How to Start an LLC in Maryland (2026): 7 Steps and the 3 Best LLC Services
MD Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Maryland Registered Agent.co ($199) are our 2026 picks, in that order, for starting an LLC in Maryland. Whichever route you take, the state charges $100 to file; the 7 steps below show the rest.
Company prices as published on November 12, 2026. Every row excludes the $100 state fee.
Forming the LLC, in order
Step1
Step 1: Check your name is available
Pick a name, then check it against the records at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) so no other company already holds it.
TipKeep a backup name handy.
Step2
Step 2: Line up your resident agent
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.
TipAny of the services in our picks fills this role.
Step 3: Choose between doing it yourself and a service
The state fee ($100) is the same either way; a service adds $199. See the picks.
Step4
Step 4: Send in the Articles of Organization
File the Articles of Organization with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT); the fee is $100. Typical processing: Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
When the approval arrives, apply to the IRS for the EIN. Your bank will want it for the business account. Mainstay Filing handles this application in its package.
Step6
Step 6: Draft the operating agreement
Write down who owns the Maryland LLC and how decisions are made. This operating agreement stays with your records, not with the state.
Step7
Step 7: Keep up with Maryland's yearly filing
Mark the Business Entity Annual Report in your calendar: every year, due April 15, fee $300.
Official source: Source: dat.maryland.gov, confirmed August 2026
The cost of this lesson
Item
Who you pay
Price
Formation filing
Paid to the state
$100
Business Entity Annual Report
Paid to the state
$300 every year
Help from a service
Service company
$199 to start
State total over three years
Paid to the state
$700
Every state figure links to its source under References; service prices come from each company's site.
Why MD Registered Agent.org comes first
Lesson note: first place in Maryland came down to three-year cost, worth 30% of the grade.
The three-year bill with MD Registered Agent.org is $397, and the gap to Mainstay Filing is $200.
Common questions
What does it cost to form an LLC in Maryland?
The official fee: $100. Add $199 if a service files it.
Which form creates the LLC?
It is called the Articles of Organization, and it goes to 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?
Usually Non-expedited review in the second calendar month after submission.
What does Maryland require each year?
The Business Entity Annual Report: $300, every year, due April 15.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes. File directly with the state and pay $100; you also need a resident agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
MD Registered Agent.org first, then Mainstay Filing and Maryland Registered Agent.co; MD Registered Agent.org leads on three-year cost.