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Biz Formation Report

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

Foreign registration report · Washington

2 Best Foreign Registration Services in Washington (2026)

By the Biz Formation Report editorial team

Biz Formation Report ranks foreign registration services in Washington for 2026 as Mainstay Filing ($199) and WA Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing earns the top grade: $199 plus the state's fee, with the registered agent free for year one and one price in every state.

No.1

Top pick on this page

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

Score9.6out of 10
$199 plus the state fee, then $149 a year for the agent from year two

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: the Washington registration is filed for $199, and the registered agent is free in year one, then $149 a year.

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 WA 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
  • Same-business-day scanning of legal papers served, no fee

Good

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

Weak spots

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

Low renewal

2. WA Registered Agent.org: best for companies adding Washington alone

Score9.2out of 10
A $199 service fee and the state fee, then the agent at $99

Second grade, WA Registered Agent.org: the Washington 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

  • Foreign registration done for you
  • Registered agent service for year one

Good

  • $199 for registration, plus the state fee
  • Agent renewal of $99
  • Registered agent service included for year one

Weak spots

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

Summary of the 2 grades

RankProviderGradeService feeYear twoBest fitSite
1Mainstay Filing9.6$199$149/yrCompanies with a presence in several statesVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2WA Registered Agent.org9.2$199$99/yrThe lowest agent renewal we rank hereVisit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Our editors set each grade out of 10 from the weighted criteria on How we rank. Customers do not rate anything here.

Washington 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
WA Registered Agent.org$199$99$99$397Included

All prices were taken from the companies' own websites on November 12, 2026. Washington's $180 registration fee is payable on top of each row and is not part of these totals.

What decided the order

What the money buys was the deciding factor in Washington. The method gives three-year bill and what the money buys 32% each and splits 36% across renewal handling, local rules match and pricing openness.

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

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

Washington foreign LLC registration: fee, document and filing office

To register, the outside company submits the Foreign Registration Statement to the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, with a state fee of $180. Washington also wants certificate of existence (good standing) or similar document, dated within 60 days of the filing.

After registration the company owes the annual report ($70), due last day of your registration month.

Documents to have on hand

  • Certificate of existence (good standing) or similar document, dated within 60 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 $180 state fee with the filing.
  • The due date of the annual report and its $70 fee, noted in your calendar.

Washington foreign registration service: common questions

Must an LLC from another state register with Washington?

Yes, as soon as it transacts business there.

How much does Washington foreign registration cost?

$180 goes to the state and $199 to the service.

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

Yes. The filing needs certificate of existence (good standing) or similar document, issued no more than 60 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.

Which foreign registration services does this report rank?

Mainstay Filing ($199) and WA Registered Agent.org ($199), in descending order of grade.

What is the best foreign registration service for Washington?

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

Read next

Source notes

  1. Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division (verified August 2026)
  2. Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division (verified August 2026)
  3. Washington yearly filing: Annual report, official source (verified October 2026)
  4. Washington report due date (verified August 2026)
  5. Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source (verified October 2026)
  6. Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source (verified October 2026)
  7. Washington registered agent statute (verified October 2026)
  8. Washington SOS, register a foreign LLC online (verified October 2026)
  9. Washington SOS, fee schedules and priority services (verified October 2026)
  10. RCW 23.95.520, activities that are not doing business (verified October 2026)
  11. RCW 23.95.505, consequences of not registering (verified October 2026)
  12. RCW 23.95.510, foreign registration statement (verified October 2026)
  13. Washington SOS, registered agents (verified October 2026)
  14. Pulled November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, Washington service page
  15. Pulled November 12, 2026: WA Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages