3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Michigan (2026), Ranked for You
Your 2026 shortlist for foreign registration services in Michigan reads Mainstay Filing ($199), MI Registered Agent.org ($199) and Michigan Registered Agent.co ($199), in our order. All of the picks pay Michigan $50; service fees for three years run $397 to $497.
Written by the Simple Filing Guide editorial team
Start here
What you pay the state
$50
Home-state certificate needed?
Required (30 days, no older)
After you register
$25, annual statement
Where to start
Mainstay Filing, MI Registered Agent.org then Michigan Registered Agent.co
The state will have collected $100 by the end of year three. verify at legislature.mi.gov, as of October 2026
What do I submit?
Send the Application for Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in Michigan (for foreign limited liability companies) (Form CSCL/CD 760) to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division.
The filing needs certificate of good standing dated no earlier than 30 days.
What does staying registered cost?
Add the annual statement to your calendar ($25).
Filings come due February 15.
Why is number one first?
Mainstay Filing leads on filing jobs included, which carries 27% of our score.
The two heavy checks are total for three years (37%) and filing jobs included (27%); three lighter checks follow.
Because two states are involved, a company that works everywhere ranked above MI Registered Agent.org.
Every amount above links to its official source. The last row is our own total of the filing, two reports and any minimum tax, without variable costs like publication.
Quick answers
Do I still need an agent in my home state?
You do: two states mean two sets of rules, and one-state services stop at the border while Mainstay Filing does not.
Three years in, what has each cost?
Mainstay Filing $497; MI Registered Agent.org $397; Michigan Registered Agent.co $397, with state fees on top.
What sources do you use?
For state costs we use Michigan's published fee schedules and forms. For service costs we use each company's price page.
Do I have to use a service?
No. A service charges for labor and the agent role, not for anything the state demands.
Who submits the registration?
Yes, filing is part of what these companies sell, and the state fee does not move.
Who is your first choice in Michigan?
Mainstay Filing leads on filing jobs included, ahead of MI Registered Agent.org and Michigan Registered Agent.co.
References
Source for Michigan Department of Licensing and: michigan.gov, August 2026
Source for Michigan Department of Licensing and: michigan.gov, August 2026
Source for Michigan report due date: michigan.gov, August 2026