How to Start an LLC in Maine (2026): 7 Steps and the 3 Best LLC Services
Here is the 2026 answer for starting an LLC in Maine: Maine Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and ME Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked in that order. Below the picks you will find 7 steps in order, starting with the name and ending with the yearly upkeep (filing fee $175).
Company prices as published on November 12, 2026. State fee ($175) not included.
Step-by-step lesson
Step1
Step 1: Check your name is available
Search the register kept by the Maine Secretary of State first. If the name is taken, choose another before you file.
TipKeep a backup name handy.
Step2
Step 2: Pick your registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, or a noncommercial agent: an individual or entity serving as agent in Maine, or the holder of a named position in the company.
A noncommercial agent lists a physical street address in Maine, not a P.O. box. Commercial agents keep their address on file with the state.
Doing it yourself costs $175. Using one of our picks adds $199, and the agent comes with it.
Step4
Step 4: Submit the Certificate of Formation
File the Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6) with the Maine Secretary of State; the fee is $175. Typical processing: 10 to 15 business days (home page).
The EIN is the company's federal tax number. It comes from the IRS once the state has approved the LLC. This step is included with Mainstay Filing.
Step6
Step 6: Agree the house rules in writing
The operating agreement is your company's rule book: ownership, votes, what happens if an owner leaves. You keep it; you do not file it.
Step7
Step 7: Mark the yearly deadlines
Keep the company in good standing with the annual report: $85 every year, due June 1. Miss the date and $50 is added.
Official source: As listed on maine.gov in August 2026
What you will pay
Item
Paid to
Amount
The formation step
Paid to the state
$175
Annual report
Paid to the state
$85 every year
Late filing penalty
Paid to the state
$50
Service fees (optional)
Your service
$199 in year one
State total over three years
Paid to the state
$345
State amounts come from Maine's official schedules (see References). The three-year state line adds the filing, the reports due in years two and three and any yearly minimum tax.
Why this order
Maine Registered Agent.co beat Mainstay Filing on three-year cost, our 30% criterion.
A founder paying Maine Registered Agent.co spends $397 by the end of year three, keeping $200 that Mainstay Filing would cost.
Common questions
What does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?
The state's fee is $175. A service from our picks adds $199 in year one.
Which form creates the LLC?
The state's form is the Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6) (submitted to the Maine Secretary of State).
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
How long does Maine take to process the filing?
Usually 10 to 15 business days (home page).
What does Maine require each year?
The annual report: $85, every year, due June 1.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes, file it yourself ($175) and appoint a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Maine Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing and ME Registered Agent.org, ranked in that order.