19.287 still $99 at renewal. You get a Texas street address, same-day document scanning and 00:04:19.338 --> 00:04:24.247 compliance reminders, and switching to it costs only the $15 state fee. 00:04:24.407 --> 00:04:30.087 The catch: annual report filing isn't in the plan; that's a separate service. 00:04:30.087 --> 00:04:32.327 How does that compare with Mainstay? 00:04:32.327 --> 00:04:38.007 It's $50 a year less. Over three years, that's $297 against 00:04:38.071 --> 00:04:45.047 $447 for Mainstay. If a flat $99 is the whole goal, this is one 00:04:45.074 --> 00:04:46.407 of the two names to look at. 00:04:47.663 --> 00:04:48.623 Number four? 00:04:48.623 --> 00:04:52.863 Number four is Bizee, formerly called Incfile. 00:04:53.003 --> 00:04:57.103 Its registered agent is free the first year with any formation package. 00:04:57.567 --> 00:04:59.903 Free? What's the catch? 00:04:59.903 --> 00:05:05.743 Two things. The free year needs a formation order, so you have to form your LLC with 00:05:05.823 --> 00:05:12.143 Bizee to get it. And after that, it's $149 a year, and the renewal is 00:05:12.207 --> 00:05:12.863 automatic. 00:05:12.863 --> 00:05:16.142 So three years with Bizee looks like... 00:05:16.142 --> 00:05:22.063 Free, then $149, then $149: 00:05:22.083 --> 00:05:26.943 $298. That's only if you form with them in the first place. 00:05:27.743 --> 00:05:28.623 And number five? 00:05:28.623 --> 00:05:35.423 Number five is Texas Registered Agent.ai, at $99 a year, flat, 00:05:35.503 --> 00:05:40.943 with no change at renewal. It covers the address used on your filings, same-day 00:05:41.005 --> 00:05:44.623 scanning of legal mail and reminders for state deadlines. 00:05:44.823 --> 00:05:50.863 The catch: like number three, filing your annual report is a separate service. 00:05:50.863 --> 00:05:54.143 So numbers three and five are the same price? 00:05:54.143 --> 00:05:59.823 The same $99. Both are worth a look if you want the lowest flat number, and neither 00:05:59.903 --> 00:06:01.343 one changes at renewal. 00:06:02.102 --> 00:06:03.782 A few questions we hear a lot. 00:06:03.915 --> 00:06:07.702 First: what about regular mail, not just legal papers? 00:06:07.702 --> 00:06:13.302 It varies. Mainstay scans the first three government mailings a year free. 00:06:13.398 --> 00:06:18.022 Northwest scans up to 10 pieces of regular business mail a year free. 00:06:18.235 --> 00:06:23.302 If you get a lot of mail at your agent's address, ask what each extra scan costs 00:06:23.359 --> 00:06:24.702 before you sign up. 00:06:24.702 --> 00:06:28.742 I formed my LLC in Texas but do business in another state. 00:06:28.875 --> 00:06:30.342 Do I need two agents? 00:06:30.342 --> 00:06:34.822 If you register the company to do business in that second state, you'll need an 00:06:34.875 --> 00:06:39.782 agent there too. That's where Mainstay's one price in every state keeps things 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:43.543 simple, because you're not comparing a new set of numbers each time. 00:06:43.543 --> 00:06:45.863 Can I switch in the middle of the year? 00:06:45.863 --> 00:06:52.423 You can. It's a Texas filing that names the new agent, Form 401, and the state fee 00:06:52.476 --> 00:06:58.183 is $15. With Mainstay, that filing is done for you, with the fee at cost. 00:06:58.896 --> 00:07:03.696 If someone's listening and still can't decide, what should they actually compare? 00:07:03.696 --> 00:07:08.256 Three things. First, the renewal price, not the first-year price. 00:07:08.616 --> 00:07:14.736 Bizee goes from free to $149. Second, anything that gets added 00:07:14.787 --> 00:07:20.416 automatically, like Northwest's annual report enrollment at $100 plus state fees per 00:07:20.485 --> 00:07:24.856 filing. And third, what switching costs you. 00:07:25.003 --> 00:07:28.016 In Texas, the state fee is $15. 00:07:28.016 --> 00:07:30.016 Which brings us back to number one. 00:07:30.016 --> 00:07:35.776 It does. One price, the same at renewal, nothing added automatically, and the switch 00:07:35.856 --> 00:07:36.736 filed for you. 00:07:38.016 --> 00:07:40.336 So, the final verdict for Texas. 00:07:40.336 --> 00:07:46.656 Mainstay Filing, our pick. $149 a year for the agent, the same at renewal, and the 00:07:46.713 --> 00:07:48.176 switch filed for you. 00:07:48.176 --> 00:07:49.776 And the quick version of all five? 00:07:49.776 --> 00:07:55.136 One, Mainstay Filing: $149 a year, the same at renewal. 00:07:55.396 --> 00:08:01.696 Two, Northwest: $125 a year; watch the annual report enrollment. 00:08:01.883 --> 00:08:08.336 Three, TX Registered Agent.org: $99 a year, flat. 00:08:08.592 --> 00:08:15.216 Four, Bizee: free the first year when you form with it, then $149. 00:08:15.416 --> 00:08:22.016 And five, Texas Registered Agent.ai: $99 a year, flat. 00:08:22.016 --> 00:08:24.736 Links to all five are in the show notes. 00:08:24.770 --> 00:08:27.376 Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.