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Biz Formation Report

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

LLC formation report · Kentucky

3 Best LLC Services in Kentucky (2026)

By the Biz Formation Report editorial team

Biz Formation Report ranks LLC services in Kentucky for 2026 as Mainstay Filing ($199), Kentucky Registered Agent.co ($199) and KY Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Mainstay Filing earns the top grade: the formation filing, the registered agent and the annual report come to $199 a year, renewing at $199.

No.1

Number one here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for formation, agent and annual report on one invoice

Score9.3out of 10
$199 a year plus the state fee, $239 due at checkout

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: a flat $199 yearly fee takes in the Kentucky formation, your registered agent and the annual report.

The renewal covers the annual report, which Mainstay files for you. Kentucky collects $15 every year, with a deadline of on or before June 30; Mainstay passes the state's fee through at cost.

Over three years Mainstay costs $200 more than Kentucky Registered Agent.co; our grading treats the broader coverage as worth that.

What you get

  • Formation prepared and filed on your behalf
  • Your registered agent for twelve months
  • The annual report prepared and filed
  • The EIN application

Good

  • Includes the EIN application
  • A single $199 yearly price, including the annual report
  • Kentucky's state fee is passed through at cost
  • Renewal is $199 with no add-ons

Weak spots

  • Its agent renews at $100 a year more than Kentucky Registered Agent.co's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing review
No.2

Best for a Kentucky-only company

2. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for a Kentucky LLC that expects to stay put

Score8.9out of 10
$199 for formation, then $99 a year for the agent, plus the state fee

Second grade, Kentucky Registered Agent.co: forming in Kentucky costs $199 beyond the state's fee, with the first agent year included, and keeping the agent runs $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 annual report is outside its published prices, so you submit it to Kentucky yourself every year.

What you get

  • Kentucky formation filed for you
  • A first year of registered agent service

Good

  • $99 annually to keep the agent
  • Formation costs $199 before the state fee
  • The first year as your registered agent is included

Weak spots

  • Does not handle the annual report
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit Kentucky Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Kentucky Registered Agent.co review
No.3

Best local option

3. KY Registered Agent.org: best for local Kentucky formation

Score8.7out of 10
$199 for formation, then $99 a year for the agent, plus the state fee

Third grade, KY Registered Agent.org: forming in Kentucky costs $199 beyond the state's fee, with the first agent year included, and keeping the agent runs $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 annual report is outside its published prices, so you submit it to Kentucky yourself every year.

Kentucky Registered Agent.co and KY Registered Agent.org publish the same prices and plan features, so the grades are close and either is a sound pick.

What you get

  • Kentucky formation filed for you
  • Year-one registered agent service

Good

  • Includes a year of registered agent service
  • $199 for formation, plus the state fee
  • $99 annually to keep the agent

Weak spots

  • Does not handle the annual report
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit KY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the KY Registered Agent.org review

Summary of the 3 grades

RankProviderGradeService feeYear twoBest fitSite
1Mainstay Filing9.3$199$199/yrFormation, agent and annual report on one invoiceVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Kentucky Registered Agent.co8.9$199$99/yrA Kentucky-only LLC keeping costs downVisit Kentucky Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3KY Registered Agent.org8.7$199$99/yrA Kentucky-only LLC keeping costs downVisit KY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Grades out of 10 are Biz Formation Report's own editorial judgment, based on the criteria explained on How we rank. They are not customer ratings.

Kentucky LLC service prices, 2026: year one, renewal and three-year outlay

ProviderYear 1Year 2Year 3Three-year outlayAnnual report done for you
Mainstay Filing$199$199$199$597Yes
Kentucky Registered Agent.co$199$99$99$397No
KY Registered Agent.org$199$99$99$397No

All prices were taken from the companies' own websites on November 12, 2026. Kentucky's $40 filing fee is payable on top of each row and is not part of these totals.

What decided the order

The grading method assigns 32% to three-year bill and 32% to what the money buys, with renewal handling, local rules match and pricing openness taking 36%. For Kentucky, what the money buys decided it.

Kentucky requires a report every year, charging $15. Mainstay's price includes the filing and Kentucky Registered Agent.co's does not, which outweighed Kentucky Registered Agent.co's lower three-year cost in the coverage grade.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

Kentucky LLC filing fee and form, from official sources

The Kentucky Secretary of State charges $40 for the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (Form KLC). Each provider here adds that fee at cost on top of its own.

Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.

What a Kentucky LLC owes after formation

Expect the annual report every year, with a deadline of on or before June 30. It costs $15. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Kentucky LLC service: common questions

What does Kentucky charge to start an LLC, all in?

$40 goes to the state and $199 to the service.

Which document starts the LLC?

the Kentucky Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (Form KLC).

Is a registered agent mandatory for a Kentucky LLC?

Yes. Kentucky requires one, with a physical street address in the state, from the day the LLC exists.

What recurring paperwork follows an LLC in Kentucky?

A single item: the annual report, filed every year (on or before June 30) for $15.

Does the service price cover the EIN?

The Mainstay Filing yearly price covers it. Kentucky Registered Agent.co and KY Registered Agent.org list it at $99. The IRS does not charge for issuing an EIN.

What is the best LLC service in Kentucky, by our report?

Mainstay Filing: $199 a year buys the Kentucky formation, a year as your registered agent and the annual report filing, then renews at $199.

Read next

Source notes

  1. Kentucky Secretary of State (verified August 2026)
  2. Kentucky Secretary of State (verified August 2026)
  3. Kentucky report due date (verified August 2026)
  4. KRS 275.025 (verified August 2026)
  5. Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source (verified October 2026)
  6. Kentucky registered agent statute (verified October 2026)
  7. Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official source (verified October 2026)
  8. Pulled November 12, 2026: Mainstay Filing, Kentucky service page
  9. Pulled November 12, 2026: Kentucky Registered Agent.co, pricing and service pages
  10. Pulled November 12, 2026: KY Registered Agent.org, pricing and service pages