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If you’ve been comparing LLC formation services, you’ve probably noticed that Registered Agents Inc keeps popping up — especially among non-US founders looking for a cheap way to form a US LLC. Their pitch is simple: $100 + state fee for full LLC formation, with a year of registered agent service thrown in free.
But is it actually a good deal, or is there a catch? I went through their service page, pricing, and what’s included to give you a straight answer.
Quick verdict: Registered Agents Inc is a solid, no-nonsense option if you want formation and registered agent service bundled with one vendor — particularly good for non-resident founders who want privacy and minimal hassle. The $100 formation fee is genuinely competitive. Just go in knowing the registered agent renews at $200/year after the free year, and some bundled extras (phone, email, website) are trial-based.
Rating: 8/10 — good value, honest pricing, but not the cheapest long-term option.
Check current pricing at Registered Agents Inc
Table of Contents
- Pricing: What Does the $100 Actually Cover?
- What’s Included in the Business Formation Package
- Registered Agent Service: $200/Year Standalone
- Who Is Registered Agents Inc Best For?
- Who Should Skip It?
- Honest Cons: What to Watch Out For
- Registered Agents Inc vs doola vs LegalZoom
- How Formation Works (Step by Step)
- Pros and Cons Summary
- FAQ
- Final Verdict
Pricing: What Does the $100 Actually Cover?
Let’s be precise, because this is where formation services love to hide the fine print.
Registered Agents Inc lists Business Formation at $100, and you also pay the state filing fee on top. That state fee goes to the state government, not to them — it ranges from about $50 (New Mexico) to $300+ (Delaware) depending on where you form. For the most popular non-resident choice, Wyoming, it’s $100.
So your real first-year cost looks like this:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Registered Agents Inc formation fee | $100 |
| State filing fee (Wyoming example) | $100 |
| Registered agent (year 1) | $0 (included free) |
| Total first year (Wyoming) | ~$200 |
That’s genuinely competitive. For comparison, many big-brand formation services charge $199–$349+ for formation alone before state fees, then add registered agent on top.
One thing they do well: the price is stated up front on their services page. No “starting at $0*” games where the asterisk leads to a $300 upsell funnel. The $100 is the $100.
Year 2 and beyond, the economics change: the registered agent service renews at $200/year (that’s the standalone price listed on their services page). Keep that in mind when comparing — more on this below.
What’s Included in the Business Formation Package
According to their services page, the $100 Business Formation package includes:
- State filing — they prepare and file your Articles of Organization with the state
- Domain name — free domain for the first year, listed on their site
- Business website — a basic website setup, listed as free for the first 90 days on their site
- Dedicated phone line with local number — listed as free for the first 90 days
- Up to 10 professional email addresses — listed as free for the first 90 days
- One year of registered agent service free — the big one, normally $200/year
That last item is the real value driver. Registered agent service is legally required in every state — someone with a physical address in your formation state has to receive official mail on your company’s behalf. If you’re a non-US founder with no US address, you must pay for this anyway. Getting the first year free effectively makes the formation service close to free.
The domain/website/phone/email bundle is nice-to-have. It’s genuinely useful if you’re starting from zero and want a professional presence fast. But note the “first 90 days” framing on some of these — they’re trial periods, not permanent freebies. Budget for what they cost after the trial if you plan to keep using them.
Nationwide coverage
One legitimate differentiator: Registered Agents Inc has real offices in all 50 states. A lot of budget formation services claim “nationwide” coverage but really just forward mail through third parties. Having an actual physical presence in your formation state matters — it’s the whole point of a registered agent.
Registered Agent Service: $200/Year Standalone
If you only need a registered agent (say you already formed your LLC elsewhere), the standalone price is $200/year. Their services page describes it as including a business address, annual report filing, and same-day document scans.
How does $200/year compare?
- It’s above the bare-bones market rate. You can find standalone registered agent services for $100–$125/year from budget providers.
- But it’s competitive as a bundle — if you’d otherwise pay ~$125 for an agent plus $50–$100 for someone to handle your annual report filing, $200 all-in with same-day scans is reasonable.
- It’s cheaper than the big legal brands, where registered agent service alone can run $249–$299/year.
The honest framing: you’re paying a small premium for the convenience of one vendor handling formation, agent service, and compliance reminders. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much you value not juggling multiple providers — for a non-resident founder managing everything remotely, that convenience is worth more than it is for a US founder who can walk into a local office.
Who Is Registered Agents Inc Best For?
Non-US founders forming a US LLC remotely. This is the sweet spot. You need a registered agent with a real US address (legally required), you want privacy (your personal foreign address stays off public filings), and you want the whole thing handled online without visiting the US. The $100 formation + free first year of agent service is tailor-made for this.
First-time founders who want one vendor. If the idea of hiring a formation service, then separately finding a registered agent, then separately setting up a domain and email sounds exhausting, the bundle makes sense. One dashboard, one bill.
Privacy-conscious owners. Using their address as your registered agent address keeps your personal address off state public records. This matters more than most people realize — state business registries are public and scraped constantly.
Wyoming / New Mexico / Delaware LLC filers. These are the most popular states for non-residents (low fees, strong privacy, no state income tax for out-of-state business), and Registered Agents Inc handles all of them as part of its 50-state coverage.
Form your LLC with Registered Agents Inc
Who Should Skip It?
If you want the absolute cheapest long-term registered agent. After the free first year, you’re paying $200/year. If you’re comfortable handling your own annual reports and just need the bare legal minimum, a $100–$125/year agent saves you real money over time.
If you need legal advice or complex structuring. This is a formation and compliance service, not a law firm. If you’re raising venture capital, need a Delaware C-Corp with custom bylaws, or have a complicated tax situation, you want an attorney or a service with attorney support — not a $100 formation bundle.
If you already have a registered agent you like. Don’t switch just for the bundle. The formation-only value proposition is thinner without the free agent year.
Honest Cons: What to Watch Out For
No service is perfect, and I’d rather you know these going in:
1. The $200/year renewal. The free first year of registered agent service is great — but year two is $200, which is above the budget market rate. Set a calendar reminder before renewal and decide whether the bundle is still worth it to you, or whether you want to switch to a cheaper standalone agent.
2. Trial periods on the digital extras. The website, phone line, and professional email are listed as free for the first 90 days — not forever. If you build your business presence on them, find out what they cost after the trial before you depend on them.
3. No published formation price in some comparisons. While their services page does list the $100 formation price clearly, third-party reviewers have noted that pricing transparency varies across their funnel. The number to remember: $100 + state fee. If you’re ever quoted something different at checkout, stop and ask why.
4. It’s a volume business. Registered Agents Inc processes a huge number of formations. That’s how they keep prices low, and the systems are built for it — but don’t expect white-glove, one-on-one handholding. If you want someone to walk you through every step on the phone, a smaller boutique service (at a higher price) might suit you better.
5. Mixed third-party reviews. As with nearly every formation service, you’ll find both happy customers and complaints if you go looking. Common themes in the industry generally: auto-renewal surprises and upsell emails. Read the renewal terms, use a virtual card or calendar reminder if that worries you, and you’ll be fine.
None of these are dealbreakers — they’re the standard tradeoffs of a budget-friendly formation service. But you should know them before you buy, not after.
Registered Agents Inc vs doola vs LegalZoom
Here’s how the three stack up on the things that actually matter for most LLC filers:
| Registered Agents Inc | doola | LegalZoom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation service fee | $100 + state fee | Formation packages available (check current pricing) | $0–$349 + state fee depending on tier (check current pricing) |
| Registered agent renewal | $200/year (year 1 free with formation) | Bundled into packages (check current pricing) | ~$249–$299/year (check current pricing) |
| Privacy (agent’s address on filings) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offices in all 50 states | Yes — real offices | US coverage (check current details) | Yes (via network) |
| Free domain/website bundle | Yes (domain 1 yr; site/phone/email 90 days per their site) | Varies by package (check current pricing) | Varies by tier |
| Best for | Non-residents wanting a bundle | International founders wanting formation + compliance/tax help in one place | Brand recognition, legal add-ons |
The takeaway: doola is popular with international founders because it bundles formation with ongoing compliance and tax products — handy if you want bookkeeping and tax filing handled alongside your LLC, though it costs more than a bare-bones formation service (check current pricing). LegalZoom wins on brand trust and has attorney-backed legal products, but it’s the most expensive of the three and the upsells are aggressive. Registered Agents Inc is the value pick: cheaper first year than both, with a genuinely useful startup bundle (domain, website, phone, email) and a free year of registered agent service, at the cost of a $200/year agent renewal after year one.
