Home Registered agents Maryland Lesson 2 · Maryland
How to Get a Registered Agent in Maryland (2026): 6 Steps and the 3 Best Agents
Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), MD Registered Agent.org ($99 a year) and Maryland Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) are our 2026 picks, in that order, for a registered agent in Maryland. After the picks, 6 steps explain the resident agent rule in plain words.
The Founder Classroom teaching team · Updated November 12, 2026
Disclosure Founder Classroom is reader-supported. We may earn money when you buy through links on this page, and the companies we rank are our partners. Prices come from each company's own pages and official state sources.
Lesson map The services Lesson steps Fees Check your understanding References The short version
Agent price $99 to $149 a year Published prices Business Entity Annual Report $300 a year Per dat.maryland.gov , last confirmed August 2026
How many steps 6 From start to finish You will learn What the law says Who can serve and where Getting the agent on file Which agents we would use, and why
Teacher's pick
Our picks for Maryland Steps handled (35%) and three-year cost (30%) carry the most weight. Full rubric:
how we grade .
Top pick
1. Mainstay Filing: best for a single agent nationwide
First year $149, renewal $149
Start with Mainstay Filing: $149 a year with one provider for any state you add later.
Three years with it costs $150 more than MD Registered Agent.org; it wins on what it handles.
What you get A Maryland street address on the record Service of process scanned the same business day at no charge Three government mailings a year scanned free Covers LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits What we like Flat $149/year Follows you to any state Watch out for Costs $50 more each year No report filing on this plan
Maryland focus
2. MD Registered Agent.org: best for Maryland-only LLCs
First year $99, renewal $99
MD Registered Agent.org ranks second: $99 yearly with served papers scanned into an online account.
What you get A Maryland street address Scans of served papers What we like Less per year than Mainstay Filing Annual price $99 · renewal price $99 Watch out for Serves Maryland alone No Business Entity Annual Report filing
Maryland focus
3. Maryland Registered Agent.co: best for a local alternative
First year $99, renewal $99
Maryland Registered Agent.co ranks third: $99 yearly with served papers scanned into an online account.
It costs the same as MD Registered Agent.org.
What you get A Maryland street address Scans of served papers What we like Less per year than Mainstay Filing Annual price $99 · renewal price $99 Watch out for Serves Maryland alone No Business Entity Annual Report filing
The 3 picks side by side
Each company's listed price on November 12, 2026. State fees stay the same with any agent.
Step-by-step lesson
Step 1
Step 1: Read Maryland's agent ruleEvery LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Official source: Per mgaleg.maryland.gov , last confirmed October 2026
Step 2
Step 2: Check who can serveA Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership. Law: Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-101(x).
Step 3
Step 3: Get the address rightThe 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.
Tip Each pick supplies the in-state address for you.
Step 4
Step 4: Do it yourself or hire an agentIf you qualify under the rules above, you can be your own agent. Otherwise our picks charge $99 to $149 a year.
Step 5
Step 5: Name the agent in the filingThe Articles of Organization has a place for the agent. The State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) also takes change filings.
Official source: Per egov.maryland.gov , last confirmed October 2026
Step 6
Step 6: Keep the agent currentEach year, the Business Entity Annual Report confirms your details for $300, by April 15.
Official source: Per dat.maryland.gov , last confirmed August 2026
Agent and state costs
Item Paid to Amount
Agent service Service $99 to $149 a year Renewing the agent Service $99 to $149 a year Business Entity Annual Report The state $300 every year
The state rows are official figures; the service row uses each company's published price. The three-year total leaves service fees out.
Why Mainstay Filing comes first The grade turned on lesson steps handled (35%), where Mainstay Filing came out ahead of MD Registered Agent.org.
Coverage put it ahead of MD Registered Agent.org.
Check your understanding
Do I need a resident agent in Maryland? Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Can I be my own resident agent? You can, as long as you qualify under steps 2 and 3.
Can I change my resident agent later? Yes, with a change filing at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) (step 5).
What does a registered agent cost in Maryland? Our picks charge $99 to $149 a year.
What does the LLC pay the state each year? The Business Entity Annual Report, $300 every year.
Which registered agent would you choose? Mainstay Filing: the same $149 agent fee in all fifty states. After it, MD Registered Agent.org and Maryland Registered Agent.co.
References Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: dat.maryland.gov [August 2026] Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: dat.maryland.gov [August 2026] Maryland report due date: dat.maryland.gov [August 2026] Md: mgaleg.maryland.gov [August 2026] Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source: mgaleg.maryland.gov [October 2026] Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source: egov.maryland.gov [October 2026] Maryland registered agent statute: mgaleg.maryland.gov [October 2026] Mainstay Filing Maryland service page: prices as shown November 12, 2026 MD Registered Agent.org pricing page: prices as shown November 12, 2026 Maryland Registered Agent.co pricing page: prices as shown November 12, 2026