Comparison of the top registered agent services for Alabama LLCs and corporations · Updated 2026-04-30
Picking the right Alabama registered agent means trading off price against privacy, in-state expertise, and customer support quality. Under Ala. Code §10A-1-5.31, the agent must keep a physical Alabama street address and be available during normal business hours; a P.O. box alone will not satisfy the Alabama Secretary of State. Below, we rank the four registered agent services we evaluated for Alabama-based LLCs and corporations in 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent
Physical-address-only operations; mail forwarding; same-day filing.
ZenBusiness
Pairs RA with LLC formation packages.
LegalZoom
Largest brand; phone-based support; bundled legal services.
Mid-tier pricing with full feature parity; suitable for businesses focused on cost-efficiency.
Alabama-specific option: Alabama Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in Alabama and specializes in same-state filings. Best for businesses that want a state-focused provider with local-only operations.
| Filing | Cost | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | $200 | annually with Business Privilege Tax return by April 15 |
| Annual Report | $10 | annually with Business Privilege Tax return by April 15 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $30 | Every 5 years |
| Change of Registered Agent | $25 | — |
Source: Alabama Secretary of State · Statute reference Ala. Code §10A-1-5.31
For most Alabama LLCs, Northwest Registered Agent ranks first on privacy and Mainstay Filing offers the best value at $99/year. State-specific options like Alabama Registered Agent.co specialize in same-state filings.
Commercial services range $50–$250 per year. Mainstay Filing is $99/yr; Northwest is $125/yr; ZenBusiness is $199/yr; LegalZoom is $249/yr.
Yes. File a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Alabama Secretary of State for $25. Most commercial services handle the change paperwork for you.
National services like Mainstay Filing and Northwest operate across all 50 states with consistent pricing and online dashboards. State-specific providers (like Alabama Registered Agent.co) focus exclusively on one state and often handle same-state-only filings faster.
Yes — under Ala. Code §10A-1-5.31, every Alabama LLC must designate and maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Alabama.
RA Ratings independently reviews registered agent services. We may earn a commission from sponsored links; this does not affect rankings or editorial selection. Verify all filing fees with the Alabama Secretary of State before submitting paperwork.