For a non-resident founder optimizing for “get me formed correctly with minimal fuss at the lowest first-year cost,” Registered Agents Inc’s bundle is hard to beat. If you’d rather have formation, bookkeeping, and tax filings under one roof and are willing to pay for the convenience, doola’s bundled approach is worth comparing (check current pricing).
How Formation Works (Step by Step)
What actually happens after you click the button:
- Choose your state and entity type. LLC is the right choice for most founders (freelancers, agencies, e-commerce). The order form walks you through it.
- Enter your business details. Company name, business address (their address serves as the registered agent address), member information.
- Pay $100 + the state fee. The state fee is passed through to the state.
- They file your Articles of Organization. This is the legal document that creates your LLC. Processing time depends on the state — Wyoming is typically fast, often a few business days.
- You get your filed documents and agent service activated. Same-day document scans mean when the state or anyone official sends mail to your company, you see it in your dashboard quickly.
- Next steps (on you): Get an EIN from the IRS (free — don’t pay extra for this if you have an SSN; non-residents without an SSN file Form SS-4), draft an operating agreement, and open a business bank account.
Total hands-on time for you: roughly 10–15 minutes on the order form. The rest is waiting on the state.
Check current pricing at Registered Agents Inc
Pros and Cons Summary
Pros
– $100 formation fee is genuinely competitive and stated up front
– First year of registered agent service free (normally $200/year)
– Real offices in all 50 states — not just a mail-forwarding claim
– Useful startup bundle: domain, website, phone, email
– Good fit for non-resident founders who need a US address and privacy
– Same-day document scanning
Cons
– Registered agent renews at $200/year — above budget alternatives
– Website, phone, and email are 90-day trials, not permanent freebies
– Volume operation — don’t expect boutique handholding
– Not a law firm — no legal advice for complex situations
– Watch renewal terms like with any subscription service
FAQ
Is Registered Agents Inc legit?
Yes. They’re a real registered agent and formation company with physical offices in all 50 states, and they’ve been operating since 2008. They also provide backend registered-agent infrastructure for other formation brands. Like any high-volume service, third-party reviews are mixed — read renewal terms carefully, as you should with any provider.
What does the $100 cover, exactly?
The $100 is their service fee for preparing and filing your LLC formation. You also pay the state filing fee (set by the state, e.g. ~$100 in Wyoming, ~$50 in New Mexico). The package includes a domain name, website setup, and one year of registered agent service free.
Are there really no hidden fees?
The pricing is straightforward: $100 + state fee. The things to budget for are after year one — registered agent renews at $200/year, and the website/phone/email extras are trial-based (listed as 90 days free on their site), so check what they cost if you keep them.
Can a non-US resident use Registered Agents Inc?
Yes — this is one of their strengths. Non-residents can form a US LLC entirely online with no SSN and no US visit. You legally need a registered agent with a US address in your formation state, which is exactly what the free first year covers. You’ll still need an EIN from the IRS afterward (non-residents apply via Form SS-4 by mail/fax).
Which state should I form in as a non-resident?
Wyoming is the most popular choice: $100 filing fee, ~$60/year annual report, no state income tax, strong privacy. New Mexico is the cheapest long-term ($50 filing, no annual report fee). Delaware only makes sense if you’re raising venture capital. We break this down in our best states guide.
What happens after the first year?
Your registered agent service renews at $200/year. You’ll also owe your state’s annual report fee (e.g. ~$60 in Wyoming). Mark your calendar — if the $200 renewal doesn’t make sense for you anymore, you can switch to a cheaper standalone agent.
Final Verdict
Registered Agents Inc is worth it if you want a fast, affordable, all-in-one way to form your LLC — especially as a non-US founder who needs a registered agent, a US address, and privacy without juggling multiple vendors. The $100 + state fee pricing is honest, the free first year of agent service is real value, and the 50-state office network is a genuine operational advantage.
It’s not the right pick if you’re optimizing purely for the lowest multi-year cost (a budget agent at ~$100–$125/year wins that math after year one) or if you need actual legal counsel.
For most readers of this site — founders who want to get formed correctly and get back to building — it’s an 8/10 and an easy recommendation.
Form your LLC with Registered Agents Inc
Have questions about forming as a non-resident? Start with our step-by-step guide to forming a US LLC from abroad.