Starting an LLC in Maryland
Maryland resident agent service at a flat $99 per year. Physical address, scanned legal mail, compliance alerts. Renewals stay the same price.
Setting up a limited-liability company in Maryland comes down to a handful of state requirements, a one-time filing fee, and a few ongoing obligations. $0 buys your state filing, several business days is the wait, and then recurring fees become your year-to-year concern. Keep reading for the steps, the costs, and how we handle the filing for you.
Open Your Maryland LLC — $199
For a one-time $199, we prep your Articles, submit them to Maryland Secretary of State, and notify you when they're approved (about several business days).
The Maryland LLC, Briefly Explained
A limited-liability company is a separate legal entity for tax and liability purposes, even when a single individual owns it. Throughout Maryland, LLCs are the small-business form of choice — light maintenance, real protection, simple taxes.
The Numbers for Maryland LLC Formation
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Maryland Secretary of State) | $0 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Maryland LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $300/year |
Filing service: $199 to us. State fee: paid directly to Maryland Secretary of State. RA: $99/year, separate billing.
How to Form Your Maryland LLC, Step by Step
1. Choose Your Maryland LLC Name
Two name rules in Maryland: the name needs an LLC designator (Limited Liability Company / LLC / L.L.C.), and the state's records must not show a confusingly similar existing entity. Search Maryland Secretary of State's entity database before committing — it's the fastest way to confirm a name is available.
Names suggesting you are a financial institution, insurance company, or government office are restricted unless you have the underlying licensure.
2. Appoint Your Maryland Registered Agent
The state requires every LLC to maintain a RA with an in-state actual address who can receive legal service during the workday. What you list as agent and address becomes public information through Maryland Secretary of State. Process servers, marketers, and anyone curious can see it.
Our Maryland agent service is $99/year. Our team and address handle the public-facing side so your address stays private.
3. File the Formation Paperwork with Maryland Secretary of State
This step formally establishes the LLC: file Articles of Organization at Maryland Secretary of State with $0 attached at submission. The Articles ask for the entity name, the LLC's main address, the appointed agent's name and address, whether members or managers run the LLC, and the people serving as organizers.
Maryland Secretary of State has an online portal (the Maryland business filings portal) — file there for the quickest turnaround.
Approval normally comes back in several business days. Rush processing exists for an added fee.
4. Document the Operating Agreement
An operating agreement isn't filed with Maryland Secretary of State, but it's still essential — banks ask for it, courts look at it, and members rely on it. It establishes who owns what share, how money is distributed, who decides what, and what happens when members come or go. Without a written agreement, Maryland's default LLC rules apply — and those rules are generic, not tailored to your situation.
5. Apply for the LLC's EIN
An EIN operates as the IRS-issued tax ID for the LLC. Required by banks, payroll providers, and the IRS for federal filings. Go to IRS.gov for the no-cost application. About ten minutes start to finish and the number issues right after.
Don't bother paying an outside service for the EIN. The IRS's free form handles it in ten minutes.
6. Manage the Recurring Obligations
Keeping the entity compliant with the state involves a short list of recurring tasks:
- Always keep an active appointed agent tied to a Maryland address every day the LLC exists
- File the annual report yearly, by deadline
- Carry out strict separation between business banking and your personal banking (separate banking and separate ledgers)
- Meet tax obligations on the federal and state level on schedule
If any of these are neglected, Maryland Secretary of State can dissolve the entity. A dissolved LLC offers no asset protection.
Done with paperwork? Pay $199 and our team handles the Maryland formation filing.
The Maryland Registered Agent Rule
Maryland LLCs are required to have a appointed agent at all times. The requirement applies from the day you file forward. Agent requirements include:
- Hold a real Maryland street address (PO boxes alone won't qualify)
- Be reachable across business hours for service of process
- Pass along everything that arrives — lawsuits, tax notices, state correspondence swiftly so deadlines stay intact
Owners often use their home address as agent and later wish they hadn't. Once it's listed, anyone running a Maryland entity search can find it.
For $99/year, our team in Maryland takes the agent role. We handle the public-facing agent role and your address stays off the record.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maryland?
$0 to Maryland Secretary of State covers the formation filing. That puts it in the lower bracket of LLC filing fees. On top of the filing fee, the annual report runs $300/year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Maryland?
Allow roughly several business days from filing to state approval.
Does Maryland require an annual report?
Yes, annually. The fee is $300/year.
Do I need a registered agent for my Maryland LLC?
Yes. Every Maryland LLC needs a appointed agent with a Maryland street address. From formation through dissolution, the agent must remain in the state's records.
Can I form an LLC in Maryland if I live in another state?
Yes. There's no Maryland residency requirement to start an LLC here. The one state-specific item is the Maryland agent — our $99/year plan handles it.
Begin Your Maryland LLC
Self-filing with Maryland Secretary of State is fully available by submitting through the Maryland business filings portal. $0 is what Maryland Secretary of State charges, a designated agent must still be on file.
We're the agent you list on the form. For $99/year, covers the public address, same-day forwarding, and deadline reminders for upcoming filings.
Just the agent, no formation? Our designated agent service is priced at $99 yearly.
Have more questions about Maryland LLC formation or the designated agent piece? Browse our FAQ or email us Monday through Friday.
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