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Founder Primer

LLC paperwork, boiled down for founders.

Primer 3 · Texas

Foreign LLC Registration in Texas (2026): 4 Moves and the 3 Best Services

If you are hiring for registering an LLC from another state in Texas in 2026, we rank Mainstay Filing ($199), Texas Registered Agent.ai ($199) and TX Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Texas wants $750 from a foreign LLC. 4 moves show the rest.
From the Founder Primer desk

The short version

Registration fee
$750
Source page sos.state.tx.us, October 2026
Upkeep filing
None
Public Information Report
Three years of state fees
$750
Registration, reports, any minimum tax
Primer moves
4
Each one explained

What you will be able to do

  • When registration is required
  • The filing, its fee and its office
  • What staying registered costs
  • Who we would hire to file

Our picks for Texas

Marked on the scoring page: three-year cost (27%), to-dos cleared (38%), renewal, fit with Texas's rules and readable pricing.

First choice $199 plus the $750 state fee, then $149 a year

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a second state and more

In Texas, Mainstay Filing is number one: $199 over the state fee in any state, first-year agent included.

You pay $100 more than at Texas Registered Agent.ai across three years and keep less of the paperwork.

The agent's price after year one is $149 a year, the same across states.

Inside the price
  • Registration, prepared and sent
  • Registered agent free in year one
  • Any state, one price
In its favor
  • Year-one agent included
  • Ready for another state
  • $199 over Texas's fee
Against it
  • A pricier agent renewal ($149)
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
In-state service $199 plus the $750 state fee, then $99 a year

2. Texas Registered Agent.ai: best for adding only Texas

Texas Registered Agent.ai is a fair second choice: $199 service fee, $99 a year for the Texas agent.

Inside the price
  • We prepare and file the registration
  • One year of agent service
In its favor
  • $199 to register
  • A low $99 renewal
  • A free first agent year
Against it
  • Texas only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit Texas Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
In-state service $199 plus the $750 state fee, then $99 a year

3. TX Registered Agent.org: best for a low agent renewal

TX Registered Agent.org is a fair third choice: $199 service fee, $99 a year for the Texas agent.

It costs the same as Texas Registered Agent.ai.

Inside the price
  • We prepare and file the registration
  • One year of agent service
In its favor
  • $199 to register
  • A free first agent year
  • A low $99 renewal
Against it
  • Texas only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit TX Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 services side by side

# Service First year From year two Three-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199 $149/yr $497 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Texas Registered Agent.ai $199 $99/yr $397 Visit Texas Registered Agent.ai Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 TX Registered Agent.org $199 $99/yr $397 Visit TX Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Posted prices, read November 13, 2026. Each row still needs Texas's $750 registration fee.

The moves

  1. Move 1

    Is Texas registration needed?

    LLCs from other states file a foreign registration to transact business in Texas. Skip registration and: Until it registers, the LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (BOC 9.051(b)). Its contracts remain enforceable (BOC 9.051(c)).

    Where this comes from: Source page comptroller.texas.gov, October 2026

  2. Move 2

    Line up a Texas registered agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a street address where papers can be handed to the agent during normal business hours. A mailbox service or answering service alone does not qualify.

    Our picks cover this.

    Where this comes from: Source page sos.texas.gov, October 2026

  3. Move 3

    Send in the Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company

    the Texas Secretary of State takes the form and the $750 fee together.

    Where this comes from: Source page sos.state.tx.us, October 2026

  4. Move 4

    Look at the recurring filing

    Expect the Public Information Report (May 15).

The cost of this primer

Line Payee Figure
Registration fee To the state $750
Paid help Service company $199 in year one
Three years of state fees To the state $750

These are the official Texas fees, cited below. The three-year line adds the filing fee, the year-two and year-three reports and any minimum tax.

Why this order

edged out on to-dos the price takes off you, worth 38%.

Registering touches two states, and one provider for both moved ahead of Texas Registered Agent.ai.

Texas questions

Which fees does Texas take from a foreign LLC?

$750 to the state. Service fees: $199.

Which form do I file to register?

Find the Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 304), which goes to the Texas Secretary of State.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

Until it registers, the LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (BOC 9.051(b)). Its contracts remain enforceable (BOC 9.051(c)).

What is due after registering?

Plan for the Public Information Report.

Which services are in this lesson?

The picks, best first: Mainstay Filing, Texas Registered Agent.ai and TX Registered Agent.org.

Which service should handle the registration?

Pick Mainstay Filing: service fee $199, plus Texas's fee; the agent is $149 a year from year two. Behind it: Texas Registered Agent.ai and TX Registered Agent.org.

Keep reading

Sources, so you can check us

  1. Texas yearly filing: Annual report, official source facts trace to comptroller.texas.gov (read October 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  2. Texas report due date facts trace to statutes.capitol.texas.gov (read August 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  3. Tex facts trace to sos.texas.gov (read August 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  4. Texas registered agent statute facts trace to sos.texas.gov (read October 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  5. Texas Secretary of State, foreign entities FAQ facts trace to sos.state.tx.us (read October 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  6. Form 304 instructions facts trace to sos.state.tx.us (read October 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  7. Business Organizations Code, Chapter 9 facts trace to statutes.capitol.texas.gov (read October 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  8. Texas Comptroller, franchise tax facts trace to comptroller.texas.gov (read October 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  9. Texas Business Organizations Code, Chapter 9 facts trace to tcss.legis.texas.gov (read November 2026); that page is the authority, not us.
  10. Pricing from Mainstay Filing (Texas service page), November 13, 2026
  11. Pricing from Texas Registered Agent.ai (pricing page), November 13, 2026
  12. Pricing from TX Registered Agent.org (pricing page), November 13, 2026