Registered Agent Cost Compare › Compare › Mainstay Filing vs LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness
Mainstay Filing vs LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness: Registered Agent Cost Over 1, 3 and 5 Years
Over five years, registered agent only: Mainstay Filing $745, LegalZoom $1,245, ZenBusiness $895. Mainstay Filing is our pick if you want a price that does not change at renewal; ZenBusiness costs the least in year one.
LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness, which registered agent is cheaper?
| Provider | Year 1 | Each year after | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $149 | $149 | $447 | $745 |
| LegalZoom | $249 | $249 | $747 | $1,245 |
| ZenBusiness | $99 | $199 | $497 | $895 |
What is included, and where each wins
Mainstay Filing: Service of process is scanned and uploaded the same business day at no fee. The first three government mailings a year are scanned free; after that a per-piece fee applies. There is no add-on menu: no EIN add-on, no operating-agreement upcharge, no rush tier and no compliance plan.
LegalZoom: Alerts when mail arrives; documents scanned and uploaded; annual report reminders. Price for first-time agent customers. Auto-renews at the purchase rate; LegalZoom says the renewal rate is subject to change. Read October 20, 2026.
ZenBusiness: Document receipt, scanning and upload to a dashboard; email notifications. $99 plus state fees for the first year, then $199/yr. Read October 20, 2026.
Questions
LegalZoom vs ZenBusiness, which registered agent is cheaper?
Year one: ZenBusiness. Three years: Mainstay Filing. Five years: Mainstay Filing. Mainstay Filing is $149 a year with no step-up.
What does each include?
Mainstay Filing: Service of process is scanned and uploaded the same business day at no fee. The first three government mailings a year are scanned free; after that a per-piece fee applies. LegalZoom: Alerts when mail arrives; documents scanned and uploaded; annual report reminders. ZenBusiness: Document receipt, scanning and upload to a dashboard; email notifications.