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Biz Formation Report

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Foreign registration report · Maine

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Maine (2026)

By the Biz Formation Report editorial team

Biz Formation Report ranks foreign registration services in Maine for 2026 as Mainstay Filing ($199), ME Registered Agent.org ($199) and Maine Registered Agent.co ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing earns the top grade: the Maine registration is filed for $199, and the registered agent is free in year one, then $149 a year.

No.1

Best here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies registered in several states

Score9.1out of 10
$199 plus the state fee ($499 due at checkout), then $149 a year for the agent from year two

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: $199 added to the state fee in any state, with a year of registered agent service included.

The agent is free in year one, then costs $149 a year, whatever state the company registers in.

Over three years Mainstay costs $100 more than ME Registered Agent.org; our grading treats the broader coverage as worth that.

What you get

  • The foreign registration, done for you
  • Registered agent service free in year one
  • Papers served on the company scanned and uploaded the same business day, at no cost

Good

  • Registered agent at no cost in year one
  • Served papers scanned within the same business day, free
  • One price across all fifty states
  • $199 service fee plus the state's fee

Weak spots

  • The agent renews at $149, $50 more than ME Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing review
No.2

Best value here

2. ME Registered Agent.org: best for companies adding Maine alone

Score8.7out of 10
$199 service fee and the state fee on top; the agent is $99 annually from year two

Second grade, ME Registered Agent.org: the Maine registration for $199 with year-one agent service included, then $99 a year.

The plan seats the company at an in-state street address and posts scans of papers served there to your online account.

What you get

  • Maine registration filed for you
  • Registered agent service for year one

Good

  • A $199 registration price, state fee extra
  • Agent renewal of $99
  • The first year as your registered agent is included

Weak spots

  • Serves Maine only; the home state still needs its own agent
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit ME Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the ME Registered Agent.org review
No.3

Lower renewal than Mainstay

3. Maine Registered Agent.co: best for registering in Maine only

Score8.6out of 10
$199 service fee and the state fee on top; the agent is $99 annually from year two

Third grade, Maine Registered Agent.co: the Maine registration for $199 with year-one agent service included, then $99 a year.

The plan seats the company at an in-state street address and posts scans of papers served there to your online account.

The two state services, ME Registered Agent.org and Maine Registered Agent.co, match on price and features, and the order between them is a narrow call.

What you get

  • Maine registration filed for you
  • The first year as your registered agent

Good

  • First-year registered agent service is part of the price
  • $199 for registration, plus the state fee
  • Then $99 per year for the agent

Weak spots

  • Serves Maine only; the home state still needs its own agent
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit Maine Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Maine Registered Agent.co review

Summary of the 3 grades

RankProviderGradeService feeYear twoBest fitSite
1Mainstay Filing9.1$199$149/yrCompanies with a presence in several statesVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2ME Registered Agent.org8.7$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal we rank hereVisit ME Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Maine Registered Agent.co8.6$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal we rank hereVisit Maine Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Each grade out of 10 comes from Biz Formation Report's editors and the weighted criteria on How we rank; no customer ratings are involved.

Maine foreign registration service prices, 2026: year one, renewal and three-year outlay

ProviderYear 1Year 2Year 3Three-year outlayYear-one agent covered
Mainstay Filing$199$149$149$497Free
ME Registered Agent.org$199$99$99$397Included
Maine Registered Agent.co$199$99$99$397Included

All prices were taken from the companies' own websites on November 12, 2026. Maine's $250 registration fee is payable on top of each row and is not part of these totals.

How the grades were set

Biz Formation Report grades three-year bill and what the money buys at 32% each, leaving 36% for renewal handling, local rules match and pricing openness. In Maine, what the money buys settled the order.

Foreign registration always involves two states, and one provider with one price in both graded best on coverage, ahead of ME Registered Agent.org.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

Maine foreign LLC registration: fee, document and filing office

To register, the outside company submits the Statement of Foreign Qualification to Conduct Activities (Form MLLC-12) to the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions, with a state fee of $250. Maine also wants certificate of existence, dated within 90 days of the filing.

After registration the company owes the Annual report for a foreign LLC ($150), due June 1.

Documents to have on hand

  • Certificate of existence, dated within 90 days of filing.
  • The legal name as recorded in the home state, and the date of formation.
  • An in-state registered agent; any provider in this report can serve.
  • Payment of the $250 state fee with the filing.
  • The due date of the Annual report for a foreign LLC and its $150 fee, noted in your calendar.

The cost of skipping Maine registration

An unregistered foreign LLC has no right to sue in Maine courts until it registers (31 MRSA 1629(1)).

Maine foreign registration service: common questions

Must an LLC from another state register with Maine?

Yes, as soon as it transacts business there. Until then it has no standing to bring a lawsuit in the state's courts.

How much does Maine foreign registration cost?

$250 goes to the state and $199 to the service.

Which form handles foreign registration with Maine?

The state names the form in the facts above; it is sent to the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions.

Does Maine demand proof of good standing from the home state?

Yes. The filing needs certificate of existence, issued no more than 90 days ago.

Is a registered agent still needed after foreign registration?

Yes. A registered agent with a street address in the state has to remain on file.

What is the best foreign registration service for Maine?

Mainstay Filing: $199 plus the state's fee, with the registered agent free for year one and one price in every state.

Read next

Source notes

  1. Maine Secretary of State (verified August 2026)
  2. Maine Secretary of State (verified August 2026)
  3. Maine report due date (verified August 2026)
  4. 31 M.R.S. sec. 1531 (verified August 2026)
  5. Maine formation fee: Filing fee, official source (verified October 2026)
  6. Maine registered agent statute (verified October 2026)
  7. Maine Secretary of State, foreign entities (verified October 2026)
  8. Form MLLC-12 (verified October 2026)
  9. 31 MRSA § 1622, foreign qualification (verified October 2026)
  10. 31 MRSA § 1623, activities that do not require qualification (verified October 2026)
  11. 31 MRSA § 1629, consequences of not qualifying (verified October 2026)
  12. Pulled November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, Maine service page
  13. Pulled November 12, 2026: ME Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages
  14. Pulled November 12, 2026: Maine Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages