Plain and short · Kentucky
3 Best LLC Services in Kentucky (2026): Simply Ranked
At a glance
- State fee
- $40, paid once
- Afterward
- $15 yearly + $175 yearly minimum tax
- Registered agent
- Required: yes
- Ranked first
- Kentucky Registered Agent.co, KY Registered Agent.org then Mainstay Filing
Ranked in Kentucky
Prices come from each company's own page. Method.1. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for staying local
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year
Kentucky Registered Agent.co comes first because forming costs $199 with the agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.
It costs less than Mainstay Filing over three years. Cost carries the most weight.
The annual report is not included. You file it.
Includes
- Kentucky formation filing
- Agent for year one
Good
- The first agent year is included
- Formation fee $199
- Then $99 yearly
Against
- The annual report is a task you keep
- The EIN application costs $99 extra
2. KY Registered Agent.org: best for single-state companies
$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year
Second place: KY Registered Agent.org, since forming costs $199 with the agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.
The annual report is not included. You file it.
Its prices match Kentucky Registered Agent.co exactly. The order between them is close.
Includes
- Kentucky formation filing
- Agent for year one
Good
- Then $99 yearly
- The first agent year is included
- Formation fee $199
Against
- The annual report is a task you keep
- The EIN application costs $99 extra
3. Mainstay Filing: best for handing off upkeep
$199 a year. $40 to the state
Mainstay Filing takes third place because one yearly price, $199, includes formation, the registered agent and every annual report.
It ranks lower because three years cost $200 more than Kentucky Registered Agent.co, and cost has the largest weight.
You do not file the annual report. Only the state's $15 is added.
Includes
- The formation filing
- Registered agent for a year
- Annual report filed for you
- EIN application
- State fees passed through
Good
- $199 a year covers filing, agent and report
- No fee for the EIN application
- Renews at $199
Against
- $100 a year above Kentucky Registered Agent.co after year one
Side by side
| # | Name | Year one | After year one | Total | Includes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | kentucky formation filing; agent for year one | Go to Kentucky Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | KY Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | kentucky formation filing; agent for year one | Go to KY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | the formation filing; registered agent for a year; annual report filed for you | Go to Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The facts
What does an LLC cost to form here?
The state charges $40. A service adds $199 in year one.
Over three years the state collects $595, filing included. from sos.ky.gov, October 2026, kept short
- Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.
What do I file?
The Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (Form KLC) goes to the Kentucky Secretary of State. Approval creates the LLC.
from sos.ky.gov, October 2026, kept short
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
A Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance.
from apps.legislature.ky.gov, October 2026, kept short
What is owed later?
Expect the annual report every year, $15. Its date, set by the state, reads on or before June 30, which you should keep in view. The minimum tax is billed apart.
from sos.ky.gov, August 2026, kept short
Can I file it myself?
Yes. Your three-year bill is the state's $595.
A service adds $397 to $597 over three years. With Mainstay Filing the reports are included.
What put the first pick first?
Kentucky Registered Agent.co scores best on three-year cost, which is 38% of the score.
65% of the score is three-year cost and work included.
Mainstay Filing runs $200 higher over three years than Kentucky Registered Agent.co's $397.
Kentucky: forming an LLC
| Item | Rule or amount | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Fee to form | $40 | from sos.ky.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Registered agent | Required: yes | from apps.legislature.ky.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Annual report | $15 every year | from sos.ky.gov, August 2026, kept short |
| Minimum tax | $175 a year | from revenue.ky.gov, October 2026, kept short |
| Three-year state total | $595 | Sum of the rows above |
Questions
Is the EIN application included?
Mainstay Filing folds the EIN application into its price, while Kentucky Registered Agent.co adds $99 and KY Registered Agent.org adds $99.
What do the picks cost over three years?
Across three years: Kentucky Registered Agent.co at $397, KY Registered Agent.org at $397, Mainstay Filing at $597, with state fees on top.
Are the fees official?
Official Kentucky sources for the state side. Published prices for the service side.
Must I use a service?
No law requires a service. It is a paid convenience.
What is owed each year?
Expect the annual report every year, $15. Its date, set by the state, reads on or before June 30, which you should keep in view. The minimum tax is billed apart.
Which LLC service should I use in Kentucky?
Kentucky Registered Agent.co, because $199 forms the LLC, and the agent renews at $99. Then KY Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing.
Sources
- Charter Simple keeps Kentucky Secretary of State on file from sos.ky.gov, confirmed August 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps Kentucky Secretary of State on file from sos.ky.gov, confirmed August 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps Kentucky report due date on file from apps.legislature.ky.gov, confirmed August 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps KRS 275.025 on file from apps.legislature.ky.gov, confirmed August 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee on file from sos.ky.gov, confirmed October 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps Kentucky registered agent statute on file from apps.legislature.ky.gov, confirmed October 2026, and nothing more
- Charter Simple keeps Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability on file from revenue.ky.gov, confirmed October 2026, and nothing more
- The Kentucky Registered Agent.co pricing page, on November 13, 2026
- The KY Registered Agent.org pricing page, on November 13, 2026
- The Mainstay Filing Kentucky service page, on November 13, 2026