Class 1 · Maryland
How to Start an LLC in Maryland (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Quick facts
In this lesson
- The official fee and form in Maryland
- What the resident agent rule asks of you
- What to file every year afterward
- Our graded picks and the reasoning
Who we would hire in Maryland
1. Mainstay Filing: best for a hands-off first year
Mainstay Filing gets our top grade for Maryland: three chores, the filing, the resident agent and the annual report, are folded into a single $199 annual price.
Over three years it costs $200 more than MD Registered Agent.org, but the grade rewards the extra steps it takes care of.
Each Business Entity Annual Report is filed on your behalf (state fee $300, at cost).
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- Resident agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- No markup on the state fee
Marks in its favor
- $199 a year pays for filing and agent and report
- It takes care of the EIN application
- $199 at renewal
Where it loses points
- Costs $100 more per year from year two
2. MD Registered Agent.org: best for an inexpensive Maryland start
MD Registered Agent.org lands in second place, and the reason is clear: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
Its price leaves out the Business Entity Annual Report, so plan to file that yourself every year.
What the price covers
- Formation prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- $199 plus the state fee
- A free first agent year
- $99 a year after that
Where it loses points
- There is no Business Entity Annual Report service
- The EIN application costs $99 extra
3. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for another Maryland choice
Maryland Registered Agent.co lands in third place, and the reason is clear: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
Its price leaves out the Business Entity Annual Report, so plan to file that yourself every year.
Its prices equal MD Registered Agent.org's, so either is a sound choice.
What the price covers
- Formation prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- $199 plus the state fee
- $99 a year after that
- A free first agent year
Where it loses points
- There is no Business Entity Annual Report service
- The EIN application costs $99 extra
The grades and prices at a glance
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | MD Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit MD Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Maryland Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Maryland Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Starting an LLC in Maryland, one step at a time
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Step
1Come up with a name
Type the name into the business search at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) before you file anything, so you do not pick one that is in use.
Check whether the matching web domain is free while you are at it.
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Step
2Decide who your resident agent will be
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership.
The address has to be a Maryland address on file with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; P.O. boxes are not accepted. The LLC also keeps a principal office in Maryland.
All of our picks fill the resident agent role.
Where this comes from: Class notes: mgaleg.maryland.gov (October 2026)
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Step
3Pick how you will file
Either way the state keeps $100. A filing service adds $199, and our grades show which one is worth it.
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Step
4Hand in the Articles of Organization
Here is the filing that creates the company: the Articles of Organization, which you deliver to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) with a $100 fee. According to the state, processing is Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
Where this comes from: Class notes: egov.maryland.gov (October 2026)
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Step
5Get your EIN from the IRS
Once approved, the LLC can get a federal tax ID, the EIN, from the IRS. A business bank account will need it. Mainstay Filing covers this step too.
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Step
6Agree on the ground rules in writing
The owners sign an operating agreement covering shares, votes and what happens if someone leaves. It stays in your files and is not filed with the state.
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Step
7Look ahead to year two
What recurs is the Business Entity Annual Report ($300, every year, by April 15).
Where this comes from: Class notes: dat.maryland.gov (August 2026)
The cost of this lesson
| Item | Payee | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Filing the LLC | State | $100 |
| Business Entity Annual Report | State | $300 every year |
| Service fees (optional) | Service company | $199 to start |
| Three-year state total | State | $700 |
Behind the ranking
edged ahead of on homework the price handles, which counts for 33%.
Maryland wants the Business Entity Annual Report every year, so a price that files it beat a lower price that leaves the job to you.
Common questions
What does it cost to form an LLC in Maryland?
The official fee is $100. A service from our graded list adds $199 in year one.
Which form creates the LLC?
Step 4 of this lesson shows how to complete the Articles of Organization and where to send it: the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
Is a resident agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
How long does Maryland take to process the filing?
Plan on Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
What does Maryland require each year?
Every year the LLC files the Business Entity Annual Report, which costs $300 and is due April 15.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Nothing stops you from doing it yourself: the state wants $100, and you must also name a resident agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
By grade: Mainstay Filing, MD Registered Agent.org and Maryland Registered Agent.co. Mainstay Filing is first because $199 a year hands off the formation, the resident agent role and the annual report to someone else.
Class references
- Homework check for Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: the facts come from dat.maryland.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: the facts come from dat.maryland.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Maryland report due date: the facts come from dat.maryland.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Md: the facts come from mgaleg.maryland.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source: the facts come from mgaleg.maryland.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source: the facts come from egov.maryland.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Maryland registered agent statute: the facts come from mgaleg.maryland.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Processing, official source: the facts come from egov.maryland.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Mainstay Filing Maryland service page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- MD Registered Agent.org pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Maryland Registered Agent.co pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026